JP6597106B2 - Image forming apparatus and collection container used therefor - Google Patents

Description

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

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image made of a developer, waste developer (waste toner or the like) generated by the formation of the image is stored in a collection container. For example, the following are known as image forming apparatuses in which such a collection container is detachably attached to the apparatus main body.

  That is, the waste toner bottle is fixed to the main body by a pushing operation of pushing the waste toner bottle into the main body from a state where the waste toner bottle for collecting the waste toner is not fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, there is known an image forming apparatus including a lock mechanism that dissociates the waste toner bottle from the main body portion by the pushing operation from the state where the waste toner bottle is fixed to the main body portion (Patent Document 1 below). . In Patent Document 1, the lock mechanism is installed in a waste toner bottle and is moved in a projecting direction during the pushing operation, and the locking mechanism is installed in the main body unit and the projecting unit for each pushing operation. A locking portion that performs locking and disengagement of the portion, and a biasing portion that is installed on the main body portion and biases the protruding portion toward the side opposite to the pressing direction at the time of the pressing operation. It has been shown that

  An image forming apparatus that is detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus and that uses a magnetic force as a fixing means for fixing a waste toner collecting container that stores waste toner collected by the cleaning apparatus within the main body of the image forming apparatus. Is known (Patent Document 2 below). Patent Document 2 shows that the fixing means includes a magnet receiver provided as a fixed member in the waste toner collecting container and a magnet provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus.

JP 2012-159618 A JP 2009-271276 A

  The present invention provides a recovery container for recovering waste developer generated from a plurality of locations of an image forming apparatus by forming an image composed of a developer in a mounting portion of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus that can be stably mounted on the mounting portion with a simple configuration despite being connected to the plurality of discharge portions of the waste developer against the elastic force of the elastic member received by the opening and closing member. The present invention provides a collection container used in the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention (A1)
A plurality of discharge portions each having discharge ports for discharging waste developer generated from a plurality of locations by forming an image made of developer are provided, and a collection container for collecting the waste developer is detachably mounted. A mounting part;
A plurality of receiving ports that are detachably mounted on the mounting portion, collect the waste developer, and are individually connected to the plurality of discharge portions and receive the waste developer discharged from the respective discharge ports. A collection container provided with a connecting portion;
It is individually attached to at least one of the discharge ports of the plurality of discharge portions and the reception ports of the plurality of connection portions so as to be movable, and resists the elastic force of an elastic member when the recovery container is mounted on the mounting portion. A plurality of opening and closing members that move to a position to open the discharge port or the receiving port, and move to a position to close the discharge port or the receiving port by the elastic force of the elastic member when the collection container is removed from the mounting portion;
With
The mounting portion is provided with two positioning support portions for positioning and supporting the recovery container at the time of mounting, and one fixing portion for detachably fixing the recovery container supported by the two positioning support portions,
The recovery container is provided with two positioned support portions that are positioned and supported by the two positioning support portions, and one fixed portion that is fixed to the one fixing portion,
The one fixed part and the fixed part are configured as a latch mechanism ,
When the one fixed part and the fixed part connect the area where the fixed part and the fixed part are in contact with the area where the two positioning support parts and the positioned support part are in contact with each other by a virtual straight line Arranged at a position where the centers of gravity of a plurality of reaction forces received in the direction in which the collection container is removed from the mounting portion by the elastic force of each elastic member in the plurality of opening and closing members are present in the formed triangular region It is what has been.

In the image forming apparatus of the invention (A2), in the image forming apparatus of the invention A1, the plurality of portions are formed by a plurality of image forming apparatuses that form an image made of a developer and the plurality of image forming apparatuses. An intermediate transfer device in which an image to be transferred is temporarily transferred and conveyed to a final transfer position to a recording medium,
The one fixed portion or the fixed portion includes the plurality of discharge portions or connection portions for discharging or collecting waste developer generated from the plurality of image forming devices when viewed in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity. It is provided at a position offset from the center position of the width of the area in the horizontal direction to the side where the discharge section or connection section for discharging or collecting the waste developer generated from the intermediate transfer device is present. There is .

In the image forming apparatus of the invention (A 3 ), in the image forming apparatus of the invention A1 or A2 , the two positioning support portions or the positioned support portions are arranged at a lower end side portion of the mounting portion or the collection container, The one fixed part or the fixed part is arranged at a portion on the upper end side of the mounting part or the collection container.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention (A 4 ) is the image forming apparatus of the above-described invention A1 or A3 , wherein the plurality of image forming apparatuses form an image made of a developer.
The image forming apparatus of the invention (A 5 ) is the image forming apparatus of the invention A1 or A3 , wherein the plurality of locations are a plurality of image forming devices that form an image made of a developer, and the plurality of image forming devices. And an intermediate transfer device in which the image formed in (1) is temporarily transferred and conveyed to the final transfer position to the recording medium.
The image forming apparatus of the invention (A 6 ) is the image forming apparatus of the invention A 5 , wherein the collection container is configured to collect waste developer generated from the plurality of image forming apparatuses. .

The recovery container of the present invention (B1) is mounted from the invention A1 to any one of the image forming apparatus A 6, generated from a plurality of locations by the formation of an image composed of developer of the image forming apparatus discards The developer is collected.

According to the image forming apparatus of the invention A1, the collection container for collecting the waste developer generated from a plurality of locations of the image forming apparatus by forming the image made of the developer is detachably mounted on the mounting portion of the image forming apparatus. In comparison with the case where two or more fixed parts and fixed parts are provided, the plurality of waste developer discharging parts in the mounting part are connected against the elastic force of the elastic member received by the opening and closing member. Thus, it can be mounted in a stable state with a simple configuration to the mounting portion, and compared to the case where the arrangement of the content specified in the invention A1 is not adopted for the arrangement of one fixed portion and the fixed portion, not the collecting container to an incomplete fixed state to the mounting portion, Ru can be mounted in a more accurate stable state.

In the image forming apparatus of the invention A2, the collection container is placed in an imperfectly fixed state in the mounting portion as compared with the case where the arrangement of the contents specified in the invention A2 is not adopted for the arrangement of one fixed portion and the fixed portion. Therefore, it can be mounted in a more stable state .

In the image forming apparatus of the invention A 3, as compared to the case where two positioning support or the positioning support part and the the arrangement of one fixed part or the fixed portion does not adopt the arrangement of conditions specified above invention A 3 The collection container can be attached to the attachment portion in a stable state that can be easily attached and detached.
In the image forming apparatus of the invention A 4, even if a plurality of locations waste developer is generated is a plurality of image forming devices, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous effects as provided by the invention A1.
In the image forming apparatus of the invention A 5 are, even when a plurality of locations waste developer is generated is a plurality of image forming devices and the intermediate transfer device, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous effects as provided by the invention A1.
The image forming apparatus of the invention A 6, collecting the waste developer collecting container when a plurality of locations waste developer is generated is a plurality of image forming devices and the intermediate transfer unit is generated from a plurality of image forming devices Even when configured as described above, the effect of the invention A1 can be similarly obtained.

According to the collection container of the invention B1, when the image forming apparatus is detachably attached to the attachment portion, the elastic member receives the elastic force of the elastic member received by the plurality of waste developer discharge portions in the attachment portion. despite to connect Te, as compared with the case where the fixed portion of two or more provided, the stable wearing state can be used with a simple structure to the mounting portion, also, one fixed portion and the as compared with the case where the arrangement of the fixing unit does not adopt the arrangement of the contents to be identified by the invention A1, not the collecting container to an incomplete fixed state to the mounting portion, Ru can be mounted in a more accurate stable state .

