JPH0434535Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an electrostatic copying machine, and more particularly to a cleaning device for an electrostatic copying machine for removing and recovering residual toner particles from the surface of a photoreceptor.

As is well known, in a toner image transfer type electrostatic copying machine, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoreceptor, this electrostatic latent image is then developed into a toner image, and then the toner image on the photoreceptor is normally The image is transferred to a transfer member such as paper. Residual toner particles are then removed and collected from the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer of the toner image for the next copying step.

Typical examples of cleaning devices for removing and collecting residual toner particles from the surface of the photoreceptor include:
Examples include those disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-154749 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 58-113016. Such a cleaning device includes removal means, which may consist of a flexible blade, for acting on the surface of the photoreceptor to remove residual toner therefrom; and a receptor for receiving toner particles. A discharge opening is formed in the front end of the receiver, and the receiver is provided with a rotary toner particle ejection mechanism for moving toner particles received therein toward the discharge opening. The rotary toner particle ejection mechanism includes a rotating shaft extending through the receiver and a moving member, which may be a helical vane, formed on the main portion of the rotating shaft. The rotation shaft projects rearwardly through the receiver, and an input element, which may be a gear, is fixed to the rear end of the projector. Such an input element is connected to a drive source through a transmission element, which may also be a gear, so that when the drive source is energized, the rotating shaft and the moving member formed thereon are rotated in a desired direction. . The cleaning device is also provided with a collection container, which is advantageously removably (and therefore replaceably) mounted, for accommodating the toner particles discharged from said discharge opening of the receiver.

In the cleaning device of the above configuration, if the collection container is filled with toner particles and the operation continues even though a considerable amount of toner particles have accumulated near the discharge opening of the receiver, the accumulated toner particles will be removed. A considerably large resistance force is applied to the rotary toner particle ejection mechanism, the rotary toner particle ejection mechanism or the transmission mechanism connected thereto is damaged or deformed, and the accumulated toner particles are also subjected to a considerable compressive force. It is received and solidified.

In order to solve this problem, the rotating shaft of the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism is mounted so as to be movable back and forth between an active position and a non-active position displaced rearward from the working position, and the rotating shaft is moved to the working position. Resiliently biasing spring means are provided. Furthermore, a detection means is provided for detecting when the rotating shaft is placed in the non-operating position. When the collection container is filled with toner particles and a considerable amount of toner particles accumulate near the discharge opening of the receiver, the force applied from the accumulated toner particles to the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism causes the rotating shaft to move to the operating position. The detection means detects this and energizes an alarm lamp or the like to alert the operator.

In the cleaning device disclosed in JP-A-58-113016, when the rotating shaft of the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism is moved to the non-operating position, the input element of the rotating shaft is separated from the transmission element. , thus automatically stopping the operation of the rotary toner particle ejection mechanism.

However, the conventional cleaning device still has the following problems to be solved. That is, if the collection container is removable, when the alarm is generated, the collection container filled with toner particles is removed and a new empty collection container is installed. In this way, some of the toner particles that had accumulated near the discharge opening of the receiver are collected in the collection container (therefore, the rotating shaft is normally returned from the non-operating position to the operating position), but A significant amount of compressed toner particles remains in the vicinity of the outlet opening of the container. Such toner particles that remain in the vicinity of the ejection opening of the receiver will add significant resistance to the rotary toner particle ejection mechanism. Therefore, prior to starting operation of the electrostatographic copying machine, it is desirable to forcefully discharge toner particles that have accumulated near the discharge opening of the receiver into a newly installed collection container. However, in conventional cleaning devices, there is no means for quickly and easily discharging the toner particles accumulated near the discharge opening of the receiver into the collection container, and the above requirements cannot be met. .

