JPS60134273A - Image forming device provided with waste toner case - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable provision of a large space for removing a jam and to permit an easy operation for removing the jam with simple constitution by attaching a waste toner case on the door side to be opened and shut. CONSTITUTION:When the operator turns a waste toner case 10 in the direction of an arrow (d) after mounting the same to a front cover 11, the aperture 10a thereof contacts with the collar part 18a of a cap and moves in the direction of the arrow. The discharge port 4b of a conveying pipe 4a is opened in the case 10. The used toner of a cleaner 4 falls through the port 4b into the case 10. The operator opens the front cover 11 toward an arrow (c) when paper jams, then the case 10 turns together and retreats thus permitting easy insertion of the hand through the aperture. Since the cap 18 covers the port 4b in this stage, leakage of the toner does not arise.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a discharge toner container, and more particularly, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine equipped with a discharge toner container that collects used toner discharged from a toner discharge port. Regarding.

First, the configuration of a typical copying machine will be briefly explained with reference to FIG. 1, which schematically shows the internal configuration with the front cover removed.

When a copying operation is started, the transfer paper set in the cassette 7 is transported along a path A shown by a chain line in the order of paper feeding, image transfer, separation, transport, fixing, and ejection.

Since the paper jam rate is high in the middle of the conveyance path after image transfer and separation from the drum 2, the side plate 1 is provided with an opening 5 so that the user can easily remove the jammed paper. is normal.

The cleaner 4 has the role of removing residual toner on the surface of the drum 2 after transfer and collecting it into a waste toner bottle.

However, conventionally, in most cases, the discharge toner bottle of this type of device is fixed on the cleaner side at the position shown by B in FIG. Therefore, the transfer paper transferred during the copying operation comes along the path of the guide 6 and the opening 2 of the side plate
If a paper jam occurs near 1, the operator must open the front cover and directly insert his or her hand into the opening 2 to remove the paper.
1, and grabbed the paper and pulled it out, but it was very difficult because the opening was blocked by the waste toner bottle.

In order to eliminate such difficulty in removing jams, there is a method to make the discharge toner bottle as small as possible so that the opening space is large so that it does not interfere with removing jams.
With this method, the waste toner bottle quickly becomes full with waste toner, so the user has to frequently replace the bottle with a new one, and the user has to dispose of waste toner each time. It is very troublesome for

Another method is to hold the waste toner bottle at a position away from the opening 5, but in this method, a conveying pipe is used to transport the used toner collected by the cleaner to the waste toner bottle. , a torsion spring for conveyance, etc. are required, and when considering the piping method, the number of parts increases, the structure becomes complicated, and there is a problem that it may cause problems such as toner clogging in the pipe.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and it does not have a complicated structure, does not reduce the capacity of collected toner, and is extremely easy to load into a discharged toner container. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with a discharge toner container that does not become an obstruction.

The object of the present invention is achieved by an image forming apparatus configured such that a discharge toner container is removably loaded into a door that can be opened and closed.

The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiments.

First, the configuration will be explained. In FIG. 2, 1O is a discharge toner container, which has an opening 10a. In Fig. 3, 11 is a front cover, and a hinge 1 is attached to a member 12 on the main body side.
3, and as shown in Figure 4, arrow c
It can be opened and closed in the od direction. Reference numeral 15 denotes a metal fitting, which is formed into a substantially box shape and is fixed to the front cover 11 with screws 16. Here, the discharged toner container 1o is loaded into the metal fitting 15 with the front cover 11 open (FIG. 4).

Further, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 4 denotes the cleaner carrier mentioned above, which is fitted on the outer periphery of the discharge outlet 4a having the discharge port 4b and the protrusion 4c, and is moved in the right direction (arrow b) by the compression spring 19.
), but it is restrained by coming into contact with the protrusion 4c. In this state, the discharge port 4b of the discharge pipe 4a is covered with the cap 18 and closed.

Further, a rotary torsion spring 2o is built in the discharge pipe 4a to convey the used toner accumulated in the cleaner 4 to the discharge port 4b (FIG. 5).

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

After loading the discharge toner container 10ti into the front cover 11 (FIG. 4), when the front cover 11 is turned in the direction of arrow d,
The tip of the cap 18 is inserted into the opening 10a and comes into contact with the flange 18a. Thereafter, in conjunction with the rotation of the front cover 11, the cap 18 moves in the direction of arrow a against the spring 19. Thereafter, when the front cover 11 is completely closed as shown in FIG. 5, the discharge port 4b of the conveying pipe 4a is opened inside the waste toner container 10. Further, when the front cover 11 is opened, a switch (not shown) is closed.
The device's power is turned on.

Copying is performed in this state, and the used toner accumulated in the cleaner 4 passes through the conveying pipe 4a, which is a part of the cleaner, by the rotation of the rotating torsion spring 20, falls from the discharge port 4b, and is collected in the waste toner container 10. Ru.

On the other hand, when a paper jam occurs as described above and you want to remove the paper, move the front cover 11 from the state shown in FIG.
Open as shown. Then, the discharge toner container 10 also rotates and evacuates from the person on the path (FIG. 1), so that the opening 5
can be easily accessed from. Also, at this time, the power is already turned off automatically, so it is safe.

Furthermore, since the cap 18 covers the discharge port 4b, toner leakage (toner scattering) does not occur.

When the jam removal is completed, the front cover 11 is closed as shown in FIG.

When replacing the waste toner container 10, slide the waste toner container 10 upward in the state shown in FIG.
1 as shown in Figure 5.

