JP6763200B2 - Waste toner storage container and image forming apparatus equipped with the container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a waste toner storage container that is removable from the main body of an image forming apparatus and that receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation from a receiving port.

In an image forming apparatus such as a printer that transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum or an intermediate transfer belt to an image to be transferred such as a recording sheet, residual toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer is removed. It is common to remove the residual toner with a cleaner or the like and store the removed residual toner as waste toner in a waste toner storage container.
The waste toner storage container is removable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and when the waste toner storage container is filled with waste toner, the waste toner storage container is removed from the main body by the user, and then a new (empty) container is used. The work of attaching the waste toner storage container to the main body is usually performed.

JP-A-2009-31722

The above-mentioned replacement work of the waste toner container by the user is troublesome for the user, and there is a problem that the burden on the user increases as the replacement frequency increases.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a waste toner storage container capable of efficiently using the waste toner storage space to store a larger amount of waste toner, and an image forming apparatus including the waste toner storage container. It is intended to be provided.

In order to achieve the above object, the waste toner storage container according to the present invention is a waste toner storage container that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation from the receiving port. At a predetermined position on the transport screw that transports the waste toner received from the receiving port, and on the downstream side in the transport direction of the waste toner from the receiving port and on the upstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw. When the partition wall is provided and the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transfer screw in the mounting posture on the main body, the partition wall includes a first portion provided above the transfer screw and the partition wall. Each of one side and the other side in the left-right direction of the transport screw has a second portion extending downward from the first portion, and the lower end of each of the second portions is the transport screw. The transport space is located below the axis of the rotating shaft and above the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container, is separated from the bottom surface, and communicates with the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container. The space between the lower end of the second portion and the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container is such that the waste toner that has received the transport force of the screw passes from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the waste toner by the transport screw. drilled Oh is, the partition wall, in the portion above the axial center of the conveying screw, said first portion and said respective second portions and the edge of the cutout portion formed to surround said carrying screw It is characterized in that a slight gap having a predetermined size is provided between the portion and the rotation range of the conveyor screw .

Further, the shape of the edge portion of each of the second portion of the one and the other, which is above the axis of the transport screw and faces the transport screw, has an arc shape along the rotation region of the transport screw. It may be.
Here, the distance between the part of the second part below the axis of the transport screw and the portion of the other second part below the axis of the transport screw is determined. It may be the same at any position in the vertical direction.

Here, the shape of the edge portion of each of the one and the other second portions below the axis of the transport screw, which is closer to the transport screw in the left-right direction, is the waste toner storage container. It may have a linear shape extending toward the bottom surface of the.
Further, the second portion of the one and the other is a portion of the second portion of the one below the axis of the transport screw and a second portion of the other portion below the axis of the transport screw. It may include a portion in which the distance between the portion and the portion becomes wider as it goes downward.

The waste toner storage container according to another aspect of the present invention is a waste toner storage container that is removable from the main body of the image forming apparatus and receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation from the receiving port. The transport screw for transporting the waste toner received from the receiving port is arranged at a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction of the waste toner from the receiving port and on the upstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw. When the partition wall is provided and the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transfer screw in the mounting posture on the main body, the partition wall includes the first portion provided above the transfer screw and the transfer screw. It has a second portion extending downward from the first portion on one side and the other side in the left-right direction, and each of the second portions is above the axis of the transport screw. The shape of the edge of the portion facing the transport screw is arcuate along the rotation range of the transport screw, and the lower ends of each of the second portions are below the axis of the rotation shaft of the transport screw. located, the respective front Stories second portion, the edge portion of the side close to the conveying screw in the lateral direction of the portion below the axis of the conveyor screw, towards the bottom surface of the waste toner container The distance between the straight edge of the one second portion and the straight edge of the other second portion is in the vertical direction, including the straight edge extended by the straight edge and the inclined edge extended from the lower end of the straight edge. It is the same at any position of the above, and is characterized in that the distance between the inclined edge of the one second portion and the inclined edge of the other second portion becomes wider as it goes downward.

The waste toner storage container according to still another aspect of the present invention is a waste toner storage container that is removable from the main body of the image forming apparatus and receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation from the receiving port. , A transport screw for transporting waste toner received from the receiving port, and a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction of the waste toner from the receiving port and on the upstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw. When the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transfer screw in the mounting posture on the main body, the partition wall has a first portion provided above the transfer screw and the transfer screw. A second portion extending downward from the first portion is provided on one side and the other side in the left-right direction, respectively, and the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transfer screw in the mounting posture. When the first side wall is erected from the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container on one side in the left-right direction across the partition wall, and the second side wall is erected from the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container on the other side. The lower end of the second portion of each of the second portions of the partition wall, which is provided on the first side wall and is located on the side where the first side wall is located with the transport screw in between. Is characterized in that the height position from the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container is lower than the lower end of the second portion existing on the side where the second side wall is located.

Further, the lower ends of the second portion of one and the other provided on both sides of the transport screw in the left-right direction are extended to positions below the transport screw, and the partition wall is the first of the one. It may have a connecting portion that connects the lower end portion of the two portions and the lower end portion of the other second portion at a position lower than the transport screw, and a through hole through which the transport screw is inserted may be formed. ..

Also, among the transport screw, the outer diameter D1 of the first screw portion than the predetermined position from the first position of the conveyance direction upstream side to a second position in the transport direction downstream side of the predetermined position, It may be smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the second screw portion on the upstream side in the transport direction from the first position.

Further, the transport screw has spiral blades extending spirally in the transport direction, and among the transport screws, the transport screw is transported from a first position on the upstream side in the transport direction from the predetermined position to the predetermined position. The pitch P1 of the spiral blades of the first screw portion up to the second position on the downstream side in the direction may be smaller than the pitch P2 of the spiral blades of the second screw portion on the upstream side in the transport direction than the first position.

Further, it may be further provided with a detection unit capable of detecting waste toner which is conveyed downstream of the partition wall by the transfer screw and deposited up to a height position above the transfer screw.
Further, a paddle that is coaxial with the transport screw, is provided on the downstream side of the transport screw in the transport direction, and agitates waste toner transported by the transport screw on the downstream side of the partition in the transport direction. May be further prepared.

Further, a transmission member for transmitting the rotational driving force from the driving unit of the main body to the transport screw may be further provided.
Further, a second receiving port, which is provided at a position downstream of the downstream end of the transport screw and receives waste toner separately from the receiving port, and waste toner received from the second receiving port are received. A second transport screw that transports the toner in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the transport screw, and a second transport screw that is downstream of the second receiving port and in the transport direction of waste toner by the second transport screw. When the second partition wall is further provided at a position upstream of the downstream end of the second partition wall and the second partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the second transport screw in the mounting posture on the main body. The second partition wall extends downward from the third portion on at least one side in the left-right direction with the third portion provided above the second transport screw and the second transport screw interposed therebetween. Both the waste toner conveyed by the transfer screw and the waste toner conveyed by the second transfer screw are accommodated between the partition wall and the second partition wall. A storage space may be formed.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on an image carrier, and is characterized by including the above-mentioned waste toner accommodating container for accommodating waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation. And.

