JPH04333878A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a copying machine in which image quality is prevented from being deteriorated and the processing of discharged toner is much more simplified by storing the discharged toner without providing a dedicated discharged toner storing part and preventing the discharged toner from being mixed with toner for development. CONSTITUTION:A toner container 16 which is formed so that a discharged toner storing chamber 21 and a supplied toner storing chamber 22 can not communicate with each other by providing a partitioning member 17 inside is installed so as to be attached to and detached from the developing casing 4 of a developing device 3.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier as a toner image;
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that includes a cleaning device that removes and collects toner remaining on a latent image carrier after transferring the toner image to a transfer material.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimiles, and printers, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a latent image carrier and this electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image.
In electrophotographic or electrostatic recording systems, after the toner image is transferred, toner that did not contribute to the transfer remains on the surface of the latent image carrier, so the remaining toner is removed by a cleaning device. It is removed from the latent image carrier and recovered.

Generally, when transferring a toner image to a transfer material such as plain paper, for example, 8 of the toners in the toner image are
5 to 95% of the toner transfers to the transfer material, and the remaining 5 to 95% of the toner transfers to the transfer material.
Although 15% of the toner remains attached to the surface of the latent image carrier as residual toner, such toner is removed and recovered by the cleaning device.

[0004] The problem with the cleaning device is how to process the toner collected in this way, and for such processing, a waste toner bottle that is detachable from the cleaning device is used. There is something like this. This waste toner bottle is replaced or disposed of when it is full with waste toner, but in image forming apparatuses that use such waste toner bottles, there is a dedicated space must be secured within the main body of the image forming apparatus, which is disadvantageous in reducing the size of the image forming apparatus. or,
If you try to lengthen the time it takes to replace the waste toner bottle, you will have no choice but to increase the capacity of the waste toner bottle.
The image forming apparatus will become larger.

[0005] In the category of such technology, a system in which the waste toner collected by the cleaning device is returned to the developing device has already been proposed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 162877/1983. Although technology can eliminate the need for waste toner bottles, waste toner may contain fine paper powder and dust, so if such waste toner gets mixed with the toner in the developing device, , image quality may deteriorate.

[0006]Also, a technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-177763 has been proposed in which a waste toner storage section is integrally provided in the developing unit.
Even such a device requires a dedicated waste toner storage space.

[0007]Furthermore, a technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-76866 has been proposed in which a waste toner storage section is integrally provided in a toner replenishment container. This method requires a space for accommodating toner, and has the disadvantage that the volume of the toner replenishing section is relatively small due to the space of the waste toner accommodating section.

On the other hand, in image forming apparatuses such as color electrophotographic copying machines and color printers, toners of different colors are electrostatically applied around a latent image carrier such as a drum-shaped photoreceptor. A plurality of developing devices are provided to visualize the latent image.

[0009] In such a color image forming apparatus,
A single cleaning device removes and collects residual toner of different colors, but the collected toner is stored in a waste toner storage section provided in a toner supply container of one of the developing devices. This not only causes the above-mentioned problem, but also because the capacity of the waste toner storage section is limited, the storage section quickly becomes full of waste toner.

0010

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first object of the present invention, which addresses the former problem, is to enable waste toner to be stored as before without providing a dedicated space for the waste toner storage section. Another object of the present invention is to prevent waste toner from being mixed into developing toner, thereby preventing deterioration in image quality, and to further simplify waste toner processing.

A second object of the present invention in response to the latter problem is to enable waste toner to be stored as before without providing a dedicated space for the waste toner storage section, and to
In order to prevent waste toner from being mixed with developing toner, thereby preventing deterioration of image quality, and further simplifying the disposal of waste toner, at the same time, reducing the storage capacity of the waste toner. It is to increase.

