JPH0727485Y2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a liquid crystal printer, a laser beam printer, and a copying machine to which electrophotographic technology is applied. The present invention relates to a replacement and detection mechanism for a process unit equipped with a cleaner and a waste toner container that is connected to the cleaner and is detachably attachable to a main body of an apparatus for collecting waste toner generated in image formation.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an image forming apparatus that develops a latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor with toner to visualize the latent image, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after a transfer process is removed by a cleaner and collected as waste toner. . Normally, a tank has a built-in tank for storing residual toner, that is, waste toner, but depending on the image forming apparatus, an apparatus including a detachable waste toner container is also used. In such an image forming apparatus, the waste toner collected by the cleaner is conveyed in the rotation axis direction by using a rotating body such as a screw or a coil spring, and drops into the waste toner container from the discharge port at the end of the cleaner. It is then stored in the waste toner container. Therefore, the waste toner container is attached to the end of the cleaner. When the container is filled with the collected waste toner, the waste toner container is discarded or only the waste toner is discarded, and a new empty waste toner container is set. In this case, it is necessary to devise the mechanism of the connecting portion so that the waste toner does not scatter or leak from the connecting portion between the discharge port and the waste toner container, and various types have been proposed. For example, JP-A-58-3
In 1367, a shutter member is provided at the opening of the toner discharge case and is biased by a spring in a normally closing direction so that the toner collection container can slide in the inserting / removing direction. A toner recovery device that opens and closes a discharge port is disclosed.

On the other hand, in order to meet the demand for downsizing of an image forming apparatus and easy maintenance, in recent years, each process element, such as a photosensitive drum, a cleaner, a charger, and a developing device, has been integrated into a unit to extend the service life. It is the mainstream that can be replaced according to the requirements. Therefore, there has also been proposed an apparatus of a type in which a detachable process unit includes a cleaner in the apparatus main body and includes the waste toner container.
In this case, the toner collecting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-31367 cannot be directly applied to such an image forming apparatus. This is because JP-A-58-31367 does not describe the concept of the process unit, that is, the problem of toner drop when the toner discharge case side moves and the contamination problem caused by it is not solved at all. This is because the toner recovery device of the publication is configured only in a fixed toner discharge case. In particular, when the toner discharge side moves in a direction different from the insertion / removal direction of the toner collection container, the shutter member cannot be opened / closed smoothly. Therefore, a special connection mechanism between the process unit and the toner collection container is required.

A proposed image forming apparatus having such a mechanism will be described by taking a liquid crystal printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) shown in FIG. 5 as an example.

The printer P includes a recording unit 2 that forms and records recording information on the photosensitive drum 1, and a paper feeding unit 4 that sequentially feeds the paper 3 at a timing that matches the recording information formed on the photosensitive drum 1. , A sheet conveying section 5 for conveying the sheet 3, reversing it, and discharging it to a predetermined position. Recording unit 2
Is a charger 6 arranged near the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 1 to uniformly charge the photoconductor drum 1 and recording information on the photoconductor drum 1 to form an electrostatic latent image. The print head 7, the developing device 8 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 with toner, the transfer device 9 that transfers the developed recording information onto the paper 3, and the transfer device 9 The cleaner 10 removes the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 that has not been transferred. The photoconductor drum 1, the charger 6, and the cleaner 10 described above are the process unit.
It is integrally configured as a PU and is detachably attached to the main body of the device.

The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed cassette 11 for stacking and storing papers 3 of a predetermined size, a paper feed roller 12 for taking out the papers 3 one by one from the top, and feeding the papers 3. The turn guide 13 for reversing the paper and guiding the conveyance, and the paper 3
And a stopper 15 for conveying the sheet 3 toward the transfer unit 9 in time with the image on the photosensitive drum 1.

Further, the printer P is detachably provided with a waste toner container 16 for collecting the waste toner removed by the cleaner 10.

The paper transport unit 5 is located above the paper feed cassette 11 and receives the paper 3 and a separation roller 17 that separates the paper 3 on which the image on the photoconductor drum 1 is transferred by the transfer device 9 from the photoconductor drum 1. Guide plate 18, a fixing device 19 for fixing the transferred toner image by heat and pressure, guide plates 20 and 21 for guiding the paper 3 upward, and the paper 3 along the guide plates 20 and 21. It is composed of a transport roll 22 that transports the paper 3 upward, a paper discharge roll 24 that discharges the paper 3 onto a paper discharge tray 23 provided on the upper surface of the housing of the printer P, and the like.