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance (an appearance with an exterior cover opened) of an image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of attaching / detaching a collection container to / from a mounting portion in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state after a collection container is removed from a mounting portion in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state when a discharge pipe in a collection container mounting portion is looked up obliquely from below in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which shows a discharge pipe (state when a discharge port is closed). It is a perspective view which shows a state when the collection container which concerns on Embodiment 1 is seen from the near side. It is a perspective view which shows a state when the collection container of FIG. 7 is seen from the back side. It is a perspective view shown in the state which partially seen through the principal part of the connection part in the collection container of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the Q1-Q1 line | wire of the connection part of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the Q2-Q2 line of the connection part of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a state when a discharge pipe is connected to the connection part in the collection container of FIG. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state of the connection part at the time of attaching or detaching (especially mounting | wearing) a collection container. It is a front view which shows the main structures of the collection container of FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a main configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 4. (A) is a perspective view which mainly shows one positioning support part in a mounting part, (b) is a perspective view which mainly shows the other positioning support part in a mounting part. It is a perspective view which shows one fixing | fixed part and its peripheral part in a mounting part in the state which looked up a little from the downward direction. (A) is a perspective view which shows the hook member which comprises one upper fixing | fixed part in a collection container, (b) is a perspective view which shows the state which looked at the hook member of (a) from the back side. (A) is principal part sectional drawing which shows a state when one lower mounting part of a collection container is inserted in one positioning support part of a mounting part, (b) is the mounting part of the other lower mounting part of a collection container. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows a state when inserted in the other positioning support part. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows a state when the upper fixing | fixed part of a collection container is approaching the fixing | fixed part of an attachment part at the time of mounting | wearing. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the state of the process in which the collar part in the upper fixing | fixed part of a collection container contacts the fixing member in the fixing | fixed part of a mounting part at the time of mounting | wearing, and is displaced below. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows a state when the upper fixing | fixed part of a collection container is positioned and fixed to the fixing | fixed part of a mounting part at the time of mounting | wearing. (A) is principal part sectional drawing which shows a state when one lower attachment part of a collection container is positioned and fixed to one positioning support part of a mounting part, (b) is the other lower attachment part of a collection container. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows a state when being positioned and fixed to the other positioning support part of a mounting part. FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating a state in which a collection container is mounted on the mounting portion of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 15. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the operation content for releasing the upper fixing | fixed part of a collection container from the fixed state from the fixing | fixed part of a mounting part when removing a collection | recovery container. 10 is a chart showing a specific example when one fixing portion in the mounting portion of the image forming apparatus and one upper fixing portion in the collection container are arranged at positions satisfying specific conditions. It is a front view which shows the other example of the main structures of a collection container. It is a front view which shows the comparative reference example of a collection container.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “embodiments”) will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
1 to 4 show an image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the image forming apparatus 1 (appearance with the exterior cover opened), FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1, and FIG. 3 shows the collection container in the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 4 shows a state after the collection container is removed in the image forming apparatus. In addition, the arrows indicated by reference signs X, Y, and Z in each drawing such as FIG. 1 are orthogonal coordinate axes (directions) indicating the respective directions of the width, height, and depth of the three-dimensional space assumed in each drawing.

<Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image composed of a developer on a recording sheet 9 which is an example of a recording medium. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 receives image information input from an external device such as an information terminal and receives an image. The printer is configured to perform formation.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has a housing 10 having an overall box-like appearance. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 is formed by an image forming apparatus 20 and an image forming apparatus 20 that form a toner image made of toner as a developer in the internal space of the housing 10. The intermediate transfer device 30 is transferred to a secondary transfer position where the toner image is temporarily transferred and finally transferred to the recording paper 9, and the recording paper 9 supplied to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer device 30 is accommodated. And a fixing device 45 for fixing the toner image secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer device 30 to the recording paper 9. On the upper surface portion 10 a of the housing 10, a discharge storage portion 11 is formed for storing the recording paper 9 on which the image has been formed in a state where the recording paper 9 is discharged and stacked. A one-dot chain line shown in FIG. 2 is a main conveyance path of the recording paper 9.

  The image forming apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment includes four image forming apparatuses that individually form developer (toner) images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is comprised using apparatus 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K. The image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K) according to the first embodiment is gradually arranged in the direction opposite to the gravity direction in the order of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow in the internal space of the housing 10. It is arranged in a state of being inclined and arranged to be higher.

  Each of the four image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, and K) is a photosensitive drum 21 that is a drum-shaped photosensitive member that is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow (a clockwise direction in FIG. 2), and a photosensitive drum. A charging device 22 in the form of a roll for charging the outer peripheral surface serving as an image forming region of the drum 21 to a required potential, and the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after charging are separated into each color component based on required image information. An exposure device 23 that irradiates light to form an electrostatic latent image of each color component, and a developing device 24 (Y, Y) that develops the electrostatic latent image with toner of each color component and visualizes it as a toner image of each color. M, C, K) and unnecessary toner such as toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after primary transfer of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 to the intermediate transfer device 30 (the intermediate transfer belt 31) is removed. With the drum cleaning device 26 etc. It has been made.

  Among these, the developing devices 24 (Y, M, C, K) individually store toners of the color components corresponding to the four colors (Y, M, C, K), and development (not shown). A developer (mainly toner) is replenished from the agent replenishing portion according to the consumption amount and the like. In addition, the drum cleaning device 26 is scraped by a cleaning member 26a such as an elastic plate that contacts the photosensitive drum 21 and scrapes unnecessary materials such as residual toner inside the housing of the cleaning device, and a cleaning member 26a. A rotary conveying member 26b such as a screw auger that feeds residual toner as waste toner toward a collection box 6 described later is provided.

  In each image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K), when an image formation request is received, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 that starts rotating is charged to a required potential by the charging device 22 and then charged. The exposure device 23 irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with light corresponding to the image signal of each color component to form an electrostatic latent image of each color component. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image of each color component formed on the outer peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 21 is developed with the toner of any one of the four colors in the corresponding developing device 24 (Y, M, C, K). Thus, toner images of the four colors (Y, M, C, K) are formed on the respective photosensitive drums 21.

  The intermediate transfer device 30 is disposed in an inclined position in the interior space of the housing 10 at a position above the four image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) groups. It is arranged in a slightly inclined state corresponding to.

  The intermediate transfer device 30 according to the first embodiment is an endless intermediate that can transfer and hold a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 of the image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K) by electrostatic action. A transfer belt 31, a plurality of support rolls 32 a to 32 e that support the intermediate transfer belt 31 so as to rotate while sequentially passing through each primary transfer position of the image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K); A roll form or the like that is disposed inside the belt 31 and that primarily transfers each toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 of each image forming unit 20 (Y, M, C, K) to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31. On the outer peripheral surface of the primary transfer device 34, the secondary transfer device 35 such as a roll for secondary transfer of the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 to the recording paper P, and the intermediate transfer belt 31 after the secondary transfer. No residual toner etc. And a belt cleaning device 36 or the like for cleaning by removing the objects.

  Of these, the support roll 32a is configured as a drive roll and secondary transfer backup roll, the support roll 32c is configured as a tension applying roll, the support rolls 32d and 32e are configured as a surface roll, and the support roll 32b is configured as a cleaning backup roll. Further, the belt cleaning device 36 has a cleaning member 36a such as an elastic plate that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 31 and scrapes unnecessary materials such as residual toner inside the casing of the cleaning device, and a cleaning member 36a. A rotary conveying member 36b such as a screw auger for sending the residual toner as waste toner toward the collection box 6 is provided.

The sheet feeding device 40 is disposed in a portion of the internal space of the housing 10 that is located below the four image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) groups.
The sheet feeding device 40 according to the first embodiment is attached to the housing 10 so as to be freely drawn out, and a sheet container 41 that accommodates recording sheets 9 having a desired size and type on the stacking plate 42. And a feeding device 43 that feeds the recording paper 9 from the paper container 41 one by one.

  In the paper feeding device 40, when an image is formed, the required recording paper 9 is sent out one by one from the paper container 41 by the sending device 43. The recording paper 9 sent out from the paper feeding device 40 travels along the transport path indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, and is temporarily stopped by the transport timing adjustment roll pair 44 arranged on the transport path, and then at the secondary transfer timing. At the same time, the intermediate transfer device 30 is sent to a secondary transfer position (a portion where the secondary transfer device 35 faces the intermediate transfer belt 31).

  In the intermediate transfer device 30, when an image is formed, each color toner image formed by the image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K) is aligned with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 by the primary transfer device 34. In this state, the primary transfer is performed sequentially. At this time, in the image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K), the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after the primary transfer is cleaned by the drum cleaning device 26. Subsequently, the intermediate transfer belt 31 conveys the primarily transferred toner image to a secondary transfer position facing the secondary transfer device 35. Thereafter, the intermediate transfer device 30 secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 to the recording paper 9 supplied from the paper supply device 40 to the secondary transfer position. At this time, in the intermediate transfer device 30, the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 after the secondary transfer is cleaned by the belt cleaning device 36.

  The fixing device 45 is driven to rotate inside a casing of the device in a required direction and is heated by a heating unit, and is heated by a heating unit to maintain a surface temperature at a required temperature. And a pressurizing rotating body 47 such as a roll form or a belt form that contacts and rotates at a required pressure so as to be substantially along the rotation axis direction of the rotating body 46 for heating.