0012

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the first object, the present invention provides a developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier as a toner image, and a developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier, and a cleaning device that removes and collects toner remaining on the latent image carrier after transferring the image to a transfer material; a toner container that is replaceably attached to and detached from the developing device; and toner removed and collected by the cleaning device. and a waste toner transfer device that transfers waste toner to the toner container, the image forming apparatus having a waste toner storage chamber connected to the waste toner transfer device, and a waste toner storage chamber connected to the developing device. The replenishment toner storage chamber and the replenishment toner storage chamber are partitioned so that they cannot communicate with each other by a partition member, and when the toner container is a new toner container before replacement, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume inside the toner container, and the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume inside the toner container. The waste toner storage chamber is filled with replenishment toner, and as the toner container is loaded into the developing device and the image forming apparatus is operated, the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber is gradually reduced. An image forming apparatus is proposed, characterized in that the partition member is a flexible member having a peripheral edge fixed to the inner wall surface of the toner container so that the volume can be gradually increased.

[0013] Furthermore, in order to achieve the same object, the present invention
A developing device that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier as a toner image, and after transferring the toner image to a transfer material, removes and collects the toner remaining on the latent image carrier. an image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning device; a toner container that is replaceably attachable to and detachable from the developing device; and a waste toner transfer device that transfers toner removed and collected by the cleaning device as waste toner to the toner container. The inside of the toner container is partitioned into a waste toner storage chamber connected to a waste toner transfer device and a replenishment toner storage chamber connected to a developing device so that they cannot communicate with each other, and the toner container is When the toner container is a new toner container, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume within the toner container, and the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume within the toner container, and when the toner container is loaded into the developing device and the image is As the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber gradually decreases due to operation of the forming device, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber can gradually increase. We propose an image forming apparatus characterized by having a movable member that is movable in this decreasing direction.

[0014] In order to achieve the second object, the present invention is arranged so as to be adjacent to each other around a latent image carrier, and toner images of different colors are formed on the electrostatic latent images formed on the latent image carrier. A cleaning device that removes and collects the toner remaining on the latent image carrier after each color toner image is transferred to the transfer material after each transfer. a toner container that is paired with each of the developing devices and is replaceably attached to and detached from each developing device; and a toner container that stores the toner removed and collected by the cleaning device as waste toner. An image forming apparatus having a waste toner transporting device for transporting waste toner to a waste toner, the inside of each toner container being divided into a waste toner storage chamber connected to the waste toner transporting device and a replenishment toner storage chamber connected to a developing device. In addition to partitioning the toner container so that it cannot communicate with each other by the partition member, when the toner container is a new toner container before replacement, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume inside the toner container, and the replenishment toner can be filled in this volume. Further, as the toner container is loaded into the developing device and the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber is gradually reduced by operation of the image forming apparatus, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber can be gradually increased. The partition member is a flexible member having a peripheral edge fixed to the inner wall surface of the toner container, and waste toner transfer means is provided between each toner container. We propose an image forming device.

Further, in order to achieve the same object, the present invention provides toner images that are arranged adjacent to each other around a latent image carrier, and that electrostatic latent images formed on the latent image carrier are toner images of different colors. A cleaning device that removes and collects the toner remaining on the latent image carrier after each color toner image is transferred to the transfer material each time the toner image is transferred. , a toner container which forms a pair for each of the developing devices and is replaceably attached to and detached from each developing device; and toner removed and collected by a cleaning device is stored as waste toner in any one of the toner containers. The image forming apparatus includes a waste toner transporting device for transporting waste toner, the inside of each toner container being partitioned into a waste toner storage chamber connected to the waste toner transporting device and a replenishment toner storage chamber connected to a developing device. They are partitioned so that they cannot communicate with each other, and when the toner container is a new toner container before replacement, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume inside the toner container, and the replenishment toner can be filled in this volume. and, as the toner container is loaded into the developing device and the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber is gradually reduced by operation of the image forming apparatus, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber can be gradually increased. , wherein the partition member is a movable member that is movable in the direction in which the supplied toner decreases, and a means for transporting waste toner is provided between each toner container. Suggest a device.