The present invention was developed in view of the above facts, and its technical problem is that after replacing a collection container filled with toner particles with a new empty collection container,
Before restarting the operation of the electrostatic copying machine, the rotating shaft of the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism is manually rotated, and the toner particles accumulated in the vicinity of the discharge opening of the receiver are sufficiently easily and quickly removed. The purpose is to allow the waste to be discharged into a new collection container.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, according to the present invention, the front end of the receiver is made to penetrate the front wall of the support frame of the electrostatic copying machine and protrude forward, and the front end of the rotating shaft is received. The container is made to penetrate and protrude forward, and a manually operated grip is disposed at the front end on which the rotation shaft is held, and the rotation shaft is held in place against the elastic biasing action of the spring means by gripping the grip. The input element is moved to the operating position, the input element is separated from the transmission element, and the rotary shaft can be manually rotated in a desired direction.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning device for an electrostatic copying machine for removing and recovering residual toner particles from the surface of a photoreceptor, the cleaning device acting on the surface of the photoreceptor to remove residual toner particles therefrom. a receptor for receiving the toner particles removed from the surface of the photoreceptor by the removing means and having a discharge opening formed at a front end for discharging the toner particles; a removably mounted collection container for accommodating toner particles discharged from the receiver through the discharge opening; and a collection container rotatably arranged between an operative position and a non-operative position rearwardly displaced from the operative position. a rotating shaft mounted so as to be movable back and forth between the rotating shafts; a rotating toner particle ejecting mechanism including a moving member formed in a section and a spring means for resiliently biasing the rotating shaft to the operative position; and a rotating shaft for moving the rotating shaft of the toner particle ejecting mechanism to the inactive position. and detecting means for detecting this when the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism is released, a rear end portion of the rotary shaft of the rotary toner particle ejection mechanism protrudes rearward through the receptor, An input element is disposed that is driven into engagement with a transmission element connected to a drive source when the rotating shaft is in the operating position, but is disengaged from the transmission element when the rotating shaft is moved to the non-working position. In the cleaning device for an electrostatic copying machine, the front end of the receptor penetrates the front wall of the support frame of the electrostatic copying machine and protrudes forward, and the front end of the rotating shaft further extends through the front wall of the support frame of the electrostatic copying machine. It protrudes forward through the receptor, and is provided with a manually operated grip at its front end, which grips the grip and rotates the axis of rotation against the elastic biasing action of the spring means. There is provided a cleaning device characterized in that the cleaning device is configured to be able to move the input element to the non-operating position to separate the input element from the transmission element and rotate the rotating shaft.

In the cleaning means for the electrostatic copying machine of the present invention, after replacing the collection container, the grip provided at the front end of the rotating shaft is gripped, and the rotating shaft is moved to a non-operating position and moved in the desired direction. By rotating, the toner particles that have accumulated in the vicinity of the discharge opening of the receiver can be discharged sufficiently easily and quickly into a new collection container. The front end of the receiver passes through the front wall of the support frame of the electrostatic copying machine and projects forward, and the front end of the rotating shaft further passes through the receiver and projects forward,
A gripping portion is disposed at the front end of the protrusion. Therefore, it is possible to easily reach and grip the grip portion from the front side of the electrostatic copying machine.

Hereinafter, a specific example of a cleaning device improved according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows essential parts of an example of a toner image transfer type electrostatic copying machine equipped with an example of a cleaning device improved in accordance with the present invention. The illustrated copying machine includes a rotating drum 4 to which a support rod shaft 2 is rotatably mounted, and an electrostatic photosensitive member 6 is disposed on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 4. The support shaft 2 of the rotary drum 4 is connected to a drive source (not shown), which may be an electric motor, via a suitable transmission mechanism, and the rotary drum 4 is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by an arrow 8. Around the rotating drum 4, in order in the direction of rotation shown by the arrow 8, there are a charging area 10, an exposure area 12, a developing area 14, a transfer area 16,
There are a stripping zone 18, a residual toner particle removal zone 20, and a static elimination zone 22. In the charging region 10, the photoreceptor 6 is charged to a specific polarity by the action of the charging corona discharger 24. In the exposure area 12, an image of the original to be copied is projected onto the photoreceptor 6 through a suitable optical system 26, thus forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 6. In the development zone 14, toner particles are applied to the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 6 by a suitable development device 28, thus developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. In the transfer area 16, a transfer member such as plain paper is fed from a suitable supply device (not shown) and conveyed through a pair of guide plates 30 and 32, a pair of conveyor rollers 34 and 36, and a guide plate 38. The surface is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 6, and the toner image on the photoreceptor 6 is transferred to the surface of the transfer member by the action of the transfer corona discharger 40. In the peeling region 18 , the transfer member is peeled from the surface of the photoreceptor 6 by the action of the peeling corona discharger 42 . The transfer member peeled off from the surface of the photoreceptor 6 is conveyed by a belt-type conveyance mechanism 44 and sent to a fixing device (not shown), and after the toner image is fixed by the action of the fixing device. It is ejected from the aircraft. In the residual toner particle removal zone 20, the photoreceptor 6 is removed after transfer by the action of removal means 48, generally designated 46, provided in a cleaning device improved according to the present invention.
The residual toner particles remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 6
removed from the surface. In the static elimination area 22,
The discharge lamp 50 illuminates the photoreceptor 6, thus causing the residual charge on the photoreceptor 6 to dissipate.