  In the fixing device 45, when an image is formed, the recording paper 9 on which the toner image is secondarily transferred by the intermediate transfer device 30 is sent to the pressure contact portion between the heating rotator 46 and the pressurizing rotator 47 to be fixed. By processing (heating and pressing), the toner image is melted and fixed on the recording paper 9. The recording sheet 9 after fixing proceeds on the conveyance path indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, and is carried out of the housing 10 by the discharge roll pair 48 arranged on the conveyance path, and finally accommodated in the discharge accommodating portion 11. .

  The image forming apparatus 1 selects and operates all or a part (however, a plurality of) of the image forming apparatuses 20 (Y, M, C, and K), and thereby operates toner of four colors (Y, M, C, and K). A color image configured by combining all or part of the above can be formed. Further, by operating one of the image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K), it is also possible to form a single color image composed of one color toner such as black.

<Configuration Regarding Collection of Waste Developer in Image Forming Apparatus>
In the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the drum cleaning devices 26 in the four image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, and K) and the belt cleaning device 36 in the intermediate transfer device 30 are used. The waste developer to be collected, which has been scraped and removed by the above, is finally collected and collected in a single collection box 6 having a detachable system. The waste developer is mainly toner, but strictly speaking, it also contains residual deposits such as paper dust.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, etc., a collection box including a mounting space that is recessed on one side surface portion 10 b of the housing 10 so as to form a horizontally long rectangle inside. 6 is provided, and the collection box 6 is detachably mounted on the mounting portion 12 for use. The one side surface portion 10b of the casing 10 is, for example, a side surface portion that can expose a part of the four image forming devices 20 and a part of the intermediate transfer device 30 to the outside. Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 is used, the mounting unit 12 is covered with an openable / closable exterior cover (not shown) that constitutes a part of the housing 10.

  In addition, the mounting portion 12 is provided with two positioning support portions 13A and 13B for positioning and supporting a part of the lower end portion of the collection box 6 at the time of mounting at a portion of the portion on the lower end side. The two positioning support portions 13A and 13B support a part of the lower end portion of the collection box 6 as a fulcrum when swinging as indicated by double-sided arrows D1 and D2 in FIG. Also comes to work. In addition, the mounting portion 12 has one fixing portion 14 that detachably fixes a part of the upper end portion of the collection box 6 supported by the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B to a part of the portion on the upper end side. Is provided. Details of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B and the fixing portion 14 will be described later.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the mounting unit 12 transports the waste developer scraped and removed by each drum cleaning device 26 and the belt cleaning device 36 to the collection box 6 mounted on the mounting unit 12. Therefore, the discharge pipe 15 (Y, M, C, K) of each drum cleaning device 26 and the discharge pipe 16 of the belt cleaning device 36 are provided in a state of protruding into the mounting space of the mounting portion 12. ing. Of these, the four discharge pipes 15 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged so that the image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged in an inclined state as described above. The exhaust pipes 16 are arranged so as to be inclined in accordance with the state of the arrangement, and the remaining one discharge pipe 16 is arranged so as to exist at a position obliquely above the discharge pipe 15K. .

  These discharge pipes 15 (Y, M, C, K) and 16 are all cylindrical pipes each having a discharge port 52 for discharging waste developer, as shown in FIGS. A main body 51 and a slide shutter 54 that slides in the pipe length direction inside the pipe main body 51 to open and close the discharge port 52 are mainly configured.

  Among these, the pipe main body 51 is provided so as to extend from each housing in each drum cleaning device 26 and belt cleaning device 36 so as to reach the mounting space of the mounting portion 12, and each cleaning device 26 is provided in the internal space. , 36 are rotatably arranged in a state where the rotary conveying members 26b, 36b are extended at least until reaching the discharge port 52. Further, the pipe body 51 is provided with a small-diameter portion 53 having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe body and having an opening 53a formed at the tip portion on the tip side. The discharge port 52 is used to drop and discharge the developer transported by the transport members 26b and 36b of the drum cleaning device 26 and the belt cleaning device 36, and has a rectangular shape on the lower surface portion on the front end side of the pipe body 51. Is provided. The small-diameter portion 53 is formed as a chamfered inclined portion 53b that inclines toward the back as the lower corner portion thereof is directed downward (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Further, in the discharge pipe 15 (Y, M, C, K), the lower periphery of the discharge port 52 of the pipe body 51 is connected to a connection portion (61) described later in the collection box 6 as shown in FIG. A sliding frame 56 having a flat bottom surface is provided to smoothly move forward and backward.

  The slide shutter 54 is a cylindrical structure having a size that can be accommodated in the internal space of the pipe body 51 and having one end (end on the back side: the end located in the arrow direction of the coordinate axis Z) opened. An opening 54a is formed on the lower surface of the other end (front end). The slide shutter 54 is guided by guide grooves and projections (not shown) formed along the length direction of the pipe between the inner wall of the pipe body 51 and is slidable within a required range in the length direction of the pipe. In addition, the elastic member 57 such as a coil spring is elastically pressed against the small diameter portion 53 side of the pipe main body 51 with a required spring force (elastic force) F1.

  When the discharge pipe 15 (16) is not connected to the collection box 6, the slide shutter 54 is kept elastically pressed against the small-diameter portion 53 of the pipe body 51 by the spring force of the elastic member 57. As a result, the body portion of the shutter 54 (the portion other than the opening portion 54a that is not open) is in a state of facing the discharge port 52 and placed at a position where the discharge port 52 is closed (see FIG. 6 and the like). On the other hand, when the discharge pipe 15 (16) is connected to the collection box 6, the slide shutter 54 is pushed by a projection (67) described later provided in the collection box 6, thereby causing the spring force of the elastic member 57. Against this, the pipe body 51 is slid into the back side of the pipe body 51 so that the opening 54a faces the discharge port 52 and is positioned to open the discharge port 52 (see FIG. 12 etc.).

<Configuration of collection box>
The collection box 6 collects the waste developer scraped and removed by each drum cleaning device 26 in the image forming device 20 (Y, M, C, K) and the belt cleaning device 36 in the intermediate transfer device 30 as described above. It is a collection container to be stored. Specifically, the collection box 6 according to the first embodiment is a substantially rectangular thick plate, in which a required accommodation space is formed inside, and the whole is long in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIGS. It is comprised as a container which consists of such forms.

  Further, the recovery box 6 is provided with two lower mounting portions 71A and 71B supported respectively by two positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12 in a part of the lower end side portion thereof, An upper mounting portion 72 that is detachably fixed to one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 is provided in a part of the portion. A part of the front portion 60a of the collection box 6 is provided with a handle hole 60c having a concave shape toward the back surface portion 60b. Details of the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B and the upper mounting portion 72 will be described later.

The attachment / detachment of the collection box 6 to / from the mounting portion 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 is generally performed as follows.
First, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the entire collection box 6 is inclined and the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B on the lower end side thereof are positioned on the positioning support portions 13A and 13A of the mounting portion 12 as shown in FIG. After having been inserted into each of the 13Bs, the entire recovery box 6 is swung (in the direction indicated by the arrow D1) with the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B as fulcrums, and finally on the upper end side. This is performed by fixing the upper mounting portion 72 to the fixing portion 14 of the mounting portion 12.
On the other hand, for the removal, the upper mounting portion 72 of the collection box 6 is released from the fixed state by the fixing portion 14 of the mounting portion 12, and the upper end portion is pulled to the near side (in the direction indicated by the arrow D2). Is swung around the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B as fulcrums and tilted so as to fall to the near side (see FIG. 3). , 71B are taken out from the positioning support portions 13A, 13B of the mounting portion 12 so as to be detached from each other.

  As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the collection box 6 is discharged from each drum cleaning device 26 when mounted on the mounting portion 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 at the upper portion of the back surface portion 10b. A connecting portion 61 for connecting each of the pipe 15 (Y, M, C, K) and the discharge pipe 16 of the belt cleaning device 36 is provided. Further, the recovery box 6 has a discharge pipe 15 (Y, M, C, K) and a discharge pipe 16 in a region below the connection portion 61 (downward in the direction of gravity) in a lower region of the back surface portion 10b. A storage portion 62 having a storage space for finally storing the waste developer discharged from each of the discharge ports 52 is provided.