At this time, it is effective to provide the toner container with means for detecting the full state of waste toner in the waste toner storage chamber.

Further, it is preferable that the toner containers are sequentially connected by a toner transporting means, and that at least the final toner container is provided with means for detecting the full state of waste toner in the waste toner storage chamber.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and reference numeral 1 designates a drum-shaped photoreceptor as an example of the structure of a latent image carrier. The photoreceptor 1 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing by a driving means (not shown), and during this rotation, the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is uniformly charged by the charger 2. Next, a light image indicated by an arrow P is irradiated onto the surface of the photoreceptor 1, thereby forming a predetermined electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 1.

Reference numeral 3 designates a developing device disposed opposite to the photoreceptor 1, and a two-component developer D is accommodated in the developing casing 4 in this example. The developer D is agitated by the stirring roller 5 and supplied to the pumping roller 6, and the developer supplied to the roller 6 is drawn up and further supplied to the developing roller 7. The developer supplied onto the developing roller 7 in this way moves while being carried on its circumferential surface, and in the narrow gap between it and the photoreceptor 1, the toner in the developer is absorbed by the electrostatic charge on the photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image is converted into a latent image and visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, a transfer paper 9, which is an example of a transfer material, is fed from the paper feeding device 8 toward the photoreceptor 1.
The toner image on the photoreceptor 1 is transferred by the action of the transfer charger 11 . After this transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the photoreceptor under the action of the separation charger 12,
The toner image is sent by the conveyor belt 13 and passes through a fixing device (not shown), at which time the transferred toner image is fixed on the transfer paper.
The transfer paper is then discharged outside the machine as copy paper.

During the transfer, approximately 85 to 95% of the toner in the toner image on the photoreceptor 1 is transferred to the transfer paper, as described above. This ratio is sometimes referred to as a "transfer rate", and the remaining 5 to 15% of the toner remains on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 after transfer. A cleaning device 15 disposed close to and facing the photoreceptor 1
removes and collects such residual toner.

A toner container 16 is loaded into the developing casing 4 of the developing device 3, and the toner container 16 is configured to be detachable from the developing casing 4. That is, the toner container 16 is used as a toner cartridge or the like in the developing casing 4.
It is possible to exchange the .

Inside the toner container 16, there is provided a partition member 17 made of a flexible material such as rubber or vinyl whose peripheral edge is fixed to approximately the center of the inner wall surface of the toner container. A waste toner receiving section 16 is provided at the upper part of the toner container 16.
A is provided, into which the other end of a waste toner conveying pipe 18, one end of which is connected to the cleaning device 15 side, enters. In the figure, for convenience, this is indicated by a broken line, and only the other end is shown in cross section as indicated by reference numeral 18a.

A toner transporting member such as a screw member (not shown) is provided in the waste toner transporting pipe 18, and when the toner transporting member is operated, the waste toner removed and collected by the cleaning device 15 is transported by the screw member. It is carried inside the tube 18, and the tube section at the other end (hereinafter referred to as the "tube end section")
) 18a falls into the toner container 16 through an opening (not shown) provided at the bottom of the toner container 18a. Such waste toner conveying pipe 18
, a screw member (not shown), etc. constitute an example of a waste toner transfer device for transferring the waste toner removed and collected by the cleaning device 15 to the toner container 16 side.

The partition member 17 described above is connected to the toner container 16.
The inside is partitioned into a waste toner storage chamber 21 connected to the waste toner transfer device and a replenishment toner storage chamber 22 connected to the developing device 3, so that they cannot communicate with each other.

The toner container 16 is removably attached to the developing casing 4, and the waste toner receiving portion 1 is attached to the toner container 16.
6A is also configured to be detachable from the pipe end 18a of the waste toner transport pipe 18, and can be replaced with respect to the developing device 3.

