JPS63243984A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely recover a toner with a fewer number of parts by utilizing an optical detecting means for detecting the opening and closing of a cover member provided to a device body to detect the housing condition of the amt. of the toner existing in a toner recovering container. CONSTITUTION:A toner container body 16 is housed between a front face plate 4 and rear face plate 6 constituting an electrostatic copying machine which is an embodiment of this image forming device and a toner transfer means 10 contg. a transfer screw is provided thereon. The waste toner is dropped into the body 16 by using the same. A connecting member 32 is projected and provided to the outside of one side wall of the body 16 in this constitution and the front end thereof is kept connected via a connecting pin 36 to a supporting member 24 hanging from the front base plate 4. The body 16 is turned by the pin 36 to discharge the recovered toner when the inside of the body 16 is filled with the recovered toner. A transparent part 62 to be detected is perpendicularly provided to the longitudinal side wall of the body 16 in order to detect the amt. of the toner in the body 16 at this time and is sandwiched by a light emitting element 54 and light receiving element 56 which are intrinsically intended for detecting the cover. The amt. of the toner is thus detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner collection device.

<Prior Art> Generally, an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine is equipped with a toner collecting device that collects toner removed from the surface of an electrostatic photoreceptor. Such a toner collection device includes a toner collection container that is detachably attached to a collection position of an image forming apparatus, and when the toner is collected as required, the toner collection container is used together with the collected toner (or only with the collected toner). ) are to be discarded.

The toner recovery device as described above is further provided with container detection means and recovered toner detection means in association with the toner recovery container. The container detection means can be composed of, for example, a mechanical microswitch, and detects whether or not the toner collection container is present at a predetermined collection position. Further, the collected toner detection means can be constituted by, for example, an optical detector consisting of a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects whether a predetermined amount of toner has been collected in the toner collection container.

However, in an image forming apparatus equipped with the above-described toner collection device, the presence of a toner collection container and the amount of collected toner are detected by separate dedicated detection means, that is, a container detection means and a collected toner detection means. The problem therefore exists that the device is complex and expensive.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main purpose is to utilize a detection means for detecting opening/closing of a cover member conventionally provided in an image forming apparatus, An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming apparatus that can reliably detect the presence of a toner collection container and collection of a predetermined amount of toner using a detection means.

<Summary of the Invention> According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus main body, a cover member attached to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, a detection means for detecting opening/closing of the cover member, and a toner collection device for collecting toner. an image forming apparatus comprising: a toner collection container in which the toner collection device collects toner at a predetermined collection position; and an optical detection means comprising a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element; The container body is provided with a detection portion that defines a space into which a portion of the recovered toner flows, and a tip portion of the detection portion has a container body that substantially blocks light. Further, when the toner collection container is moved to the predetermined collection position, the light shielding portion passes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical detection means, and The detection unit is configured to be positioned between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and the control means generates a normal signal based on the signals from the detection means and the optical detection means. An image forming apparatus is provided.

<Preferred Specific Example of the Invention> A specific example of an image forming apparatus constructed according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a specific example, the present invention will be described with reference to an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a part of an electrostatic copying machine, the electrostatic copying machine shown has a space between it and the bottom wall 2 in the front and back direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1 and the vertical direction in FIG. 2). a front substrate 4 and a rear substrate (not shown) extending upward from the bottom wall 2;
3 shows the state when the front cover member 6 of the bottom wall 2 is in the closed position covering the front surface of the front board 4, and FIG. ). Although not shown, between the front substrate 4 and the rear substrate (not shown) is a rotating drum having an electrostatic photoreceptor disposed on its peripheral surface, and an electrostatic drum formed on the surface of the photoreceptor of the rotating drum. A developing device that develops the latent image into a toner image, a cleaning device that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after the toner image is transferred, and the like are provided.

