JPH0887217A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image forming device capable of removing a cassette and a developer recovering means in the same direction, eliminating the need of removing the developer recovering means at the time of supplying a transfer body into the cassette and suppressing the spilling of a developer which occurs at the time of removing the developer recovering means as little as possible. CONSTITUTION: A toner image is formed on a photoreceptor drum and transferred to a paper sheet and than, toner remaining on the drum is carried by a carrying auger 41 and recovered into a toner recovering container 17 arranged on the rear side of an image forming device unit and in the inner part of the paper feeding cassette 33. When the container 17 is taken out, the cassette 33 is taken out, then, a supporting unit 43 supporting the container 17 from below is drawn out to the front side of the device unit and the container 17 is moved to the front side of the device unit, so that the container 17 provided on the rear side of the device unit can be removed from its front side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer which collects toner remaining on a photosensitive member after being transferred onto a transfer paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, after the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum is removed by a cleaning device after being transferred onto a transfer sheet, the removed toner is collected and the front side of the image forming apparatus is used. Alternatively, the toner is collected and collected in a toner collecting container arranged on the back side. But,
When the toner collecting container is arranged on the front side of the apparatus, there is a drawback that it becomes an obstacle during maintenance and the workability is deteriorated. Further, when the toner collecting container is arranged on the rear side of the apparatus, the toner collecting container must be removed or attached from the rear side of the apparatus, so that the visibility is poor and the work is difficult.

Therefore, in recent years, there has been devised a device which is arranged on the back side to remove or attach the toner collecting container from the front side. As such a device, JP-A-4-1511
No. 70, there is a toner collecting container (developer collecting means) arranged in an empty space of a paper feeding tray (paper feeding cassette), and the toner collecting container is removed from the front side of the device by pulling out the paper feeding tray. It is to be removed and attached.

[0004]

However, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-151170, the paper feed tray must be pulled out together with the toner recovery container when the transfer paper is replenished. At this time, since the toner collecting container is detached from the toner conveying means for conveying the residual toner in the cleaning device, the copying operation cannot be performed while the transfer paper is being replenished.

Further, each time the transfer paper is replenished, the toner recovery container is removed from the toner conveying means, and toner spillage easily occurs, and since the transfer paper and the toner recovery container are arranged on the same tray, the toner recovery is performed. The transfer paper was sometimes soiled by the toner spilled from the container.

In view of the above, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, the cassette and the developer collecting means can be removed from the same direction, and the developer can be developed without removing the developer collecting means when replenishing the transfer body to the cassette. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the spillage of the developer that occurs when the agent recovery unit is removed is suppressed.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention forms a developer image on an image bearing member, and the developer on the transfer target. In an image forming apparatus that removes a developer remaining on the image carrier after transferring an image and collects the developer in a developer collecting unit, the developer collecting unit is supported and the developer collecting unit is supported in the image forming apparatus. A cassette accommodating a support unit that can be pulled out to one side of the image forming apparatus, and a transfer target that is provided in front of the developer collecting unit in the pulling direction of the support unit and to which the developer image is transferred. And cassette guide means for attaching and detaching the supporting means without pulling out the supporting means.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention forms a developer image on an image bearing member and transfers the developer image on a transfer target. In an image forming apparatus that later removes the developer remaining on the image bearing member and collects the developer by a developer collecting unit, a cassette that houses a transfer-receiving body to which the developer image is transferred, and the cassette inside the image forming apparatus. A mounting part that detachably mounts the cassette,
The developer recovery means is supported inside the image forming apparatus with respect to the cassette mounted in the mounting portion, and the developer recovery means is taken out of the cassette via the mounting portion when the cassette is removed. And a supporting means that is movable in the direction.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention forms a developer image on the image carrier and transfers the developer image on the transfer target. An image forming apparatus for removing the developer remaining on the image carrier later, wherein the image receiving apparatus to which the developer image is transferred is accommodated, and the cassette is detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus. A developer collecting unit which is provided inside the image forming apparatus with respect to the cassette mounted in the forming apparatus and collects the developer removed by the image forming apparatus; and a selection for selecting the taking out of the developer collecting means. And a detachable means attached to the cassette and detachable with the cassette and holding the developer collecting means when the pick-up of the developer collecting means is selected by the selecting means. Serial is a developer collecting means having a holding means for a removable to the outside of the image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is such that after a developer image is formed on an image bearing member and the developer image is transferred onto a transferred member. In an image forming apparatus for removing a developer remaining on the image carrier, a cassette that accommodates a transfer target to which the developer image is transferred and is detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus. A developer collecting unit that is provided inside the image forming apparatus with respect to the cassette mounted in the apparatus and collects the developer removed by the image forming apparatus; A holding member that is movable between a position where the developer collecting means is sandwiched and an open position where the developer collecting means is not sandwiched, and the position of the sandwiching member is moved when the developer collecting means is taken out. Allowed by those having a position changing means for enabling the extraction to the image forming apparatus outside the developer collecting means together with the cassette sandwiching the developer collecting means by the clamping member.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention forms a developer image on an image bearing member and transfers the developer image on a transfer target. An image forming apparatus for removing the developer remaining on the image carrier later, wherein the image receiving apparatus to which the developer image is transferred is accommodated, and the cassette is detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus. A developer collecting unit provided inside the image forming apparatus with respect to the cassette mounted in the forming apparatus to collect the developer removed by the image forming apparatus, and the developer collecting means is filled with the developer. Detection means for detecting whether the developer has been collected; and when the detection means detects that the developer has been fully collected in the developer collecting means, the developer collecting means is held and the cassette is provided. Wherein is the developer collecting means having a holding means for a removable to the image forming apparatus outside.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention is characterized in that the holding means is composed of an adsorption portion for adsorbing the developer collecting means. It is the one described.