Assuming that the toner container 16 is a new toner container before replacement, the partition member 17 is installed so that the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 can occupy most of the volume inside the toner container. It is in a state where it is largely elastically bent toward the waste toner receiving section 16A, and the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 is fully filled with new replenishment toner. In other words, the partition member 17 is largely bent upward due to the full toner. Then, the space in the waste toner storage chamber 21 is almost the same. FIG. 3 shows a toner container in such a situation.

The toner container 16 filled with replenishment toner in this manner is loaded into the developing casing 4 as shown in FIG. The toner container 16 is provided with a bottom plate 23 that can be taken in and out of the container, and replenishment toner T is placed between the bottom plate 23 and the partition member 17, and the bottom plate 23 can be taken out. Then, the replenishment toner T falls inside the toner container. FIG. 4 shows a toner container in such a situation.

Here, FIG. 2 shows the developing device 3 of FIG.
Although this is a partially cutaway view seen from the direction, a replenishment toner transfer pipe 24 is provided in the developer casing 4 in FIG. There is. Replenishment toner transfer pipe 24
The one end of the tube protrudes outward from the side of the developer casing 4, and that portion enters into the toner container 16 when the toner container 16 is loaded into the developer casing 4. Developing casing 4 of toner container 16
In this example, the direction of removal with respect to the arrow B is in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure. And the loading direction is the opposite direction. During such loading, the waste toner transfer device 1
The toner container 16 is fitted into the tube end 18a of the supply toner transfer tube 8 and the protruding tube end 24a of the replenishment toner transfer tube 24.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sensor 2 is provided in the developer casing 4 for detecting the concentration of toner in the developer.
6 is provided, and when the sensor 26 detects that the concentration is below a predetermined concentration, the screw member 25
starts rotating by a drive device (not shown), and the replenishment toner that falls along with this enters the protruding tube end 24a and is conveyed by the screw member 25, and is discharged from the opening 24b of the replenishment toner transfer tube 24. be done. In this way, toner is replenished into the developing casing 4. Then, when the toner concentration reaches a predetermined concentration, the screw member 25 stops, and toner supply is interrupted.

As such toner replenishment is repeated, the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 gradually decreases. As a result, the partition member 17 becomes bent in the direction toward the replenishment toner transfer pipe 24 due to its own weight. That is, as the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 gradually decreases, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber 21 gradually increases.

Here, the waste toner in the cleaning device 15 is transported through the waste toner transport pipe 18 by the rotation of a screw member (not shown) in the waste toner transport pipe 18, and is carried through the lower opening ( (not shown). This fallen toner is accommodated in the waste toner storage chamber 21, which gradually increases in volume, and accumulates within the same chamber.

FIG. 5 shows that the space in one replenishment toner storage chamber 22 is almost empty, and the space in the other waste toner storage chamber 21 is completely empty.
The space is maximized, and waste toner T is stored in this space.
This shows the situation in which h accumulates.

[0034] Here, if the replenishment toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 runs out or the remaining amount becomes extremely small, and this replenishment becomes impossible or the replenishment amount becomes extremely small, this is not shown in the figure. detected by a sensor that is not
For example, on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus (not shown),
That fact is now displayed. As a result, the operator of the image forming apparatus notices this and removes the toner container 16 containing waste toner Th in the waste toner storage chamber 21 from the developing device 3, as shown in FIG. Discard. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a new toner container in which the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 is filled with replenishment toner T is loaded into the developing casing 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this case, the accumulated waste toner may be discharged from the toner container without replacing the toner container, and new replenishment toner may be filled into the replenishment toner storage chamber 22. Then, it becomes necessary to replace the replenishment toner and waste toner. If you replace the entire toner container when the toner in the toner container runs out,
This eliminates the need for such troublesome work.