The illustrated electrostatic copying machine further includes a toner collection device, and is configured such that the toner removed by the cleaning device is collected in a toner collection container 8 of the toner collection device. To explain further, a cleaning device (not shown) is provided with a toner transport means 10. The illustrated toner transfer means 10 includes a hollow cylindrical body 1 extending forward from the cleaning device (leftward in FIG. 1, downward in FIG. 2).
2 and a spiral transfer member (not shown) disposed within the hollow cylindrical body 12. The hollow cylindrical body 12 protrudes forward through the front substrate 4, and a toner discharge portion 12a (a toner discharge port is defined in the toner discharge port 112a) is provided at the bottom of the protruding end. Accordingly, the toner removed from the photoreceptor by the action of the cleaning device is transferred to the arrow 14 by the action of the transport member (not shown).
The toner is transferred in the direction shown by and is discharged downward through the toner discharge port of the toner discharge section 12a.

On the other hand, the toner collection container 8 has a container body 16 made of, for example, a transparent or translucent synthetic resin material, and has an opening 18 (not shown) at the upper end of the container body 16. ) is provided. In a specific example, the toner collection container 8 is removably attached to a container support 22 supported via a support mechanism 20, and the container support 22 is in the storage position shown in FIG. 1 and shown in solid line in FIG. It is supported so as to be movable between the take-out position and the take-out position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. That is, in the specific example, the container support 22 has a box shape having a rectangular bottom wall on which the container body 16 is placed and four side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, and defines a storage space with an open top surface. do.

Further, the support mechanism 20 includes a support member 24, and the support member 24 includes a support member 24.
4 is attached to the front surface (outer surface) of the front substrate 4, a connecting member 32 is attached to one side wall of the container support 22, and a pair of protrusions 34 provided on the connecting member 32f (only one in FIG. ) is connected to the support member 2 via the connecting pin 36.
It is pivotally connected between the support projections 28 and 30 of No. 4. With this structure, the container support 22 can be brought to the take-out position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 by pivoting in the direction shown by the arrow 38 (FIG. 2). In this take-out position, the container support 22 protrudes forward, and the toner collection container 8 has an open upper portion, in other words, various components of the electrostatic copying machine are substantially located above. It is located in a part that does not exist. Therefore, as can be easily understood, the container body 16
By grasping and lifting the toner collection container 8 upward, the toner collection container 8 can be separated from the container support 22, and the container main body 16 can be positioned from above in the storage cavity and pressed against the bottom wall of the container support 22. By placing the toner collection container 8 on the container support 22, the toner collection container 8 can be attached to the container support 22.

On the other hand, the container support 22 is indicated by the arrow 40 (FIG. 2).
By turning it in the direction shown, it can be brought into the storage position shown in FIG. 1 and shown by the solid line in FIG.

In the specific example, a biasing spring (not shown) such as a torsion coil spring is provided to bias the container support 22 toward the above-mentioned take-out position, and as will be described later, As a result, the container support 22 is held in the storage position. In this storage position, the container support 22 is rotated approximately 90 degrees from the above-mentioned removal position and extends along the front substrate 4, and the toner collection container Reference numeral 8 is located at a predetermined recovery position (shown in FIG. 1 and indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2). When the toner collection container 8 is brought to the predetermined collection position, the toner collection container 8 is moved to the front substrate 4 in the hollow cylinder 12.
A toner discharge port (not shown) provided in the toner discharge portion 12a of the hollow cylinder 12 and an opening (not shown) provided in the mouth 18 of the toner collection container 8 are located below the protrusion protruding from the toner discharge port 12a of the hollow cylindrical body 12. ) are aligned vertically. Therefore, the toner removed from the photoreceptor and transferred in the direction indicated by the arrow 14 by the action of the transfer member (not shown) is transferred to the hollow cylinder 1.
The toner is discharged from all four directions and is collected into the container body 16 as required through the opening of the toner collection container 8. Further, since the mouth portion 18 of the toner collection container 8 comes into contact with the hollow cylinder 12, upward movement of the container body 16 is prevented, and therefore, it is possible to separate the toner collection container 8 from the container support 22. It becomes linearly impossible.