6 to 8 show a modification, in which an opening/closing mechanism is provided at the opening 10a on the side of the discharged toner container.

The opening/closing cap 22 is made of a rubber material, and has a cut 22a in the normal direction from the center. The opening 10a of the waste toner container 10 is covered with the opening 10a, and remains closed as it is.

However, when the rubber cap 22 is engaged with the conveying pipe 4a of the cleaner 4, the cut 22a of the rubber cap 22 is pushed wide and becomes open as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows still another modification, in which a cap 18 as shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the conveying pipe 4a to prevent toner from scattering.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment, in which the discharge toner container 10 and the conveying pipe 4a are connected to a connecting pipe (bellows-shaped) 3.
They are connected by 3.

In other words, the connecting pipe 33 covers the conveying pipe 4a,
Its one end 33a is fastened to the cleaner side with a band 34, and is configured so that it cannot easily pass through.

On the other hand, a hose band 36 is integrally connected to the other end 33b of the connecting pipe, as shown in FIG. And the bent part 36a.

The opening 37 of the connecting pipe opens by holding 36b between the hands, and closes when the opening 37 is released. During normal use, it is attached so as to cover the opening 10a of the waste toner container 1o, so it cannot be easily pulled out.

Therefore, when the front cover 11 is opened in the direction of the arrow to remove a jam, the discharge toner container 1o is connected to the cleaner through the connecting pipe 33 and is fixed to the front cover side through the side plate opening 5 (FIG. 1). Go away.

8. Since both ends 33a and 33b of the connecting pipe 33 are firmly connected to the cleaner 4 at the opening 10a of the discharge toner container, the connection is always made through the pipe regardless of the opening/closing operation.

On the other hand, when the discharge toner in the container is full or when the container is replaced periodically, the discharge toner container 10 is pulled out from the metal fitting 15 fixed to the front cover 11, and the hose band 36 is manually removed. The connecting pipe 33 may be removed from the opening 10a by enlarging the opening 37 and then processed.

After that, the connecting pipe 33 is attached to the opening 10a of the new waste toner container 1o, the waste toner container 1° is inserted into the metal fitting 15, and the front cover is closed again, and the waste toner container 1o is moved toward the cleaner side. When pressed, the toner discharge port 4b is inserted into the bottle and engaged, causing discharged toner to fall (FIG. 12). At this time, the connecting pipe 33 is pushed and folded into a small size.

Figures 13' and 14 are modifications of Figure 10, with Figure 13 showing the door in a closed state and Figure 14 showing it in an open state.

The feature of this modification is that the conveying pipe 4a as mentioned above is removed,
This is because the springs 45 and 45 are exposed inside the connecting pipe 33. In this case, since the conveying torsion spring can be made longer, an effect can be obtained in that the discharged toner container can be disposed at a position away from a part of the cleaner.

The above is a description of the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a simple configuration in that it is attached to the door for opening and closing the discharged toner container, and has the advantage that a large jam removal space is provided and the user can easily perform the jam removal operation. There is.

In addition, when conventionally the waste toner container was installed on the cleaner unit or machine body side, the size and shape of the waste toner container and the piping method of the waste toner conveying pipe became complicated due to space constraints, and jam removal became difficult. Difficulty in operation is also eliminated. Furthermore, when considering the recent trend of miniaturization, this effect becomes even more significant.

Furthermore, if the cleaner's discharge toner opening or the discharge toner container side opening is configured to open only when they engage with each other, the cleaner can be opened only when the front cover is opened/closed, when the discharge toner container is replaced, or when the cleaner is inspected. Even when the unit is removed from the machine body and handled as a single unit, toner scattering to the outside can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of the image forming apparatus with the front cover removed, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the discharge toner container according to the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front cover according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a side view showing the main parts of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention in an open state, and FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment, FIG. 7 is a side view, FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the main part, FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the main part of another embodiment, and FIG. The figure is a side view of another embodiment, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the main part of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a side view of a modification of FIG. 10, and FIG. 14 is a side view explaining the operation of FIG. 13. 2... Photosensitive drum, 3... Developing machine, 4... Cleaner, 4a... Conveyance pipe, 4b... Discharge port, 5...
Opening, 7...Cassette, 1O...Discharge toner container, 1
oa...opening, 11...front cover (door), 15
...Metal fitting, 18...Cap, 19...Compression spring, 2o...Rotating torsion spring, Square torsion spring No. 130 Male 14 figure

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus characterized in that a discharge toner container is removably loaded in the original container at a position where it can engage with the toner discharge port on the main body side when the door is closed. (2) The image forming apparatus described in the patent is characterized in that the toner discharge port is opened by engaging the discharge toner container with the toner discharge port. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the discharged toner container is opened when the discharged toner container and the toner discharge port are engaged with each other. (4) The toner discharge port and the opening of the discharge toner container are opened when the discharge toner container and the toner discharge port are engaged with each other. Image forming device. (5) The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims (1) to (4), wherein opening and closing of a switch such as a power source is controlled in conjunction with opening and closing of a door. (6) A discharge toner container is removably loaded into the main body at a position where it can engage with the toner discharge port on the main body side when the door is closed, and the toner discharge port and the opening of the discharge toner container are arranged in a telescopic manner. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is connected by a connecting pipe. (7) An image forming apparatus characterized in that a discharged toner container is removably mounted on a door, and an opening of the discharged toner container and a toner discharge port on the main body are connected by a flexible connecting pipe. (8) The connecting pipe has a built-in torsion spring for conveying the toner.
The image forming apparatus according to item 7).