JP6658606B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is necessary to dispose of toner remaining on a photosensitive drum as waste toner. The waste toner is collected from the photosensitive drum after the transfer of the toner image by the cleaning unit, and is stored in a waste toner container in the apparatus. When the waste toner container is filled with the waste toner, the waste toner container is disposed together.

  Waste toner is fine particles. Therefore, at the time of disposal, there is a risk that the waste toner spills out of the waste toner container and is scattered around. Therefore, an apparatus has been proposed in which the waste toner is solidified to reduce its volume in the process of being transported from the cleaning unit to the waste toner container, thereby simplifying the handling and post-processing of the waste toner (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 08-295446 A

  However, in the prior art, it is described that the waste toner is melted into a solid, but since the particle size is such that it can be conveyed, the risk that the waste toner still spills out of the waste toner container and is scattered around. Is not resolved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably preventing waste toner from spilling from a waste toner container. I do.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that stores toner collected by a cleaning unit from a photosensitive drum after transfer of a toner image in a waste toner container as waste toner. A waste toner heating unit in the container for heating the toner, and a waste toner process for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container by the waste toner heating unit in the container and performing a melting process of melting at least the entire upper layer portion Wherein the waste toner container includes a base that does not soften at the melting temperature of the waste toner, and an inner wall made of a material that softens or melts at the melting temperature of the waste toner. I do.
Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for storing the toner collected by the cleaning unit from the photosensitive drum after the transfer of the toner image as a waste toner in a waste toner container, wherein the toner is stored in the waste toner container. A waste toner heating unit in the container for heating the waste toner, and a waste process for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container by the waste toner heating unit in the container so as to melt at least the entire surface of the upper layer. A replenishment toner container containing replenishment toner to be supplied to a developing unit for forming a toner image, the replenishment toner container being integrated with the waste toner container. An in-container replenishment toner heating unit for heating the replenishment toner is provided, and the waste toner processing unit is provided with the in-container replenishment toner heating unit at the same timing as the melting process. It was heated replenishing toner of the refill toner container Te characterized thereby melted.
Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for storing the toner collected by the cleaning unit from the photosensitive drum after the transfer of the toner image as a waste toner in a waste toner container, wherein the toner is stored in the waste toner container. A waste toner heating unit in the container for heating the waste toner, and a waste process for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container by the waste toner heating unit in the container so as to melt at least the entire surface of the upper layer. A replenishing toner transport mechanism for transporting replenishing toner toward a developing unit for forming a toner image, wherein the waste toner container includes a replenishing toner transport mechanism. A replenishment toner heating unit for heating the toner, wherein the waste toner processing unit is provided with the replenishment toner heating unit in the mechanism at the same timing as the melting process. Serial to heat the supplied toner in the replenishment toner conveying mechanism, characterized in that to melt by.
Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an uneven portion may be formed on an inner wall of the waste toner container.
Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the waste toner container may be formed with a constriction having a smaller sectional area than a bottom surface .
Et al of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the waste toner container, the are waste toner waste toner conveying mechanism for conveying the waste toner toward the container are integrated, the waste in the waste toner conveying mechanism A waste toner heating unit in the mechanism for heating the toner, wherein the waste toner processing unit heats the waste toner in the waste toner transport mechanism by the waste toner heating unit in the mechanism at the same timing as the melting process; May be melted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, at least the upper layer part of waste toner can be integrated with a waste toner container, and there exists an effect that waste toner can be reliably prevented from spilling from a waste toner container.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a melting process by a waste toner processing unit illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the waste toner container illustrated in FIG. 1.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The present embodiment is an image forming apparatus 1 such as a copying machine, a scanner, and a multifunction machine using an electrophotographic method. Referring to FIG. 1, a document reading unit 2, a document feeding unit 3, a main body unit 4 And an operation unit 6. The document feeding section 3 is disposed above the document reading section 2, and the document reading section 2 is disposed above the main body section 4, and is provided between the document reading section 2 and the main body section 4. , A paper discharge space 40 is formed.

