JPH06214496A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rockably support a toner nozzle with respect to a waste toner container and further, to prevent the leakage of waste toner from this supporting part. CONSTITUTION:A toner discharge port and a toner intake 11 are provided on a cleaner and the waste toner container 9 respectively. The toner intake 11 is fitted into a connection gap 22, fixed on a copying machine main body and simultaneously, connected with a discharge port 10 by the toner nozzle 20 provided with an upper nozzle 20a and a lower nozzle 20b. A doughnut-like flange 24 is attached to the outside surface of the bottom edge of the lower nozzle 20b and this bottom edge is inserted into an opening part 22a provided on the connection gap 22. An attaching plate 23 having an opening part 23a is attached to the top surface of the connection gap 22, so as to cover a flange 24. Further, an elastic body 25 is packed between the bottom surface of the attaching plate 23 and the top surface of the connection gap 22, to support the flange 24 and simultaneously, a gap between the opening part 22a and the lower nozzle 20b is blocked with the elastic body 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus provided with a developer collecting device such as a cleaning device for collecting toner remaining on the surface of a photosensitive member after image formation. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic method, an image is formed by the following process. That is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor, then this electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image, and then this toner image is transferred onto a transfer material such as copy paper to form an image. There is. After that, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor for the next image forming step is removed by a cleaner and collected in a container as waste toner.

Generally, in order to reduce the number of times of replacement of the container for storing the waste toner (waste toner container), the volume of the container is preferably large. In particular, since the amount of waste toner generated is large in an image forming apparatus of the type that forms images at high speed, it is necessary to increase the volume of the waste toner container as much as possible.

Recently, in many of the above-mentioned image forming apparatuses, the apparatus main body is divided into an upper frame and a lower frame with a transfer material conveying path provided inside the apparatus main body as a boundary, and one end of both frames is supported. It is connected by a shaft and can be opened and closed freely. That is, with this configuration, the upper frame is lifted to open the transfer material transport path,
Jam clearance and maintenance inspections can be performed easily.

In an image forming apparatus having such an opening / closing mechanism, the upper frame is usually provided with various image forming process devices such as a photoconductor drum, a developing device and a cleaner. Therefore, it is difficult to provide a large empty space in the upper frame, and there is a limit to increase the volume of the waste toner container.

For this reason, the waste toner container is installed in a lower frame having a relatively large space to increase the amount of waste toner accommodated. At this time, the cleaner is provided with an outlet for discharging the waste toner, and the waste toner container is provided with an inlet for taking in the waste toner. When the upper frame is closed, the outlet and the inlet overlap with each other. Cleaner and waste toner container are installed at various positions.

[0007]

However, in such a structure, since the discharge port of the cleaner and the intake port of the waste toner container are separated when the upper frame is opened, the toner may spill out. Further, in general, the gap between the toner discharge port of the cleaner and the toner intake port of the waste toner container is not sealed in order to facilitate opening and closing of the frame. Therefore, the toner may leak during image formation even while the upper frame is closed.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-52773 discloses a technique in which a nozzle is connected between a discharge port of a cleaner and an intake port of a waste toner container. In this case, it is necessary to swing the nozzle according to the opening and closing of the frame.
Therefore, in the above publication, a support shaft is provided at the toner intake,
The support shaft swingably supports the nozzle. However, there is a risk that toner may leak out from the vicinity of the support shaft.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention connects the discharge port of the developer collecting device and the intake port of the developer collecting container with a nozzle, and the discharge port or the discharge port. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the developer is prevented from leaking from the connecting portion between the inlet and the nozzle.

[0010]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and a developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier with a developer. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by transferring an image on an image carrier developed by a developing device onto a transfer material, which is leaked from the developing device for image formation. After that, a collecting device that collects the waste developer remaining near the image carrier without being transferred onto the transfer material, and a collection container that stores the waste developer collected by the collecting device, A cylindrical nozzle for sending the waste developer from the collecting device to the collecting container, wherein the collecting device and the collecting container are provided such that their relative positions can be changed. Is equipped with an outlet for sending the collected waste developer to the recovery container, The container is provided with an inlet for taking in the waste developer sent from the outlet of the collector, and the nozzle has openings at both ends thereof, which are the inlet of the recovery container and the outlet of the collector. It is characterized in that it is provided at an overlapping position, and an elastic body is sandwiched between the nozzle and the periphery of the intake port or the discharge port to support the nozzle.

[0011]

When the relative position of the recovery container with respect to the collecting device is changed, a force for rocking the nozzle is applied to the nozzle. At this time, since the elastic body that supports the nozzle in the collection container expands and contracts, the nozzle swings around the support portion of the elastic body. Further, since the elastic body is sandwiched between the toner discharge port or the toner intake port and the nozzle, and the gap between the discharge port or the intake port and the nozzle is closed, the toner does not leak out.