In the specific example shown, when the container support 22 is pivoted from the take-out position toward the storage position in the direction shown by arrow 40 (FIG. 2), the container support 22 is placed in the preliminary storage position, which is located in front of the storage position. It is configured to be releasably held in the position shown in FIG. 3). That is, a retaining means 42 is arranged in association with the container support 22, and the retaining means 42 shown in the figure is
The container support 22 includes a protrusion 44 provided on the container support 22 (specifically, the side wall farthest from the center of rotation) and an engaging member 46 that can be engaged with the protrusion 44.

The engagement member 46 is a supporting protrusion 4 attached to the upper surface of the bottom wall 2.
This engaging member 46 is rotatably attached to the "l" via a pin, and is provided with a biasing member (not shown) for biasing it toward the engaging position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As described above, when the container support 22 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 40 to the preliminary storage position, the protrusion 44 of the container support 22 overcomes the claw portion 46a of the engagement member 46 and the above-mentioned wind tlf 'ts46a, and thus the protrusion 44 and the engagement member 4 are engaged by the action of a biasing spring (not shown).
The engagement with the claw portion 46a of No. 6 is maintained. In this state, when the front cover member 6 is further turned from the open position shown in FIG. 3 in the direction shown by the arrow 48 (FIG. 3) to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front cover member 6 opens. An acting portion N50 provided on the inner surface of the container support 22 acts on the side wall of the container support 22, and is elastically held in the storage position by the action of the biasing spring member. On the other hand, in the above-described state, the engaging member 46 is rotated against the action of the biasing member, so that the protruding portion 44 of the container support 22 and the claw portion 46a of the engaging member 46 are rotated.
Upon disengagement, the container support 22 is pivoted toward the ejection position in the direction indicated by arrow 38 (FIG. 2) by the action of the biasing spring member. Further, when the front cover member 6, which has been brought into the closed state as described above, is brought into the open position, the container support 22 is moved toward the arrow 3 by the action of the biasing spring member.
The container support 22 is rotated somewhat in the direction indicated by 8, and the projection 44 of the container support 22 engages with the claw f146a of the engagement member 46, thereby holding it at the preliminary storage position.

The electrostatic copying machine as described above further includes a detection means 52 (FIG. 4) for detecting opening and closing of the front cover member 6, and an optical detection means 58 (FIG. 4) consisting of a combination of a light emitting element 54 and a light receiving element 56. 2 and 4). Detection means 52
can be composed of, for example, a mechanical microswitch, and is disposed at a desired location on the front surface of the front board cap 4. on the other hand,
Corresponding to the detection means 52, an action portion (not shown) is provided on the inner surface of the front cover member 6. Therefore, when the front cover member 6 is in the closed position, the acting part provided on the inner surface presses the detecting part of the detecting means 52, so that the detecting means 52 is in the closed (ON) state (therefore, the fifth -A to 5-C), on the other hand, when the front cover member is in the open position, the acting section is separated from the detection section of the detection means 52, so that the detection means 52 is in the open (OFF) state (therefore generating the L signal in FIGS. 5-A to 5-C). Further, the optical detection means 58 is disposed at a predetermined position on the front surface of the front substrate 4, and a light emitting element 54 and a light receiving element 56 are provided at both ends of a support section 60 attached to the front substrate 4, facing each other. ing. In the specific example, in correspondence with the optical detection means 58, a protrusion 62 (constituting a detected part) that protrudes outward is provided at a required portion of the container body 16. Like the container body 16, the protrusion 62 is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin material, and is formed integrally with the container body 16. The protrusion 62 is hollow and moated to allow a portion of the toner to flow into the content space when the container body 16 is substantially full.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusion 62 is positioned between the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 56 of the optical detection means 58 when the toner collection container 8 is moved to a predetermined collection position. It looks like this. The above-mentioned optical detection means 58 is in the closed (○N) state when the light from the light emitting element 54 is not substantially received by the light receiving element 56 (therefore, the state is H in FIGS. 5-A to 5-C). (generates a signal), whereas the light from the light emitting element 54 is transmitted to the light receiving element 5.
When light is received at 6, it becomes an open (OFF) state (therefore, an L signal is generated in FIGS. 5-A to 5-C).