Note that, as mentioned above, the amount of toner collected by the cleaning device 15 is usually about 5 to 15% of the total amount of toner used. However, in order to ensure safety, a means for detecting when waste toner is full is provided in the upper part of the toner container 16 (the part inside the waste toner storage chamber 21). At the time of detection by the means, a warning to that effect may be displayed on the operation panel section or the like. With this configuration, even if for some reason the amount of waste toner exceeds the capacity of the waste toner storage chamber, this can be prevented from overflowing from the waste toner storage chamber. It is possible. Note that various known sensors such as a vibration sensor and a light transmission type sensor can be used as the waste toner fullness detection means.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the partition member 1
7, a flexible member is used, but instead, a rigid movable member 2, which can also be called an inner lid, is used as shown in FIG.
7 may be used. Such a movable member 27 is
When the replenishment toner is full, it is pushed up by this replenishment toner, and as the replenishment toner decreases,
Move in this decreasing direction. In other words, it gradually descends due to its own weight. At this time, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber 21 will gradually increase.

In this embodiment, a suitable sealing member is interposed between the movable member 27 and the inner wall of the toner container 16 to prevent waste toner from leaking from the gap between the movable member 27 and the inner wall of the toner container 16.

Here, as mentioned at the beginning, FIG.
This is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-76866, in which a waste toner storage section 35 is integrated into a toner supply section 34 of a developing device 33. It has been established. The waste toner from the cleaning device 15 is stored in the waste toner storage section 35.

In this example, the space of the toner supply section 34 is reduced by the space of the waste toner storage section 35, and the amount of toner that can be accommodated in that portion is limited.

In this example, the storage space for replenishment toner is also used as the storage space for waste toner.
There is no need to provide a dedicated storage space for waste toner, and there is no need to make the toner container itself very large. Then, it is possible to fill such a container with replenishment toner.

[0042] In image forming apparatuses that were provided with a dedicated waste toner bottle, etc., the image forming apparatus became larger and the bottle had to be processed separately. Since it is not necessary and space can be saved, it is possible to downsize the image forming apparatus, and by making the toner container 16 of this example a disposable type, it is easy to replace replenishing toner and dispose of waste toner. This can be done simultaneously, and this type of maintenance can be greatly improved.

Further, the waste toner storage chamber 21 and the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 are partitioned off by a partition member so that they cannot communicate with each other, thereby preventing the waste toner from being mixed with the replenishment toner. It is possible to prevent image quality from deteriorating due to contamination.

The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus configured to carry out development by accommodating a one-component developer in the developing casing 4 shown in FIG. One component of the developer is accommodated in the developer casing 4 , and the developer is supplied into the developer casing 4 .

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 41 denotes a belt-shaped photoreceptor as an example of a configuration of the latent image carrier, and this photoreceptor 41 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing by a driving means (not shown). During this rotation, first, this surface is uniformly charged by the charging charger 42. Next, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 41 by irradiation with the optical image P.

A plurality of developing devices 4 are arranged around the photoreceptor 41.
3Y, 43M, 43C, and 43B are arranged adjacent to each other, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the yellow developing device 43Y. That is, it is visualized as a yellow toner image. Then, this visible image is transferred onto the transfer paper 9 that is fed in the direction of arrow C under the action of the transfer charger 51, and the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer is removed by the cleaning device 45.
removed and collected by

Next to the yellow toner image, a magenta toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 41 by the developing device 43M. At the same position on the transferred transfer paper,
The cleaning device 45 also removes the toner superimposed on the yellow toner image and remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after the transfer. Next, the cyan toner image, the black toner image, etc. formed by the developing devices 43C and 43B are transferred to the transfer paper 9 in the same manner as described above.
The photoreceptor surface after each transfer is cleaned by a cleaning device 45, and then the transfer paper passes through a fixing device (not shown) to obtain full-color copy paper. It is also possible to wrap the transfer paper around a transfer paper carrier such as a drum or a belt, and perform the above-described transfer while rotating this carrier in a fixed direction.

As described above, the toner of each color remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after each toner image of each color is transferred to the transfer paper is removed and collected by the cleaning device 45 each time the transfer is performed.

[0049] Each developing device 43Y, 43M, 43C, 43
B has a toner container 4 that can be attached to and detached from each of them.
6Y, 46M, 46C, and 46B are loaded respectively. A partition member 47 having the same configuration as the partition member 17 shown in FIG.
and a replenishment toner storage chamber 22, and achieves exactly the same function as the partition member 17.