Further, the printer P is formed by being divided into an upper machine body UB and a lower machine body DB, and the upper machine body UB is configured to be semi-rotatable around the hinge portion 25 with respect to the lower machine body DB.
Then, the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 1, charger 6 and cleaner
Process unit PU integrated with 10 is the upper fuselage UB
When the so-called shell is opened, it can be detached from the printer body.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the process unit PU is removed. In the process unit PU, the photosensitive drum 1, the charger 6, and the cleaner 10 are integrally housed in a unit casing 26.

The drum shaft 1a of the photosensitive drum 1 is a unit casing 26.
Of the printer P and is detachably provided in the groove 31a of the unit mounting portion 31 of the printer P. Cleaner 10
Is a blade 27, a collection roll 28 (see FIG. 5), a toner transport unit 29 that transports the residual toner collected on the photosensitive drum 1 in a predetermined direction, and a cylinder at one end of the toner transport unit 29. It is composed of a lid member 30 and the like for opening and closing a toner discharge port (not shown) of a discharge unit provided in the shape of a circle. Also,
A lever 30a is erected on the lid member 30 and is constantly urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction to close the toner discharge port. Then, when an upper body (not shown) comes into contact with the lever 30a, the lever 30a is rotated in the direction of arrow C and the opening 30b coincides with the toner outlet, so that the toner outlet is opened. When the toner discharge port is opened, the waste toner is discharged into the waste toner container (not shown) by the function of the toner transport unit 29. That is,
In this example, the toner discharge port is provided in a cylindrical shape, and the cylindrical discharge portion is provided with the lid member 30 which is rotatable in the circumferential direction, thereby enabling a process unit method and a waste toner container method. Is.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part showing a mounting portion of the waste toner container 16 provided in the printer P. The mounting port cover 32 hinged to the lower body DB is unlocked by the claw 33 when the upper body UB is opened in the direction a, and can be opened in the direction of arrow b. Therefore, the mounting port cover 32 does not open when the upper machine body UB is closed and the lid member 30 of the toner transport unit 29 is open. That is, when the upper machine body UB is closed, the lever 30a is always rotated by the upper machine body UB in the direction of arrow C as described in FIG. 6 and the lid member 30 is opened. The cover 32 will not open if the upper fuselage UB is closed.

[Problems of conventional technology]

However, in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the waste toner container 16 can be replaced while the upper body UB is opened. However, the mounting port cover 32 malfunctions and the two-dot chain line is shown in FIG. As shown in, when the upper machine body UB is closed while being opened, that is, when the shell close is performed, the waste toner container 16 can be attached to and detached from the printer P while the upper machine body UB is closed. . Therefore, if the waste toner container 16 is pulled out in this state, the lid member 30 of the waste toner discharge portion is open, and the toner is scattered into the machine. In other words, although the process unit system and the waste toner container system have become possible due to the upper configuration, a new problem has occurred.

Further, in order to solve this drawback, there is proposed a structure in which the mounting opening cover 32 is always biased by a spring in a closing direction so that the cover is automatically closed. However, at this level, a fundamental solution cannot be achieved. This is because even if the mounting opening cover 32 is biased by the spring, the upper body UB can be closed with the cover open.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus as described above, each of the replacement members such as the process unit PU and the waste toner container 16 is detected and managed so that the apparatus can be operated only when it is securely attached to the apparatus body. However, conventionally, these have been managed by individual detection mechanisms.

Therefore, since the number of parts to be arranged is increased, the cost of parts is increased and the device is complicated, and downsizing is difficult,
There was also a problem that the production cost was lowered due to the increase in the assembly process and the product price was increased.

[Purpose of device]

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention reliably attaches and detaches a process unit having a cleaner that is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus and a waste toner container connected to the process unit without causing toner scattering. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems, reduce the manufacturing cost by simplifying the detection mechanism of each replacement member, and reduce the size of the apparatus.

[Key points of device]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a cleaner that removes residual toner remaining on the peripheral surface of a photoconductor and discharges it as waste toner from an opening of a cylindrical discharge part, and is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body. And a lid member that is fitted onto the tubular discharge portion so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction and covers the opening so as to be openable and closable, and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body and engages with the lid member in accordance with a mounting operation. Then, the opening is opened, and a waste toner container for storing the waste toner discharged from the opening and a waste toner container are provided in the apparatus main body and are provided integrally with the lid member in conjunction with opening and closing of the lid member. A single detection member that operates via the operating member provided, and the single detection member detects attachment of the process unit and attachment of the waste toner container.

[Example of device]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a main part of a printer P as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is its perspective view and FIG.
The figure shows a side view from the side where the waste toner container is installed.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in the figure, showing the relationship between the waste toner container 16 and the process unit PU. Further, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the process unit PU is removed. The overall configuration of the printer P is the same as that in FIG. 5 described above, and the same members are given the same numbers and used in the following description.