[0013]

The present invention is configured as described above and removes the developer remaining on the image carrier after forming the developer image on the image carrier and transferring the developer image on the transfer target, The toner is collected from a cassette that houses the material to be transferred by a developer collecting means provided inside the image forming apparatus. Here, when the developer collecting means is taken out from the inside of the image forming apparatus, the developer collecting means is pulled out to the front side of the image forming apparatus by using the supporting means for supporting the developer collecting means, and the developer collecting means is removed. ,
Replace or discard the developer recovery means. When the developer collecting means is attached, the developer collecting means returned to the original position of the supporting means is fed into the image forming apparatus from the front side of the apparatus, and the cassette is set to reset the developer collecting means. Is completed.

[0014]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2 to 4 show the external appearance of the image forming apparatus unit A, and FIG. 5 schematically shows its internal structure.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus unit A includes an automatic double-sided copy type image forming apparatus 1 having a copying function and a laser printer function, and a sheet feeding device on which the image forming apparatus 1 is mounted. It consists of a multi-cassette feeder 2. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 4 which will be described later in an apparatus main body 3, an original setting section 5 for setting an original 9 on an upper surface of the apparatus main body 3, a control panel 6 on a front edge of the upper surface, and a right side. A manual feed section 7 is provided on the front side, and a discharge tray 8 is provided on the left side.

The image forming means 4 has the following structure. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a photosensitive drum 10 as an image bearing member is rotatably provided on the right side and the central portion in the vertical direction in the apparatus main body 3. Around the photoconductor drum 10 along the rotation direction (direction of arrow B),
A charging device 11, a developing device 12, a transfer device 13, a peeling device 14, and a cleaning device 16 which is a toner removing means constituting the developer collecting device 15 are sequentially arranged. A laser exposure device 18 that exposes image information from the outside is provided between the charging device 11 and the developing device 12 in the upper part of the apparatus main body 3, and a document 9 set in the document setting section 5 is provided. An optical system movable exposure device 19 for exposing image information is provided. Further, a toner recovery container 17 that is a developer recovery means that constitutes the developer recovery device 15 together with the cleaning device 16 is connected to the rear end of the cleaning device 16. Also, the developing device 1
Reference numeral 2 includes a developing device unit 12a for black developing and a developing device unit 12b for developing color other than black.

In the main body 3 of the apparatus, there is formed a sheet conveying path 20 for guiding the sheet P fed from the multi-cassette feeder 2 or fed from the manual sheet feeder 7 to the sheet discharge tray 8. An aligning roller pair 21 is provided on the paper transport path 20 at a position upstream of the image transfer position between the transfer device 13 and the photosensitive drum 10, and
The fixing device 22, the transport roller pair 23, and the paper discharge roller pair 24 are arranged on the downstream side.
Further, at the bottom of the apparatus main body 3, the return conveyance path 2 that branches from between the conveyance roller pair 23 and the paper discharge roller pair 24 of the paper conveyance path 20 and joins the upstream side of the aligning roller pair 21.
5 is formed. Further, a gate 26 as a sorting means is provided at a branch portion between the paper transport path 20 and the return transport path 25. Further, the downstream end of the paper feed transport path 27 that transports the paper P fed from the multi-cassette feeder 2 is joined to the upstream side of the aligning roller pair 21.

The multi-cassette feeder 2 comprises a lower cassette feeder 2a and an upper cassette feeder 2b placed on the lower cassette feeder 2a. The paper feed cassettes 32 and 33 are respectively arranged and taken out from the front side of the multi-cassette feeder 2. Further, below the uppermost paper feed cassette 33, a support unit 43 which is a support unit used for removing and attaching the toner recovery container 17 is provided.