With the above configuration, in the mounting posture in which the waste toner storage container is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the waste toner that has entered the waste toner storage container from the receiving port and has fallen onto the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container due to gravity It is conveyed downstream of the partition wall in the transport direction by the transport screw, and is deposited on the bottom surface on the downstream side of the partition wall in the transport direction. When the height of the deposited waste toner from the bottom surface is higher than that of the transport screw, the partition wall regulates that the deposited waste toner collapses and returns to the upstream side in the transport direction. It becomes possible to efficiently store waste toner.

As a result, the frequency of replacement of the waste toner storage container can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the partition wall is not provided, and the labor of the user for the replacement work of the waste toner storage container can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the printer which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part provided in a printer. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the waste toner storage container. It is a front view of the waste toner container when the front plate is seen through from the front side of the apparatus. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of one step from the start of storing waste toner in the waste toner container until it becomes full. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of one step different from the above from the time when waste toner begins to be stored in the waste toner container until it becomes full. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of one step different from the above from the time when waste toner begins to be stored in the waste toner container until it becomes full. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of one step different from the above from the time when waste toner begins to be stored in the waste toner container until it becomes full. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of one step different from the above from the time when waste toner begins to be stored in the waste toner container until it becomes full. (A) to (c) are diagrams showing a modified example of the shape of the partition wall. It is a figure which shows another modification of the shape of a partition wall. It is a figure which shows still another modification of the shape of a partition wall. It is a figure which shows the modification of the transfer screw.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the waste toner container and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described as an example when applied to a monochrome printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as “printer”).
(1) Printer Configuration FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing the configuration of the printer 1.
As shown in the figure, the printer 1 includes an image forming unit 3, an intermediate transfer unit 4, a feeding unit 5, a fixing unit 6, a control unit 7, an operation panel 8, a waste toner storage container 9, and the like.

When the printer 1 is connected to a network (for example, LAN) and receives a print job execution instruction from an external terminal device (not shown), a black toner image is formed based on the instruction, and the formed toner image is formed. Is transferred to a recording sheet to form a black monochrome image. Hereinafter, the black color is referred to as K color.
The image forming unit 3 has an image forming unit 3K and an exposure unit 15.

The image-creating unit 3K includes a photoconductor drum 31 that rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A, a charger 32 arranged around the photoconductor drum 31, a developer 33, and a cleaner 34 for cleaning the photoconductor drum 31. A K-color toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 31. Here, the photoconductor drum 31 is used as the image carrier, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a photoconductor belt or the like can be used.

The intermediate transfer unit 4 has a drive roller 42, a driven roller 43, a primary transfer roller 44, a secondary transfer roller 45, a cleaner 47, and the like, in addition to the intermediate transfer belt 41 arranged above the image forming unit 3K. ing.
The intermediate transfer belt 41 is stretched over the drive roller 42, the driven roller 43, and the primary transfer roller 44, and is orbitally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow B.

The primary transfer roller 44 is arranged to face the photoconductor drum 31 via the intermediate transfer belt 41. The secondary transfer roller 45 is arranged to face the drive roller 42 via the intermediate transfer belt 41.
The exposure unit 15 is arranged below the image creation unit 3K, emits a light beam L for forming a K-color image from a light emitting element by a drive signal from the control unit 7, and is a photoconductor charged by a charger 32. The drum 31 is irradiated and exposed and scanned. By this exposure scanning, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 31.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 31 is developed with a developer of the developing device 33, for example, toner, so that a K-color toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 31.
Here, as a developing method, while replenishing the developing agent for replenishment little by little from the replenishment port of the housing containing the developing agent, a part of the developing agent excess due to the replenishment is discharged from the discharge port of the housing to the housing. The so-called trickle development method is adopted, in which the housing is discharged to the outside of the housing.

In this trickle developing method, the developer is gradually replaced with a new one, so that the deteriorated developer is less likely to remain, and deterioration of the developer can be suppressed to achieve high image quality. In the trickle developing method, the developer (toner or the like) discharged from the discharge port of the housing is sent to the waste toner storage container 9 as waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation. The configuration of the waste toner container 9 will be described later.

The K-color toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 31 is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 by the primary transfer roller 44 facing the photoconductor drum 31 with the intermediate transfer belt 41 interposed therebetween.
Of the toner images on the photoconductor drum 31 during this primary transfer, the residual toner that remains on the photoconductor drum 31 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 41 is cleaned by the rotation of the photoconductor drum 31. It is transported to, removed from the photoconductor drum 31 by the cleaner 34, and sent to the waste toner storage container 9 as waste toner.

The feeding unit 5 secondary feeds the paper feed cassette 51 that houses the sheet S for recording, the feeding roller 52 that feeds the sheet S in the paper feed cassette 51 one by one onto the transport path 53, and the fed sheet. A timing roller 54 or the like for transporting the sheet S at the timing when the transfer roller 45 is sent to the secondary transfer position 46 in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 41 is provided.
The timing roller 54 conveys the sheet S to the secondary transfer position 46 at the timing when the K color toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 41 is transferred to the secondary transfer position 46. Then, when the sheet S passes through the secondary transfer position 46, the K color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 is secondarily transferred onto the sheet S by the secondary transfer roller 45.

Of the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 41 during this secondary transfer, the residual toner that remains on the intermediate transfer belt 41 without being transferred to the sheet S is removed by the cleaner 47 due to the orbital running of the intermediate transfer belt 41. It is transported to, removed from the intermediate transfer belt 41 by the cleaner 47, and sent to the waste toner storage container 9 as waste toner.
The sheet S to which the K color toner image is secondarily transferred at the secondary transfer position 46 is conveyed to the fixing portion 6. The fixing portion 6 is arranged above the secondary transfer position 46, and heat-fixes the K-color toner image (unfixed image) on the sheet S conveyed by the secondary transfer roller 45 by heating and pressurizing. The sheet S that has passed through the fixing portion 6 is discharged to the outside of the machine by the discharge roller 55 and is housed in the paper discharge tray 56.

The waste toner storage container 9 is a container for storing waste toner discharged from the developing device 33 and the cleaners 34 and 47, and is detachably attached to the apparatus housing (main body) 2. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the waste toner storage container 9 is inside the apparatus main body 2, and is located below the intermediate transfer belt 41 and above the paper feed cassette 51 in the height direction of the printer 1. The printer 1 is mounted at a position on the front side of the device with respect to the image forming unit 3 and the intermediate transfer unit 4 in the front-rear direction of the device, and the user can open and close the openable and closable cover member (not shown) provided on the front side of the device. By doing so, it can be replaced from the front side of the device.

The operation panel 8 is arranged at a position where it is easy for the user to operate when standing in front of the printer 1, here, at a position on the upper surface of the device main body 2 on the front side of the device, and receives instructions for executing various jobs from the user. It has a key and a selection key that receives a selection instruction for a job to be executed. Further, the operation panel 8 is also provided with a display 8a for displaying screens related to various jobs based on instructions from the control unit 7 and a warning message prompting the user to replace the waste toner storage container 9.

The printer 1 is located between the intermediate transfer belt 41 and the exposed portion 15, and the portion 39 other than the image forming portion 3K is a space. The reason for having such a space 39 is that the printer 1 is configured by a so-called minor change from a color printer to a monochrome printer. Specifically, for a tandem type color printer in which each image forming section for forming toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is arranged, each image forming section for yellow, magenta, and cyan is provided. The printer 1 is the one that has been removed and changed to a black monochrome printer using only the image forming unit 3K for black color. As a result, the portion where the yellow, magenta, and cyan image areas were originally arranged becomes the space 39.