  The connection portion 61 includes four connection portions 61Y, 61M, 61C, and 61K that connect to the discharge pipes 15 (Y, M, C, and K) of the drum cleaning devices 26, and the discharge pipe 16 of the belt cleaning device 36. It is comprised with one connection part 61B which performs connection of these. The four connecting portions 61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K are arranged so that the image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged in an inclined state as described above. Correspondingly, they are arranged in an inclined state. Further, one connecting portion 61B is disposed at a position corresponding to the position where the discharge pipe 16 of the belt cleaning device 36 is disposed. Connection portion 61B in the first embodiment is arranged at a position obliquely above connection portion 61K.

  As for these connection parts 61 (Y, M, C, K) and 61B, as shown in FIGS. 8-10, FIG. 14, etc., the pipe main-body parts 51 of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 are respectively inserted. It is configured as a structure having a storage space (S) that is rarely stored. In addition, each of the connecting portions 61 (Y, M, C, K) and 61B is for inserting the discharge pipes 15 and 16 into the storage space (S) in the portion 61a on the back surface portion 60b side of the collection box 6. The connection port 63 is provided.

  The connecting portions 61 (Y, M, C, K) and 61B are connected to the bottom surface portion 61b (which also serves as a partition plate with the accommodating portion 62) 61b in the storage space (S). A receiving port 64 for receiving the waste developer that is discharged from the discharging port 52 and falls is formed. The receiving port 64 is provided at a position facing the discharge port 52 of each of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 when connected to the connection portion 61, and is formed in a rectangular shape, for example. In addition, the bottom surface portion 61b is formed with a smooth surface over almost the entire area including the periphery of the receiving port 64.

  Further, each of the connection portions 61 (Y, M, C, K) and 61B is relative to the developer discharge pipes 15 and 16 on the bottom surface portion 61b provided with the receiving port 64 in the storage space (S). A rotating shutter 65 that opens and closes the receiving port 64 by rotating and moving in parallel with the bottom surface portion 61b in conjunction with the general movement is provided.

The rotation shutter 65 includes a cover portion 651 that covers and closes the receiving port 64, an abutment portion 652 against which the discharge pipes 15 and 16 (the small diameter portion 53 of the pipe body 51) abut when the collection box 6 is attached, and a rotation portion It has a shaft portion 653 that supports it.
The cover portion 651 is a plate-like member having a lower surface 651a substantially parallel to the bottom surface portion 61a, and the entirety thereof is formed with a size that can cover the receiving port 64. The abutting portion 652 is provided at an end portion that may face the connection port 63 of the cover portion 651, and generates an action of rotating the rotating shutter 65 when the discharge pipes 15 and 16 abut against each other. The abutting portion 652 is formed, for example, in a form having an L-shaped abutting surface 652a including a portion that partly contacts the inner wall surface on the back side of the connection port 63 in the connecting portion 61. The shaft portion 653 is provided at one corner or its peripheral portion on the plane of the cover portion 651, and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface portion 61b (the lower surface 651a of the cover portion 651) (in the first embodiment, the direction of gravity). It is formed in the form of a round bar that rises along.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9 and the like, the rotating shutter 65 has a lower portion 653a and an upper portion 653b of the shaft portion 653, and a bearing portion 61c provided on the bottom surface portion 61b of the connection portion 61 and the upper portion of the storage space (S). , 61d are rotatably attached. Further, the rotating shutter 65 has a coil portion of a torsion spring 66 (a coil portion of the torsion spring 66 for applying a rotational force in a direction in which the cover portion 651 of the rotating shutter 65 rotates to a position where the receiving port 64 is closed). ) Is attached. The rotating shutter 65 uses the spring force of the torsion spring 66 so that when the collection box 6 is not attached to the attachment portion 12, a part (for example, the upper end portion) of the abutment portion 652 is connected to the connection port in the connection portion 61. It is kept pressed against the inner wall surface on the back side of 63.

  The rotating shutter 65 is pushed by the spring force of the torsion spring 66 as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 when the collection box 6 is not attached to the attachment portion 12 and the cover portion 651 is covered. It is kept so that it exists in the position which closes the receptacle 64. FIG. Further, when the recovery box 6 is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the recovery box 6 is moved by the relative movement of each of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 as shown in FIGS. By being pushed against the spring force, the cover 651 is kept at a position where the receiving port 64 is opened by rotating around the shaft portion 653 as a fulcrum.

  Furthermore, the connection portions 61 (Y, M, C, K) and 61B are slid in the developer discharge pipes 15 and 16 on the inner wall surface 61e in the storage space (S) facing the connection port 63. A protrusion 67 for pressing the shutter 54 is provided.

  The protrusion 67 is disposed at a position facing the opening 53 a of the small diameter portion 53 of each discharge pipe 15, 16 inserted into the storage space (S) of the connection portion 61, and the mounting portion 12 of the collection box 6. Dimension that allows the slide shutter 54 to be pushed and moved to a position where the discharge port 52 can be opened (see FIG. 12) after entering the inside of the pipe main body 51 from the opening 53a of the small-diameter portion 53 at the time of mounting (see FIG. 12). It is formed in a rod-like form made of a sheath length.

  The storage portion 62 in the collection box 6 has a storage space that can store a required amount of the waste developer that is discharged from the discharge ports 52 of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 and falls. The accommodation space is connected to each receiving port 64 of the connecting portions 61 (Y, M, C, K) and 61B and is formed as one space. Further, in the storage portion 62, a rotation conveyance member (not shown) for reducing uneven deposition of the waste developer stored in the storage space, and the amount of the developer stored in the storage space are stored in the collection box 6. A detected part (not shown) or the like for detecting that the amount set as an indication of the replacement time has been reached by a detector arranged on the mounting part 12 side is arranged.

  Further, in the collection box 6, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 and the like, a rotating shutter 65 is provided on the bottom surface portion 61b in which the receiving port 64 of the connection portion 61 (Y, M, C, K, B) is formed. While sealing the clearance gap which exists between the cover part 651 and the bottom face part 61b when it exists in the position which closes the receiving port 64, it is the discharge port 52 when it is connected to each connection part 61 of each discharge pipe 15,16. The sealing member 68 for sealing the clearance gap existing between the surrounding part (sliding frame 56) and the bottom face part 61b is provided. The sealing member 68 is made of a member such as a foamed elastic member or felt.

  Incidentally, in the first embodiment, as described above, the collection box 6 is mounted on the mounting portion 12 by swinging with the two lower mounting portions 71A and 71B on the lower end side as fulcrums. From each of the connection pipes 61 (Y, M, C, K, B) of the recovery box 6 is moved in an arcuate path, the discharge pipes 15 are projected and fixed in a substantially horizontal state at the mounting part 12; 16 are connected in a posture that is substantially horizontal and parallel to each other. For this reason, with respect to the gap, the recovery box 6 is secured by securing an arcuate path of the connection portion 61 (particularly on the end side of the connection port 63 of the connection portion 61) when the recovery box 6 is attached (including when it is removed). It is set to have a wider interval in consideration of realizing smooth attachment / detachment work.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the sealing member 68 is a cover portion 651 around the receiving port 64 in the bottom surface portion 61 b of the connection portion 61 and when the rotary shutter 65 is in a closed position. (The contact surface 651a) and the discharge pipes 15 and 16 are provided in a region including a range that can contact the lower surface of the sliding frame 56 of the discharge port 52 when the discharge pipes 15 and 16 are in the position connected to the connecting portion 61. . Further, the sealing member 58 is formed with a rectangular through hole 68a that overlaps and is continuous with the receiving port 64 at a portion corresponding to the receiving port 64 (see FIG. 12 and the like). The through hole 68 a is formed as a hole having substantially the same shape (size) as the opening shape of the receiving port 64. For this reason, when the presence of the sealing member 58 is considered, the receiving port 64 in each connection part 61 can also be regarded as the through hole 68a of the sealing member 58. Further, the sealing member 68 is disposed in a state where the end surface portion 68b located at the connection port 63 of the connection portion 61 is exposed to the outside of the collection box 6 (on the back surface portion 10b side) (see FIG. 9).

In addition, in the collection box 6, the size of the gap between the rotating shutter 65 and the bottom surface portion 61 b of the connection portion 61 of the cover portion 651 is connected to the sliding frame 56 of the discharge port 52 of each discharge pipe 15, 16. It is comprised so that it may become the same value as the dimension of the clearance gap between the bottom face part 61b of the part 61. FIG.
Further, in the collection box 6, as shown in FIGS. 8, 10, 11, etc., each discharge is performed when the connection portion 61 is moved relative to each discharge pipe 15, 16 (when the collection box 6 is mounted). A protection member 69 that covers and protects the end surface portion 68b exposed on the end portion 61a side of the sealing member 68 on the end portion 61a on the side through which the pipes 15 and 16 pass (the back surface portion 10b side of the collection box 6). Is provided.