The configuration other than the cleaning device 46 does not have any new features that have been improved according to the present invention. Since the structure may be as disclosed in the specification and drawings of the machine, detailed explanation thereof will be left to the above specification and drawings and will be omitted in this specification.

Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the illustrated copying machine includes a lower support frame 52 and an upper support frame 54. As shown in FIG. The cleaning device 46 includes a cleaning frame 56 attached to an upper support frame 54 via a suitable support structure (not shown). Cleaning frame 56
is a substantially box-shaped body having an opening 58 at the portion facing the rotating drum 4, and the lower part thereof is a receptor for receiving toner particles removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 6, as will become clear from the description later. 60 is specified. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning frame 5
The above-mentioned removing means 48 is disposed on the upper part of 6. In the illustrated example, a support member 64 is attached between the front wall 61 and the rear wall 62 (FIG. 2) of the cleaning frame 56, a holding member 66 is attached to the support member 64, and the holding member 66 is attached to the support member 64.
A removing means 48 is attached to the. Removal means 48
can be constructed from any suitable means, but in the illustrated example, the blade is formed from a flexible material and extends in the width direction (i.e., in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1, and in the left-right direction in FIG. 2). It is configured. The free edge of this blade is pressed against the surface of a photoreceptor 6 disposed on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 4 and removes residual toner particles from the surface of the photoreceptor 6. Toner particles that are removed from the surface of photoreceptor 6 and caused to fall downwardly by the action of the blade are received in a receiver 60 defined by the lower portion of cleaning frame 56. Associated with the lower edge of the aperture 58 of the cleaning frame 56, the cleaning frame 56 is provided with a standoff member 68 made of a sufficiently flexible material. The isolation member 68 has a free edge that is connected to the photoreceptor 6.
The toner particles that are brought into relatively light contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 6 and are removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 6 and fall downward by the action of the blade pass between the surface of the photoreceptor 6 and the cleaning frame 56. This prevents the toner particles from falling downward and scattering, and ensures that the toner particles are thinly deposited in the receiver 60.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the lower portion of the cleaning frame 56, and thus the front end of the receptacle 60, extends beyond the front wall 71 of the upper support frame 54. A substantially cylindrical protruding tube portion 70 protruding forward is formed. A discharge pipe part 72 that hangs downward is attached to the projecting end of the projecting pipe part 70, and the lower end of this discharge pipe part 72 is open and defines a discharge opening 74 of the receiver 60. There is.

As clearly shown in FIG.
A rotary toner particle ejection mechanism 76 is provided in conjunction with the receiver 60 containing the toner particles. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism 76 includes a rotating shaft 78 that extends through the receiver 60 in the width direction (i.e., the left-right direction in FIG. 2).
Contains. The rotating shaft 78 is rotatably mounted, and is also mounted so as to be movable in the width direction between an operating position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2 and a non-working position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. There is. In the illustrated example, a bearing member 80 is fixed to the front wall of the protruding tube portion 70 of the receiver 60, and a bearing member 80 is fixed to the rear wall of the receiver 60 (therefore, the lower part of the rear wall 62 of the cleaning frame 56). A bearing member 82 is fixed, and the rotating shaft 78 is rotatably mounted by these bearing members 80 and 82. A gripping member 84 is attached to one end, that is, the front end, of the rotating shaft 78 that protrudes forward beyond the front wall of the protruding tube portion 70 . This gripping member 84 includes a disc-shaped part 86 that defines a grip part for manual operation, and a tubular part 88 that extends rearward (to the right in FIG. 2) from this disc-shaped part 86.
and has. Such a gripping member 84 is attached to the rotating shaft 7
Both ends of a pin 92 inserted into a diametrical through hole 90 formed at the front end of the disc 86 are positioned in corresponding pin grooves formed at the rear surface of the disc-shaped part 86, and the disc-shaped part By fixing the retaining ring 94 to the front end of the rotary shaft 78 in contact with the front surface of the rotary shaft 78, the retaining ring 94 is fixed to the front end of the rotary shaft 78 so that it cannot move relative to the rotary shaft 78 in the width direction and is integral with the rotary shaft 78. It is mounted on a rotating shaft 78 for rotation. Between the rear surface of the disc-shaped portion 86 of the gripping member 84 and the flange portion 96 formed at the front end of the bearing member 80, a spring means 98 constituted by a compression coil spring fitted onto the rotating shaft 78 is provided. It is forced to intervene. Such spring means 98 resiliently biases the rotation shaft 78 forwardly and resiliently holds it in the active position shown in solid lines in FIG. A rotating shaft 78 is adjacent to a flange portion 100 formed at the rear end of the bearing member 82 fixed to the rear wall 62 of the receiver 60.
A retaining ring 102 is fixed to the rotary shaft 78, and when the retaining ring 102 comes into contact with the flange portion 100 of the bearing member 82, the rotating shaft 78 is prevented from moving forward from the operating position. .

