JPH09269639A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the replenishment of an image forming unit with toner. SOLUTION: A toner replenishment container 41 capable of replenishing the image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK) with toner is provided on the image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK) so that the container can be attached/detached whenever the unit is stored in the device main body 1 or drawn out from it. Also, the toner replenishment container 41 is provided with a waste-toner recovering means 46 capable of recovering waste toner from the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11BK).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support capable of supporting a plurality of image forming units each containing at least a photosensitive member, a developing device and a cleaning device in a predetermined positional relationship, and a device for supporting the support. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a guide unit that can guide between a housing position inside a main body and a drawing position outside the apparatus body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a color image forming apparatus is
As shown in FIG. 5, an image forming unit (11 for each color (yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, black BK))
Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) are arranged at predetermined intervals in the paper transport direction.

The image forming unit 11Y includes a drum-shaped photosensitive member 12 and its peripheral devices (charging device, developing device 13,
The cleaning device 14 and the like) are included. The other units 11M, 11C, 11BK have the same structure.

Each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 1
1C, 11BK) above the exposure device (18
Y, 18M, 18C, 18BK) are provided. Each of the exposure devices (18Y to 18BK) emits a laser beam in accordance with an image signal to draw an electrostatic latent image on each of the photoconductors 12.

When an image signal is input from a host computer (not shown) or the like, the paper in the paper cassette 3U (3D) is picked up one by one by the paper feed roller 4U (4D) and is also conveyed by the transport roller 5U (5D). Registration roller 6
The paper is fed onto the paper transport belt 23, the timing of which is adjusted in cooperation with.

The paper transport belt 23 includes rollers (21, 2).
2) The roller 21 is bridged between the two and is rotated by rotating the roller 21 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The paper is
The adsorption device 8 electrostatically adsorbs the sheet conveyance belt 23, and moves together with the belt 23 in the X direction without displacement.

On the other hand, the image signal is sent to the exposure device (18Y to 18BK) as a signal corresponding to each color, and, for example, a yellow signal is input to the exposure device 18Y.
The exposure device 18Y emits laser light according to the image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 12 of the image forming unit 11Y. This electrostatic latent image is made into a visible image by the toner supplied from the developing device 13, and then transferred to the paper on the paper transport belt 23 by the transfer device (transfer roller 17Y).

For magenta, cyan and black,
The corresponding image signals correspond to the exposure devices (18M, 18M
C, 18BK), the image forming unit (11M,
11C, 11BK), images are sequentially superimposed on the paper on the paper transport belt 23.

In the drive roller 21, the paper transport belt 2
The sheet separated from the sheet 3 is passed through the fixing device 19 and the image is fixed, and then the upper tray 2 is selected by the switching selection of the switching unit 9.
It is discharged to the U or lower tray 2D.

Here, in the image forming apparatus, for convenience of handling, as shown in FIG. 6, each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) is provided with a support (frame 31) and guide means 35. At the same time the device body 1
It is formed so that it can be attached to the accommodation position inside.

The frame 31 as a support is constructed so as to be able to support each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) in a predetermined positional relationship. The guide means 35 includes a pair of nested guide rails 36 that support both side portions of the frame body 31, and can guide the frame body 31 between the accommodation position inside the device body 1 and the drawing position outside the device body 1. Is formed in. In addition, in FIG. 6, the frame body 31 is pulled out to the pull-out position.

[0012]

In the image forming apparatus, the housing space of the image forming units (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) tends to be reduced in order to downsize the apparatus body 1. Therefore, the developing device 13 that constitutes the image forming unit (11Y to 11BK)
Etc. have been miniaturized.

Here, as the printing operation is performed,
Each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11B
The toner stored in the developing device 13 of K) is consumed and reduced. Conventionally, when the developing device 13 becomes a toner empty, the image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 1
1C, 11BK) is considered exhausted, and the entire image forming unit is replaced.

At present, since the developing device 13 tends to be miniaturized as described above, the replacement cycle of the image forming unit is becoming shorter. To perform such replacement, the frame 31 is placed outside the main assembly 1 of the apparatus. It has to be pulled out to the pulling-out position, which is a troublesome task. Further, replacing the entire image forming unit just by becoming a toner empty is contrary to the present demand for resource saving and has a problem from the economical point of view.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily replenishing the image forming unit with toner and effectively utilizing the image forming unit.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support member capable of supporting a plurality of image forming units in a predetermined positional relationship, and a position where the support member is accommodated in the apparatus main body and outside the apparatus main body. In an image forming apparatus having guide means capable of guiding to and from a withdrawal position, a toner replenishment container capable of replenishing toner to each of the image forming units is provided in the image forming unit when the apparatus main body is housed and withdrawn. It is characterized in that it is detachably attached in any case.

According to the present invention, regardless of whether the image forming unit is housed in the apparatus main body or pulled out of the apparatus main body, the toner replenishing container can be attached to the unit as it is.

Therefore, the toner can be easily replenished to the image forming unit, and the unit can be effectively used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the toner supply container is provided with a waste toner collecting means capable of collecting the waste toner from the image forming unit.