As the waste toner storage container 9, the same one used in the color printer is used as it is. Therefore, the storage space (capacity) of the waste toner is sufficiently large for the monochrome printer 1 having only one black color. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, by accommodating the waste toner in the waste toner storage container 9 having a sufficiently large storage space as efficiently as possible, the frequency of replacement of the waste toner storage container 9 by the user is reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the time and effort required for user replacement work.

(2) Configuration of Control Unit FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the control unit 7.
As shown in the figure, the control unit 7 includes a communication interface (I / F) unit 71, a CPU 72, a ROM 73, a RAM 74, and the like, and each of them can communicate with each other.
The communication I / F unit 71 is an interface such as a network, for example, a LAN card or a LAN board for connecting to a LAN, and communicates with an external terminal device connected via the network.

The CPU 72 reads a necessary program from the ROM 73 and controls the image forming unit 3, the intermediate transfer unit 4, the feeding unit 5, and the fixing unit 6 to smoothly execute the print job. The RAM 74 is used as a work area for the CPU 72.
Further, when the CPU 72 receives the detection signal from the waste toner detection sensor 10 that detects that the waste toner storage container 9 is full of waste toner, the operation panel 8 issues a warning message prompting the replacement of the waste toner storage container 9. To display.

When the waste toner storage container 9 is replaced with a new one by the user and the detection signal indicating that the waste toner is full is not received from the waste toner detection sensor 10, the CPU 72 is displayed on the operation panel 8. Turns off the warning message.
Further, the CPU 72 operates a drive motor 13 for rotating a rotary transport member (described later) provided in the waste toner storage container 9.

(3) Configuration of Waste Toner Storage Container 9 FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the waste toner storage container 9, and is a mounting posture when the waste toner storage container 9 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 of the printer 1. An exploded perspective view is shown.
In the figure, the left-right direction when the printer 1 is viewed from the front side of the device is shown by the X-axis, the front-back direction of the device is shown by the Y-axis, and the up-down (height) direction is shown by the Z-axis.

The waste toner storage container 9 includes a front plate 91, a back plate 92, a right side plate 93 and a left side plate 94 connected to the left and right ends thereof, and a top plate 95 and a bottom plate 96 connected to the upper and lower ends thereof. The space 90 surrounded by each of these surfaces is the internal space of the waste toner storage container 9. In the figure, only the front plate 91 is disassembled from the waste toner storage container 9 in order to make it easier to understand the internal structure of the waste toner storage container 9.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the waste toner storage container 9 when the front plate 91 is seen through from the front side of the apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, two waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 are opened in the right side portion of the device of the back plate 92, and one is opened at the left end portion of the waste toner storage container 9. A waste toner receiving port 133 is provided.
The waste toner receiving port 131 receives the waste toner discharged from the cleaner 34 of the image forming unit 3K, and the waste toner receiving port 132 receives the waste toner discharged from the developer 33 of the image forming unit 3K by the trickle developing method. accept. The waste toner receiving port 133 receives the waste toner discharged from the cleaner 47 of the intermediate transfer unit 4.

The transport member 120 is arranged at a position substantially central in the Z-axis direction of the internal space 90. The transport member 120 is a portion of a long rotating shaft 121 along the X-axis direction in which spiral blades 122 and 125 are provided on both sides in the X-axis direction and a portion in which paddles 123 and 124 are provided in the center in the X-axis direction. It is a rotary transport member having and. Hereinafter, the portion of the transport member 120 provided with the spiral blade 122 is referred to as a transport screw 122, and the portion provided with the spiral blade 125 is referred to as a transport screw 125. The outer diameter of the transport screw 122 and the pitch in the axial direction are constant from one end in the X-axis direction to the other end. This also applies to the transport screw 125.

The left end of the rotating shaft 121 is rotatably supported by the bearing 94a of the left side plate 94. The right end of the rotating shaft 121 penetrates the through hole 93a of the right side plate 93 and protrudes out of the waste toner storage container 9, and the gear 126 is attached to the protruding portion.
The gear 126 rotates in a certain direction by transmitting the driving force of the drive motor 13 (FIG. 2), and the rotation shaft 121 rotates in the same direction as the gear 126 by the rotation of the gear 126. Due to the rotation of the rotating shaft 121, the transport screws 122 and 125 and the paddles 123 and 124 provided coaxially with these are rotated around the rotating shaft 121. The drive motor 13 is rotationally driven, for example, during execution of a print job.

The transport screw 122 can transport the stored waste toner in the transport direction α (left direction) shown in FIG. 4 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 121, that is, the spiral blades so that the transport force in the α direction acts on the waste toner. Is provided.
The transport screw 125 can transport the stored waste toner in the transport direction β (right direction) shown in FIG. 4 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 121, that is, the transport force in the β direction opposite to the α direction is the waste toner. The direction of the spiral blade is opposite to that of the transport screw 122 so as to act on.

The outer diameters of the spiral blades of the transport screws 122 and 125 provided on the same axis are the same, and the pitch of the spiral blades is larger in the transport screw 125 than in the transport screw 122 here. When the outer diameters of the spiral blades are the same, the smaller the pitch of the spiral blades, the smaller the amount of waste toner transported per rotation of the rotating shaft 121. Therefore, the transport screw 122 is more per unit rotation speed than the transport screw 125. The amount of waste toner transported is reduced. The reason for this will be described later.

The pads 123 and 124 are plate-shaped and mainly apply a circumferential transport force of the rotary shaft 121 to the waste toner instead of the axial transport force of the rotary shaft 121 to apply the waste toner around the rotary shaft 121. Used to stir. The paddles 123 and 124 are not limited to a plate shape as long as the waste toner T can be agitated, and for example, a paddle having a linear shape or the like can be used.
In the internal space 90, apart from the transport member 120, partition walls 101 and 102 are provided at predetermined positions G1 and G2 in the X-axis direction. The partition walls 101 and 102 partition the space above the transport member 120 in the internal space 90 into three first upper space 151, a second upper space 152, and a third upper space 153 arranged in the X-axis direction, and the X-axis. It is a member that secures the second upper space 152 in the center of the direction as a waste toner accommodating space.

Of the internal space 90, the space located below the first upper space 151 is referred to as the first lower space 161 and the space located below the second upper space 152 is referred to as the second lower space 162. The space located below the upper space 153 is called the third lower space 163.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC shown in FIG. 4 and corresponds to a view when the partition wall 101 is viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow D (the axial direction of the rotating shaft 121). In FIG. 5, the direction parallel to the Z axis is referred to as the vertical direction, and the direction parallel to the Y axis is referred to as the horizontal direction.

As shown in the figure, in the partition wall 101, the upper end edge 11a is connected to the top plate 95, the rear end edge 11b is connected to the back plate 92, and the front end edge 11c is connected to the front plate 91. When the partition wall 101 is vertically divided into a first portion 201 above the transport screw 122 and a second portion 202 below it (when the partition wall 101 is divided vertically across the virtual alternate long and short dash line 205 in the figure), the first portion When viewed from the axial direction of the transport screw 122, the two portions 202 can be said to be portions extending downward from the first portion 201 on each side of the transport screw 122 in the left-right direction.