  The operation unit 6 functions as a display unit and an input unit. A touch panel and operation buttons are provided. By operating the operation unit 6 and inputting instructions, the user performs functions such as double-sided printing and black / white reversal, various settings such as magnification setting and density setting, and executes various functions such as a scanning operation and image formation. . The operation unit 6 displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1, the state of image formation, the number of print copies, and the like.

  The document reading unit 2 includes a light source and an image sensor, and a scanner 21 that guides light from the light source to an image surface of the document and guides reflected light from the image surface to an image sensor such as a CCD sensor; a contact glass 22; And a slit glass 23. The scanner 21 is configured to move along the image surface of the document placed on the contact glass 22 and scan the image surface of the document. The contact glass 22 is a platen made of a plate-shaped transparent member (for example, glass). The slit glass 23 is formed of a slit-shaped transparent member (for example, glass) arranged in a direction orthogonal to the direction of document transport by the document feeder 3.

  When reading a document placed on the contact glass 22, the scanner 21 is moved in the sub-scanning direction along the contact glass 22, and the document placed on the contact glass 22 is moved line by line in the main scanning direction. The image data is acquired by scanning, and the acquired image data is output to the main unit 4. When reading the original conveyed by the original feeding unit 3, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the slit glass 23, and synchronized with the operation of conveying the original by the original feeding unit 3 via the slit glass 23. Then, the document is read to obtain image data, and the obtained image data is output to the main unit 4.

  The document feeding section 3 includes a document placing section 31, a document discharge section 32, and a document transport mechanism 33. The originals placed on the original placing section 31 are sequentially fed out one by one by the original transport mechanism 33 and transported to a position facing the slit glass 23, and then discharged to the original discharge section 32. The document feeding unit 3 is configured to be foldable and functions as a platen cover that opens and closes the contact glass 22. When the document feeding unit 3 is lifted up and opened, the upper surface of the contact glass 22 is opened. be able to.

  The main body unit 4 includes a recording unit 5 that performs recording on the recording paper P by an electrophotographic process, and includes a paper feeding unit 41 that stores the recording paper P. The recording papers P stored in the paper feeding unit 41 are fed out one by one and conveyed to the recording unit 5. Then, the recording paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording unit 5 is discharged to the paper discharge space 40.

  The recording unit 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51, a charger 52, an optical scanning unit 53, a developing unit 54, a transfer roller 55, a fixing unit 56, and a cleaning unit 57. In the image formation by the recording unit 5, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is uniformly charged by the charger 52, and based on the image data read by the document reading unit 2, the photosensitive drum 51 is charged by the light scanning unit 53. An electrostatic latent image is formed by scanning the surface. Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 is developed by the developing unit 54 to form a toner image. The toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 51 is transferred to the recording paper P while the recording paper P fed from the paper supply unit 41 passes through a nip portion between the photoconductor drum 51 and the transfer roller 55. You. The toner image transferred to the recording paper P is heat-fixed to the recording paper P while passing through the fixing unit 56.

  The cleaning unit 57 cleans the photosensitive drum 51 after the transfer of the toner image, and collects the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 51 as waste toner. The waste toner collected by the cleaning unit 57 is transported to the waste toner container 60 by the waste toner transport mechanism 58 and stored therein. The waste toner transport mechanism 58 includes, for example, a toner transport pipe and a transport screw disposed in the toner transport pipe, and transports the waste toner in the toner transport pipe by rotation of the transport screw.

  The main body 4 is provided with a waste toner heating unit 10 and a full detection sensor 11. The waste toner heating unit 10 is disposed in the main body 4 near the mounting position of the waste toner container 60. The waste toner heating unit 10 is a heating unit such as a heater that heats the waste toner stored in the waste toner container 60. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the waste toner heating unit 10 is disposed so as to cover the bottom and side surfaces of the waste toner container 60, and heats the waste toner via the waste toner container 60. However, the waste toner heating unit 10 may be provided in the waste toner container 60 to directly heat the waste toner. Further, the waste toner heating unit 10 may be configured as a part of the waste toner container 60.