<Use status of collection box>
The collection box 6 having the above configuration is used by being mounted on the mounting portion 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG.

  In a stage before the collection box 6 is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the collection box 6 has a receiving port 64 at each of the connection portions 61 (Y, M, C, K, B) as shown in FIG. (Actually, the through hole 68 a of the sealing member 68) is closed by the cover 651 of the rotating shutter 65. In other words, the rotating shutter 65 is maintained in a position displaced to close the receiving port 64, and the through-hole is in a state where the lower surface portion 651 a of the cover 651 is in contact with the main body (portion excluding the through-hole 68 a) of the sealing member 68. 68a is in a closed state. At this time, a gap between the periphery of the bottom surface portion 61 b in each connection portion 61 of the collection box 6 and the cover portion 651 of the rotating shutter 65 is kept sealed by the main body of the sealing member 68. .

  On the other hand, in each of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 in the mounting portion 12 of the image forming apparatus 1, the discharge port 52 of each pipe body 51 is closed by a slide shutter 54 as shown in FIGS. In other words, the slide shutter 54 is pushed by the spring force of the elastic member 57 and kept in a position where the discharge port 52 is closed, and the body of the slide shutter 54 overlaps with the discharge port 52 to close the discharge port 52. Yes. At this time, the rotary conveying members 26b and 36b in the pipe main body 51 are not rotated and are stopped.

  Next, at the stage where the recovery box 6 is mounted on the mounting portion 12, the recovery box 6 is attached to the mounting portion 12 with lower mounting portions 71A and 71B on the lower end side as fulcrums as shown in FIG. It is swung so as to be raised in the approaching direction (direction indicated by arrow D1).

  Thereby, in the collection box 6, first, the front ends of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 in which the connection ports 63 of the connection portions 61 (Y, M, C, K, and B) protrude from the mounting portion 12. It will be in the state which approached (the small diameter part 53 of the pipe main body 51). At this time, when the collection box 6 is swung to be raised at the time of mounting, each connecting portion 61 moves so as to draw an arc trajectory that is a part of a circle centering on the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B. The exhaust pipes 15 and 16 are approached. Further, the point of movement so as to draw this circular arc trajectory is the same as when the collection box 6 is swung so as to be tilted when being removed from the mounting portion 12.

  Subsequently, when the mounting operation is performed by swinging the collection box 6 so as to be further raised, each discharge pipe 15 (Y, M, C) is connected to each connection portion 61 (Y, M, C, K, B) of the collection box 6. , K), 16 end portions (actually, the small-diameter portion 53) slightly enter the storage space (S) from the respective connection ports 63. As a result, the distal ends of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 are in contact with the abutting portion 652 of the rotating shutter 65 and are in contact with the end surface portion 68b of the sealing member 68 exposed at the lower portion of the connection port 63. become. At this time, each connecting portion 61 (Y, M, C, K, B) of the collection box 6 is disposed at a position where the distance from the lower mounting portions 71A, 71B (the distance corresponding to the radius when swinging) is short. The discharge pipes 15 and 16 sequentially enter in the same order as the order (61K, 61C, 61M, 61Y, 61B) in which the distance becomes longer from the connected connection part (61K) with the time slightly shifted.

  Finally, the recovery box 6 is attached to the attachment portion 12 by fixing the upper fixing portion 72 on the upper end side thereof to the fixing portion 14 of the attachment portion 12 (see FIG. 1). Incidentally, after the mounting of the collection box 6 is completed, an exterior cover (not shown) that covers the mounting portion 12 (including the collection box 6) is closed.

  In the collection box 6 at the stage where the mounting is completed, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the receiving port 64 of each connecting part 61 (actually, the through hole 68a of the sealing member 68) is a rotating shutter. The state is released from the closed state by the cover portion 651 of 65 and opened. That is, the rotation shutter 65 of each connection portion 61 is brought into contact with the small diameter portion 53 of each discharge pipe 15, 16 by the swing when the collection box 6 is mounted and is pushed toward the storage space (S). By rotating, the cover 651 in the rotating shutter 65 is displaced to a position where the receiving port 64 is opened.

  On the other hand, in each of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 of the mounting portion 12 at the stage where the mounting is completed, the discharge port 52 of each pipe body 51 is closed by the slide shutter 54 as shown in FIGS. It is released from the state and opened. That is, when the slide shutter 54 swings when the collection box 6 is mounted, the slide shutter 54 abuts against the protruding portion 67 in the storage space (S) of each connecting portion 61 and is pushed toward the inner side of the pipe body 51. By moving, the opening 54 a in the slide shutter 54 is displaced to a position where the opening 52 is opposed to the outlet 52.

<Situation when the collection box is attached to the attachment part>
By the way, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the collection box 6 is attached to the attachment portion 12, as shown in FIG. 12, the attachment to the slide shutter 54 of each discharge pipe 15, 16 in the attachment portion 12. Since the elastic member 57 made of a coil spring or the like is compressed, the contracted elastic member 57 is restored, and the slide shutter 54 is peeled in a direction to push back to the position where each discharge port 52 is closed. Spring force F2 (Y, M, C, K, B) is generated.
The spring force F2 (Y, M, C, K, B) of the elastic member 57 in the slide shutter 54 is from the slide shutter 54 to each connection portion 61 (Y, M, C, K, B) of the collection box 6. A plurality of reaction forces H (Y, M, C, K, B) are applied to the collection box 6 via the protrusions 67. The reaction force H at this time is a force that is substantially directed in a direction (in this example, the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow of the coordinate axis Z or the direction indicated by the arrow D2) when the recovery box 6 is removed from the housing portion 12. .

  For this reason, the collection box 6 has a plurality of anti-reflections at positions corresponding to the connecting portions 61 (Y, M, C, K, B) on the back surface portion (60b) side, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. The force H (Y, M, C, K, B) is received. The plurality of reaction forces H (Y, M, C, K, B) serve as pushing forces toward the moving direction when removing the collection box 6 from the mounting portion 12. As a result, with respect to the mounting of the collection box 6 to the mounting portion 12, it is required to mount the collection box 6 in a stable state that does not become unstable due to the plurality of reaction forces H (Y, M, C, K, B).

  In order to mount such a collection box 6 that generates a plurality of reaction forces H on the mounting portion 12 in a stable state, for example, a plurality (for example, two) are provided at the lower end side of the mounting portion 12. 28A and 28B, a plurality of (for example, two) fixing portions 14A and 14B are provided at the upper end of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B. As shown in the figure, the same number of lower support portions 71A, 71B that are supported by the plurality of positioning support portions 13A, 13B of the mounting portion 12 are provided at the lower end portion thereof, and the mounting portion is provided at the upper end portion thereof. A countermeasure can be considered in which the same number of upper fixing portions 72A and 72B fixed to the twelve fixing portions 14A and 14B are provided. In this countermeasure, the fixing portions 14A and 14B on the mounting portion 12 side and the upper fixing portions 72A and 72B on the collection box 6 side can be configured as a latch mechanism, for example.

However, in the case of this countermeasure, for example, when the collection box 6 is mounted on the mounting portion 12, one of the two upper fixing portions 72A, 72B on the collection box 6 side is fixed to the fixing portion 14A, the mounting portion 12 side. 14B may not be properly locked with respect to 14B (or not locked at all), and may not be fixed at a regular fixing position, resulting in an unstable mounting state. Such an unstable mounting state tends to easily occur when the number of the plurality of reaction forces H is relatively large or when the generation sites thereof are unevenly present. Moreover, in the case of this countermeasure, when removing the recovery box 6 from the mounting portion 12, the two upper fixing portions 72A and 72B on the recovery box 6 side are separated from the fixing portions 14A and 14B on the mounting portion 12 side. There is also the complexity that the two operations must be performed almost simultaneously.
Further, when the image forming apparatus according to this countermeasure is an image forming apparatus configured such that an image forming operation can be performed even in the collection box 6 mounted in an unstable state that is not fixed at a regular fixed position. The recovery box 6 will continue to be used in an incompletely mounted state, and in the worst case, between the discharge port of the discharge pipes 15 and 16 and the receiving port of the connection portion 61 of the recovery box 6. There is also a possibility that a gap may be generated, and a problem such as waste developer leaking to the outside through the gap may be induced.