Referring also to FIG. 4, the detection signals from the detection means 52 and the optical detection means 58 are fed to a control means 64, which may consist of, for example, a microprocessor, which controls the detection means 52 and the optical detection means 58. A normal signal, a non-installation signal, and an overflow signal are generated based on the signals from the optical detection means 58 and the optical detection means 58. When the control means 64 generates a normal signal as described later, the electrostatic copying machine becomes substantially ready for copying based on the normal signal, and the copying process is performed by pressing the copy start switch.

On the other hand, when the control means 64 generates a non-installation signal as described later, the non-installation signal is sent to a non-installation indicator lamp 66 disposed on an operation panel (not shown), and the non-installation indicator lamp 66 The lighting indicates that the toner collection container 8 is not attached to the container support 22. Further, when the control means 64 generates an overflow signal as described later, this overflow signal is sent to an overflow indicator lamp 68 disposed on an operation panel (not shown), and the overflow indicator lamp 68 lights up. , indicates that the toner collection container 8 is substantially fully collected. It is preferable that when an overflow signal is generated, the operation of the electrostatic copying machine is substantially stopped so that the copying process cannot be performed.

In a specific example, in connection with the control means 64 generating the normal signal, the uninstalled signal, and the overflow signal, a light shielding portion 70 (see FIG.
(Fig. 3) is provided.

The light shielding section 70 substantially blocks light from the light emitting element 54 when located between the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 56 . The light shielding portion 70 can be constructed by applying a paint having light shielding properties, such as black, to the surface of the tip of the projection 62.
It can also be constructed by attaching, for example, a black tape having light-shielding properties to the surface of the tip end. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
8 (i.e., the light emitting element 54
(located outside the light-receiving element 56) passes between the light-emitting element 54 and the light-receiving element 56 when the front cover member 6 is moved from the open position to the closed position and the container support 22 is positioned in the storage position. In the storage position, the base of the protrusion 620 is positioned between the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 56.

Next, detection of the presence of the toner collection container 8 and the amount of collected toner will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. 2 and 4 as well as FIGS. 5-A to 5-C.

First, a case will be described in which the toner collection container 8 (specifically, a new container, etc., in which toner has not been collected to a substantially full capacity) is attached to the container support 22 and the container support 22 is positioned at the storage position. do. In such a case, as the front cover member 6 pivots, the container support 22 is moved from the preliminary storage position to the storage position, and the container body 16 is moved from the preliminary storage position to the storage position.
A light shield 170 provided on the protrusion 62 passes between the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 56, and then the container support 22
is placed in the storage position (the front cover member 6 is placed in the closed position). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5-A, when the light shielding part 70 of the protrusion 62 passes between the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 56, the light from the light emitting element 54 is blocked by the light shielding part 70, and optically Detection means 58
generates a relatively short H signal detection pulse signal. Since the front cover member 6 is brought to the closed position after the light shielding part 70 passes between the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 56, the detection pulse signal from the optical detection means 58 disappears in the detection means 52 (i.e. After the H signal changes to a mustard signal, the H signal is generated with a slight delay. In the normal state, the optical detection means 58 and the detection means 54 are
A detection signal as shown in the figure is generated, and the control means 64 generates a normal signal as follows based on the above-mentioned detection signal. That is, the control means 64 includes a first timer means 72, and the first timer means 72 measures time according to the fall of the detection pulse signal from the optical detection means 58 (that is, the change from an H signal to a low signal). for the first predetermined time 1+
It is reset after a period of time (which is set to, for example, about 1 second, which is sufficient time to move the container support 22 from the preliminary storage position to the storage position by pivoting the front cover member 6). Therefore, the light shielding section 70 connects the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 5.
6, the first timer means 72 is set, and until the first timer means 72 is reset, that is, the first predetermined time 1. When the detection means 52 generates an H signal until the time is counted, the control means 64 generates a normal signal. In other words, the control means 6
4, the detection means 52 detects that the front cover member 6 is in the closed position. The optical detection means 58 also detects that the toner collection container 8 is attached to the container support 22 (generates an H signal when the container support 22 is placed in the storage position). (detected by)
and detecting that the toner collection container 8 is not substantially full of toner (detected by generating an L signal when the container support 22 is positioned at the storage position). Optical detection means 5
The normal signal is generated based on the detection signal from 8.