A space 111 through which the transport screw 122 is inserted is formed by the first portion 201 and the two second portions 202, and the edges of the first portion 201 and the two second portions 202 forming the space 111 are formed. Is referred to as a notch portion 11e of the partition wall 101.
The notch portion 11e is formed by cutting open a part of the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 so as to have an opening 11z downward, and among the edges forming the notch portion 11e, the axial center 129 (rotating shaft) of the transport screw 122. The portion 11w above the axis 121) has a concentric semicircular shape along the outer circumference (rotational region) of the transport screw 122, and the portions 11p and 11q below the axis 129 are extended downward in the vertical direction. It has a straight shape.

The portion 11w is the edge portion of the second portion 202 above the axis 129 of the transport screw 122 facing the transport screw 122, and the portions 11p and 11q are the transport screws of the second portion 202. It can be said that the edge portion of the portion below the axial center 129 of 122 that is closer to the transport screw 122 in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, the edge portion 11w is referred to as an arc edge 11w, and the edge portions 11p and 11q are referred to as straight edges 11p and 11q.

The transport screw 122 is inserted through the space 111 formed by the cutout portion 11e, and a gap 11f of a predetermined size (for example, 0) is inserted between the arc edge 11w of the cutout portion 11e and the outer circumference of the transport screw 122. The position where the notch portion 11e is provided and the size of the notch 11e are predetermined so as to have (about .5 mm). The distance between the straight edges 11p and 11q in the left-right direction is the same at any position in the up-down direction.

The lower end 11m of the second portion 202 of the partition wall 101, the lower end edge 11d of 11n (the lower end of the partition wall) is not connected to (separated from) the bottom plate 96, and the lower end edge 11d is based on the bottom plate 96. The height position H2 of the transfer screw 122 is lower than the height position H1 of the axial center 129 of the transfer screw 122, which is equal to the height position H2 of the lower end 128 in the rotation region (outer circumference) of the transfer screw 122 in the figure.

In FIG. 5, the relationship between the partition wall 101 and the transfer screw 122 has been described, but the partition wall 102 and the transfer screw 125 have the same relationship. That is, the partition wall 102 has a third portion corresponding to the first portion 201 of the partition wall 101 and a fourth portion corresponding to the second portion 202 of the partition wall 101, and is composed of the third portion and the two fourth portions. The transport screw 125 is inserted through the notch formed.

In the arrangement positions G1 and G2 (FIG. 4) of the partition walls 101 and 102, since there is no partition wall in the regions 90b and 90c between the bottom plate 96 and the lower end edges 11d and 12d of the partition walls 101 and 102 above the bottom plate 96, the area 90b becomes a communication space between the first lower space 161 and the second lower space 162, and the area 90c becomes a communication space between the second lower space 162 and the third lower space 163.
The length of the transport screw 122 is set in the axial direction so that the downstream end 221 of the transport direction α penetrates the notch 11e of the partition wall 101 and extends to the downstream side of the partition wall 101 in the transport direction α. Further, the length of the transport screw 125 is set so that the downstream end 251 in the transport direction β penetrates the notch 11e of the partition wall 102 and extends to the downstream side in the transport direction β from the partition wall 102. There is.

The waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 are provided at positions corresponding to the first upper space 151, and the waste toner receiving ports 133 are provided at positions corresponding to the third upper space 153.
In such a configuration, in the present embodiment, the waste toner contained in the first lower space 161 at the right end in the X-axis direction is conveyed from the waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 to the central second lower space 162 by the transfer screw 122. Then, the waste toner contained in the third lower space 163 at the left end is conveyed from the waste toner receiving port 133 to the second lower space 162 in the center by the transfer screw 125, and the second lower space 162 and the second upper part above it are conveyed. Waste toner is collectively stored in a storage space 172 including a space 152.

(4) Storage of Waste Toner FIGS. 6 to 10 are schematic views showing a stepwise state from the start of storage of waste toner in the waste toner storage container 9 to the time when the waste toner is filled.
As shown in FIG. 6, the waste toner T that has entered the waste toner storage container 9 from the waste toner inlets 131 and 132 falls due to gravity and is directly below the waste toner inlets 131 and 132 in the first lower space 161. At the position, it is deposited on the bottom plate 96 of the waste toner storage container 9. Similarly, the waste toner T that has entered the waste toner storage container 9 from the waste toner receiving port 133 also falls due to gravity and is deposited on the bottom plate 96 at a position directly below the waste toner receiving port 133 in the third lower space 163. Will be done.

Until the height of the accumulated waste toner pile Ta reaches the height position of the transport screws 122 and 125, the waste toner T is accumulated at the position directly below each of the waste toner receiving ports 131, 132 and 133. Followed.
When the top of the accumulated waste toner pile Ta reaches the height position of the transport screw 122 in the first lower space 161, the transport force of the transport screw 122 in the arrow α direction acts on the waste toner T. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the waste toner pile Ta is collapsed, and the collapsed waste toner T flows into the second lower space 162 through the communication space 90b between the first lower space 161 and the second lower space 162. .. This avalanche is called diffusion of waste toner, and helps transport the waste toner T from the first lower space 161 to the second lower space 162.

Similarly, when the top of the accumulated waste toner pile Ta reaches the height position of the transport screw 125 in the third lower space 163, the transport force of the transport screw 125 in the arrow β direction acts on the waste toner T. As a result, the pile Ta of waste toner is broken, and the collapsed waste toner T flows into the second lower space 162 through the communication space 90c between the third lower space 163 and the second lower space 162 (diffusion of waste toner). ..

Waste toner T conveyed from each of the first lower space 161 and the third lower space 163 collects in the second lower space 162 and is deposited on the bottom plate 96 in the second lower space 162.
As new waste toner T gradually enters the first lower space 161 and the third lower space 163 from the waste toner receiving ports 131, 132, 133, the first lower space 161 and the third lower space 161 and the third In the lower space 163, the height position of the pile Ta of the accumulated waste toner is maintained at substantially the same height as the rotation shaft 121 of the transport screws 122 and 125, while in the second lower space 162, the first lower space 161 The height position of the pile of the waste toner T rises due to the accumulation of the waste toner T conveyed from the third lower space 163 to the second lower space 162 by the transfer screws 122 and 125.

In the first lower space 161, the height position of the pile Ta of the waste toner deposited in the first lower space 161 is maintained at substantially the same height as the rotating shaft 121, because the newly introduced waste toner is maintained in the first lower space 161. This is because T is transported from the first lower space 161 to the second lower space 162 by the transport force of the transport screw 122 before the T is accumulated to a position higher than the rotation shaft 121. This also applies to the third lower space 163.

In the present embodiment, the amount of waste toner accommodated in the first lower space 161 and the third lower space 163 per unit time during job execution is the waste toner T from one waste toner receiving port 133. The first lower space 161 that receives the waste toner T from the two waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 is larger than the third lower space 163 that receives the waste toner T.
Therefore, if the amount of waste toner conveyed per rotation by the transfer screws 122 and 125 is the same, the amount of waste toner per unit time carried from the third lower space 163 to the second lower space 162 is larger than the amount Tm. The amount of waste toner Tn carried in from the 1 lower space 161 to the second lower space 162 per unit time is larger, and the amount of waste toner carried in is different.

There is a difference in the amount of waste toner carried in, for example, in the second lower space 162, the capacity of the waste toner T is larger on the side closer to the first lower space 161 than on the side closer to the third lower space 163. If there is a bias such as becoming, it may lead to a reduction in the storage efficiency of waste toner.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the transfer screw 122 has a shorter spiral blade pitch than the transfer screw 125 so that the amounts of waste toner Tm and Tn are about the same, and the pitch per unit rotation speed is shortened. It is configured to reduce the amount of waste toner transported.