In FIG. 4, the process unit PU is a toner transport unit.
29 and a discharge unit provided at one end of the toner transport unit 29
Lid member 3 for opening and closing the toner discharge port 29a of 35 (see FIG. 3)
It is composed of 6 parts and the like, and is attachable to and detachable from the mounting part 31.
The discharge portion 35 extending from the process unit PU projects in a cylindrical shape, and the lid member 36 has an opening portion 36a (see FIG. 3,
4 (a)), and is supported by the discharge portion 35 by the pin 40, and the opening 36a does not coincide with the toner discharge port 29a by a spring (not shown), that is, in the closing direction (arrow in FIG. 1). It is constantly urged in the direction (d direction), and further rotation is restricted by a stopper (not shown) in the postures shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
The lid member 36 is provided with a lever member 38 that can be engaged with the waste toner container 16 described later and a protrusion 39 that can be coupled with the detection member 44. Further, as shown in FIG.
Inside, the coiled transport member 37 is rotatably arranged by a drive mechanism (not shown).

On the other hand, the printer P is provided with a removable waste toner container 16. The waste toner container 16 is made by processing a synthetic resin such as transparent polyethylene into a polyhedron by integral molding. As shown in FIG. 1, a neck 16a having an opening on the upper surface is provided upright. The waste toner that is mounted (in the direction of arrow e) in the waste toner container case 34 disposed below the unit mounting portion 31 and drops from the toner discharge port 29a is received. The waste toner container 16 has a container main body formed with a grip portion 16b and an inclined portion 16c in consideration of contact with a lever member 38 described later for easy handling.

Further, a notch 34a is formed in the bottom of the waste toner container case 34, and a leaf spring 41 is fixedly provided in the notch 34a.
The inserted waste toner container 16 is biased slightly upward by the leaf spring 41 and abuts against the rib 42 of the process unit PU. The mounting port cover 32, as shown in FIG.
The hinge 32a is supported so as to be semi-rotatable in the directions of arrows f and f ', and is always biased by a spring member (not shown) in the closing direction (f' direction). In addition, a cushion member 43 is attached to a portion inside the mounting port cover 32 that abuts the waste toner bottle 16, and a claw 33 is provided at an upper end portion, and the upper body with the claw 33 closed. It is locked by UB and never opens.

The unit mounting portion 31 is provided with a detection member 44 as shown in FIGS. As will be described later, the detection member 44 is a detection member that detects the mounting state of the process unit PU and the waste toner container 16 in the printer P, and is shown as an interrupter-type photo sensor in this example. When the above-mentioned process unit PU is mounted on the unit mounting portion 31 from the direction of arrow g in FIG. 1, the arrow d'of the lid member 36.
The protrusion 39 is arranged at a position facing the detection groove 44a by the rotation in the direction.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described.

A solid line in FIG. 2 indicates a case where the process unit PU is mounted in the apparatus and the waste toner container 16 is mounted in the waste toner container case 34. Here, the lid member 36 of the process unit PU is in a state in which the lever member 38 is in contact with the upper surface of the waste toner container 16, as shown by the solid line in FIG. Therefore, the protrusion 39 of the lid member 36 is located in the detection groove 44a of the detection member 44. That is, the photo sensor is off in this state. When the image forming process is continued and the developer in the developing unit 8 shown in FIG. 5 is consumed and the waste toner container 16 becomes substantially full, a sensor (not shown) is activated and the waste toner container 16 is transferred to the operation portion of the printer P. Display the replacement time of. That is, in the present embodiment, the replacement time of the waste toner container 16 corresponds to the amount of the developer in the developing device 8 and the amount of the waste toner collected by the cleaner 10 in advance, and the replacement time is determined accordingly. ing. Of course, it is also possible to directly detect the amount of waste toner in the waste toner container 16.

First, the procedure for replacing the waste toner container 16 will be described. When the time to replace the waste toner container 16 is displayed on the operation section of the printer P, the lock release lever (not shown) is operated to open the upper machine body UB as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. . When the upper fuselage UB is opened, the mounting port cover
The claw 33 at the upper end of 32 is disengaged from the upper body, and can be opened as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.

Therefore, after the mounting port cover 32 is opened and the old waste toner container 16 is taken out, the old waste toner container 16 is replaced with a new waste toner container 16. At this time, since the lever member 38 provided on the lid member 36 that engages with the waste toner container 16 has the tapered surfaces 38a and 38b as shown in FIGS. Despite the fact that the attaching / detaching direction of the container 16 and the rotating direction of the lid member 36 intersect,
The waste toner container 16 can be smoothly attached and detached, and the process unit PU and the waste toner container 16 can be connected, that is, the toner discharge port can be opened and closed without causing toner scattering.