Pick-up rollers 34, which are sheet take-out means, are respectively arranged facing the upper right side ends of the sheet feeding cassettes 30 to 33, and the bottom and right ends of the sheet feeding cassettes 30 to 33 are respectively arranged. The paper push-up plate 35 as a paper push-up means facing each other.
Are arranged.

The paper push-up plate 35 is provided in the paper feed cassette 3
The paper receiving plates 36 respectively provided in 0 to 33 are pushed up automatically in accordance with the remaining amount of the paper P, and the pickup roller 34 can always feed the paper well. Further, the paper P sent to the right by the pickup roller 34 in the state of FIG.
Only one sheet is taken out by the one-sheet take-out means composed of 7 and the separation roller 38, is fed to the paper feed conveyance path 27, and is aligned by the aligning roller pair 39 disposed in the middle.

However, the multi-cassette feeder 2 is
The paper feed cassettes 30 to 33 are selected by a paper designation signal from the image forming apparatus 1, and the paper P of a predetermined size is fed into the paper feed transport path 27. Then, the paper P
Is sent to the image transfer section in synchronization with a developer image forming operation on the photoconductor drum 10 on the image forming apparatus 1 side (this operation is well known as an electrophotographic method, so detailed description thereof will be omitted), and the transfer apparatus is transferred. By the action of 13, the photoconductor drum 10
The upper developer image is transferred.

After that, the developer image is carried on the paper carrying path 20 by the fixing device 22 to be fixed on the paper P, and is guided to the paper discharge roller pair 24. Then, in the case of image formation on only one side, the sheet P is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 8 as it is, and in the case of double-sided image formation, the sheet P is switched back by rotating the sheet discharge roller pair 24 in reverse and switching the gate 26. It is sent from the rear end side to the return conveyance path 25, is sent to the image transfer position again, and the developer image is transferred to the other surface.

Next, the cleaning device 16 and the toner recovery container 17 which constitute the developer recovery device 15 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the apparatus main body 3 of this embodiment. A toner conveying auger 41 is provided at the bottom of the cleaning device 16, and the collected toner 40, which is the used developer scraped off the photosensitive drum 10, is conveyed to the back side of the device main body 3. There is. Further, when the collected toner 40 in the cleaning device 16 is conveyed to the back side of the apparatus main body 3 by the toner conveyance auger 41, next, the end of the cleaning device 16 on the rear side in the apparatus main body 3 is extended to the toner collecting container 17. The collected toner 40 is collected by the toner duct 42 which is the existing guide means.
Is guided to the toner collection container 17.

On the other hand, the toner collecting container 17 is arranged on the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b, which is further inside the upper cassette feeder 2b than the sheet feeding cassette 33 on the upper stage of the upper cassette feeder 2b. Then, the toner collecting container 17 is a toner intake port 4 which is a collecting unit for collecting the collected toner 40 guided by the toner duct 42.
4 to contact the toner duct 42 extending from the cleaning device 16.

A full detection switch 45 is provided at the end of the toner conveying auger 41 on the front side of the apparatus 1 as a detection means for detecting that the toner recovery container 17 is full of the recovered toner 40. When 17 is filled with the collected toner 40, the full rotation detection switch 45 is operated by the toner conveyance auger 41 pushed in the direction of the arrow M because the rotation of the toner conveyance auger 41 is blocked by the collected toner 40.

Next, the paper feed cassette 33 and the support unit 43 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8. As shown in FIG. 6, the paper feed cassette 33 includes a toner collection container 17
It is adjacent to and can be inserted and removed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the paper feeding direction as shown in FIG. On the side surface 33a on the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b adjacent to the toner collection container 17 of the paper feed cassette 33, a recess is formed so as to surround the toner collection container 17. Then, the paper feed cassette 33
When the toner collection container 17 is set, the toner collection container 17 is pushed into a predetermined position on the side surface 33a of the paper feed cassette 33 to prevent the toner collection container 17 from being displaced when it is set.

On the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b of the toner collecting container 17, there is provided a container detecting switch 46 for detecting whether the toner collecting container 17 is properly set, and when the toner collecting container 17 is pushed into a predetermined position. The switch is pushed by the toner collection container 17 to operate. Further, a cassette detection switch 47 for detecting whether or not the paper feed cassette 33 is set is provided on the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b of the paper feed cassette 33. It is operated by pressing a switch.
The image forming apparatus 1 operates when the container detection switch 46 is operating.