When the height position of the pile of waste toner T deposited in the second lower space 162 reaches the position in contact with the paddles 123 and 124, the waste toner T is agitated by the rotating paddles 123 and 124, and the pile of waste toner T is agitated. It smoothes and prevents the waste toner T from aggregating.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the height position of the pile of the waste toner T deposited in the second lower space 162 reaches substantially the same height position as the rotation axis 121, the first lower space 161 to the third lower space 163 The height of the pile of waste toner T becomes substantially the same over the entire period.

Further, when the capacity of the waste toner T in the second lower space 162 increases, the height of the waste toner pile Ta deposited in the second lower space 162 becomes the height position of the rotation shaft 121 as shown in FIG. It is higher than (the height position of the pile Tb of waste toner deposited in the first lower space 161 and the third lower space 163). That is, the waste toner T is also deposited in the second upper space 152 above the second lower space 162 in the accommodation space 172.

Even if the height of the waste toner pile Ta deposited in the accommodation space 172 is higher than the height position of the waste toner pile Tb deposited in the first lower space 161 and the third lower space 163, Due to the presence of the partition walls 101 and 102, the waste toner T deposited in the accommodation space 172 hardly returns (backflows) to the first lower space 161 and the third lower space 163 by gravity.
That is, when looking at the partition wall 101, among the waste toner piles Ta in the accommodation space 172, the waste toner Tc existing at a position higher than the waste toner piles Tb deposited in the first lower space 161 is the first due to gravity. Even if it tries to collapse on the waste toner Tb of the lower space 161, it is blocked by the first portion 201 constituting the upper part of the partition wall 101.

Further, even if the waste toner Tc wraps around the regions on both sides in the Y-axis direction across the transport screw 122 and tries to return from the second lower space 162 to the first lower space 161, the second partition wall 101 existing in the regions on both sides thereof. It is blocked by the portion 202 (FIG. 5).
Further, the waste toner Tc will pass through a slight gap 11f between the cutout portion 11e of the partition wall 101 and the transport screw 122 in the opposite direction against the direction of the transport force (arrow α direction) by the transport screw 122. It is not easy to do.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the waste toner storage container 9 is not yet filled with the waste toner T and the printer 1 is maintained by a serviceman or the like when the job is not executed, the waste toner is maintained. The storage container 9 may be temporarily removed from the device main body 2 and returned (mounted) to the original position of the device main body 2 after the maintenance is completed.
During such work, the waste toner storage container 9 is serviced from the horizontal posture (mounting posture) shown in FIG. 9 in an inclined posture such that the third lower space 163 is upward with respect to the first lower space 161. Even if it is carried by a man, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is difficult for the waste toner T in the second upper space 152 to return (backflow) to the first lower space 161 due to gravity. ..

On the other hand, when the height position of the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 is set to the position H3 shown in FIG. 5, for example, the lower end of the partition wall 101 and the lower end of the partition wall 101 are conveyed in the height direction (Z-axis direction). A gap is created between the screw 122 and the screw 122.
When the configuration of this comparative example is applied to the state of FIG. 9, the waste toner Tc of the second upper space 152 returns to the first lower space 161 through the gap between the lower end of the partition wall 101 and the transport screw 122. Is likely to occur, and further deposit is likely to occur on the waste toner Tb deposited in the first lower space 161.

Further, in the comparative example, since the above-mentioned second portion 202 does not exist on both sides in the Y-axis direction across the transport screw 122, the respective spaces on both sides in the Y-axis direction across the transport screw 122 are also the first lower space 161. It becomes a communication space with the second lower space 162.
Therefore, of the waste toner T in the first lower space 161, the waste toner T existing around the transport screw 122 is transported by the transport screw 122 toward the second lower space 162 in the arrow α direction, and at the same time, the accommodation space. Backflow is likely to occur in which the waste toner Tc deposited on 172 is returned to the first lower space 161 through the vicinity of the front plate 91 or the back plate 92 in the communication space in the direction opposite to the arrow α direction.

Further, when the waste toner storage container 9 is tilted during the above maintenance work, in the configuration of the comparative example, the waste toner T in the storage space 172 may return to the first lower space 161 due to gravity. It will be easier.
When such a backflow of the waste toner T occurs, the maximum capacity of the waste toner T that can be stored in the storage space 172 is small by the amount of the waste toner T that returns from the storage space 172 to the first lower space 161. Become.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the present embodiment, since the backflow of the waste toner T is made difficult, the maximum capacity of the waste toner T that can be stored in the storage space 172 can be increased as compared with the comparative example, and the storage space 172 can be increased accordingly. Waste toner T can be efficiently deposited and stored in the space. This also applies to the partition wall 102, and the waste toner T transported from the third lower space 163 to the storage space 172 can be efficiently deposited and stored in the storage space 172.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the amount of waste toner T stored in the storage space 172 is further increased, and a part of the waste toner pile Ta deposited in the storage space 172 reaches the top plate 95. Indicates the state.
When the storage capacity of the waste toner T further increases from the state shown in the figure and the waste toner T enters the detection port 191 which opens upward in the Z-axis direction, the waste toner T moves downward from the detection port 191. It falls in the extending tubular passage 190. The passage 190 is formed so that the detection port 191 at the upper end enters the internal space side of the waste toner storage container 9 and the portion below the detection port 191 protrudes to the outside of the waste toner storage container 9. Its lower end is bottomed.

The waste toner T that has fallen in the passage 190 accumulates at the lower end of the passage 190. The waste toner T accumulated at the lower end of the passage 190 is near the lower end of the passage 190 and is detected by the waste toner detection sensor 10 arranged outside the back plate 92. The waste toner detection sensor 10 is an optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and the light emitting portion is arranged on one side and the light receiving portion is arranged on the other side of the lower end of the passage 190. ..

When the waste toner T is not accumulated at the lower end of the passage 190, the waste toner detection sensor 10 transmits the light emitted from the light emitting portion through the transparent passage 190 and is received by the light receiving portion. A signal indicating undetection is output to the control unit 7. On the other hand, when the waste toner T is accumulated at the lower end of the passage 190 and the light emitted from the light emitting portion is shielded by the accumulated waste toner T and is not received by the light receiving portion, the waste toner detection sensor 10 detects the waste toner T. A signal indicating the detection of is output to the control unit 7.

The control unit 7 constantly monitors the detection signal output from the waste toner detection sensor 10, and when it receives the signal indicating the detection of the waste toner T, the control unit 7 indicates that the waste toner storage container 9 is full of waste toner. Judgment is made, and the above warning message is displayed on the operation panel 8.
As described above, by using the waste toner storage container 9 of the present embodiment, the waste toner T can be efficiently stored in the storage space 172.

<Modification example>
Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a configuration example has been described in which the height position of the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 coincides with the height position H2 of the lower end 128 in the rotation region of the transport screw 122. However, it is not limited to this.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the height position of the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 may be configured to coincide with the height position H1 of the axial center 129 of the transport screw 122. Even with this configuration, it is possible to prevent backflow of the waste toner T due to the presence of the second portion 202 of the partition wall 101 on both sides in the Y-axis direction (left-right direction) with the transport screw 122 sandwiched between them.
A configuration in which the second portion 202 of the partition wall 101 exists on both sides of the transport screw 122 in the left-right direction as much as possible, in other words, the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 rather than the height position H4 of the upper end 127 in the rotation region of the transport screw 122. If the height position is located at the bottom, the backflow of the waste toner T can be prevented at least as compared with the comparative example in which the height position H3 is shown in FIG.