A main portion of the rotating shaft 78, that is, a portion existing in the receiver 60, contains toner particles received in the receiver 60 when the rotating shaft 78 is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow 104 as described below. A moving member 106 is formed to move toward one end in the width direction, that is, toward the front, and guide it to the discharge pipe section 72. The moving member 106 may be a spiral blade that spirally extends in a predetermined direction around the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 78.

The other end of the rotating shaft 78, that is, the rear end, extends beyond the rear wall 108 of the upper support frame 54 and protrudes rearward (to the right in FIG. 2). A detection member 110 and an input element 112 are attached. The member to be detected 110 has a disk-shaped portion 114 and a hub portion 116 that protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the disk-shaped portion 114 . The input element 112 in the illustrated example is a gear 1 integrally formed with a hub portion 118 projecting forward from the rear surface.
It consists of 20. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the front end of the hub portion 118 of the input element 112 is formed with a diametrically extending notch 122, and the rear end of the hub portion 116 of the detected member 110 is provided with a corresponding protrusion 124. By engaging the protrusion 124 and the notch 122 with each other, the detected member 110 and the input element 112 are combined so as not to rotate relative to each other. Detected member 1
A pin groove 126 is formed in the front surface of the disc-shaped portion 114 of No.
Both ends of the pin 130 inserted into the pin 8 are accommodated,
This prevents the detected member 110 from moving forward with respect to the rotating shaft 78, and also prevents the detected member 110 from rotating relative to the rotating shaft 78. In addition, the input element 112
A retaining ring 132 is secured to the rear end of the rotation shaft 78 in contact with the rear surface thereof, thereby preventing rearward movement of the input element 112 relative to the rotation shaft 78. Thus, the detected member 110 and the input element 112 are mounted on the rotating shaft 78 so as not to move relative to the rotating shaft 78 in the width direction and to rotate together with the rotating shaft 78.

The input element 112 composed of a gear 120 is
When the rotary shaft 78 is in the operating position shown in solid line in FIG. 2, it is in driving engagement with a transmission element 134 connected to a drive source (not shown) such as an electric motor. Therefore, from the driving source to the transmission element 13
The driving force transmitted to the input element 112 via the input element 112 causes the rotating shaft 78 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 104. The transmission element 134 is connected to the support shaft 2 of the rotating drum 4 mounted on the upper support frame 54.
It may be a gear fixed to the rear end of the upper support frame 54 that projects rearward beyond the rear wall 108. On the other hand, in the cleaning device 46 improved according to the present invention, when the rotating shaft 78 is moved to the non-operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Input element 11
2 is separated from the transmission element 134 and thus includes a rotating shaft 78 .
It is important that the motor is isolated from the drive source. In the illustrated example, as can be easily understood from FIG.
When it is moved to the non-working position shown by the dotted chain line,
The gearwheel 120 constituting the input element 112 is disengaged rearwardly from the transmission element 134, which also consists of a gearwheel, and the input element 112 is thus disengaged from the transmission element 134.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cleaning device 46 further includes a device for detecting when the rotating shaft 78 of the rotary toner particle discharging mechanism 76 is in a non-operating position as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Detection means 1
It is equipped with 36. In the illustrated example,
A support bracket 138 is fixed to the rear surface of the rear wall 108 of the upper support frame 54. The detection means 136 is comprised of a normally open limit switch mounted on this support bracket 138. The support bracket 138 further includes a pin 14.
0, a substantially L-shaped member 142 is rotatably mounted. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, this member 142 has a first arm 146 located opposite the detection arm 144 of the limit switch constituting the detection means 136, and a free end formed into a fork shape. and a second arm 148. The fork-shaped free end portion of the second arm 148 is fitted into the hub portion 116 of the member to be detected 110 attached to the rear end portion of the rotating shaft 78. When the rotating shaft 78 is in the active position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, the member 142 is in the state shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and the detection means 136 is open. When the rotating shaft 78 is moved to the non-operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 142 is 2 in Figure 2
The first arm 146 of the member 142 acts on and closes the detection arm 144 of the limit switch constituting the detection means 136, thus closing the detection means 136. .

