JP6596855B2 - Powder collection container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder collection container and an image forming apparatus.

  The container of the waste toner / waste developer recovery device of Patent Document 1 includes a recovery port for recovering waste toner generated on the photosensitive member and the intermediate transfer member, and a recovery port for recovering waste developer discharged from the developing device. Is provided. The plurality of recovery ports are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the conveying screw provided in the container.

JP 2008-309987 A

  In a powder collection container with multiple inlets into which powder flows, when the upper inlet and lower inlet are arranged vertically in the direction of gravity due to layout restrictions, between the upper inlet and the lower inlet If a wall is provided on the wall, powder may be deposited on the wall.

  The present invention relates to a powder recovery container having an upper inlet and a lower inlet arranged in a vertical direction in a gravitational direction, and an upper wall disposed between the upper inlet and the lower inlet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a powder collection container and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the accumulation of powder on the upper wall as compared with a configuration in which the contact surface with which the powder contacts is horizontal.

The powder collection container according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a collection container main body for collecting powder, in which an upper inlet and a lower inlet through which powder flows are formed side by side in the gravity direction, and the upper flow An upper wall disposed between an inlet and the lower inlet, wherein at least a part of the upper wall is overlapped with the upper inlet as viewed in the direction of gravity, and is inclined or curved with respect to the direction of gravity. And an upper wall having a contacted surface.

In the powder recovery container according to the second aspect of the present invention, the virtual line and the contacted surface are located at a position where the virtual line drawn from the upper inlet toward the lower side of the gravity direction intersects the contacted surface. Of the angles formed by the surface, the acute angle is θ1 °, the repose angle of the powder is θ2 °, and (90 ° −θ1)> θ2.

In the powder collection container according to the third aspect of the present invention, the collection container body is a side wall recessed inwardly between the upper inlet and the lower inlet and viewed in the direction of gravity. At least a part of the side wall is formed in a portion overlapping with the upper inlet, and has a side wall having another contacted surface that is inclined or curved.

The powder collection container according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is configured so that the virtual line drawn from the upper inflow port toward the lower side in the gravity direction intersects the other contacted surface with the virtual line. (90 ° −θ3)> θ2 where θ3 ° is the acute angle of the angle formed with the contacted surface and θ2 ° is the repose angle of the powder.

An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes: an image forming unit configured to transfer a toner of an image holding member that holds toner as powder onto a recording medium to form a toner image on the recording medium; Any one of the first to fourth aspects in which the accumulation means for accumulating the toner after transfer remaining on the image holding member and the toner accumulated in the accumulation means are collected through the upper inlet and the lower inlet. one having a toner container as a powder recovery container according.

An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes: a developing unit that develops a latent image of a holding member that holds a latent image with toner as powder; and the toner discharged from the developing unit having a toner container as a powder recovery container according to any one of the fourth aspect of the first aspect of recovering through the lower inlet.

The invention of the first aspect , in a powder recovery container having an upper inlet and a lower inlet arranged in a vertical direction in the direction of gravity, and an upper wall disposed between the upper inlet and the lower inlet, Compared with a configuration in which the contact surface with which the powder on the upper wall comes into contact is horizontal, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of powder on the upper wall.

The invention of the second aspect can suppress the accumulation of powder on the upper wall as compared with the configuration in which (90 ° −θ1) ≦ θ2.

The invention of the third aspect can suppress the accumulation of powder in the recessed portion of the side wall as compared with the configuration in which the other contacted surface is not formed on the side wall recessed toward the inside.

The invention of the fourth aspect can suppress the accumulation of powder on the side wall as compared with the configuration in which (90 ° −θ3) ≦ θ2.

The fifth aspect of the invention suppresses the leakage of toner from the upper inlet of the toner recovery container to contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus as compared with the configuration in which the contact surface of the upper wall has a horizontal powder recovery container. be able to.