On the other hand, the support unit 43 is arranged below the paper feed cassette 33 as shown in FIG. 1, and supports the toner recovery container 17 from below. And the support unit 43
A fitting portion 48 is formed in a portion into which the toner collecting container 17 is fitted, and the toner collecting container 17 is fixed to the support unit 43 by fitting a convex bottom portion of the toner collecting container 17. You can do it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the insertion guide 50a of the support unit 43 is provided so as to extend to the insertion guide 50 of the paper feed cassette 33 which is the cassette guide means, and the support unit 43 is attached to the insertion guide 50a. The paper cassette 33 is slid along the insertion / removal direction. Then, when the drawer portion 49 provided on the front side of the upper cassette feeder 2b of the support unit 43 as shown in FIG. 8 is pulled out in the arrow C direction, the entire support unit 43 slides on the insertion guide 50a in the arrow C direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the toner collecting container 17 can be pulled out from the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b to the front side. Here, in the present embodiment, the pull-out portion 49 is provided so that the support unit 43 can be pulled out together with the paper feed cassette 33 without removing the paper feed cassette 33 when pulling out the support unit 43.

Further, when the toner recovery container 17 from which the recovered toner 40 has been removed is reattached to the inside of the upper cassette feeder 2b, the toner recovery container 17 is fitted into the fitting portion 48 of the support unit 43, and the drawer portion 49 is inserted into the upper cassette feeder 2b. Toner collection container 1 by pushing it inside
7 can be set at a predetermined position on the back surface of the upper cassette feeder 2b. Here, even if the support unit 43 is not exactly pushed into the upper cassette feeder 2b,
The side surface 33a of the paper feed cassette 33 to be set next pushes the toner collecting container 17 fitted and fixed in the support unit 43, and the support unit 43 slides the insertion guide 50a toward the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b to remove the toner. The collection container 17 is set at an accurate predetermined position.

Next, the copying operation by the image forming apparatus 1 and the multi-cassette feeder 2 described above will be described. First, in the developer collecting device 15, the paper feed cassette 33 is set, the toner duct 42 is brought into contact with the toner intake port 44 of the toner collecting container 17, and the container detecting switch 46 is operated to collect the toner in the toner collecting container 17. The toner 40 can be accumulated. Then, the original 9 is set in the original setting section 5 in such a state, the image forming conditions such as the paper size, the copy magnification, and the number of copies are set from the control panel 6, and the copy key is turned on to start the copy operation. To do.

As a result, the copying operation is started in the apparatus main body 3, the photoconductor drum 10 and the developing device 12 are driven, and the toner conveying auger 41 in the cleaning device 16 is started to rotate. First, the photosensitive drum 1
In the case of 0, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged by the charging device 11 with the rotation in the B direction shown in FIG. Next, the exposure device 19 exposes the image corresponding to the document 9 of the document setting section 5 to the charged area on the surface of the photoconductor drum 10, and the developing device 12 develops the image to form a toner image.

On the other hand, in synchronization with this operation, the paper P is supplied from one of the selected paper feed cassettes 30, 31, 32 and 33. That is, the pickup rollers 34 of the sheet feeding cassettes 30 to 33 selected by the image forming apparatus 1 rotate to feed the sheets P stored in the sheet feeding cassettes 30 to 33 one by one. Then, the paper P is fed into the paper feed conveyance path 27 and aligned by the aligning roller pair 39.
Then, the photoconductor drum 1 is arranged by the aligning roller pair 21.
The paper P is sent to the transfer device 13 at the timing when the toner image on 0 and the front end of the paper P are aligned.

After the transfer of the toner image, the peeling device 14
The paper P is peeled off from the photoconductor drum 10 and is conveyed to the fixing device 22 through the paper conveyance path 20. Fixing device 22
When the toner image is fixed by, the paper P is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 8 by the paper discharge roller pair 24. Further, after the transfer is completed, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 is scraped by the cleaning device 16 and removed as the collected toner 40. Further, in the cleaning device 16, the toner conveying auger 41 conveys the collected toner 40 to the rear side of the apparatus main body 3, and the toner intake port 4 through the toner duct 42.
4 is dropped into the toner collecting container 17 and accumulated.

While repeating such a copying operation, when one of the sheets P contained in the sheet feeding cassettes 30 to 33 is exhausted and the sheet P is replenished, the sheets are exhausted as shown in FIG. The paper feed cassettes 30 to 33 are pulled out and the paper P is replenished. Here, at the time of replenishment of the paper P, the image forming apparatus 1 is in a copyable state with respect to the paper P stored in the paper feed cassettes 30 to 33 other than the removed paper feed cassettes 30 to 33. Here, the support unit 43 may be pulled out together with the paper feed cassette 33 without removing the paper feed cassette 33 when pulling out the support unit 43.