The cleaning device 46 also includes a collection container 150 for storing toner particles discharged from the discharge tube section 72 of the receiver 60. Figures 2 and 3
To explain with reference to the drawings, in the illustrated example, the collection container support frame 152 is attached to the front wall 71 of the upper support frame 54, and the collection container support frame 152 is attached to the front wall 71 of the upper support frame 54.
A collection container 150 is detachably attached to 52. The illustrated collection container support frame 152 has a rear wall 15
4, having side walls 156 and 158 and a bottom wall 160. The lower portions of the side walls 156 and 158 are sloped rearward, and a low front wall 162 is provided between the lower ends of the slopes. The collection container 150, which is preferably made of a suitable transparent or translucent synthetic resin material, has a rear wall 154, side walls 156 and 158, and a bottom wall 160 of the collection container support frame 152, and a front wall 162. It is box-shaped and has an outer shape that corresponds to the defined space. By inserting such a collection container 150 into the collection container support frame 152 from the open front and upper surfaces of the collection container support frame 152,
It is removably mounted on the recovery container support frame 152. An opening 164 is formed in the top wall of the recovery container 150. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, the opening 164 is offset toward the upper left in FIG. 3, rather than in the center of the top wall. Collection container support frame 152
When the collection container 150 is placed in the predetermined position above,
The lower end of the discharge pipe section 72 of the receiver 60 is the opening 16
4 into the recovery container 150. The dimensions of the illustrated opening 164 in the width direction (i.e., the left-right direction in FIG. 2) are substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe portion 72; The dimension in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper is made considerably larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe section 72 (for example, approximately twice the outer diameter of the discharge pipe section 72), thereby making it possible to The collection container 150 is allowed to move laterally over a required range.

Figures 2 and 3 as well as Figures 5-A and 5-
Referring to Figure B, the rear wall 154 of the recovery container support frame 152 is formed with a protrusion 166 that protrudes upward. perpendicular to the paper,
Two elongated slots 168 are formed that extend laterally and substantially horizontally spaced apart (left-right in FIGS. 5-A and 5-B). Such a collection container support frame 152 passes through each of the two elongated slots 168 and connects to the upper support frame 5.
The upper support frame 54 is attached to the front wall 71 (FIG. 2) by a support bolt 170 that is screwed into the front wall 71 of the upper support frame 54. Thus, the recovery container support frame 152
In this case, each of the support bolts 170 has an elongated slot 1.
5-A, at one end of each of the support bolts 170.
are each mounted for laterally substantially horizontal movement between a second limit position, illustrated in FIG. 5-B, located at the other end of each elongated slot 168. A pin 172 is also implanted in the front wall 71 of the upper support frame 54, and this pin 172
A spring means 174 made of a tension coil spring is stretched between the recovery container support frame 152 and the recovery container support frame 152 . The spring means 174 resiliently biases the collection container support frame 152 into the first limit position, ie, the position shown in FIG. 5-A. Furthermore, against the elastic biasing action of the spring means 174, the recovery container support frame 152 is intermittently moved from the first limit position shown in FIG. 5-A to the second limit position shown in FIG. 5-B.
An intermittent moving means 176 is provided for moving to the limit position. In the illustrated example, a disk-shaped rotating body 177 is provided at the front end of the support shaft 2 of the rotating drum 4 (FIG. 1) that protrudes forward beyond the front wall 71 of the upper support frame 54. The rotating body 177 is fixed, and an operating protrusion 178 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 177. The collection container support frame 152 corresponds to the operating protrusion 178.
A receiving portion 180 that protrudes forward is formed on the front surface of the protruding portion 166 . Figure 5-A and Figure 5-
As can be easily understood by referring to Figure B, the rotating body 177 is
is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 181,
The operating protrusion 178 comes into contact with the receiving part 180, and after that, as the rotating body 177 rotates, the collection container support frame 152 and the collection container 1 placed thereon are rotated.
50 is moved to the left in FIG. 5-A against the elastic biasing action of spring means 174. When the rotating body 177 is rotated to the angular position shown in FIG. 5-B, the collection container support frame 152 and the collection container 150 placed thereon are at the second limit position shown in FIG. 5-B. be forced to move up to
When the rotating body 177 continues to rotate further, the operating protrusion 1
78 is detached from the receiving part 180, and as a result of the elastic biasing action of the spring means 174, the collection container support frame 152 and the collection container 150 placed thereon are removed.
is rapidly returned to the right in FIG. 5-B to the first limit position shown in FIG. 5-A. In this way, the recovery container support frame 152 and the recovery container 150 placed thereon are supported by the first frame shown in FIG. 5-A.
It is made to reciprocate intermittently between the limit position of 1 and the second limit position shown in FIG.