In the specific example, in consideration of the following points, a normal signal is generated only when the detection means 52 generates an H signal within the first predetermined time t1 after the detection pulse signal disappears. There is. That is, when the front cover member 6 is pivoted from the closed position to the open position, the container support 2
2 is moved from the storage position to the pre-deflation position in the direction shown by arrow 38 (FIG. 2). Therefore, even during such movement, the light shielding part 70 of the protrusion 62 is able to protect the light emitting element 54 and the light receiving element 56.
The optical detection means 58 substantially generates a detection pulse signal. However, in such a case, the front cover member 6 is pivoted toward the open position, and therefore,
The detection means 52 is substantially never brought into the closed (ON) state within the first predetermined time t1 after the detection pulse signal from the optical detection means 58 falls. Therefore, by configuring as in the specific example, a normal signal is not generated when the front cover member 6 is placed in the open position and the tag is closed, and false detection can be prevented.

On the other hand, a case will be described in which the user forgets to attach the toner collection container 8 to the container support 22 and positions the container support 22 in the storage position.
As the container support 22 rotates, the container support 22 is moved from the preliminary storage position to the storage position, but since the toner collection container 8 is not attached, the light from the light emitting element 54 is blocked by the light shielding part 70. There isn't. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5-B, when the light from the light emitting element 54 is received by the light receiving element 56, the optical detection means 58 continues to generate a signal without generating a detection pulse signal. The means 52 generates an H signal when the front cover member 6 is forced into the closed position. In such a case, the control means 64 generates a non-installation signal as follows based on the above-mentioned detection signal. That is, the control means 64 further controls the second
a second timer means 74;
is the falling edge of the detection pulse signal from the optical detection means 58 (
(change from H signal to low signal) is not generated (
That is, without setting the first timer means 72), the detection means 52 starts timing by generating an H signal, and the second predetermined time t2 (for example, about the same time as the first predetermined time t) is started. (set to 1 second) and then reset. Therefore, the second timer means 74 is set when the front cover member 6 is placed in the closed position, and the optical detection means 58 starts generating a detection pulse signal when the second timer means 74 is reset. While the control means 64 continues to generate the L signal without any attachment, the control means 64 generates the no-installation signal. In other words, the control means 64 detects that the detection means 52 detects that the front cover member 6 is in the closed position, and the optical detection means 58 detects that the toner collection container 8 is not present (the container support 22 is The non-installation signal is generated based on the detection signals from the detection means 52 and the optical detection means 58.

Further, to explain a case where the toner collection container 8 attached to the container support 22 is substantially fully collected with toner and the container support 22 is positioned at the storage position, the front cover member 6, the container support 22 is moved from the preliminary storage position to the storage position, but the toner is substantially fully collected and the container body 16
Since the recovered toner also flows into the protrusion 62 , the light from the light emitting element 54 is also blocked by the light shielding part 70 and the base of the protrusion 62 . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5-C, the light from the light emitting element 54 is transmitted to the light shielding area B10 and the base of the protrusion 62 (more specifically, to the recovered toner inside the protrusion 62) some time before the container support 22 is placed in the storage position. ), the optical detection means 58 generates a detection pulse signal and continues to generate the H signal, and the detection means 52 generates the H signal when the front cover member 6 is placed in the closed position. In such a case, the control means 64 generates an overflow signal as follows based on the above-mentioned detection signal. That is, in this case, as shown in FIG.
change to the signal) is not generated and therefore the front cover member 6
The second timer means 74 is set at the time when the switch is placed in the closed position. Then, at the time when the second timer means 74 is reset, the optical detection means 58 outputs a detection pulse signal,
That is, while continuing to generate the H signal, the control means 64 generates an overflow signal.