According to the present invention, the toner can be supplied to the image forming unit by the toner supply container, and the waste toner can be collected from the image forming unit. Therefore, even if a large amount of toner is replenished, the inside of the image forming unit is not filled with the waste toner, and the toner can be easily replenished to the image forming unit for a longer period of time.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4, the basic structure of the image forming apparatus is the same as that of the conventional example (FIGS. 5 and 6), but a toner replenishing container 41 is provided and an image forming unit (11Y, 11M) is provided. , 11C, 11BK), so that the toner can be replenished both in the housed state of the apparatus main body 1 and in the drawn-out state.

The same components as those of the conventional example (FIGS. 5 and 6) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

The toner supply container 41 is provided with the toner supply means 4.
2 and the waste toner collecting means 46, each of the image forming units (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) in either the housing state of the apparatus main body 1 shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 or the drawing state shown by the solid line in FIG. It is also provided so that it can be attached and detached.

The toner supply means 42 is a body case 41C.
And a toner supply port 4 formed so as to be inserted into the toner receiving portion 15 of each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK).
5 and a spiral carrier 44 capable of carrying the toner in the toner storage chamber 43 to the toner supply port 45.

Therefore, when the spiral conveying member 44 is rotationally driven about the axis by using a motor (not shown), the toner in the toner accommodating chamber 43 is conveyed to the toner supply port 45, and each image formation is performed from the toner supply port 45. The toner is supplied to the toner receiving portion 15 of the unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK). The toner supplied to the toner receiving unit 15 is sent into the developing device (not shown).

The waste toner collecting means 46 comprises a body case 41.
A waste toner storage chamber 47 provided in the lower part of C, a waste toner receiving port 49 formed so that it can be inserted into the waste toner discharge portion 16 of each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK), and this waste toner. A spiral carrier 48 capable of carrying the waste toner from the receiving port 49 to the waste toner storage chamber 47.
And the like.

Therefore, when the spiral conveyor 48 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), the waste toner is discharged from the cleaning device (not shown) of the image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK). Part 1
It is possible to collect the waste toner in the waste toner storage chamber 47 via 6.

In the toner supply container 41, the toner supply port 45 is connected to the image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C,
11BK) and the waste toner receiving port 49 is inserted into the waste toner discharging portion 16 so that the unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11B).
K) is positioned and held.

The image forming units (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) are provided on the frame 31 as a support.
Hole 3 into which the positioning protrusion 17 protruding from the bottom of the
2 are provided.

Each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 1
By fitting the positioning protrusions 17 into the holes 32 when the (1C, 11BK) is attached to the frame 31, the respective units (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) are held in a predetermined positional relationship with each other.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. For example, when the image forming unit 11Y becomes toner empty, the empty toner supply container (41) mounted in the unit 11Y is taken out of the apparatus main body 1 through the insertion port 7 and replaced with a new one. The toner replenishing container 41 is attached to the unit 11Y. As a result, the toner can be supplied to the image forming unit 11Y. Other image forming units (11M, 11C, 11B
The replacement of the toner supply container 41 for K) can be performed in the same manner.

Incidentally, the replacement of the toner replenishing container 41 is carried out by referring to FIG.
Image forming units (11Y, 11M, 11
Of course, it can be performed even when C, 11BK) is pulled out.

According to this embodiment, however, the toner supply container 41 is provided and each image forming unit (11Y, 1Y).
1M, 11C, 11BK), the image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11B is provided so as to be detachable when the apparatus body 1 is housed or pulled out.
BK) can be easily replenished with toner and the unit can be effectively used.

Further, since the waste toner collecting means 46 is provided in the toner supply container 41, each image forming unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11B) can be used even if a large number of toners are supplied.
The inside of K) is not filled with the waste toner, and the toner can be easily replenished for a longer period of time.

Further, since the toner supply container 41 is positioned and held in the image forming units (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) by utilizing the toner supply port 45 and the waste toner receiving port 49, a special positioning means is used. There is no need to provide it, and the configuration can be simplified.

Further, the image forming unit (11Y, 11Y
(M, 11C, 11BK) is positioned and held by using the positioning projection 17 and the hole 32 of the frame body 31, so that the unit (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK) can be more reliably and accurately placed in the accommodating position in the apparatus body 1. Can be installed.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner supply container is detachably provided in the image forming unit both when the apparatus main body is housed and when the apparatus main body is housed and when the toner is supplied to the image forming unit. It can be easily replenished and the unit can be effectively used.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the waste toner collecting means is provided in the toner supply container, the inside of the image forming unit will not be filled with the waste toner even if a large amount of toner is replenished. The toner can be easily replenished for a long period of time, and the unit can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the image forming unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body and the toner supply container is replaced.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state where the image forming unit is housed in the apparatus body.

FIG. 4 is also an external perspective view showing a state in which the image forming unit is pulled out.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional configuration of a color image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a frame body that supports each image forming unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11BK Image Forming Unit 31 Frame (Support) 35 Guide Means 41 Toner Supply Container 46 Waste Toner Collection Means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A support body capable of supporting a plurality of image forming units in a predetermined positional relationship, and a guide means capable of guiding the support body between a housing position inside the apparatus main body and a drawing position outside the apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus provided with, a toner supply container capable of supplying toner to each of the image forming units is detachably provided in the image forming unit when the apparatus main body is housed or when the apparatus body is pulled out. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply container is provided with a waste toner collecting unit capable of collecting waste toner from the image forming unit.