[0012]

First Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied. The configuration and operation of the copying machine of this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine main body 1 is composed of an upper frame 100 and a lower frame 101. The upper frame 100 has an end portion at a lower frame 1
01 are connected by a fulcrum 102 provided at the end. The upper frame 100 is swingable around a fulcrum 102 and can be opened and closed with respect to the lower frame 101. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the upper frame 100 is closed. The open state is shown in FIG. 4, which will be described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper frame 1
In 00, a photosensitive drum 2, a charger 3, an exposure device (not shown) for exposing a document image on the photosensitive body 2,
A developing device 4 and a cleaner 5 are provided. The cleaner 5 is provided so as to face the photoconductor drum 2 and scrapes off the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 2. A transfer device 6 and a fixing device 7 are provided in the lower frame 101.
A sheet feeding device 8 and a waste toner container 9 for storing the toner (waste toner) scraped by the cleaner 5 are provided. The gap formed between the device included in the upper frame 100 and the device included in the lower frame 101 serves as a conveyance path A for the copy sheet. Then, the sheet feeding device 8 feeds the copy sheet from the copy sheet storage portion (not shown) to the transport path A, and forms an image on the copy sheet by a well-known electrophotographic process. After the toner image is transferred onto the copy sheet, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 is scraped off by the cleaner 5. The waste toner is accommodated in the waste toner container 9 through a nozzle 20 provided so as to connect the cleaner 5 and the waste toner container 9.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection state of the cleaner 5, the nozzle 20 and the waste toner container 9. These connection configurations will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The cleaner 5 includes a cleaning blade (not shown) for scraping off the residual toner on the drum 2, and a toner discharge port 10 for sending out the scraped toner. The waste toner container 9 is provided with a toner inlet 11 for taking in the waste toner. The intake port 11 is composed of a cylindrical portion 9 a protruding from the waste toner container 9. Cylindrical part 9a
Is provided in the main body of the copying machine 1 and the waste toner container 9 is installed in the copying machine 1
It is fitted into a fixing device 21 for fixing to the main body. Further, the toner nozzle 2 having the upper nozzle 20a and the lower nozzle 20b is provided in the cylindrical portion 9a via the fixing device 21.
0 is connected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of an upper nozzle 20a bent at a substantially right angle is inserted into the toner discharge port 10 of the cleaner 5 so that the waste toner is sent from the cleaner 5. The upper nozzle 20a is swingable around the discharge port 10. Upper nozzle 2
The lower part of 0a is accommodated in the lower nozzle 20b, and the toner nozzle 20 can expand and contract by the upper nozzle 20a moving in and out of the lower nozzle 20b. The outer shape of the upper nozzle 20a is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the lower nozzle 20b to prevent the waste toner from leaking from the connecting portion between the upper nozzle 20a and the lower nozzle 20b.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view near the lower end of the lower nozzle 20b. The lower nozzle 20 using FIG. 2 and FIG.
The detailed configuration of the connecting portion between the lower end of b and the fixing device 21 will be described. The fixture 21 includes a connection cap 22 for fitting the cylindrical portion 9a of the waste toner container 9, an elastic body 25 for supporting the lower nozzle 20b, and a mounting plate 23 for supporting the elastic body 25. . The cylindrical portion 9a of the waste toner container 9 and the connection cap 22 are connected by a click mechanism (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower nozzle 20 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the connection cap 22.
An opening 22a having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of b is provided.

The mounting plate 23 has a convex shape at the center, and has an opening 22a on the upper surface of the connection cap 22.
It is provided to cover. Further, an opening 23a having a diameter larger than the diameter of the lower nozzle 20b is provided in the center of the mounting plate 23 so as to overlap the opening 22a.

A donut-shaped flange 24 having an outer diameter larger than the diameters of the openings 22a and 23a is attached to the outer surface near the lower end of the lower nozzle 20b. The flange 24 is between the connection cap 22 and the mounting plate 23. An elastic body 25 made of urethane foam is filled between the lower surface of the mounting plate 23 and the upper surface of the flange 24 and between the lower surface of the flange 24 and the upper surface of the connection cap 22 to support the lower nozzle 20b in an upright state and to open the opening. Part 2
The gap between 2a and the lower nozzle 20b is closed. A portion of the lower nozzle 20b further ahead of the flange 24 is inserted into the opening 22a so that the waste toner is sent from the lower nozzle 20b to the waste toner container 9.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the copying machine 1 when the upper frame 100 is opened. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body is divided along the conveyance path A of the copy sheet and the conveyance path A is opened, so that the jam processing can be easily performed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the upper frame 100 is opened, the upper nozzle 2 accommodated in the lower nozzle 20b is
0a is pulled by the cleaner 5 and sticks out. Therefore, the toner nozzle 20 is in a stretched state. At the same time, the nozzle 20 receives a force in the direction indicated by arrow B in the figure. Therefore, as the upper frame 100 is opened, the nozzles 20
Leans to the left in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view around the lower nozzle 20b when the lower nozzle 20b swings. As shown in FIG. 5, since the elastic body 25 is expandable and contractible, the lower nozzle 2
0b can swing freely.

It is also possible to provide a toner discharge port on the lower surface of the cleaner 5 and connect the discharge port and the upper nozzle 20b with an elastic body in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 of this embodiment. .