Further, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the second portions 202 are provided on both sides in the left-right direction with the transport screw 122 sandwiched between them. Even in the configuration in which the two portions 202 are provided, it is possible to prevent the backflow of the waste toner T as compared with the comparative example.
From the viewpoint of the effect of preventing backflow of waste toner, it is desirable that the height position of the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 is lower than that of the transport screw 122, and for example, the height position is preferably H2 rather than H1. ..

Further, the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 11B can be configured.
The partition wall 101 shown in the figure is provided with a through hole 11g as a notch through which the transport screw 122 is inserted, and is configured such that the height position of the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 is located above the bottom plate 96. Has been done. In the configuration having the through holes 11g, the lower end portions 11m and 11n of each second portion 202 of the partition wall 101 are extended to positions below the transport screw 122, and one lower end portion 11m and the other lower end portion 11n are formed. It can be said that the structure is connected by the connecting portion 203 at a position below the transport screw 122.

The waste toner T that receives the conveying force of the conveying screw 122 is conveyed from the first lower space 161 to the adjacent accommodation space 172 mainly through the through hole 11g.
Since the communication space 90b exists between the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 and the bottom plate 96, the above-mentioned waste toner can be diffused.
Further, the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 11C can be configured.

The partition wall 101 shown in the figure is the same as the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 11B in that a through hole 11g through which the transport screw 122 is inserted is provided, but the lower end edge 11d of the partition wall 101 is formed on the bottom plate 96. It is different from the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 11B in that it is connected and another through hole 11u is provided between the through hole 11g and the lower end edge 11d. The through hole 11u forms a connected space 90b between the first lower space 161 and the adjacent second lower space 162.

Even if the partition wall 101 is not provided with the communication space 90b, the transport screw 122 can transport the waste toner T from the first lower space 161 to the second lower space 162. Therefore, depending on the device configuration, for example, it is possible to use a partition wall 101 having a structure in which the communication space 90b of the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 11C is not provided (closed structure), that is, a partition wall 101 having only a through hole 11g. Will. The same configuration can be adopted not only for the partition wall 101 but also for the partition wall 102. This also applies to the following examples.

(2) In the above embodiment, when the notch portion 11e provided in the partition wall 101 is viewed from the transport direction of the waste toner T as shown in FIG. 5, the arc edge 11w forming the contour of the notch portion 11e is formed. An example has been described in which the shape is a semicircle, and the lower straight edges 11p and 11q continuous with the semicircular shape are linearly extended downward in the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 12 can be configured.

The cutout portion 11e of the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 12 has inclined edges 11pa and 11qa inclined in the vertical direction extending from the lower ends of the straight edges 11p and 11 downward in the vertical direction, and left and right from the lower ends of the inclined edges 11pa and 11qa. The lower end edge 11d along the direction (horizontal direction) is elongated.
Among the cutout portions 11e, the width W of the opening 11z in the Y-axis direction (left-right direction) is constant at the straight edges 11p and 11q, but the width W becomes wider toward the downward direction at the inclined edges 11pa and 11qa. There is. The partition wall 101 shown in FIG. 12 has an edge portion having inclined edges 11pa and 11qa under the lower ends 11m and 11n on both sides in the left-right direction of the partition wall 101 shown in FIG. Corresponds to the thing.

With this addition, the width W of the opening 11z of the notch portion 11e is made wider on the lower side than on the upper side while further preventing the backflow of the waste toner T from the accommodation space 172 to the first lower space 161. Waste toner is more easily diffused than a configuration in which the lower width W is narrowed.
In FIG. 12, the inclined edges 11pa and 11qa have a linear shape, but the shape is not limited to this, and for example, a curved shape can be used. Further, the inclined edges 11pa and 11qa may be extended diagonally downward and connected to the back plate 92 and the front plate 91 (the lower end edge 11d in the horizontal direction does not exist). Further, as a configuration for widening the opening width W, for example, instead of the configuration in which the straight edges 11p and 11q shown in FIG. 5 are extended downward in the vertical direction, as the interval W between the straight edges 11p and 11q goes downward. It is also possible to take a configuration that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so as to be wide.

The edge of the second portion 202 below the axial center 129 of the transport screw 122, which is closer to the transport screw 122 in the left-right direction, includes a portion whose width W increases downward. In addition, the notch portion 11e can be formed.
The configuration is not limited to widening the opening width W of the opening 11z, and for example, a notch portion (broken line 11pb, 11qb) having a shape in which the straight edges 11p and 11q are extended straight downward can be provided. Further, the straight edges 11p and 11q can be extended downward to the bottom surface 96 as they are and connected to the bottom surface 96.

(3) Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the lower end edge 11r of the lower end portion 11m of the second portion 202 located on the back plate 92 (first side wall) side of the partition wall 101 where the waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 are provided. Of the lower end edges 11d of the lower end 11n in the second portion 202 on the front plate 91 (second side wall) side on the front side of the device, which is the opposite side, the lower end edge 11r on the back side of the device is the device. It can also be configured to be located below the lower end edge 11d on the front side.

The waste toner that has entered the waste toner storage container 9 from the waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 on the back side of the device is directly below the waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132, that is, in the vicinity of the back plate 92 on the back side of the device on the bottom plate 96. It is easy to collect in the part of. On the other hand, the height position of the lower end edge 11r of the partition wall 101 defines the width of the communication space 90b between the first lower space 161 and the second lower space 162 in the height direction.

The higher the height position of the lower end edge 11r of the partition wall 101, the wider the communication space 90b on the back side of the device, and the pile of waste toner T accumulated directly under the waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 on the back side of the device tends to collapse. Occasionally, it tends to collapse from the first lower space 161 to the second lower space 162 along the back plate 92. If this happens, the waste toner T may be stored on the back side of the device rather than on the front side of the device.

Therefore, in the case of an apparatus configuration in which such deviation may occur, the height position of the lower end edge 11r on the back side of the apparatus is made lower than the lower end edge 11d on the front side of the apparatus as shown in FIG. When the pile of waste toner T accumulated directly under the waste toner receiving ports 131 and 132 on the back side of the device is about to collapse, the lower end 11 m of the partition wall 101 narrows the communication space 90b on the back side of the device. , The pile of waste toner T is likely to collapse toward the side where the communication space 90b on the front side of the device is widened. As a result, it is possible to prevent the waste toner T from being stored on the back side of the device in a biased manner.

The size of the relative difference between the height positions of the lower end edges 11r and 11d is the back plate 92 of the waste toner storage container 9 so that the waste toner T is prevented from flowing back and the waste toner T is suppressed from being biased. It is determined in advance by the positional relationship of the transport screw 122 with respect to the Y-axis direction. For example, it is possible to connect the lower end edge 11r to the bottom surface 96.
(4) In the above embodiment, the outer diameter and pitch of the transport screw 122 are constant from one end to the other in the axial direction, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, of the transport screws 122, from the position G3 (first position) on the upstream side in the transport direction α to the position G4 (second position) on the downstream side across the arrangement position G1 of the partition wall 101. When the portion between them is the screw portion 181 provided with the spiral blade 183 and the portion upstream from the position G3 is the screw portion 182 provided with the spiral blade 184, the outer diameter D1 of the screw portion 181 is the screw portion 182. It can be configured to be smaller than the outer diameter D2.