  The full detection sensor 11 detects whether the waste toner has reached a predetermined position on the upper portion of the waste toner container 60, that is, whether the waste toner has reached a full state. The full-state detection sensor 11 includes, for example, a light-emitting element such as an LED, and a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that are arranged at predetermined positions above the waste toner container 60 with the waste toner container 60 interposed therebetween.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The above-described document reading unit 2, document feeding unit 3, recording unit 5, operation unit 6, and waste toner heating unit 10 are connected to a control unit 7, and the operation of the control unit 7 is controlled. Further, an image processing unit 8 and a storage unit 9 are connected to the control unit 7.

  The image processing unit 8 is an arithmetic processing circuit such as a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. Various jobs related to image processing such as gradation adjustment processing are executed.

  The storage unit 9 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive (HDD), and is used as a memory for image processing and a memory for storing various settings.

  The control unit 7 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. A control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the ROM. The control unit 7 reads out the control program stored in the ROM and expands the control program in the RAM, thereby controlling the entire apparatus in accordance with predetermined instruction information input from the operation unit 6. The control unit 7 functions as a waste toner processing unit 71.

  When the full toner sensor 11 detects the fullness of the waste toner, the waste toner processing unit 71 heats the waste toner stored in the waste toner container 60 by the waste toner heating unit 10 and raises the temperature of the waste toner to the melting temperature or more. A melting process is performed in which the temperature is raised and melted. The heating location, heating temperature, and heating time of the waste toner heating unit 10 are set such that at least the entire upper layer portion of the waste toner contained in the waste toner container 60 is melted, as shown in FIG. ing. As a result, the molten waste toner is solidified by natural cooling in a form in which it adheres to the inner wall of the waste toner container 60. The solidified waste toner functions as a scattering prevention film for preventing the waste toner from spilling out of the waste toner container 60 and scattering.

  Although the waste toner container 60 is formed of a base material that does not soften at the melting temperature of the waste toner, the inner wall is softened or melted at the melting temperature of the waste toner, and has a high thermal fusion property with the dissolved waste toner. It is good to be composed of a material. As a result, the melted waste toner is firmly fused to the inner wall of the waste toner container 60, and the function as a scattering prevention film is enhanced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the entire waste toner contained in the waste toner container 60 may be melted by the melting process. In this case, the molten waste toner is solidified by the natural cooling while being integrated with the waste toner container 60. Since no powdery waste toner is present, scattering of the waste toner can be more reliably prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, a waste toner container 60a having an uneven portion 61 formed on an inner wall with which the waste toner melted by the waste toner heating unit 10 comes into contact may be used. . In this case, the contact area between the melted waste toner and the inner wall increases, and the melted waste toner is firmly fused to the inner wall of the waste toner container 60.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, a waste toner container 60b having an uneven portion 61 formed on the entire inner wall (bottom surface or side surface) with which the waste toner melted by the waste toner heating unit 10 contacts is used. You may do it. Further, as shown in FIG. 3E, a waste toner container 60c having a constriction having a smaller sectional area than the bottom surface may be used. In these cases, the solidified waste toner and the waste toner container 60 can be firmly integrated.

  In the melting process, energy (electric power) is consumed and the temperature inside the machine rises. Therefore, it is not preferable to perform the operation in parallel with the image forming operation. Therefore, it is preferable that the melting process is executed at the time of transition to the sleep mode or at the time of turning off the power after the full state of the waste toner is detected. In addition, when there are a plurality of sleep modes, the sleep mode may be executed when shifting to the deepest sleep mode.