The sixth aspect of the invention suppresses the leakage of toner from the upper inlet of the toner recovery container to contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus, as compared with the configuration in which the contact surface of the upper wall has a horizontal powder recovery container. be able to.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main body member of the toner recovery container according to the present embodiment as viewed from the back side of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main body member of the toner recovery container according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front side of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner collection container according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front side of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view in which a part of the toner collection container according to the present embodiment is enlarged. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner collection container according to the present embodiment as viewed from the left side of the image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning of the 1st inflow port and 2nd inflow port which concern on this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning of the 2nd inflow port which concerns on this embodiment, and a side wall. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the toner which flowed in from the 2nd inflow port which concerns on this embodiment contacts an upper wall. (A) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which attaches the toner collection container which concerns on this embodiment to a discharge pipe. (B) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which a toner flows in into the inside of a toner collection container from the discharge pipe concerning this embodiment.

  An example of the powder collection container and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the following description, the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the side where a user (not shown) stands, and the apparatus width direction, the apparatus height direction, and the apparatus depth direction are described as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction. . The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are orthogonal to each other. When it is necessary to distinguish one side and the other side in the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front, the right side is + X side, the left side is -X side, and the upper side is + Y. The side and the lower side are described as -Y side, the back side as + Z side, and the front side as -Z side. The Y direction is an example of a gravity direction. The X direction and the Z direction are examples of the horizontal direction.

[overall structure]
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 includes a housing 12 as an apparatus main body, a transport unit 14, an image forming unit 20 as an example of an image forming unit, and a stacking unit 30 as an example of a stacking unit. The toner collecting container 40 as an example of the powder collecting container and the control unit 16 are included. The control unit 16 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10.

<Transport section>
The conveyance unit 14 includes a plurality of conveyance rolls 15 and conveys a sheet P as an example of a recording medium along the conveyance path 13.

<Image forming unit>
The image forming unit 20 includes photoreceptor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K, a transfer unit 24, and a fixing unit 26. Note that the subscript “Y” indicates yellow, “M” indicates magenta, “C” indicates cyan, and “K” indicates black (black).

  The photoconductor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K are accommodated in one unit body (not shown) and are movable in the Z direction with respect to the housing 12. On the −Z side of the unit main body, a handle 28 (see FIG. 6) used when moving the unit main body in the Z direction is provided. The photoconductor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K have the same configuration except for the toner T as an example of powder to be used. For this reason, the reference numerals indicating the internal configuration are assigned to the photosensitive unit 22K, and the internal configuration codes of the photosensitive units 22Y, 22M, and 22C are omitted.

  Each of the photoreceptor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K includes a photoreceptor 23 as an example of an image holding member and a holding member, and a developing unit 25 as an example of a developing unit. The photoconductor 23 is cylindrical and is provided so as to be rotatable about the Z direction as an axial direction, and holds a latent image (not shown) on the outer peripheral surface by charging and exposure. The developing unit 25 develops the latent image on the photoconductor 23 using a developer (not shown) containing toner T.

  As described above, the photoreceptor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K perform charging, exposure, and development processes using a developer to form a toner image TA as an example of a toner image. The photoconductor 23 holds the toner image TA on the outer peripheral surface. In addition, the photoreceptor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K are inclined with respect to the X direction so that the + X side is positioned in the -Y side rather than the -X side in this order from the -X side to the + X side. Are arranged side by side.

  The transfer unit 24 includes an intermediate transfer belt 24A as an example of an image holding member that holds the toner image TA, a primary transfer roll 24B, and a secondary transfer roll 24C. Further, the transfer unit 24 transfers the toner image TA formed by the photoconductor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K onto the paper P through the intermediate transfer belt 24A. The fixing unit 26 fixes the toner image TA after transfer onto the paper P onto the paper P.

<Accumulator>
The stacking unit 30 includes a first cleaning unit 32 and a second cleaning unit 34.

  The first cleaning unit 32 is provided in each of the photoreceptor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K. The first cleaning unit 32 includes a cleaning blade 32A and a conveying member 32B. Then, the first cleaning unit 32 scrapes and accumulates the toner T remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 23 after the transfer with the cleaning blade 32A, and conveys the toner T toward the toner recovery container 40 by the rotation of the conveying member 32B. Further, the first cleaning unit 32 includes a discharge pipe 33 (see FIG. 5) that guides the toner T conveyed to the −Z side to the −Y side after being dropped to the −Y side, and the toner in the discharge pipe 33. A conveying member 39 (see FIG. 5) for conveying T toward the toner recovery container 40 is provided.