In the configuration using the spiral blade 183, a space 185 is formed between the rotating shaft 121 and the outer peripheral edge 186 of the spiral blade 183 along the turning direction of the spiral blade 183. This space 185 becomes a space that communicates the first lower space 161 and the accommodation space 172 via the cutout portion 11e of the partition wall 101. While the transport screw 122 is rotating, the waste toner T is transported from the first lower space 161 through the space 185 to the accommodation space 172 by the transport force, so that the backflow of the waste toner T does not occur.

On the other hand, if the transfer force of the transfer screw 122 does not act due to the rotation stop of the transfer screw 122, there is a possibility that the waste toner accumulated in the accommodation space 172 will return to the first lower space 161 through the space 185 due to gravity. There is. The amount of waste toner T returned by this backflow tends to increase as the space 185 becomes wider. The size of the space 185 becomes wider as the outer diameter D of the transport screw 122 becomes larger under the condition that the diameter of the rotating shaft 121 and the pitch of the spiral blades 183 do not change.

Therefore, in the configuration in which the backflow of waste toner may occur as described above, the outer diameter D1 of the screw portion 181 through which the notch portion 11e of the partition wall 101 is inserted is reduced as shown in FIG. It is possible to prevent backflow as compared with the configuration in which the diameter D1 is the same as D2.
Further, instead of reducing the outer diameter D1 of the screw portion 181 of the transport screw 122, the pitch P1 (FIG. 14) of the spiral blade 183 is made smaller than the pitch P2 (FIG. 14) of the spiral blade 184 of the screw portion 182. It is also possible to take a configuration that does. The smaller the pitch of the spiral blades, the larger the number of turns of the spiral blades per unit length in the X-axis direction, and the transport of the spiral blades from the accommodating space 172 to the waste toner T which is about to return to the first lower space 161 through the space 185. It becomes a resistance and can suppress the backflow of the waste toner T.

At least one of the outer diameter D1 of the screw portion 181 and the pitch P1 of the spiral blade 183 can be made smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the screw portion 182 and the pitch P2 of the spiral blade 184. The above can also be applied to the transport screw 125.
(5) In the above embodiment, a configuration example in which the rotational driving force of the transport screws 122 and 125 is transmitted from the drive motor 13 on the device main body 2 side via the gear 126 (transmission member) has been described, but the present invention is limited to this. Instead, for example, a drive unit such as a drive motor may be provided in the waste toner storage container 9. Further, the transmission member is not limited to a gear, and may be, for example, a belt or the like.

(6) In the above embodiment, the waste toner T deposited in the accommodation space 172 is detected by the waste toner detection sensor 10 located below the detection port 191 through the passage 190 having the detection port 191 with the upper end open. Although the configuration example of the detection unit that conveys to the region has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. In the accommodation space 172, a detection unit capable of detecting the waste toner T deposited at a position higher than the transfer screws 122 and 125 can be provided.

For example, a so-called level sensor or the like that can directly or indirectly detect the accumulated waste toner T may be arranged on the upper end of the back plate 92 or the lower surface of the top plate 95 in the accommodation space 172. ..
(7) Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a configuration example in which the position of the detection port 191 in the X-axis direction in the second upper space 152 is substantially the center has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. ..

For example, the amount of waste toner T transported from the first lower space 161 to the second lower space 162 by the transport screw 122 per unit time Qta, and the transport screw 125 from the third lower space 163 to the second lower space 162. When the amount of waste toner T conveyed to the toner T per unit time, Qtb, is roughly known in advance, the position of the detection port 191 in the X-axis direction can be determined as follows.

That is, when there is no large difference between the conveyed amounts Qta and Qtb, the position in the X-axis direction of the detection port 191 in the second upper space 152 is substantially the center, and when there is a large difference, the difference is adjusted. The position can be set closer to the lower space on the side where the amount of waste toner T conveyed is smaller than the lower space on the side where the amount of waste toner T is conveyed by a certain distance. This is due to the following reasons.
That is, when there is a large difference between the transfer amount Qta and Qtb, the side of the second upper space 152 closer to the lower space where the transfer amount of the waste toner T is larger (for example, the subspace Sa shown in FIG. 4) is larger. The waste toner T is often filled before the distant side (for example, the subspace Sb shown in FIG. 4). Therefore, if the detection port 191 is arranged in the subspace Sa that is often filled with the waste toner T first, the waste toner can still be stored in the subspace Sb that conveys the waste toner T less. Even if it is, it is likely to be detected when it is full.

On the contrary, if the detection port 191 is arranged in the subspace Sb where the amount of waste toner T conveyed is small, the waste toner is partially filled even if the waste toner is filled up in the subspace Sa which is larger. This is because the space Sb collapses and more waste toner can be stored, and the waste toner can be stored more efficiently. It is possible to determine in advance by experiments or the like how much the detection port 191 should be displaced from the center in the X-axis direction to more efficiently accommodate the waste toner according to the magnitude of the difference between the conveyed amounts Qta and Qtb.

(8) In the above embodiment, as the transport screw 122, a screw having a spiral blade extending spirally on the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 121 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a structure having no rotating shaft 121, specifically, a spiral blade having a hollow portion in a spiral portion formed spirally extending along the transport direction α of waste toner may be used. it can.
(9) In the above embodiment, a configuration example of a monochrome printer as an image forming apparatus or a trickle developing method has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. It can also be applied to color printers capable of forming color images. It can also be applied to a normal developing method other than the trickle developing method (a configuration in which the developer containing waste toner is not discharged). In this case, since the waste toner is not discharged from the developer 33, the waste toner from the cleaner 34 is stored in the waste toner storage container from the image forming unit 3K. Further, the present invention is not limited to printers, and can be generally applied to image forming devices such as copiers, facsimile machines, and MFPs (Multiple Function Peripheral).

That is, in the image forming apparatus for accommodating the waste toner T that is no longer needed for image formation in the waste toner accommodating container 9, the transport screw (122 or 125) is downstream of the waste toner receiving port (131, 132 or 133) in the transport direction. It can be applied to a configuration including a partition wall (101, 102) which is on the side and is arranged at a predetermined position (G1 or G2) on the upstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw. Further, it can be applied to a waste toner storage container 9 that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1.

In the above, the waste toner receiving port 131 (first receiving port) and 133 (second receiving port) are separately provided, and between the partition wall 101 (first partition wall) and 102 (second partition wall). The space 172 sandwiched between the two is received from the first receiving port and then the waste toner conveyed by the conveying screw 122 (the first conveying screw), and after being accepted from the second receiving port, the conveying screw 125 Although a configuration example in which the storage space is used to accommodate both the waste toner conveyed by the (second transfer screw) is described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can be applied to a configuration having only a set of a first receiving port, a first partition wall, and a first transport screw.

Further, the shape and size of the waste toner storage container 9, the partition wall 101, the cutout portion 11e, and the like are not limited to those described above, and a suitable shape and the like can be determined according to the device configuration.
Further, the contents of the above-described embodiment and the above-described modification may be combined as much as possible.

The present invention can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be applied to a waste toner storage container that receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image forming from a receiving port.