In the illustrated example, when the collection container 150 is attached to the collection container support frame 152, the discharge opening 74 formed at the lower end of the discharge pipe section 72 of the receiver 60 is opened, and the collection container support frame 152 is opened. A closing member 182 is also provided which closes the discharge opening 74 when the collection container 150 is removed from the body 152.
Referring to FIG. 6 together with FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated example, a rectangular opening 1 is provided at a predetermined position in the rear wall 154 of the recovery container support frame 152.
84 is formed. Mounting protrusions 186 are formed on the rear surface of the rear wall 154, and are located on both sides of the upper end of the rectangular opening 184. The above closing member 1
82 has a rectangular shape that corresponds to the rectangular opening 184 as a whole, and has mounting projections 1 on both sides of its upper end.
88 is formed. Such closure member 182
By aligning the hole 190 formed in the mounting projection 186 with the hole 192 formed in the mounting projection 188 and inserting the mounting pin 194 into these holes 190 and 192, the mounting pin 1 is removed.
The collection container support frame 1 can be freely rotated around 94.
52. A spring means 196 constituted by a coil spring is also fitted onto the mounting pin 194. One end 198 of this spring means 196 is connected to a groove 2 formed at the upper end of the recovery container support frame 152.
00, and the other end 201 is locked to the back surface of the closing member 182. Such spring means 196 is
When the closing member 182 is elastically biased clockwise in FIG. 2 and the collection container 150 is not placed on the collection container support frame 152, the closing member 182 is biased clockwise in FIG. The closing member 182 is resiliently held in an operative position in which the surface thereof abuts the lower end of the discharge pipe portion 72 and closes the discharge opening 74 . When the closing member 182 is in the operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It is preferable to have an inclined portion 204 extending downwardly.
Preferably, a flexible material 206 such as a sponge is disposed on the surface of the main portion 202 that contacts the lower end of the discharge pipe portion 72. As can be easily understood by referring to FIG. 2, when the collection container 150 is placed on the collection container support frame 152, the collection container 150 inserted into the collection container support frame 152 is
The sloped part 204 of the closing member 182 to the main part 2 itself
02 and presses against it, thus causing the closing member 182 to pivot counterclockwise in FIG. will be released. When the collection container 150 is inserted to the required position and placed on the collection container support frame 152, the collection container 150 is pressed against the rear wall of the collection container 150 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Support frame 15
2 into a non-active position and held in such non-active position. When the collection container 150 is detached from the collection container support frame 152, the closing member 182 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 2 by the elastic biasing action of the spring means 196 to perform the action shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. position, thus closing the discharge opening 74 at the lower end of the discharge pipe section 72.

Next, the effects of the cleaning device 46 as described above will be explained.

As already mentioned with reference to FIG. 1, in the residual toner particle removal region 20, the removal means 48 constituted by a blade acts on the surface of the photoreceptor 6 which is being rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 8. , residual toner particles are removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 6. The removed toner particles are then allowed to fall downward and are received by the receiver 60. As will be readily understood by referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the toner particles received in the receiver 60 are removed by a rotary toner particle ejection mechanism 76 which is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by arrow 104. More specifically, by the action of the moving member 106 composed of a spiral blade, it is moved to the left in FIG. It is discharged at 150.