  FIG. 4 shows a supplied / waste toner integrated container 80 in which a supplied toner container 81 containing the supplied toner to the developing unit 54 and the waste toner container 60 are integrated. In such a waste toner integrated container 80, when the empty toner of the replenishment toner is detected by the toner empty detection sensor that detects the emptyness of the replenishment toner container 81, the waste toner processing unit 71 executes the melting process. May be. In this case, there is no problem since it is determined that the supply / waste toner integrated container 80 has reached the end of its life because the supply toner has run out.

  In the waste toner integrated container 80 shown in FIG. 4, there is a risk that the replenishment toner remaining in the replenishment toner container 81 may be scattered. Accordingly, a replenishment toner heating unit 12 such as a heater for heating the replenishment toner stored in the replenishment toner container 81 is provided, and the reconstitution of the replenishment toner remaining in the replenishment toner container 81 is performed at the same timing as the melting process of the waste toner. It is preferable that the processing is also executed.

  Further, the supply / waste toner integrated container 80 shown in FIG. 4 is also integrated with a replenishment toner transport mechanism 82 for transporting the replenishment toner toward the developing unit 54. In this case, there is a risk that the replenishment toner remaining in the replenishment toner transport mechanism 82 may be scattered. Therefore, a replenishment toner heating unit 13 such as a heater for heating the replenishment toner remaining in the replenishment toner transport mechanism 82 is provided, and the replenishment of the replenishment toner in the replenishment toner transport mechanism 82 is performed at the same timing as the waste toner melting process. It is preferable to execute the processing.

  Further, in the waste toner integrated container 80 shown in FIG. 4, the waste toner transport mechanism 58 is also integrated. In this case, there is a risk that the replenishment toner remaining in the waste toner transport mechanism 58 may be scattered. Therefore, a waste toner heating unit 14 such as a heater for heating the replenishment toner remaining in the waste toner conveying mechanism 58 is provided, and the melting of the waste toner in the waste toner conveying mechanism 58 is performed at the same timing as the melting processing of the waste toner. It is preferable to execute the processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 stores the toner collected by the cleaning unit 57 from the photosensitive drum 51 after the transfer of the toner image in the waste toner container 60 as waste toner. And a waste toner heating unit 10 for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container 60, and a method for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container 60 by the waste toner heating unit 10 to melt at least the entire upper layer portion. A waste toner processing unit 71 for performing processing.
With this configuration, at least the upper layer portion of the waste toner can be integrated with the waste toner container, and the waste toner can be reliably prevented from spilling from the waste toner container.

Further, in the present embodiment, uneven portions 61 are formed on the inner walls of the waste toner containers 60a and 60b.
With this configuration, the contact area between the melted waste toner and the inner wall increases, and the melted waste toner is firmly fused to the inner wall of the waste toner container 60.

Further, in the present embodiment, the waste toner container 60c is formed with a constriction having a smaller sectional area than the bottom surface.
With this configuration, the solidified waste toner and the waste toner container 60 can be firmly integrated.

Further, in the present embodiment, the waste toner container 60 includes a base that does not soften at the melting temperature of the waste toner, and an inner wall made of a material that softens or melts at the melting temperature of the waste toner.
With this configuration, the melted waste toner is firmly fused to the inner wall of the waste toner container 60, and the function as a scattering prevention film is enhanced.

Further, in the present embodiment, a replenishment toner container 81 containing replenishment toner to be supplied to the developing unit 54 for forming a toner image is integrated with the waste toner container 60, and is stored in the replenishment toner container 81. The replenishment toner heating unit 12 for heating the supplied replenishment toner is provided, and the waste toner processing unit 71 heats and melts the replenishment toner in the replenishment toner container 81 by the replenishment toner heating unit 12 at the same timing as the melting process.
With this configuration, the supply toner remaining in the supply toner container 81 can be prevented from scattering.

Further, in the present embodiment, a replenishment toner transport mechanism 82 for transporting replenishment toner toward the developing unit 54 for forming a toner image is integrated with the waste toner container 60. The replenishment toner heating unit 13 for heating the replenishment toner is provided, and the waste toner processing unit 71 heats and melts the replenishment toner in the replenishment toner transport mechanism 82 by the replenishment toner heating unit 13 at the same timing as the melting process.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the supply toner remaining in the supply toner transport mechanism 82 from scattering.