[0023]

Second Embodiment As a second embodiment, an example in which an elastic body is used in the connecting portion between the upper nozzle and the lower nozzle is shown. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a connecting portion between the upper nozzle 20a and the lower nozzle 20b. As shown in FIG. 6, the difference between the inner diameter of the lower nozzle 20b and the outer diameter of the upper nozzle 20a is increased so that the upper nozzle 20a can swing with respect to the lower nozzle 20b. The lower nozzle 20b is fixed to the main body of the copying machine 1 by fixing means (not shown). Further, an elastic body 26 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the upper end of the lower nozzle 20b,
The gap between the connecting portions of the two nozzles is closed. Since the upper nozzle 20b and the elastic body 26 are not fixed,
The upper nozzle 20b can move in and out of the lower nozzle 20a. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the nozzle 20
Can expand and contract.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the copying machine when the upper frame is opened in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, when the upper frame is opened, the upper nozzle 20a sticks out from the lower nozzle 20b and tilts to the left, as in the case shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. For this reason, even if the upper frame 100 is opened, there is no risk of toner leaking out. Further, since the elastic body 26 is sandwiched between the upper nozzle 20a and the lower nozzle 20b, it is not necessary to accurately design the outer diameter of the upper nozzle 20a to match the inner diameter of the lower nozzle 20b.

Although the lower nozzle 20b is fixed to the main body of the copying machine in this embodiment, it may be swingable in the same structure as in the first embodiment without fixing it. In this case, since the rocking portion is increased, the frame can be opened and closed more easily.

[0027]

[Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the structure in which the toner nozzle oscillates in conjunction with the opening and closing of the upper frame of the main body of the copying machine has been described. The present invention can also be applied to those detachably provided.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a copying machine in which the waste toner container is detachably attached to the copying machine main body will be described. The basic structure of the copying machine main body of this embodiment is the second one.
This is similar to that shown in FIG. 7 of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a lower nozzle 20c and a waste toner container 9 '.
The sectional view of the connection part with is shown. The lower nozzle 20c is fixed to the main body of the copying machine by fixing means (not shown). Further, the lower nozzle 20c is connected to the waste toner container 9 ′ by the fixing device 30. As shown in FIG. 8, the lower end of the lower nozzle 20c is sandwiched by the elastic body 27 held between the attachment plate 28 of the fixing device 30 and the connection cap 29. In this embodiment, the lower nozzle 20c has a first
The flange as shown in FIG. 3 of the embodiment is not provided, but it can be attached to and detached from the waste toner container 9 ′.
The fixing device 30 is not fixed to the main body of the copying machine and can be removed together with the waste toner container 9 ′ from the main body of the copying machine.

Due to the above-mentioned structure, while the waste toner container 9'is attached to the main body of the copying machine, the toner nozzles are opened and closed according to the opening and closing of the upper frame as in the second embodiment. Can be swung, and can be connected to the nozzle and the lower nozzle 2
There is no risk of waste toner leaking out between the fixing device 30 and 0c. Further, when the waste toner container 9'is attached to or detached from the main body of the copying machine, the waste toner container can be freely tilted with respect to the lower nozzle 20b, so that the waste toner container can be easily attached and detached.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, an example in which a cleaner for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor is used as the toner collecting device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, toner floating in the vicinity of the photoconductor is used. The present invention can be applied to a case where an exhaust duct for sucking air is used as a collector.

[0032]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the nozzle elastic member is swingably supported, it is possible to prevent the collected developer from leaking from the supporting portion of the nozzle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying machine 1 to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection configuration of the cleaner 5, nozzle 20 and waste toner container 9 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a detailed configuration of a support portion of the lower nozzle 20b shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram when the upper frame 100 of the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

5 is a diagram showing that the lower nozzle 20b of FIG. 3 has swung.

FIG. 6 is an upper nozzle 20a of a copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows the connection part of the lower nozzle 20b.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the copying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention when the upper frame is opened.

FIG. 8 is a bottom nozzle 20c of the copying machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a detailed configuration of a supporting portion of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Photoconductor drum 4 Developing device 5 Cleaner 6 Transfer device 9 Waste toner container 10 Toner discharge port 11 Toner intake port 20 Toner nozzle 25, 26 Elastic body

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and a developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier with a developer,
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer material by transferring an image on an image carrier developed by the developing device onto a transfer material, which is leaked from the developing device for image formation. After that, a collecting device that collects the waste developer remaining in the vicinity of the image carrier without being transferred onto the transfer material, and a collection container that stores the waste developer collected by the collecting device A cylindrical nozzle for sending the waste developer from the collecting device to the collecting container, the collecting device and the collecting container being provided so that their relative positions can be changed, The apparatus has an outlet for sending the collected waste developer to the collecting container, and the collecting container has an inlet for taking in the waste developer sent from the outlet of the collecting device, The nozzle has openings at both ends, the inlet and the front of the recovery container. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided at a position overlapping with an outlet of the collecting device, and an elastic body is sandwiched between the nozzle and the periphery of the inlet or the outlet to support the nozzle. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, further comprising: a first frame having the collecting container; and a second frame having the collecting device and movably supported by the first frame. apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recovery container is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.