Further, the toner collecting container 17 becomes full,
When the fullness detection switch 45 operates to remove the toner collection container 17, first, the paper feed cassette 33 is pulled out and removed. Then, pull out the drawer portion 49 of the support unit 43 provided below the paper feed cassette 33,
The supporting unit 43 can be slid to the front side of the upper cassette feeder 2b to pull out the toner collecting container 17 to the front side of the upper cassette feeder 2b, so that the toner collecting container 17 can be easily removed.

When the collected toner 40 is removed from the removed toner collecting container 17, the toner collecting container 17 is fitted into the fitting portion 48 of the supporting unit 43 again and fixed, and the supporting unit 43 is slid into the upper cassette feeder 2b. Push it in. Then, the toner duct 42 comes into contact with the toner intake port 44 of the toner collection container 17, the container detection switch 46 is activated, and the collected toner 40 can be accumulated in the toner collection container 17, and the image forming apparatus 1 makes the next copy. It becomes possible. Further, when the removed paper feed cassette 33 is set, the cassette detection switch 47 is actuated to enable feeding from all the paper feed cassettes of the image forming apparatus 1.

As described above, in this embodiment, the toner collecting container arranged on the back side of the image forming apparatus unit can be taken out from the front side of the apparatus. For this reason, it is easy to remove and attach the toner recovery container, and the visibility is good and it is possible to prevent forgetting to attach. Further, since the support unit is provided and the toner recovery container is removed by this support unit, the toner recovery container can be pulled out only when necessary, and the removal from the toner duct can be suppressed to a small extent. Than this,
It is possible to minimize toner spillage from the toner inlet, and copy operation is possible even when paper is replenished. Then, when the support unit is fed into the apparatus, the support unit can be slid by setting the paper feeding cassette accurately without inserting the support unit into the inside of the apparatus. Can be pushed. Also, in this embodiment,
Even if the paper feeding cassette 33 is not removed when pulling out the supporting unit 43, the supporting unit 43 together with the paper feeding cassette 33 is removed.
Since the pull-out portion 49 is provided to pull out the toner, the toner recovery container 17 can be easily removed.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11 are a side view and a sectional view schematically showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus unit A having a holding means instead of the supporting means. Since the latch 53 as a holding means as shown in FIG. 9 is attached to the image forming apparatus unit A shown in FIG. 4, the height of the insertion slot of the upper sheet feeding cassette 33 is the thickness of the maintenance means. Since the structure is the same as that of the first embodiment except that it is large, the description thereof will be omitted.

The latch 53 is a holding means for holding the toner recovery container 17 by sandwiching it so that the toner recovery container 17 can be taken out together with the paper feed cassette 51. As shown in FIG. 9, the latch 53 is attached to a guide rail 51 a provided in the lower portion of the paper feeding cassette 51, and the latch 53 can be taken out together with the paper feeding cassette 51 when the paper feeding cassette 51 is pulled out. .

Next, as shown in FIG. 10A, the latch 53 has two holding members 54 for holding the toner recovery container 17 by sandwiching it. The toner collecting container 17 is sandwiched and held by one end of the sandwiching member 54, and the other end is attached to a coupling member 55 together with a lever 56 as a selection means. The coupling member 55 is a guide provided in the lower portion of the paper feed cassette 51. It is adapted to move in the directions of arrows F and G along the rail 51b.

Then, together with the holding member 54, the connecting member 55
The other end of the lever 56 attached to the is protruded to the outside below the drawer portion 51C of the paper feed cassette 51 and can be moved in the directions of arrows D and E. When the lever 56 is moved in the direction of arrow D, the connecting member 55 moves in the direction of arrow F (front side of the upper cassette feeder 2b). Simultaneously with this movement, one end of the sandwiching member 54 coupled to the coupling member 55 moves in the directions of arrows H and I, and the other end of the sandwiching member 54 moves in the directions of arrows J and K, as shown in FIG. As shown, the toner collection container 17 is sandwiched and held. Further, the paper feeding cassette 51 is the toner collecting container 1
7 on the back side of the upper cassette feeder 2b adjacent to 7
1a and one end of the sandwiching member 54, the toner recovery container 1
7 is enclosed, and when the paper feeding cassette 51 is set, the toner collecting container 17 is pushed into a predetermined position on the side surface 51a of the paper feeding cassette 51 to
It is designed to prevent misalignment when setting.

Next, the operation of removing and attaching the toner collecting container 17 by the above-mentioned latch 53 will be described. Here, the copying operation by the image forming apparatus 1 and the multi-cassette feeder 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

First, the paper feed cassette 51 together with the latch 53.
10 is inserted into the upper cassette feeder 2b and set, and the holding member 54 of the latch 53 is opened (see FIG. 10).
The lever 56 is set to the open position in which the state (a) is obtained. The toner collecting container 17 is in a state in which the toner intake port 44 and the toner duct 42 are in contact with each other so that the collected toner 40 can be accumulated in the toner collecting container 17. Further, the container detection switch 46 is in operation, and the image forming apparatus is in an operable state.