As is clear from FIGS. 3, 5-A, and 5-B, the discharge opening 74 is located at a specific portion of the collection container 150 when viewed in the lateral direction, and therefore, the collection container 150 is For example, if it continues to remain stationary at the position shown in Figure 5-A,
The toner particles discharged from the discharge opening 74 and stored in the collection container 150 are indicated by the two-dot chain line 2 in FIG. 5-A.
As shown at 08, the particles accumulate in a mountain only in a specific part of the collection container 150. Therefore, as is easily understood, the entire internal volume of the collection container 150 is not effectively utilized, and the discharge of toner particles from the discharge opening 74 is prevented at an early stage. However, in the illustrated cleaning device 46, mainly the fifth-A
As already explained with reference to FIG. 5B and FIG. 5-A and the second limit position shown in FIG. 5-B.
is made to move intermittently between the limit position of
Therefore, the toner particles contained in the collection container 150 can be stored in the collection container 150 without accumulating in a specific area.
is sufficiently uniformly distributed throughout the
The entire internal volume of the collection container 150 is effectively utilized. In this regard, the following facts should be noted. That is, in the illustrated example,
As is clear from FIGS. 5-A and 5-B, the discharge opening 74 is located not at the center of the collection container 150 when viewed laterally, but at one side, that is, FIGS. 5-A and 5-B.
It is located toward the left in the drawing, that is, toward the second limit position shown in FIG. It falls to the left side instead of the center. On the other hand, when the collection container support frame 152 and the collection container 150 are moved leftward from the first limit position shown in FIG. 5-A to the second limit position shown in FIG. 5-B. , the collection container support frame 152 and the collection container 150 are moved at a relatively low speed by the action of the intermittent moving means 176, while the collection container support frame 152 and the collection container 150 are moved from the second limit position shown in FIG. 5-B. When being moved to the right toward the first limit position shown in FIG. 5-A, it is rapidly moved by the elastic biasing action of the spring means 174, as shown in FIG. 5-A. It is suddenly stopped at the first limit position. Therefore, collection container 1
Toner particles contained within 50 tend to be moved to the right. Due to the combination of these two facts, in the illustrated example, the collection container 1
The toner particles contained in the toner particles 50 are dispersed throughout the collection container 150 very effectively.

Referring primarily to FIG. 2, when the copying machine is operated repeatedly over a long period of time, the collection container 150 becomes filled with toner particles. This makes it impossible to discharge the toner particles from the discharge opening 74, and a considerable amount of toner particles accumulates in the protruding tube section 70 together with the discharge tube section 72 of the receiver 60.
In this way, arrow 104 is removed from the accumulated toner particles.
A rightward force is applied in FIG. 2 to the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism 76, which is rotated in the direction indicated by . When the applied force exceeds the elastic biasing force of the spring means 98, the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism 76 moves from the operating position shown by the solid line in FIG.
It is moved to the non-operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure. In the illustrated cleaning device 46 improved in accordance with the present invention, as mentioned above, when the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism 76 is moved to the non-operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
8 is disengaged from the transmission element 134, and the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism 76 is thus separated from the drive source (not shown). Therefore, even if the drive source continues to be energized, the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism 76 is not driven to rotate. Therefore, the rotary toner particle discharging mechanism 76 is rotated while receiving a large force from the accumulated toner particles, and as a result, the rotary toner particle discharging mechanism 76 or the transmission mechanism connected thereto is rotated. Damage or deformation is reliably avoided.

In the illustrated embodiment improved in accordance with the present invention, it is further provided that when the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism 76 is moved to the inoperative position shown in phantom in FIG. 136 detects this and generates a signal. When detection means 136 generates a signal, suitable alarm means (not shown), such as an alarm lamp, can be energized to alert an operator. Further, for example, the detection means 13
It is also possible to de-energize the drive source after the copying process being performed at the time when 6 generates the signal. In this regard, the following facts must be noted. That is, in the illustrated embodiment improved in accordance with the present invention, when the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism 76 is moved to the non-operative position shown in FIG.
6 generates a signal, and the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism 76 is disconnected from the drive source. Therefore, when the detection means 136 generates the signal, the drive source is turned on for a required period of time without immediately deenergizing the drive source. Therefore, even if the drive source of the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism 76 is common to the drive source of the rotary drum 4, the transfer member conveyance mechanism, etc., a drive source is not required. The driving source can be continuously energized for a certain amount of time to complete the copying process in progress, and then the drive source can be deenergized after being carried out of the machine without leaving the transfer member in the fixing device or the like.

Alarm means (not shown) as described above.
Once energized, the operator can remove the collection container 150 filled with toner particles from the collection container support frame 152. Thus, as already mentioned, the closing member 182 is automatically pivoted into the operating position indicated by the dashed line in FIG.
The discharge opening 74 at the lower end of 2 is closed. Therefore,
Toner particles are reliably prevented from falling from the discharge opening 74 and scattering around. Next, the operator places the empty collection container 150 into the collection container support frame 152.
after which the copier can resume operation. As already mentioned, empty collection container 1
50 is inserted and placed on the collection container support frame 152, the closing member 1 is inserted and placed on the collection container support frame 152 by the insertion and placement operation of the collection container 150 itself without requiring any special operation.
82 is placed in its inactive position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and the open discharge opening 74 is associated as desired with the newly placed collection container 150.