<Configuration related to collection box and its mounting part>
Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1 and the collection box 6, as shown in FIGS. 3, 14, 15, and the like, the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B are located at the lower end side of the mounting portion 12. In addition, one fixing portion 14 is provided at a portion on the upper end side, while the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B of the mounting portion 12 are provided on the lower end side with respect to the collection box 6. After providing the same number of lower support parts 71A and 71B to be supported, one upper fixing part 72 fixed to the one fixing part 14A of the mounting part 12 is provided at the upper end side thereof. Yes. That is, in this case, there is a feature in that the final fixing means is constituted by one fixing portion 14 (upper fixing portion 72).

  As shown in FIG. 15 and the like, the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12 are arranged at predetermined positions on the lower end side of the mounting portion 12, respectively. The positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the first embodiment are arranged at positions shifted by substantially the same dimension toward the inside slightly from both ends of the portion that becomes the lower end side of the mounting portion 12.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 19, etc., the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B are required from the first positioning vertical surface portion 131 on the near side and the first positioning vertical surface portion 131, respectively. Are formed on the inner side of the first positioning vertical surface portion 131, the second positioning vertical surface 132 on the back side, the support surface portion 133 formed using the top of the first positioning vertical surface portion 131, and the first positioning vertical surface portion 131. And a hooking opening 134.

  Among these, the first positioning vertical surface portion 131 has, for example, a structure in which a plate-like main body portion extending in the vertical direction (direction indicated by the arrow of the coordinate axis Y) and triangular side plate portions are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the main body portion. Therefore, the back surface of the main body is used as a positioning surface. The main body portions of the first positioning vertical surface portions 131 in the positioning support portions 13A and 13B have different widths w1 and w2 from each other in order to prevent or warn of erroneous mounting by reversing the front and back surfaces of the collection box 6. (FIG. 15). The second positioning vertical surface portion 132 is a plate-like positioning member extending in the vertical direction on the front surface portion of the plate-like support member 135 erected in parallel with the main body portion of the first positioning vertical surface portion 131. It consists of a structure provided with members. Further, the support surface portion 133 is formed of a curved surface such as a cylindrical peripheral surface so as to function as a fulcrum of a swinging motion when the collection box 6 is attached / detached. Further, the hooking opening 134 functions so that a hooking protrusion (713), which will be described later, provided on the collection box 6 side enters and prevents the collection box 6 from moving upward.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 15, 17, 20, and the like, one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 serves as a latch mechanism at a predetermined position to be described later in a portion on the upper end side of the mounting portion 12. It is comprised by the fixing member 141 used as the fixed side of a hook. The hooking fixing member 141 is formed of a plate-like member extending vertically downward (hanging down), and is configured to use the lower portion 141b on the back surface side as a positioning surface. In addition, on the back side of the hooking fixing member 141, a space portion 142 is provided in which a part of the upper fixing portion 72 of the collection box 6 can be inserted.

  On the other hand, the two lower mounting portions 71A and 71B in the collection box 6 are respectively arranged at predetermined positions on the lower end side as shown in FIG. The lower mounting portions 71A and 71B in the first embodiment are positions corresponding to at least the positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12, but in the collection box 6 a little inside from both ends 60d and 60e in the entire lateral direction. It is arranged at a position shifted by substantially the same dimension toward the end. Strictly speaking, when the plurality of reaction forces H described above are unevenly distributed in the region of the front portion 60a of the collection box 6, from the viewpoint of receiving the plurality of reaction forces H in a balanced manner, It is preferable to arrange at a position that is shifted.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 14, 19 and the like, the two lower mounting portions 71A and 71B are both the first positioning vertical surface 131 and the second positioning vertical surface of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12. A plate-like positioned surface insertion portion 711 that is inserted into the gap space 132 to be positioned, and a supported portion that is supported in contact with the support surface portion 133 of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12. 712 and a hooking projection 713 that is hooked into the hooking opening 134 of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12.

  Of these, the positioned surface insertion portion 711 is a thin plate-like structure portion that is retracted to the back side of the collection box 6 (the direction indicated by the arrow of the coordinate axis Z) and extends in the lateral direction and vertically downward. The front surface part 711a and the rear surface part 711b are used as positioning surfaces. Further, the supported portion 712 is formed as a horizontal portion that is bent to the front side at a substantially right angle from the surface portion 711 a that is a positioning surface on the front side in the positioning surface insertion portion 711. Further, the hooking protrusion 713 can enter the opening space of the hooking opening 134 of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B, and has a size and shape that can be hooked on the upper end of the hooking opening 134. Is formed. Further, the positioning surface insertion portion 711 and the supported portion 712 are inserted into the insertion spaces between the first positioning vertical surface portions 131 and the second positioning vertical surface portions 132 in the positioning support portions 13A and 13B of the mounting portion 12. For example, the widths m1 and m2 in the lateral direction are set to be slightly larger than the widths w1 and w2 of the main body in each of the first positioning vertical surfaces 131. (FIG. 14).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14 and the like, one upper fixing portion 72 in the collection box 6 is configured by a hook member 721 as a latch mechanism at a predetermined position to be described later in a portion on the upper end side of the collection box 6. Has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 14, 18, 20, etc., the hook member 721 moves up and down in the vertical direction with respect to the housing recess 60 f provided at a predetermined portion on the upper end side of the collection box 6. It is configured as a structure that is accommodated in the obtained state. In addition, the hook member 721 in the first embodiment includes a plate-like main body 722, a hook 723 that is provided on the back side of the main body 722 and is hooked on the fixing member 141 of the fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12. A pressing-down surface portion 724 that presses the entire member 721 downward vertically with the operator's finger 100 and a leaf spring portion 725 that elastically pushes the entire hooking member 721 upward vertically.

  Of these, the left and right end portions 722a and 722b of the main body portion 722 are formed as guide portions that are guided by being inserted into guide grooves for vertical movement (not shown) of the housing recess portion 60f. Further, the flange portion 723 is formed with its upper end portion protruding from the upper end of the main body portion 722, and the fixing member 141 of the fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 when the collection box 6 is mounted on the back side of the protruding portion. An inclined surface portion 723a (see FIG. 21) that generates a force that makes contact with the hook member 721 and pushes down the entire hooking member 721 downward, and positioning of the fixing member 141 of the fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 on the front side of the protruding portion. It is formed in a shape having a to-be-positioned surface portion 723b that is positioned in contact with the surface 141b and guide portions 723c and 723d made of two plates extending in the vertical direction on the back surface side. The push-down surface portion 724 is formed as a substantially horizontal surface portion protruding in the front direction on the front side of the main body portion 722. For example, an anti-slip convex portion 724a is formed on the upper surface. Further, the leaf spring portion 725 is formed as a portion extending in a band shape obliquely downward from the lower surface of the push-down surface portion 724, and when the entire hooking member 721 receives a pressing force from above to below. It is a part that can be elastically deformed.

  In this image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 15, for one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12, each of the center point (P1) of the fixing portion 14 and the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B. Each slide of the discharge pipes 15 (Y, M, C, K), 16 within a region surrounded by a triangle formed when the central points (P2, P3) are connected by virtual straight lines (VL1-VL3) A plurality of reaction forces H received in the direction in which the collection box 6 is removed from the mounting portion 12 (the direction opposite to the arrow of the coordinate axis X or the direction indicated by the arrow D2) by the spring force (elastic force) of each elastic member 57 with respect to the shutter 54. It is arranged at a position where the center of gravity Gp1 of (Y, M, C, K, B) exists.

  Also, in the collection box 6 that is detachably mounted on the mounting portion 12, as shown in FIG. 14, with respect to the one upper fixing portion 72, the center point (P11) of the upper fixing portion 72 and two lower portions. The discharge pipes 15 (Y, M, C,...) Are located in a region surrounded by a triangle formed when the center points (P12, P13) of the attachment portions 71A, 71B are connected by virtual straight lines (VL11-VL13). K), the direction in which the collection box 6 is removed from the mounting portion 12 by the spring force (elastic force) of each elastic member 57 with respect to each slide shutter 54 (direction opposite to the arrow of the coordinate axis X or direction indicated by the arrow D2). Are arranged at positions where the center of gravity Gp2 of the plurality of reaction forces H (Y, M, C, K, B) is present.

  Here, the center point (P1) of the fixing portion 14 and the center point (P11) of the upper fixing portion 72 are in contact with each other (for example, a surface) where the fixing portion 14 and the upper fixing portion 72 are positioned. It becomes the center point of the region. The center points (P2, P3) of the positioning support portions 13A, 13B and the center points (P12, P13) of the lower mounting portions 71A, 71B are, for example, the positioning support portions 13A, 13B and the lower mounting portion 71A. , 71B becomes a center point of a region where parts (surfaces, etc.) for positioning are in contact with each other. However, if it is difficult to discriminate or identify each of the center points (P11, P2, P3, P12, P13), for example, a point that is almost estimated to be the center in a portion that can be regarded as a contact area is included. Shall be.