Then, in such a state, the paper feed cassette 51
When there is no paper P stored in the paper cassette 51 and the paper P is replenished to the paper feed cassette 51, the paper feed cassette 51 is pulled out with the holding member 54 in the open state as shown in FIG. 11A attached. Replenish the paper P. Here, at the time of replenishment of the paper P, the image forming apparatus 1 is ready to copy the paper P stored in the paper feed cassettes 30 to 32 other than the removed paper feed cassette 51.

Further, the toner recovery container 17 becomes full,
When the fullness detection switch 45 is actuated to remove the toner collection container 17, the lever 56 is moved in the direction of arrow D, and the holding member 54 holds the toner collection container 17 by sandwiching it, as shown in FIG. 11B. To do so. Then, when the paper feed cassette 51 is pulled out, the toner collection container 17 supported by the holding member 54 together with the paper feed cassette 51 is also pulled out, and the toner collection container 1 together with the paper feed cassette 51.
7 can be removed from the upper cassette feeder 2b.

In this way, when the collected toner 40 is removed from the removed toner collecting container 17, the toner collecting container 17 is again inserted into the holding member 54 of the latch 53,
The paper feed cassette 51 is inserted into the upper cassette feeder 2b together with the toner collecting container 17 and the latch 53. Then, the lever 56 is moved in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 11B, the holding member 54 of the latch 53 is returned to the open state as shown in FIG. 11A, and the support to the toner collecting container 17 is released. Then, the setting of the paper feed cassette 51 is completed.

By setting the sheet feeding cassette 51, the toner collecting container 17 is fixed at a predetermined position by the side surface 51a of the sheet feeding cassette 51 and the sandwiching member 54, and the toner duct 4
2 and the toner intake port 44 of the toner recovery container 17 come into contact with each other, and the collected toner 40 can be accumulated in the toner recovery container 17. Further, the container detection switch 46 and the cassette detection switch 47 are both activated, and the image forming apparatus 1 is ready for the next copy.

As described above, in this embodiment, the toner recovery container arranged on the back side of the image forming apparatus unit can be taken out from the front side of the apparatus. For this reason, the toner recovery container can be easily removed and attached, and the visibility is good and it is possible to prevent forgetting to attach it.

Further, when the toner collecting container arranged on the back side of the image forming apparatus unit is taken out from the front side of the apparatus, the lever as the selecting means is operated to sandwich the toner collecting container by the holding member of the latch. It is designed to be held in a complicated manner. With this, when removing the toner collection container, the toner collection container can be removed together with the paper feed cassette from the inside of the apparatus, and the toner collection container can be attached again to the paper feed cassette and the paper feed cassette can be inserted into the device. By setting the paper feed cassette, the toner collection container can be set at the same time, and the toner collection container can be easily attached and detached.

Further, by providing a latch having a holding member,
With this latch, the toner collection container is inserted only when necessary and the toner collection container is taken out. As a result, removal from the toner duct can be suppressed to a small extent, toner spillage from the toner intake port can be suppressed, and copy operations can be performed even during paper supply.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12
14 to 14 are schematic side views and cross-sectional views showing another embodiment in which the shape of the holding means is changed. In the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4, the magnet 6 serving as a holding member as a holding member.
3 is attached, and the height of the upper cassette feeder 2b sheet feed cassette 33 insertion port is 3
Since the structure is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the size is equal to the thickness of 3, the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the magnet 63 as a holding means is attached to the side surface 33a on the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b of the paper feeding cassette 33 so as to come into contact with one side surface of the toner collecting container 17. It has become. An electromagnetic clutch 64 is attached to the rear side of the upper cassette feeder 2b of the toner collecting container 17 so as to come into contact with the side surface of the toner collecting container 17 opposite to the side surface thereof which comes into contact with the magnet 63.
Further, when the toner recovery container 17 is not full and the full detection switch 45 is not operated, the electromagnetic clutch 64 is operated and the electromagnetic clutch 64 generates a magnetic force stronger than that of the magnet 63. Then, the toner collecting container 17 is moved to the electromagnetic clutch 6 by the magnetic force of the electromagnetic clutch 64.
It is drawn in four directions.

At this time, even if the paper feeding cassette 33 is pulled out, the toner collecting container 17 is pulled toward the electromagnetic clutch 64, so that the toner collecting container 17 remains set in the upper cassette feeder 2b. 33
Only you can pull out.