Further, in the present embodiment, a waste toner transport mechanism 58 that transports waste toner toward the waste toner container 60 is integrated with the waste toner container 60, and the waste toner in the waste toner transport mechanism 58 is heated. The waste toner processing unit 71 heats and melts the waste toner in the waste toner transport mechanism 58 by the waste toner heating unit 14 at the same timing as the melting process.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the supply toner remaining in the waste toner transport mechanism 58 from scattering.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is clear that the embodiments can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Further, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be set to numbers, positions, shapes, and the like suitable for carrying out the present invention. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming apparatus 2 document reading section 3 document feeding section 4 main body section 5 recording section 6 operation section 7 control section 8 image processing section 9 storage section 10 waste toner heating section 11 full detection sensors 12, 13 supply toner heating section 14 waste Toner heating unit 21 Scanner 22 Contact glass 23 Slit glass 31 Document placement unit 32 Document discharge unit 33 Document transfer mechanism 40 Paper discharge space 41 Paper supply unit 51 Photoconductor drum 52 Charger 53 Optical scanning unit 54 Developing unit 55 Transfer roller 56 Fixing section 57 Cleaning section 58 Waste toner transport mechanism 60, 60a, 60b, 60c Waste toner container 61 Irregularity section 71 Waste toner processing section 80 Waste toner integrated type container 81 Supply toner container 82 Supply toner transport mechanism

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus that stores toner collected by a cleaning unit from a photosensitive drum after transfer of a toner image in a waste toner container as waste toner,
Waste toner heating unit in the container for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container,
By heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container by the waste toner heating unit in the container,
A waste toner processing unit that performs a melting process to melt at least the entire surface of the upper layer unit ,
The waste toner container, a substrate that does not soften at the melting temperature of the waste toner,
An inner wall made of a material that softens or melts at a melting temperature of the waste toner . An image forming apparatus that stores toner collected by a cleaning unit from a photosensitive drum after transfer of a toner image in a waste toner container as waste toner,
Waste toner heating unit in the container for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container,
By heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container by the waste toner heating unit in the container,
A waste toner processing unit that performs a melting process to melt at least the entire surface of the upper layer unit ,
In the waste toner container, a replenishment toner container containing replenishment toner to be supplied to a developing unit that forms a toner image is integrated,
A replenishment toner heating unit in the container for heating replenishment toner stored in the replenishment toner container,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner processing unit heats and melts the replenishment toner in the replenishment toner container by the in-container replenishment toner heating unit at the same timing as the melting process . An image forming apparatus that stores toner collected by a cleaning unit from a photosensitive drum after transfer of a toner image in a waste toner container as waste toner,
Waste toner heating unit in the container for heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container,
By heating the waste toner contained in the waste toner container by the waste toner heating unit in the container,
A waste toner processing unit that performs a melting process to melt at least the entire surface of the upper layer unit ,
In the waste toner container, a replenishment toner transport mechanism that transports replenishment toner toward a developing unit that forms a toner image is integrated,
A replenishment toner heating unit for heating replenishment toner in the replenishment toner transport mechanism,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner processing unit heats and melts the replenishment toner in the replenishment toner transport mechanism by the replenishment toner heating unit in the mechanism at the same timing as the melting process . Wherein the inner wall of the waste toner container, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the uneven portion is formed. Wherein the waste toner container, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the constriction is smaller cross-sectional area are formed from the bottom surface. In the waste toner container, a waste toner transport mechanism that transports waste toner toward the waste toner container is integrated,
A waste toner heating unit in the mechanism for heating waste toner in the waste toner transport mechanism,
The waste toner processing unit, at the same timing as the melting process, one by the mechanism within the waste toner heating unit according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that to melt by heating the waste toner in the waste toner conveying mechanism the image forming apparatus of the crab according.

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