  The second cleaning unit 34 includes a cleaning blade 34A and a transport member (not shown). Then, the second cleaning unit 34 scrapes and accumulates the toner T remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 24A after the transfer with the cleaning blade 34A, and rotates the conveying member (not shown) to transfer the toner T to the toner collection container 40. Transport toward -Z side.

  The second cleaning unit 34 shown in FIG. 10A includes a discharge pipe 35 that guides the toner T (not shown) conveyed to the −Z side to the −Y side after dropping the toner T to the −Z side, and the toner T. And a conveying member 36 that conveys the toner toward the toner collecting container 40. The transport member 36 is rotatably provided in the discharge pipe 35 with the Z direction as an axial direction. A hole 37 that opens toward the -Y side is formed at the -Z side end of the discharge pipe 35 and at the -Y side lower wall. The discharge pipe 35 is provided with a shutter 38 that is movable in the Z direction. The shutter 38 closes the hole 37 without attaching the toner recovery container 40 to the discharge pipe 35, and opens the hole 37 with the toner recovery container 40 attached to the discharge pipe 35.

[Main part configuration]
Next, the toner collection container 40 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the toner recovery container 40 includes a main body member 42 and a main body member 48 as an example of a recovery container main body, and an upper wall 44 formed on the main body member 48. The main body member 48 is a cover member that covers the −Z side of the main body member 42.

<Main body member>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main body member 42 is L-shaped when viewed from the + Z side to the −Z side, and is formed in a box shape with the −Z side open. Further, the main body member 42 has a side wall 42A along the XY plane on the + Z side, and a peripheral wall 42B protruding from the peripheral edge of the side wall 42A to the −Z side. Four first inserted portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K, one second inserted portion 54, and a hollow portion 56 are formed on the side wall 42A.

(First insertion part)
As shown in FIG. 4, the first inserted portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K are slanted in this order so that the first inserted portion 52K is at the lowest position from the -X side to the + X side. They are arranged side by side. Further, the first inserted portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K are, respectively, a through hole 53 that penetrates the side wall 42A in the Z direction, and a −Z side portion of the peripheral portion of the through hole 53 in the side wall 42A. And a bottom wall 58 projecting in a plate shape along the XZ plane to the side.

  The through hole 53 is sized so that the discharge pipe 33 (see FIG. 5) of the first cleaning unit 32 (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the photosensitive units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K (see FIG. 1) can be inserted. Yes. A part of the bottom wall 58 is formed with a first inflow port 62 that is a through hole penetrating in the Y direction. The first inlet 62 of the first insertion portion 52K is an example of a lower inlet. An upper wall 44 is provided on the + Y side with respect to the first inlet 62 of the first insertion portion 52K. Details of the upper wall 44 will be described later.

(Second insertion part)
As shown in FIG. 4, the second inserted portion 54 includes a through hole 55 that penetrates the side wall 42 </ b> A in the Z direction, and a peripheral portion of the through hole 55 in the side wall 42 </ b> A from the −Y side portion to the −Z side. And a bottom wall 64 projecting in a plate shape along the -Z plane. The through hole 55 is sized such that the discharge pipe 35 (see FIG. 5) of the second cleaning unit 34 (see FIG. 1) can be inserted. A part of the bottom wall 64 is formed with a second inlet 66 that is a through hole penetrating in the Y direction. The second inlet 66 is an example of an upper inlet.

  A rectangular parallelepiped support member 82 is attached on the bottom walls 58 and 64. The upper surface of the support member 82 on the + Y side is along the XZ plane. Further, the support member 82 is formed with a through-hole 82A penetrating in the Y direction. As an example, the through-hole 82 </ b> A is formed in a rectangular shape with the Z direction as a longitudinal direction when viewed in the Y direction, and is disposed inside the first inlet 62 and the second inlet 66, respectively. As a result, the toner T flows through the through holes 82 </ b> A and the first inflow ports 62, the through holes 82 </ b> A and the second inflow ports 66 into the storage chamber 72. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the through hole 82A is disposed inside the second inflow port 66 when viewed in the Y direction, the through hole 82A is included in an example of the upper inflow port.