Among the four toner containers, toner container 46
Y is the first toner container in their arrangement order, and
The toner container 46B is the last toner container in the arrangement order, but any one of them, for example,
A waste toner transfer device is provided between the first toner container 46Y and the cleaning device 45 to transfer the toner removed and collected by the cleaning device 45 to the toner container 46Y as waste toner.

This waste toner transfer device consists of a waste toner transfer pipe 48, which is shown by a broken line for convenience, and a toner transfer member such as a screw member (not shown) provided inside the waste toner transfer pipe 48.
By the rotation of this screw member, the cleaning device 4
The waste toner in 5 is stored in the waste toner storage chamber 2 of the toner container 46Y.
sent into 1. That is, as the replenishment toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber 22 of the toner container 46Y decreases, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber 21 gradually increases. This is where waste toner is placed. A waste toner transfer means is provided between each toner container, and includes a waste toner transfer pipe 52 and screw members 53, 53a, and 53b provided inside these tubes, respectively. Further, in the waste toner storage chamber 21 of each toner container, a means for detecting that the waste toner storage chamber is full of waste toner is provided, and such fullness detection means in the first toner container 46Y is provided. When the toner containers 46Y and 4 are detected to be full, the toner containers 46Y and 4
The screw member 53 between the toner container 6M and the toner container 46Y operates, and the toner that is full in the toner container 46Y is put into the waste toner storage chamber 21 in the next toner container 46M.

Replenishment toner storage chamber 2 in toner container 46M
As the replenishment toner in the toner container 46Y decreases, the partition member 47 in the partition member 47 gradually bends downward.
The waste toner is placed in the waste toner storage chamber 21 of M. During this time, when the full state of waste toner is resolved as the amount of replenishing toner in the toner container 46M decreases, the screw member 53
stops, and the waste toner from the cleaning device 45 is again received into the toner container 46Y. When the full detection means detects that the waste toner storage chamber 21 of the toner container 46M is full again, the screw member 53 is operated again and the waste toner is transferred to the toner container 46Y.
and this operation is repeated.

Similarly, when the aforementioned detection means detects that the toner container 46M is full of waste toner, the screw member 53a between the toner containers 46M and 46C is operated. , the waste toner in the toner container 46M is put into the waste toner storage chamber 21 of the toner container 46C. When the toner container 46C is full of waste toner, the waste toner from the toner container 46C is similarly placed into the waste toner storage chamber 21 of the final stage toner container 46B. Further, when the full state of waste toner is eliminated due to a decrease in the replenishment toner in the toner containers 46M and 46C, the screw members 53a and 53b stop operating, and the waste toner storage chamber 21 of each toner container 46M and 46C is filled. When waste toner is received and the tank becomes full again, the screw members 53a and 53b operate again, and this operation is repeated. In this way, the waste toner is transferred to the first stage toner container 46.
From Y, the toner is sequentially transferred toward the final toner container 46B. In the end, waste toner of various colors is completely stored in each waste toner storage chamber 21 of each toner container.

Alternatively, the above-mentioned screw members 53, 53
a, 53b may be constantly rotated during the image forming operation, and the waste toner may be fed into the waste toner storage chamber 21 of each toner container 46Y, 46M, 46C, 46B so as to be distributed almost evenly. For example, the above-mentioned fullness detection means can be omitted.

[0055]Furthermore, the fact that the waste toner in the final stage toner container 46B is full is detected by the fullness detection means attached to this toner container 46B. screw member 53
If the configuration is such that, at the same time as stopping b, a message to that effect is displayed on the operation panel section (not shown) of the image forming apparatus.
Knowing this, the operator must remove and discard all the toner containers, including the waste toner transfer tube 52, from each developing device, and then reliably load a new toner container into each developing device. can. Although the toner containers are replaced in this manner, the waste toner transport means provided between the toner containers may be left on the image forming apparatus main body side.