Further, as the lid member 38 rotates in the d and d ′ directions, the projection 39 further erected on the lid member 38 advances and retreats between the detection grooves 44a of the detection member 44, so that the detection member 44 By detecting the output, the process unit PU and waste toner container 16
The mounting state of can be detected with a single detection member, and reliable management can be performed. That is, when the waste toner container 16 is taken out, the lever member 38 is released from the contact with the waste toner container 16 based on the above-described operation, and the projection 39 of the lid member 36 moves to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, the photo sensor is turned on. Therefore, when the photo sensor is on, the control unit (not shown) determines that the replacement member is not completely mounted, and displays a message to that effect. Next, a case where the process unit PU is taken out from the state of FIG. 2 as needed will be described.
As described with reference to FIG. 4, the process unit PU can be easily mounted simply by dropping it into the unit mounting portion 31 from above, and vice versa. When the process unit PU is taken out as shown in FIG. 4, the lever member 38 of the lid member 36 is released from the contact with the waste toner container 16. Since the lid member 36 is constantly biased in the direction of arrow d in FIG. 1 by a spring member or the like (not shown), the toner discharge port is closed at the same time when the process unit PU is pulled upward. Meanwhile, again the process unit PU
In the case of dropping into the mounting portion 31, the lid member 36 is opened and closed this time in the reverse operation. Next, the mounting port cover
The replacement work is completed by closing 32 and the upper body UB in this order. According to the present embodiment, as described above, the sixth work is performed.
Unlike the conventional example shown in the figure, the waste toner container 16 is not mounted and the toner discharge port does not open, so that toner scattering does not occur.

The detection operations of the process unit PU and the waste toner container 16 in the above replacement procedure can be summarized as shown in the table below. As can be seen from the figure, the photosensor has a different detection state (off state) only when both the process unit PU and the waste toner container 16 are attached, and the device is ready for operation. Become. Therefore,
Reliable detection is possible with a simple configuration.

In this embodiment, a photo sensor is shown as an example of the detection member 44, but it goes without saying that the detection member 44 may be composed of other detection members. For example, a microswitch may be used as the detection member, and the protrusion 39 may push the actuator of the microswitch in response to the rotation of the lid member 36. Further, as long as the process unit PU is provided with the cleaner 10, the present invention can be naturally applied to a process unit including the developing device 8 and the like.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, the cleaner is a part of the structure of the process unit that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.
A lid member that is rotatable in the circumferential direction is provided in the cylindrical discharge portion, and the lid member is interlocked with attachment / detachment of the waste toner container, so that a reliable opening / closing mechanism of the toner discharge port can be obtained. In addition, a single detection member is used to detect the attachment / detachment of the waste toner container and the process unit, reducing the number of parts.
The configuration of the device can be simplified. Therefore, there is an effect that the cost can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the essential part as seen from the waste toner container mounting side, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 4, FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are perspective views showing the state in which the process unit PU is detached, viewed from different directions, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a printer P showing an example of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a conventional process unit PU is removed, and FIG. . P ... Printer, PU ... Process unit, UB ... Upper machine, DB ... Lower machine, 1 ... Photosensitive drum, 2 ... Recording unit, 6 ... Charger, 8 ... Developer, 10 ... ... cleaner,
16 ... Waste toner container, 16c ... Inclined part, 29 ... Toner transport part, 29a ... Toner outlet, 31 ... Unit mounting part, 3
4 ... Waste toner container case, 35 ... Ejection part, 36 ... Lid member, 36a ... Opening part, 37 ... Conveying member, 38 ... Lever member, 38a, 38b ... Tapered surface, 39 ... Projection , 40 …… pin, 4
4 …… Detection member, 44a …… Detection groove.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A process unit which has a cleaner for removing residual toner remaining on the peripheral surface of a photoconductor and discharges it as waste toner from an opening of a cylindrical discharge part, and a detachable process unit in an apparatus main body, said cylindrical discharge part. A lid member that is rotatably fitted in the circumferential direction and covers the opening so that the opening can be opened and closed; and a lid member that is detachable from the apparatus main body and engages with the lid member in accordance with a mounting operation to open the opening. A waste toner container for containing the waste toner discharged from the opening, and a waste toner container provided in the apparatus main body, which is interlocked with opening and closing of the lid member,
A single detection member that operates via an operation member that is integrally provided on the lid member, and detects the mounting of the process unit and the mounting of the waste toner container by the single detection member. An image forming apparatus characterized by.