  A shutter 84 is provided on the upper surface of each support member 82. The shutter 84 is movable in the X direction on the upper surface of the support member 82 by a moving mechanism (not shown). When the discharge pipes 33 and 35 (see FIG. 5) are not inserted, the shutter 84 is disposed on the + Y side with respect to the through hole 82A to cover the through hole 82A, and the discharge pipes 33 and 35 are inserted. And move to the + X side to open the through hole 82A.

  The interior of the main body member 42 is partitioned into a + X side storage chamber 72 and a −X side detection chamber 74 by a wall portion 68 along the Y direction as viewed in the Z direction. In the accommodation chamber 72, the first inserted portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K and the second inserted portion 54 are arranged. A through hole 76 penetrating in the X direction is formed at the + Y side end of the wall 68. In addition, a conveying member 78 is provided inside the main body member 42 across the accommodation chamber 72 and the detection chamber 74 through the through hole 76.

  The conveyance member 78 is disposed on the −Y side with respect to the first insertion portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K, and a motor provided on the image forming apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1) side at a set timing. It is rotationally driven by (not shown). The detection chamber 74 is provided with a toner sensor (not shown). Here, when the conveyance member 78 sends a part of the toner T accumulated in the storage chamber 72 to the detection chamber 74, the toner sensor detects the toner T. At this time, the control unit 16 (see FIG. 1) notifies the display unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 10 that the toner collection container 40 is full.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first insertion portion 52 </ b> K is disposed at −Y with respect to the second insertion portion 54 as an example. That is, the second inlet 66 and the first inlet 62 are formed side by side in the Y direction in the main body member 42. Note that “lining up and down in the Y direction” does not mean that the first inlet 62 is arranged on a straight line that passes through the second inlet 66 and extends in the Y direction. This is a concept including that the first inflow port 62 is shifted to the + X side or the −X side with respect to the straight line drawn along the Y direction. Here, the −X side end portion of the upper wall 44 is disposed so as to overlap the second inserted portion 54 when viewed in the Y direction.

  The conveyance member 36 and the conveyance member 39 rotate in the counterclockwise direction (the direction indicated by the arrow R, hereinafter referred to as the R direction) when the toner collection container 40 is viewed from the −Z side to the + Z side. . Inertia force due to rotation in the R direction acts on the toner T (see FIG. 1) that is transported to the −Z side by the rotation of the transport member 36 and flows into the storage chamber 72 from the second inlet 66. For this reason, a part of the toner T flowing into the storage chamber 72 from the second inlet 66 moves toward the upper wall 44.

<Upper wall>
The upper wall 44 shown in FIG. 5 protrudes from the side wall 42A to the −Z side and covers the first inlet 62 when viewed from the + Y side to the −Y side. The upper wall 44 is disposed between the first inlet 62 and the second inlet 66 in the Y direction. Furthermore, the upper wall 44 has, as an example, a horizontal wall 44A, a curved wall 44B, and a vertical wall 44C. The horizontal wall 44A extends along the XZ plane from the center in the Y direction of the peripheral wall 42B on the + X side to the −X side. The curved wall 44B is curved from the −X side end of the horizontal wall 44A to the −Y side. The vertical wall 44C extends from the end on the curved wall 44B-Y side to the -Y side and is connected to the -X side end of the bottom wall 58. Here, the surface on the opposite side (outside) of the curved wall 44B from the through hole 53 side is referred to as a curved surface 45. The curved surface 45 is an example of a contacted surface.

(Curved surface)
As shown in FIG. 7, as an example, the curved surface 45 is formed in a ¼ circle shape at the −X side and the + Y position with respect to the first inserted portion 52 </ b> K when viewed in the Z direction. . Moreover, the curved surface 45 protrudes toward the opposite side to the through-hole 53 side.