As described above, each toner container 46Y, 46M
. It is possible to display that the toner storage chamber of the container is full of waste toner.

In the above-described embodiment as well, there is no need for a dedicated waste toner bottle and there is no need to secure a dedicated space for it, so this type of color image forming apparatus can be further downsized. In addition, since a plurality of toner containers, all four in this example, can be filled with waste toner, the amount of waste toner can be four times as much as in a configuration in which waste toner is stored in one toner container. It can store waste toner. Additionally, since each toner container can initially be filled with replenishment toner to its full capacity, if a method is adopted in which the toner container is replaced when the replenishment toner runs out, it is possible to lengthen the interval between replacements. can. Further, the action of the partition member 47 prevents toner containing fine paper dust and the like and mixed with various colors from being mixed into the supplied toner, thereby preventing deterioration of color image quality. can do.

Note that even in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the partition member 47 may be replaced with a movable member as shown by the reference numeral 27 in FIG. In addition, the cleaning device 4
5, a waste toner transfer device for transferring waste toner may be connected to the last toner container 46B in the arrangement order, and in this case, the waste toner is transferred to the toner container 46B.
Starting from 6B, waste toners 46C, 46M, and 46Y are transferred to each toner container in this order.

It is also possible to connect the waste toner transfer device that transfers the waste toner from the cleaning device 45 to two or more toner containers, for example, all the toner containers, and in this case, the toner transfer means between each toner container is connected. However, there is a risk that the amount of toner in the toner storage chamber of each toner container may vary, and in this sense, the illustrated configuration is better.

Also in this embodiment, a drum-like photoreceptor may be used as the latent image carrier instead of the belt-like photoreceptor, and in this case, each developing device 43Y, 43
M, 43C, 43B are the respective toner containers 46Y, 46M,
They are arranged in pairs with 46C and 46B in the circumferential direction of the drum-shaped photoreceptor.

[0061]

Effects of the Invention According to the configurations described in claims 1 and 2,
There is no need to provide a dedicated space for the waste toner storage section.
Further space saving can be achieved, and the image forming apparatus can be further downsized. Furthermore, there is no need for a dedicated waste toner bottle, and the waste toner can be disposed of for each toner container that has exhausted its replenishment toner, which greatly improves the maintainability of this type of processing. Furthermore, the waste toner is not mixed into the replenishment toner, and image quality can be prevented from deteriorating.

According to the configurations described in claims 3 and 4, there is no need to provide a dedicated space for the waste toner storage section, and further space saving can be achieved, and an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices can be used. can be made more compact. In addition, there is no need for a dedicated waste toner bottle, and the waste toner can be disposed of for each toner container that has been filled with replenishment toner of various colors, which greatly improves the ease of maintenance for this type of processing. At the same time, waste toner can be stored in all of the plurality of toner containers, and the storage capacity can be dramatically increased. Furthermore, the waste toner does not mix with the supplied toner, thereby preventing deterioration in image quality.

According to the configuration described in claim 5, since it is possible to detect the full state of waste toner, it is possible to display this fact on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus.

According to the configuration described in claim 6, it is possible to detect the full state of waste toner in each toner container.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the developing device of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing that the toner container is full of replenishment toner.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the bottom plate inside the toner container is removed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which waste toner is contained in a toner container.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a toner container.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Developing device 15 Cleaning device 16 Toner container 17 Partition member 21 Waste toner storage chamber 22 Replenishment toner storage chamber 43Y Developing device 43M Developing device 43C Developing device 43B Developing device 45 Cleaning device 46Y Toner container 46M Toner container 46C Toner container 46B Toner container 47 Partition member