On the other hand, when the toner collecting container 17 is full and the full detection switch 45 is operated, the electromagnetic clutch 64 is disengaged in conjunction with the operation of the full detection switch 45, and the magnetic force is lost. Therefore, the collected toner 40
The toner collecting container 17 which is full of is attracted by the magnet 63 and is attached to the paper feeding cassette 33 side. At this time, if the paper feed cassette 33 is pulled out, the paper feed cassette 3
The toner collecting container 17 can also be taken out together with 3.

Next, the operation of removing and attaching the toner recovery container 17 by the magnet 63 will be described. Here, the copying operation by the image forming apparatus 1 and the multi-cassette feeder 2 is the same as that in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. First, in the developer collecting device 15, the toner duct 42 and the toner intake port 44 of the toner collecting container 17 are in contact with each other, and the collected toner 40 can be accumulated in the toner collecting container 17. In addition, the container detection switch 46 is activated and the image forming apparatus 1 is in a copyable state. Since the toner collection container 17 is not full, the full detection switch 45 is not operating. For this reason,
The electromagnetic clutch operates to generate a magnetic force, and the toner recovery container 17 is attracted to the electromagnetic clutch 64 and attached to the electromagnetic clutch 64 side.

Then, in this state, the paper feed cassette 33
When there is no more paper P stored in the paper feed tray 33 and the paper feed cassette 33 is to be replenished with paper P, only the paper feed cassette 33 is pulled out as shown in FIG. At this time, the toner collection container 17 is pulled to the electromagnetic clutch 64, and the toner collection container 17 is not taken out.
Further, at the time of replenishment of the paper P, the image forming apparatus 1 is in a copyable state with respect to the paper P stored in the replenishment cassettes 30 to 32 other than the removed paper feed cassette 33.

Further, the toner recovery container 17 becomes full,
When the full detection switch 45, which is a detection means, operates, the electromagnetic clutch 64 operates in conjunction with the operation of the full detection switch 45.
Cuts out. Then, since the magnetic force of the electromagnetic clutch 64 disappears, the toner collection container 17 is attracted to the magnet 63 on the side of the sheet feeding cassette 33 and is attracted to the magnet 63.
Attach to the side. When the paper feed cassette 33 is pulled out and removed in this state, the toner recovery container 17 together with the paper feed cassette 33 can be removed from the upper cassette feeder 2b.

In this way, when the collected toner 40 is removed from the removed toner collecting container 17, the toner collecting container 17 is attached again to the magnet 63 of the paper feeding cassette 33, and the paper feeding cassette 33 is placed together with the toner collecting container 17 in the upper cassette. Insert into the feeder 2b. Then, the toner duct 42 and the toner intake port 44 of the toner collecting container 17 come into contact with each other, and the collected toner 40 can be accumulated in the toner collecting container 17. Further, since the collected toner 40 is removed from the toner collection container 17, the full signal of the full detection switch 45 is released and the electromagnetic clutch 64 operates, so that the toner collection container 17 is attracted by the magnetic force of the electromagnetic clutch 64 and the electromagnetic clutch 64 is pulled. Stick to the side.

As described above, in this embodiment, the toner collecting container arranged on the back side of the image forming apparatus unit can be taken out from the front side of the apparatus. For this reason, the toner collection container can be easily removed and attached, and the visibility is good and it is possible to prevent forgetting to attach the toner collection container.

When the toner collecting container arranged on the back side of the image forming apparatus unit is taken out from the front side of the apparatus, the toner collecting container is automatically attached to the paper feed cassette when the collected toner is full. I did it. Therefore, the toner collection container can be taken out together with the paper feeding cassette by confirming the full display of the toner collection container displayed on the control panel and then performing the operation of removing the supply cassette. Further, since the toner recovery container can be set by attaching the toner recovery container to the paper feeding cassette again and setting the paper feeding cassette, it is possible to easily attach and detach the toner recovery container.

Further, by providing a magnet as an adsorbing member as a holding means, the toner collecting container can be automatically attached to the magnet on the side of the paper feeding cassette only when the toner collecting container is filled with the collected toner. There is. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the removal of the toner recovery container from the toner duct, to suppress the toner spillage from the toner intake port, and to perform the copy operation even when the paper is replenished. Further, since the shape of the paper feed cassette is made to conform to the shape of the toner collection container, it is possible to prevent misalignment that occurs when the toner collection container is attached.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the cassette can be detached from the same direction as the developer collecting means, and the developer can be developed without removing the developer collecting means when replenishing the transfer body to the cassette. It is possible to suppress spilling of the developer that occurs when the agent recovery unit is removed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus unit A.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus unit A.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the uppermost paper feed cassette 33 of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus unit A is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a state where the support unit 43 of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus unit A according to the present invention is pulled out.