  When the second inserted portion 54 is viewed in the Z direction, the position of the −Y side end of the + X side inner wall of the through hole 82A is referred to as a point A. A line (broken line B in the figure) drawn through the point A and drawn from the through hole 82 </ b> A toward the −Y side along the Y direction is referred to as a virtual line B. The curved surface 45 is disposed at a position that intersects the virtual line B. That is, the toner T dropped from the second inlet 66 (see FIG. 1) comes into contact with the curved surface 45. Further, the intersection of the virtual line B and the curved surface 45 when the upper wall 44 is viewed in the Z direction is referred to as a point C. In addition, a line passing through the point C in the XY plane and orthogonal to the virtual line B is referred to as a line D, and a tangent line of the curved surface 45 passing through the point C in the XY plane is referred to as a tangent line E.

  Here, as an example, the angle formed by the virtual line B and the curved surface 45 is defined as an acute angle θ1 among the angles formed by the virtual line B and the tangent line E. Note that the angle of the tangent line E may be defined by an angle θa which is an acute angle among the angles formed by the line D and the tangent line E.

  The repose angle of the toner T (see FIG. 1) is referred to as an angle θ2 (not shown). The angle θ2 is measured by the method described in JIS R9301-2-2. In this embodiment, as an example, the measurement result of the angle θ <b> 2 that is the repose angle of the toner T is 60 [°]. Further, in the present embodiment, the angle θ1, the angle θ2, and the angle θa are defined using a relational expression of θa = (90 ° −θ1)> θ2, and as an example, the angle θa is 65 ° and the angle θ1. Is 25 [°].

(Recessed part)
As shown in FIG. 6, the recessed portion 56 is -Z with respect to the vertical wall 43 along the XY plane of the side wall 42 </ b> A between the first inlet 62 and the second inlet 66 in the Y direction. This is a portion that is recessed toward the side (inside the main body member 42). The vertical wall 43 extends from the −Y side end of the support member 82 to the −Y side along the XY plane. Further, the recess 56 is formed in the main body member 42 in order to avoid the handle 28 (see FIG. 6) described above. An inclined surface 56 </ b> A as an example of another contacted surface is formed at the + Y side end of the hollow portion 56.

(Inclined surface)
As shown in FIG. 8, the inclined surface 56 </ b> A is continuously formed at the −Y side end of the vertical wall 43. In addition, the inclined surface 56A is inclined with respect to the Y direction so that the −Y side end is disposed on the −Z side with respect to the + Y side end.

  When the second inserted portion 54 is viewed in the X direction, the position of the −Y side end of the + Z side inner wall of the through hole 82A is referred to as a point F. A line (broken line G in the figure) drawn through the point F and drawn from the through hole 82A along the Y direction toward the −Y side is referred to as a virtual line G. The inclined surface 56A is disposed at a position that intersects the virtual line G. That is, the toner T (see FIG. 1) dropped from the second inflow port 66 comes into contact with the inclined surface 56A. Further, when the inclined surface 56A is viewed in the X direction, the intersection of the virtual line G and the inclined surface 56A is referred to as a point H. In addition, a line passing through the point H in the YZ plane and orthogonal to the virtual line G is referred to as a line K. A line passing through the point H in the YZ plane and representing the inclined surface 56A is referred to as a line M.

  Here, of the angles formed by the imaginary line G and the line M, the acute angle is referred to as an angle θ3. Note that the inclination angle of the inclined surface 56A may be defined by an angle θb which is an acute angle of the angles formed by the line K and the line M. In the present embodiment, the angle θ2, the angle θ3, and the angle θb are defined using the relational expression θb = (90 ° −θ3)> θ2, and as an example, the angle θb is 70 ° and the angle θ3. Is 20 [°].

[Action]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge pipe 33 is inserted into the first insertion portion 52K and the discharge pipe 35 is inserted into the second insertion portion 54, so that the toner is collected in the image forming apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1). A container 40 is attached. In addition, although the discharge pipe 33 is inserted also in the 1st to-be-inserted part 52Y, 52M, 52C (refer FIG. 2), illustration is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, when the discharge pipe 35 is inserted into the second inserted portion 54, the shutter 84 moves to the + X side and the shutter 38 moves to the + Z side, so that the hole A flow path from 37 to the second inlet 66 through the through hole 82A is formed. Further, in the first inserted portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52K shown in FIG. 2, flow paths from the discharge pipe 35 (see FIG. 5) to the first inlet 62 are formed.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, the toner image TA is formed on the paper P by the image forming unit 20 in a state where the toner recovery container 40 is mounted. At this time, the toner T discharged from the first cleaning unit 32 is conveyed by the conveying member 39 (see FIG. 5), and is collected in the toner collecting container 40 through the first inlet 62 (see FIG. 5). Further, the toner T discharged from the second cleaning unit 34 is transported by the transport member 36 (see FIG. 5) and is collected in the toner recovery container 40 through the second inlet 66 (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the inertia force associated with the rotation of the transport member 36 in the R direction acts on the toner T that flows into the storage chamber 72 from the discharge pipe 35 through the second inlet 66. Therefore, the toner T that flows into the storage chamber 72 from the second inlet 66 flows (drops) toward the −X side end of the upper wall 44 as indicated by an arrow FL.