The center of gravity Gp1 and the center of gravity Gp2 are the same because the positions and sizes of the reaction forces H (Y, M, C, K, B) are common.
The position of the center of gravity Gp1 (Gp2) is obtained by the following equation.
In this case, the X coordinate position of the center of gravity Gp1 (or Gp2) is Gpx, and the Y coordinate position is Gpy. Further, the X coordinate positions of the reaction forces HY, HM, HC, HK, and HB are HYx, HMx, HCx, HKx, and HBx, and the Y coordinate positions are HYy, HMy, HCy, HKy, and HBy. Further, the X coordinate position and the Y coordinate position are, for example, positions when the X coordinate position and the Y coordinate position of the center point P3 are the origin (x, y = 0, 0).
Gpx = (HY.HYx + HM.HMx + HC.HCx + HB.HBx) / (HY + HM + HC + HB)
Gpy = (HY.HYy + HM.HMy + HC.HCy + HB.HBy) / (HY + HM + HC + HB)

Further, the center of gravity Gp1 and the center of gravity Gp2 are present at positions (excluding positions on the line) located inside the virtual straight lines (VL1 to VL3) or (VL11 to VL13) that define the triangular area. It is necessary.
Furthermore, it is ideal that the one fixing portion 14 and the upper fixing portion 72 are arranged at positions where the centroid Gp1 and the centroid Gp2 exist in a state where they coincide with the centroid of the triangle in the triangular region.

<Attachment state of the collection box to the attachment part>
In the image forming apparatus 1 in which one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 and one upper fixing portion 72 in the collection box 6 are arranged at a position satisfying the above-described conditions, the recovery box 6 is mounted on the mounting portion 12. Is performed as follows.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 3, 19, 20, etc., the collection box 6 is placed in a slanted posture so that the lower mounting portions 71 </ b> A and 71 </ b> B on the lower end side are positioned on the mounting portion 12. After being inserted into the support portions 13A and 13B, respectively, the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B are used as fulcrums to swing the collection box 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow D1.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, the plate-like positioned surface insertion portions 711 in the lower mounting portions 71 </ b> A and 71 </ b> B of the collection box 6 are replaced with the first positioning vertical surface portions 131 in the positioning support portions 13 </ b> A and 13 </ b> B of the mounting portion 12. And the second positioning vertical surface 132 are inserted into the gap space, and the support portion 712 is supported by contacting the support surface portion 133 of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B. Further, when the collection box 6 is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow D1 with the support surface portion 133 of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B as a fulcrum, the hooking projection 713 of the collection box 6 is used for hooking the positioning support portions 13A and 13B. It begins to enter the opening 134. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20, the upper fixing portion 72 of the collection box 6 moves so as to approach the fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12.

  Subsequently, when the entire recovery box 6 is further swung in the direction indicated by the arrow D1, as shown in FIG. 21, the inclined surface portion of the flange portion 723 in the hook member 721 constituting the upper fixing portion 72 of the recovery box 6 723a is brought into contact with the fixing member 141 in the fixing portion 14 of the mounting portion 12 and swings.

  Thereby, the flange part 723 in the upper fixing part 72 of the collection box 6 receives the load F5 that peels downward from the fixing member 141 in the fixing part 14 of the mounting part 12, and the leaf spring part 725 in the hooking member 721 is elastically deformed. Therefore, the entire hook member 721 is lowered in the housing recess 60f of the collection box 6.

  Subsequently, when the entire collection box 6 is further swung in the direction indicated by the arrow D1, as shown in FIG. 22, the flange portion 723 in the upper fixing portion 72 of the collection box 6 is fixed to the fixing portion 14 of the mounting portion 12. Passing through the fixing member 141, and enters the space 142 in the fixing portion 14.

As a result, the entire hooking member 721 is pushed upward in the housing recess 60f by the elastic force F6 when the leaf spring portion 725 of the hooking member 721 of the upper fixing portion 72 of the recovery box 6 is restored. Enters the back side of the fixing member 141 in the fixing portion 14 of the mounting portion 12. In addition, as a result, the positioning surface portion 723 b of the flange portion 723 comes into contact with the positioning surface portion 141 b on the back side of the fixing member 141 of the fixing portion 14.
As a result, one upper fixing portion 72 in the collection box 6 is fixed in a state of being positioned on one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12.

At this time, in the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B of the recovery box 6, the supported portions 712 are supported on the support surface portions 133 of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B of the mounting portion 12 as shown in FIG. In addition, the positioning surface portions 711a and 711b of the positioning surface insertion portions 711 are formed on the first positioning vertical surfaces 131 and the second positioning vertical surfaces 132 of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B of the mounting portion 12, respectively. Each will be in contact.
Thus, the two lower mounting portions 71A and 71B in the collection box 6 are supported in a state where they are positioned by the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12.

As described above, the collection box 6 is mounted on the mounting portion 12 in the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 24.
At this time, the mounting of the collection box 6 to the mounting portion 12 is such that the two lower mounting portions 71A and 71B in the recovery box 6 are positioned and supported by the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B in the mounting portion 12. This is performed by positioning and fixing one upper fixing portion 72 in the collection box 6 to one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12.

In the image forming apparatus 1 and the recovery box 6, the final fixing of the recovery box 6 to the mounting portion 12 is performed at one location between the upper fixing portion 72 and the fixing portion 14. Compared with the case where the final fixing is performed, the stable operation can be performed easily.
In particular, since one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 and one upper fixing portion 72 in the recovery box 6 are arranged at positions satisfying the above-described conditions, the recovery box 6 is attached to the recovery box 6 when the recovery box 6 is mounted. Thus, there is almost no rotational moment in the removing direction (for example, the direction opposite to the arrow of the coordinate axis Z or the taking-out direction D2) by the center of gravity Gp1 (Gp2) of the plurality of reaction forces H (Y, M, C, K, B). This does not occur, and the fixing of the upper fixing portion 72 to the fixing portion 14 is less likely to be unstable and is easily performed reliably. The center of gravity Gp1 and Gp2 of the plurality of reaction forces H are the same as described above, for example, as illustrated in FIG.
Furthermore, since the upper fixing part 72 and the fixing part 14 are configured by a latch mechanism, the final fixing of the collection box 6 to the mounting part 12 can be performed with a simple operation without a complicated operation.

  By the way, when one fixing part 14 in the mounting part 12 and one upper fixing part 72 in the collection box 6 are arranged under conditions that do not satisfy the above-described conditions (that is, a plurality of reaction forces H in the region surrounded by the triangle). (When arranged at a position where the center of gravity Gp1 (Gp2) of Y, M, C, K, B) does not exist), the collection box 6 at the position where the center of gravity Gp1 (Gp2) exists or in the surrounding area For example, even when the recovery box 6 is partially distorted and the final fixing to the mounting portion 12 of the recovery box 6 is performed at one place, the recovery box 6 is fixed in an unstable state. There is a risk of being.

  On the other hand, when removing the collection box 6 from the mounting portion 12, as shown in FIG. 25, the pressing surface portion 724 of the upper fixing portion 72 of the collection box 6 is pressed against the elastic force of the leaf spring portion 725 by the operator's finger 100. Against this, it is pushed downward by the pressing force F6, and the entire hooking member 721 is lowered into the housing recess 60f. At this time, the operator inserts the remaining fingers into the handle hole 60c at the same time, so that the upper inner wall surface of the handle hole 60c is sandwiched by the fingers of one hand as a fixed portion, and is lowered downward. Thus, the force can be easily applied, and the push-down surface portion 724 can be pushed down easily.

  As a result, the flange portion 723 of the hook member 721 of the upper fixing portion 72 of the collection box 6 is released from the contact fixation with the fixing member 141 of the mounting portion 12. Then, the collection box 6 can be removed by swinging in the direction indicated by the arrow 2 so that the entire collection box 6 is tilted forward. During the removal operation of the collection box 6, there is one upper fixing portion 72 of the collection box 6, and the push-down surface portion 724 that is a part of the latch mechanism in the upper fixing portion 72 functions as a handle. Moreover, it is easy to recognize as an operation part at the time of removal operation.