5 is a diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus unit A. FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line NN in FIG. 5 and illustrating the paper feed cassette 33 and the toner recovery container 17 in the first embodiment.

7 shows a cross section showing a cross section taken along line RR in FIG.
Sectional drawing explaining the insertion guide 50 which is a cassette guide means, and the insertion guide 50a of a support means.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line QQ in FIG. 5 and illustrating a support unit 43 that is a supporting unit.

FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing the internal configuration of the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus unit 1.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along the line S-S in FIG. 9 and illustrating the structure of a latch 53 which is an example of a holding unit.

11 is a sectional view taken along the line TT in FIG. 9, showing the paper feed cassette 51 and the toner recovery container 17 in the second embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side view schematically showing the internal configuration of a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus unit A.

13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 12, showing a paper feed cassette 33 and a toner recovery container 17 in the third embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 12, showing a paper feed cassette 33 and a toner recovery container 1 in a third embodiment.
Sectional drawing explaining the removal of 7.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Image forming apparatus unit 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Multi-cassette feeder 10 Photosensitive drum 17 Toner collection container 33,51 Paper feeding cassette 43 Support unit 46 Container detection switch 47 Cassette detection switch 53 Latch 54 Clamping member 63 Magnet 64 Electromagnetic clutch

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A developer image is formed on an image bearing member, and after the developer image is transferred onto a transferred member, the developer remaining on the image bearing member is removed and collected by a developer collecting means. In the image forming apparatus, a supporting unit that supports the developer collecting unit and can be drawn out to one side surface of the image forming apparatus while supporting the developer collecting unit, and the developing unit in the drawing-out direction of the supporting unit. Image forming, characterized in that it has cassette guide means which is provided in front of the agent collecting means and which allows a cassette accommodating a transferred body to which the developer image is transferred to be detachable without pulling out the supporting means. apparatus. 2. A developer image is formed on an image bearing member, and after the developer image is transferred onto a transferred member, the developer remaining on the image bearing member is removed and collected by a developer collecting means. In the image forming apparatus, a cassette that accommodates a transfer target to which the developer image is transferred, a mounting portion that detachably mounts the cassette in the image forming apparatus, and a cassette that is mounted in the mounting portion. Also supports the developer recovery means inside the image forming apparatus, and supports the developer recovery means in the removal direction of the cassette via the mounting portion when the cassette is removed. An image forming apparatus having. 3. An image forming apparatus for forming a developer image on an image bearing member, removing the developer remaining on the image bearing member after transferring the developer image on a transfer target, A cassette accommodating a transfer target to which an image is transferred and detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus; and a cassette provided inside the image forming apparatus with respect to the cassette mounted in the image forming apparatus. A developer collecting means for collecting the developer removed by the image forming apparatus, a selecting means for selecting taking out of the developer collecting means, a developer attached to the cassette and detachable with the cassette, and the developer by the selecting means. A holding handle for holding the developer collecting means so that the developer collecting means can be taken out of the image forming apparatus together with the cassette when the collecting means is selected to be taken out. An image forming apparatus wherein a and. 4. An image forming apparatus for forming a developer image on an image carrier, transferring the developer image on a transfer medium, and removing the developer remaining on the image carrier. A cassette that accommodates a transfer target to be transferred, and is detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus; and the image provided inside the image forming apparatus with respect to the cassette mounted in the image forming apparatus. A developer collecting means for collecting the developer removed by the forming device, a position attached to the cassette and detachable with the cassette, and a position where the developer collecting means is sandwiched and an open position where the developer collecting means is not sandwiched. A movable nipping member; and a cassette that nips the developer collecting means by the nipping member by moving the nipping member when taking out the developer collecting means. An image forming apparatus comprising said to have a position changing means for enabling the extraction to the image forming apparatus outside the developer recovering means. 5. An image forming apparatus for forming a developer image on an image bearing member, and removing the developer remaining on the image bearing member after transferring the developer image on a transfer-receiving member, wherein: A cassette accommodating a transfer target to which an image is transferred and detachably mountable in the image forming apparatus; and a cassette provided inside the image forming apparatus with respect to the cassette mounted in the image forming apparatus. A developer collecting unit that collects the developer removed by the image forming apparatus, a detecting unit that detects whether the developer is fully collected in the developer collecting unit, and a developing unit that is attached to the cassette and that develops by the detecting unit. When it is detected that the developer has been fully collected by the developer collecting means, the developer collecting means is held so that the developer collecting means can be taken out of the image forming apparatus together with the cassette. An image forming apparatus, comprising a means. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the holding unit includes an adsorption unit that adsorbs the developer collecting unit.