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier as a toner image, and a toner that remains on the latent image carrier after the toner image is transferred to a transfer material. a toner container that is replaceably attachable to and detachable from the developing device; and a waste toner transfer device that transfers the toner removed and collected by the cleaning device to the toner container as waste toner. In the image forming apparatus, the inside of the toner container is partitioned into a waste toner storage chamber connected to a waste toner transport device and a replenishment toner storage chamber connected to a developing device so as not to be able to communicate with each other by a partition member, and When the toner container is a new toner container before replacement, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume within the toner container, and the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume within the toner container, and the toner container is connected to the developing device. The partition member is connected to the toner container so that as the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber gradually decreases as the image forming apparatus operates, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber gradually increases. An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a flexible member having a peripheral edge fixed to an inner wall surface side. 2. A developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier as a toner image, and a toner that remains on the latent image carrier after the toner image is transferred to a transfer material. a toner container that is replaceably attachable to and detachable from the developing device; and a waste toner transfer device that transfers the toner removed and collected by the cleaning device to the toner container as waste toner. In the image forming apparatus, the inside of the toner container is partitioned into a waste toner storage chamber connected to a waste toner transport device and a replenishment toner storage chamber connected to a developing device so as not to be able to communicate with each other by a partition member, and When the toner container is a new toner container before replacement, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume within the toner container, and the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume within the toner container, and the toner container is connected to the developing device. The partition member is configured to hold replenishment toner so that as the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber gradually decreases as the image forming apparatus operates, the volume of the waste toner storage chamber gradually increases. An image forming apparatus characterized by having a movable member that is movable in the direction of decrease as the image decreases. 3. A plurality of developing devices arranged adjacent to each other around the latent image carrier, each of which visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier as a toner image of a different color. a cleaning device that removes and collects toner remaining on the latent image carrier after each color toner image is transferred to a transfer material each time the transfer is performed; and a cleaning device for each of the developing devices. It has a toner container that is replaceably attached to and detached from each developing device, and a waste toner transfer device that transfers the toner removed and collected by the cleaning device to any one of the toner containers as waste toner. The image forming apparatus includes: a waste toner storage chamber connected to a waste toner transport device in each toner container;
The replenishment toner storage chamber connected to the developing device is separated by a partition member so that they cannot communicate with each other, and when the toner container is a new toner container before replacement, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume inside the toner container. occupies the replenishment toner storage chamber so that replenishment toner can be filled in this volume, and as the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber gradually decreases as the toner container is loaded into the developing device and the image forming apparatus is operated. , so that the volume of the waste toner storage chamber can gradually increase.
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the partition member is a flexible member having a peripheral edge fixed to the inner wall surface of the toner container, and a means for transporting waste toner is further provided between each toner container. Device. 4. A plurality of developing devices arranged adjacent to each other around the latent image carrier, each of which visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier as a toner image of a different color. a cleaning device that removes and collects toner remaining on the latent image carrier after each color toner image is transferred to a transfer material each time the transfer is performed; and a cleaning device for each of the developing devices. It has a toner container that is replaceably attached to and detached from each developing device, and a waste toner transfer device that transfers the toner removed and collected by the cleaning device to any one of the toner containers as waste toner. The image forming apparatus includes: a waste toner storage chamber connected to a waste toner transport device in each toner container;
The replenishment toner storage chamber connected to the developing device is separated by a partition member so that they cannot communicate with each other, and when the toner container is a new toner container before replacement, the replenishment toner storage chamber occupies most of the volume inside the toner container. occupies the replenishment toner storage chamber so that replenishment toner can be filled in this volume, and as the amount of toner in the replenishment toner storage chamber gradually decreases as the toner container is loaded into the developing device and the image forming apparatus is operated. , so that the volume of the waste toner storage chamber can gradually increase.
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the partition member is a movable member that is movable in the direction of decreasing supply toner as the amount of supplied toner decreases, and further comprising a means for transporting waste toner between each toner container. . 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is provided with means for detecting a full state of waste toner in the waste toner storage chamber. 6. The toner containers are sequentially connected by a toner transfer means, and at least the last toner container is provided with means for detecting a full state of waste toner in the waste toner storage chamber. The image forming apparatus described in .