FIG. 26 shows a specific example in which one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment and one upper fixing portion 72 in the collection box 6 are arranged at positions satisfying the above-described conditions. It is shown.
As shown in the chart of FIG. 26, when two positioning support portions 13A and 13B (lower mounting portions 71A and 71B of the collection box 6) in the mounting portion 12 are set, a plurality of reaction forces are generated against the collection box 6. One fixed portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 so that the center of gravity Gp1 (Gp2) exists in the triangular area from the XY coordinate position of the center of gravity Gp1 (Gp2) of H (Y, M, C, K, B). The arrangement position of (and one upper fixing part 72 in the collection box 6) was set.

[Other embodiments]
In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 27, the upper fixing portion 72 in the collection box 6 attached to the attachment portion 12 is in the direction of gravity (in FIG. When viewed in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction indicated by the arrow (in FIG. 27, the direction parallel to the direction indicated by the arrow of the coordinate axis X), the plurality of image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K). ) From a plurality of connecting portions 61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K for collecting the waste developer generated through each discharge pipe 15 (actually, the positions of reaction forces HY, HM, HC, HK received at each connecting portion 61 may be set. ) Where the waste developer generated from the intermediate transfer device 30 through the discharge pipe 16 is recovered from the central position Px of the region width R1 in the horizontal direction. It may be configured to provide a position may be the position of the reaction force HB) is biased on the side of the present received at 1B. In this case, the arrangement position of one upper fixing portion 72 is preferably selected from positions between the central position Px and the connecting portion 61B (reaction force HB position) in the region width R1.

  Such a configuration can be similarly applied to one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12. That is, the waste developer generated from the plurality of image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) is also discharged from one fixing portion 14 in the mounting portion 12 when viewed in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the gravitational direction. A plurality of discharge pipes 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K (actually, the positions of reaction forces HY, HM, HC, HK received by the discharge pipes 15) may exist at the center of the region width R2 in the horizontal direction. It is provided at a position offset from the position Px toward the side where the discharge pipe 16 (which may actually be the position of the reaction force HB received by the discharge pipe 16) for discharging the waste developer generated from the intermediate transfer device 30 exists. It may be configured. The region width P2 and the center position Px at this time are substantially the same values as the region width P2 and the center position Px used when setting the arrangement position of one upper fixing portion 72 in the collection box 6. Become.

  In the first embodiment, the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B and the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B are arranged at the lower end side portion of the mounting portion 12 and the collection box 6, and the one fixing portion 14 and the upper fixing portion 72 are mounted. Although the structural example arrange | positioned in the site | part of the upper end side of the part 12 and the collection | recovery box 6 was shown, those arrangement positions are not limited to this.

  Further, the two positioning support portions 13A and 13B and the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B are not limited to the configuration example in which positioning is performed by bringing the surfaces into contact with each other after the rotation shown in the first embodiment. As another configuration example, for example, there is a configuration example in which positioning is performed by setting one of the positioning support portions 13A and 13B and the lower mounting portions 71A and 71B to a groove shape and fitting the other to the groove shape from the beginning. Applicable.

  In the first embodiment, the configuration example in which the elastic member 57, which is the source of the plurality of reaction forces H generated when the collection box 6 is mounted, is disposed only on the mounting portion 12 side, but is not limited thereto. Not. Other configuration examples include, for example, a configuration in which an elastic member that is a source of a plurality of reaction forces H is disposed on the collection box 6 side, or an elastic member that is a source of a plurality of reaction forces H is on the mounting portion 12 side. And the structure arrange | positioned at the collection | recovery box 6 side may be sufficient.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the collection box 6 is discharged from the drum cleaning devices 26 of the four image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) through the discharge pipes 15 (Y, M, C, K). Although the recovery box for recovering the waste developer to be discharged and the waste developer discharged from the belt cleaning device 36 of the intermediate transfer device 30 through the discharge pipe 16 is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this. As other collection boxes, only the waste developer discharged from the drum cleaning devices 26 of the four image forming devices 20 (Y, M, C, K) through the discharge pipes 15 (Y, M, C, K), respectively. It may be a recovery box for recovering.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the collection box 6 is illustrated as a collection box that is moved to the mounting portion 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to swing and is attached / detached. It is possible to employ a method in which the mounting portion 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 is moved in a substantially linear manner and attached / detached. Further, the collection box to which the present invention is applied is effective to have a plate-like (flat) container shape that is attached to the attachment portion in the side surface portion of the image forming apparatus 1. It may have a shape (for example, a container shape having a L-shaped cross section).

  In addition, when an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is an image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image, a method that does not use an intermediate transfer device (so-called recording paper P is used for each primary in each image forming unit). A direct transfer format in which the toner image is directly transferred onto a recording sheet by being conveyed so as to pass through the transfer position may be employed. In addition, the image forming apparatus in the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the one formed by four image forming apparatuses, and is formed by another number (preferably a plurality) of formed image apparatuses. There may be.

1 ... image forming apparatus 6 ... collection box (collection container)
9. Recording paper (an example of a recording medium)
12 ... Mounting portions 13A, 13B ... Two positioning support portions 14 ... One fixing portion (one of the latch mechanisms)
15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K, 16 ... discharge pipe (an example of a plurality of discharge sections)
20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K ... a plurality of image forming devices 30 ... an intermediate transfer device 52 ... a discharge port 54 ... a slide shutter (an example of a plurality of opening / closing members)
57 ... Coil spring (an example of an elastic member)
61Y, 61M, 61C, 61K, 61B ... connection part (an example of a plurality of connection parts)
64 ... receiving ports 71A, 71B ... two lower mounting parts (two positioned support parts)
72 ... one upper fixing part (one fixed part)
H ... Reaction force

Claims (7)

A plurality of discharge portions each having discharge ports for discharging waste developer generated from a plurality of locations by forming an image made of developer are provided, and a collection container for collecting the waste developer is detachably mounted. A mounting part;
A plurality of receiving ports that are detachably mounted on the mounting portion, collect the waste developer, and are individually connected to the plurality of discharge portions and receive the waste developer discharged from the respective discharge ports. A collection container provided with a connecting portion;
It is individually attached to at least one of the discharge ports of the plurality of discharge portions and the reception ports of the plurality of connection portions so as to be movable, and resists the elastic force of an elastic member when the recovery container is mounted on the mounting portion. A plurality of opening and closing members that move to a position to open the discharge port or the receiving port, and move to a position to close the discharge port or the receiving port by the elastic force of the elastic member when the collection container is removed from the mounting portion;
With
The mounting portion is provided with two positioning support portions for positioning and supporting the recovery container at the time of mounting, and one fixing portion for detachably fixing the recovery container supported by the two positioning support portions,
The recovery container is provided with two positioned support portions that are positioned and supported by the two positioning support portions, and one fixed portion that is fixed to the one fixing portion,
The one fixed part and the fixed part are configured as a latch mechanism ,
When the one fixed part and the fixed part connect the area where the fixed part and the fixed part are in contact with the area where the two positioning support parts and the positioned support part are in contact with each other by a virtual straight line Arranged at a position where the centers of gravity of a plurality of reaction forces received in the direction in which the collection container is removed from the mounting portion by the elastic force of each elastic member in the plurality of opening and closing members are present in the formed triangular region image forming apparatus that is. In the plurality of locations, a plurality of image forming apparatuses that form an image made of a developer, and an image formed by the plurality of image forming apparatuses are temporarily transferred and conveyed to a final transfer position to a recording medium. An intermediate transfer device,
The one fixed portion or the fixed portion includes the plurality of discharge portions or connection portions for discharging or collecting waste developer generated from the plurality of image forming devices when viewed in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity. The center of the region width in the horizontal direction is provided at a position offset toward the side where the discharge portion or connection portion for discharging or collecting the waste developer generated from the intermediate transfer device exists. The image forming apparatus according to 1. The two positioning support portions or the positioning support portions are arranged at a lower end side portion of the mounting portion or the recovery container, and the one fixing portion or the fixed portion is arranged at an upper end side portion of the mounting portion or the recovery container. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 is. Wherein the plurality of locations, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 3 which is a plurality of image forming apparatus for forming an image composed of developer. In the plurality of locations, a plurality of image forming apparatuses that form an image made of a developer, and an image formed by the plurality of image forming apparatuses are temporarily transferred and conveyed to a final transfer position to a recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is an intermediate transfer device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the collection container is configured to collect waste developer generated from the plurality of image forming apparatuses. A collection container that is attached to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 and collects waste developer generated from a plurality of locations by forming an image made of the developer of the image forming apparatus .

Images