1 Printer 2 Device body 3K image drawing part 9 Waste toner storage container 10 Waste toner detection sensor 11d, 11r, 12d Lower edge of partition 11e Notch 11m, 11n Lower edge of partition 11p, 11q, 11w Edge of second part 11pa, 11qa Inclined edge 11z Opening 90b, 90c Communication space 101, 102 Partition wall 121 Rotating shaft 122, 125 Conveying screw 123, 124 Paddle 129 Axis center 131, 132, 133 Waste toner receiving port 151 First upper space 152 Second upper space 153 3rd upper space 161 1st lower space 162 2nd lower space 163 3rd lower space 172 Containment space 181 1st screw part 182 2nd screw part 201 1st part of partition wall 202 2nd part of partition wall 203 Connecting part D1, D2 Outer diameter H1 Axial center height position H2 Lower end height position in the rotation range of the transport screw H4 Upper end height position in the transport screw rotation range P1, P2 Pitch T Waste toner W Opening width α, β Waste toner Transport direction

Claims (15)

A waste toner storage container that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation from the receiving port.
A transport screw for transporting waste toner received from the receiving port and
A partition wall arranged at a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction of waste toner from the receiving port and on the upstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw.
With
When the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transport screw in the mounting posture on the main body,
The partition wall has a first portion provided above the transport screw and a second portion extending downward from the first portion on one side and the other side in the left-right direction with the transport screw interposed therebetween. Have a part and
The lower end of each of the second portions is located below the axis of the rotation shaft of the transport screw and above the bottom surface of the waste toner container, and is separated from the bottom surface. The second portion so that the waste toner that has received the transporting force of the transport screw passes through the communication space with the bottom surface of the storage container from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the waste toner by the transport screw. Ri Ah is opened between the lower end and the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container,
In a portion of the partition wall above the axis of the transport screw, an edge portion of a notch formed by the first portion and the second portion of each of the transport screws so as to surround the transport screw, and the transport. A waste toner storage container characterized in that a slight gap of a predetermined size is provided between the screw and the rotation range of the screw . The shape of the edge of each of the one and the second portion above the axis of the transport screw facing the transport screw is an arc shape along the rotation region of the transport screw. The waste toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner container is characterized by the above. The distance between the part of the second part below the axis of the transport screw and the portion of the other second part below the axis of the transport screw is in the vertical direction. The waste toner storage container according to claim 2, wherein the waste toner container is the same at any position. The shape of the edge of each of the one and the second second portion below the axis of the transport screw, which is closer to the transport screw in the left-right direction, is formed on the bottom surface of the waste toner container. The waste toner storage container according to claim 3, wherein the waste toner container has a linear shape extending toward the surface. The second part of the one and the other
The distance between the second part of the one below the axis of the transport screw and the second part of the other second part below the axis of the transport screw goes downward. The waste toner storage container according to claim 2, further comprising a portion that has become wider in association with the above. A waste toner storage container that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation from the receiving port.
A transport screw for transporting waste toner received from the receiving port and
A partition wall arranged at a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction of waste toner from the receiving port and on the upstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw.
With
When the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transport screw in the mounting posture on the main body,
The partition wall has a first portion provided above the transport screw and a second portion extending downward from the first portion on one side and the other side in the left-right direction with the transport screw interposed therebetween. Have a part and
The shape of the edge of each of the second portions above the axis of the transport screw facing the transport screw is an arc shape along the rotation range of the transport screw, and the second portion. The lower ends of each of the above are located below the axis of the rotation shaft of the transport screw.
A straight line in which the edge of each of the second portions below the axis of the transport screw, which is closer to the transport screw in the left-right direction, extends toward the bottom surface of the waste toner container. Includes an edge and an inclined edge extending from the lower end of the straight edge.
The distance between the straight edge of the one second portion and the straight edge of the other second portion is the same at any position in the vertical direction.
A waste toner storage container, characterized in that the distance between the inclined edge of the one second portion and the inclined edge of the other second portion becomes wider as it goes downward. A waste toner storage container that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and receives and stores waste toner that is no longer needed for image formation from the receiving port.
A transport screw for transporting waste toner received from the receiving port and
A partition wall arranged at a predetermined position on the downstream side in the transport direction of waste toner from the receiving port and on the upstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw.
With
When the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transport screw in the mounting posture on the main body,
The partition wall has a first portion provided above the transport screw and a second portion extending downward from the first portion on one side and the other side in the left-right direction with the transport screw interposed therebetween. Have a part and
When the partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the transport screw in the mounting posture, the partition wall is placed on one side in the left-right direction with the partition wall in between, on the first side wall erected from the bottom surface of the waste toner container and on the other side. It is provided with a second side wall that is erected from the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container.
The receiving port is provided on the first side wall, and is provided.
Of the second portions of each of the partition walls, the lower end of the second portion located on the side where the first side wall is located with the transport screw in between is the second portion located on the side where the second side wall is located. A waste toner storage container characterized in that the height position from the bottom surface of the waste toner storage container is lower than the lower end. The lower ends of the second portion of one and the other provided on both sides of the transport screw in the left-right direction are extended to positions below the transport screw.
The partition wall
It has a connecting portion that connects the lower end portion of the one second portion and the lower end portion of the other second portion at a position below the transport screw.
The waste toner container according to claim 1, wherein a through hole through which the transport screw is inserted is formed. Among the transport screws, the outer diameter D1 of the first screw portion from the first position on the upstream side of the transport direction to the second position on the downstream side of the transport direction from the predetermined position is the first. The waste toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the outer diameter D2 of the second screw portion on the upstream side in the transport direction is smaller than the position. The transport screw has a spiral blade extending spirally in the transport direction.
Among the transport screws, the pitch P1 of the spiral blades of the first screw portion from the first position on the upstream side of the transport direction to the second position on the downstream side of the transport direction from the predetermined position is the said. The waste toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pitch P2 of the spiral blades of the second screw portion on the upstream side in the transport direction is smaller than the first position. Claim 1 is further provided with a detection unit capable of detecting waste toner transported by the transport screw to the downstream side in the transport direction from the partition wall and deposited up to a height position above the transport screw. The waste toner storage container according to any one of 10 to 10. A paddle that is coaxial with the transport screw, is provided on the downstream side of the transport screw in the transport direction, and further agitates the waste toner transported by the transport screw on the downstream side of the partition wall in the transport direction. The waste toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the waste toner container is provided. The waste toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a transmission member that transmits a rotational driving force from the driving unit of the main body to the transport screw. A second inlet, which is provided at a position on the downstream side in the transport direction from the downstream end of the transport screw and receives waste toner separately from the inlet.
A second transport screw that transports waste toner received from the second receiving port in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the transport screw, and
A second partition wall arranged at a position downstream of the second receiving port and upstream of the downstream end of the second transport screw in the transport direction of waste toner by the second transport screw.
With more
When the second partition wall is viewed from the axial direction of the second transport screw in the mounting posture on the main body,
The second partition wall extends downward from the third portion on at least one side in the left-right direction with the third portion provided above the second transport screw and the second transport screw interposed therebetween. Has a fourth part that has been
A storage space is formed between the partition wall and the second partition wall to accommodate both the waste toner conveyed by the transfer screw and the waste toner conveyed by the second transfer screw. The waste toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is characterized. An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on an image carrier.
An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a waste toner accommodating container for accommodating waste toner that is no longer needed for image forming.

Images