Therefore, after placing a newly empty collection container 150 on the collection container support frame 152, the protruding tube portion 70 and It is desired to discharge the toner particles accumulated in the discharge pipe section 72 into the collection container 150, and in the illustrated embodiment improved in accordance with the present invention, such a desire can be accomplished with sufficient ease. . That is, in the illustrated example, prior to operation of the copying machine, the gripping member 84 disposed at the front end of the rotating shaft 78 of the rotary toner particle discharging mechanism 76 is placed with one's hand and pushed backward. , thus placing the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism 76 in the non-operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. In this way, the input element 112 disposed at the rear end of the rotary shaft 78 is disengaged from the transmission element 134, thus allowing the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism 76 to be rotated manually. Next, by manually rotating the gripping member 84, the rotary toner particle ejection mechanism 76 is moved in the desired direction, that is, in the second direction.
It is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 104 in the figure. In this way, the moving member 106 composed of spiral blades
Due to this action, the toner particles accumulated in the protruding pipe part 70 are forced to the discharge pipe part 72, and thus the toner particles accumulated in the protruding pipe part 70 and the discharge pipe part 72 are discharged from the discharge opening 74. It is discharged into a collection container 150.

Although one specific example of the cleaning device improved according to the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such specific example, and does not depart from the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that various modifications and modifications can be made without any problems.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified sectional view schematically showing the main parts of an electrostatic copying machine equipped with a specific example of a cleaning device improved according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the main parts of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the structure of the collection container and its related parts in the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the rotary toner particle discharge mechanism in the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2. Figures 5-A and 5-B show the collection container support frame and the collection container placed therein in the cleaning device shown in Figure 2 when they are at the first limit position and the second limit position, respectively. A partial cross-sectional view showing a state in FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the collection container support rod frame and the closing member attached thereto in the cleaning device shown in FIG. 2. 4...Rotating drum, 6...Photoconductor, 46...Cleaning device, 48...Removal member, 60...Receiver, 74...Discharge opening, 76...Rotary toner particle discharge mechanism, 78...Rotation Shaft, 84...Gripping member, 98...Spring means, 106...Moving member, 1
12...Input element, 134...Transmission element, 136
...detection means, 150 ... collection container, 152 ...
Recovery container support frame, 174... Spring means, 176
... Intermittent moving means, 182 ... Closing member, 19
6... Spring means.

Claims (1)

[Claim for Utility Model Registration] A cleaning device in an electrostatic copying machine for removing and recovering residual toner particles from the surface of a photoreceptor, the cleaning device acting on the surface of the photoreceptor to remove residual toner particles therefrom. a receptor for receiving the toner particles removed from the surface of the photoreceptor by the removing means and having a discharge opening formed at a front end for discharging the toner particles; a removably mounted collection container for accommodating toner particles discharged from the receiver through the discharge opening; and a collection container rotatably arranged between an operative position and a non-operative position rearwardly displaced from the operative position. a rotating shaft mounted so as to be movable back and forth between the rotating shafts; a rotating toner particle ejecting mechanism including a moving member formed in a section and a spring means for resiliently biasing the rotating shaft to the operative position; and a rotating shaft for moving the rotating shaft of the toner particle ejecting mechanism to the inactive position. and detecting means for detecting this when the rotary toner particle ejecting mechanism is released, a rear end portion of the rotary shaft of the rotary toner particle ejection mechanism protrudes rearward through the receptor, An input element is disposed that is driven into engagement with a transmission element connected to a drive source when the rotating shaft is in the operating position, but is disengaged from the transmission element when the rotating shaft is moved to the non-working position. In the cleaning device for an electrostatic copying machine, the front end of the receptor penetrates the front wall of the support frame of the electrostatic copying machine and protrudes forward, and the front end of the rotating shaft further extends through the front wall of the support frame of the electrostatic copying machine. It protrudes forward through the receptor, and is provided with a manually operated grip at its front end, which grips the grip and rotates the axis of rotation against the elastic biasing action of the spring means. A cleaning device characterized in that the cleaning device is configured to be able to move the input element to the non-operating position to separate the input element from the transmission element and rotate the rotating shaft.