  Here, in the toner recovery container 40, since the end portion on the −X side of the upper wall 44 is a curved surface 45, the toner T in contact with the curved surface 45 has a gravity corresponding to the shape of the curved surface 45. A component force (a component force contributing to the fall of the toner T) acts. For this reason, the toner T in contact with the curved surface 45 falls to the −Y side from the curved surface 45. As a result, in the toner recovery container 40, the toner T hardly remains on the upper wall 44. Therefore, the toner T is deposited on the upper wall 44 as compared with the configuration in which the upper wall 44 is along the XZ plane. Is suppressed.

  In the toner recovery container 40, the aforementioned angle θa (see FIG. 7) on the curved surface 45 is 65 [°], which is larger than the angle θ2 (= 60 [°]) that is the repose angle of the toner T. For this reason, when the toner T overlaps the curved surface 45 in a plurality of layers, the layer of the toner T collapses, so that the upper wall 44 is compared with the configuration in which θa = (90 ° −θ1) ≦ θ2. The toner T is prevented from being deposited on the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, a part of the toner T that has flowed into the storage chamber 72 from the discharge pipe 35 through the second inlet 66 falls down toward the recess 56.

  Here, since the inclined surface 56A is formed in the recess 56 of the side wall 42A in the toner recovery container 40, the toner T that has come into contact with the inclined surface 56A has a gravity force (depending on the shape of the inclined surface 56A). The component force that contributes to the fall of the toner T acts. For this reason, the toner T that has come into contact with the inclined surface 56 </ b> A falls to the −Y side from the depression 56. As a result, in the toner recovery container 40, the toner T hardly remains on the side wall 42A, so that the toner T is prevented from accumulating in the recess 56 compared to the configuration in which the inclined surface 56A is not formed in the recess 56. Is done.

  In the toner collection container 40, the aforementioned angle θb (see FIG. 8) on the inclined surface 56A is 65 °, which is larger than the angle θ2 that is the repose angle of the toner T. For this reason, when the toner T overlaps with the inclined surface 56A in a plurality of layers, the layer of the toner T collapses. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which θb = (90 ° −θ3) ≦ θ2, the side wall 42A has. Accumulation of toner T is suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, as described above, in the toner recovery container 40, the toner T is suppressed from being deposited on the upper wall 44 (see FIG. 7) and the side wall 42A (see FIG. 8). For this reason, the accumulated toner T is prevented from leaking to the + Y side with respect to the second inlet 66 (see FIG. 7). As a result, when the toner collection container 40 is removed from the image forming apparatus 10, the toner T leaks from the second inflow port 66 as compared with the configuration in which the upper wall 44 includes the toner collection container along the XZ plane. It is suppressed that the inside of the forming apparatus 10 is soiled.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

  In the main body member 42, the curved surface 45 may be an inclined surface. Further, the inclined surface 56A may be a curved surface. Further, in the configuration in which the toner T dropped from the second inflow port 66 is not deposited on the recess 56, the inclined surface 56A may not be formed on the main body member 42. In addition, in the configuration in which the handle 28 and the toner collection container 40 are disposed apart from each other, the hollow portion 56 may not be formed in the main body member 42.

  Further, even when the curved surface 45 has an angle θ1 or an angle θa that satisfies θa = (90 ° −θ1) ≦ θ2, the toner T is deposited more than the configuration in which the upper wall 44 is along the XZ plane. It is possible to suppress. Even when the inclined surface 56A has an angle θ3 or an angle θb that satisfies θb = (90 ° −θ3) ≦ θ2, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of the toner T as compared with the configuration without the inclined surface 56A. Furthermore, the curved surface 45 and the inclined surface 56 </ b> A may entirely overlap with the second inlet 66 as viewed in the Y direction. In addition, the virtual lines B and G may be drawn from the inner wall of the second inflow port 66. In addition, the inclined surface 56A may be composed of a plurality of surfaces having different inclination angles.

  The accumulating unit 30 is not limited to accumulating the toner T (waste toner) remaining in the transfer unit 24 and the photoconductor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K, and the toner remaining in the photoconductor units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K. Only T (waste toner) may be accumulated. In this configuration, the inflow ports of the main body member 42 corresponding to any two of Y, M, C, and K may be arranged vertically in the Y direction.

  The powder is not limited to the toner T, and may be a developer containing a magnetic material (carrier) and the toner T, for example. That is, the powder collection container is not limited to the toner collection container 40, and may be a developer collection container. Further, the developing unit 25 is provided with a discharge unit that discharges the used developer or toner T toward the toner collection container 40, and the toner T discharged from the developing unit 25 is discharged to the second inlet 66 or the second. The toner may be collected by the toner collection container 40 through the one inlet 62.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 20 Image forming part (an example of image forming means)
23 photoconductor (an example of an image holding member and a holding member)
24A Intermediate transfer belt (an example of an image holding member)
25 Development unit (an example of development means)
30 stacking unit (an example of stacking means)
40 Toner collection container (example of powder collection container)
42 Main body member (an example of a collection container main body)
42A Side wall 44 Upper wall 45 Curved surface (an example of a contacted surface)
48 Main body member (example of collection container main body)
56A inclined surface (an example of another contacted surface)
62 First inlet (an example of a lower inlet)
66 Second inlet (an example of an upper inlet)
82A Through hole (example of upper inlet)
B Virtual line G Virtual line

Claims (5)

An upper inlet that is opened in the direction of gravity and into which the powder flows, and a lower side that is opened in the direction of gravity and located below the discharge pipe in the direction of gravity and into which the powder discharged from the discharge pipe flows An inflow port is formed side by side in the gravity direction, and a collection container body that collects powder and
An upper wall disposed between the upper inlet, the discharge pipe, and the lower inlet, wherein at least a part of the upper wall overlaps with the upper inlet when viewed in the direction of gravity and the gravity and the contacted surface inclined or curved with respect to the direction, the and a vertical wall extending in the direction of gravity, the upper wall of the lower end of the discharge pipe and below the said gravity direction extending to said lower inlet When,
I have a,
The collection container body is a side wall in which an insertion portion into which the discharge pipe is inserted is formed, and the discharge pipe is inserted between the upper inlet and the lower inlet in the gravitational direction. Powder having the side wall that is recessed toward the inside in the direction of being inserted into the portion and has another contacted surface that is formed at a portion that overlaps with the upper inlet as viewed in the direction of gravity and that is inclined or curved Collection container.   The acute angle of the angle formed by the virtual line and the contacted surface at a position where the virtual line drawn from the upper inlet toward the lower side of the gravitational direction intersects the contacted surface is θ1 °, and The powder collection container according to claim 1, wherein the repose angle of the powder is θ2 °, and (90 ° -θ1)> θ2. An acute angle among the angles formed by the virtual line and the contacted surface at a position where the virtual line drawn from the upper inlet toward the lower side of the gravity direction intersects the other contacted surface is θ3 °. The powder recovery container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the repose angle of the powder is θ2 °, and (90 °-θ3)> θ2 . Image forming means for transferring the toner of an image holding member for holding toner as powder onto a recording medium and forming a toner image on the recording medium;
An accumulating means for accumulating toner after transfer remaining on the image holding member;
The toner collecting container as a powder collecting container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the toner collected by the collecting means is collected through the upper inlet and the lower inlet.
An image forming apparatus . Developing means for developing the latent image of the holding member for holding the latent image with toner as powder;
The toner recovery container as a powder recovery container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the toner discharged from the developing means is recovered through the upper inlet or the lower inlet.
An image forming apparatus.