In other words, the control means 64 detects that the detection means 52 detects that the front cover member 6 is in the closed position, and the optical detection means 58 detects that the toner collection container 8 is attached to the container support 22 (container (detected by generating an H signal when the support 22 is placed in the storage position) and that the toner collection container 8 is substantially full of toner (detected after the container support 22 is placed in the storage position). The above-mentioned detection means 52 and optical detection means 5
The overflow signal is generated based on the detection signal from 8.

As described above, in the electrostatic copying machine of the specific example, the detection means 52 for detecting the opening and closing of the front cover member 6 is effectively utilized, and is composed of the detection means 52, the light emitting element 54, and the light receiving element 56. Based on the detection signal from the optical detection means 58, the presence of the toner collection container 8 and collection of a predetermined amount of toner can be detected.

Although a specific example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus configured according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a specific example, and there may be no deviation from the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and modifications are possible.

For example, in the specific example shown, the control means 64 turns on the no-installation indicator lamp 72 when it generates a no-installation signal, and turns on the overflow indicator lamp 72 when it generates an overflow signal.
Although the flow indicator lamp 74 is lit, a single toner recovery error indicator lamp is provided in place of the non-installation indicator lamp 72 and the overflow indicator lamp 74, and when the non-installation signal and the overflow signal are generated, this toner recovery error is detected. An indicator lamp may be turned on.

Further, for example, in the illustrated specific example, the configuration is such that a non-installation signal or an overflow signal is generated based on the detection signal from the optical detection means 58 at the time when the second timer means 74 is reset. The first timer means 74 is omitted, and the moment when the front cover member 6 is brought to the closed position (i.e., the rise of the detection signal of the detection means 52, in other words, L
A non-attached signal or an overflow signal may be generated based on the detection signal from the optical detection means 58 at the time when the signal changes from the H signal to the H signal.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a part of a specific example of an electrostatic copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a part of the electrostatic copying machine shown in FIG. 1, viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1 when the front cover member is in the open position. FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram showing a part of the control system installed in the electrostatic copying machine of FIG. 1. Figures 5-A to 5-C show the detection means and optical detection in the normal case, when the toner collection container is not installed, and when the toner collection container is full of collected toner, respectively. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an output signal of the means. 4... Front substrate 6... Front cover member 8... Toner collection container 16... Container body 22... Container support 52... Detection means 54... Light emitting element 56... Light receiving Element 58... Optical detection means 62... Projection (portion to be detected) 64... Control means 70... Light blocking section 72... First timer means 74... Second timer means Figure 1'X Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 5-A Figure 5-C

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body; a cover member attached to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable; a detection means for detecting opening/closing of the cover member; and a toner collection device for collecting toner; In an image forming apparatus, the toner collection device includes a toner collection container that collects toner at a predetermined collection position, and an optical detection means that includes a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element; the toner collection container stores toner. The container body is provided with a detection portion that defines a space into which a portion of the collected toner flows, and a light shielding portion that substantially blocks light is provided at the tip of the detection portion. When the toner collection container is moved to the predetermined collection position, the light-shielding part passes between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the optical detection means, and then the detected part is configured to be positioned between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and further characterized in that the control means generates a normal signal based on the signals from the detection means and the optical detection means. Image forming device. 2. The toner collection container is detachably attached to a container support, and the container support has a storage position in which the toner collection container is positioned at the predetermined collection position and an ejection position in which the toner collection container is allowed to be removed. The optical detection means generates a detection pulse signal when the light shielding section provided on the detected section passes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and the optical detection means generates a detection pulse signal by passing between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. The image according to claim 1, wherein the normal signal is generated when the detection means detects that the cover member is in the closed state within a first predetermined time after the detection pulse signal disappears. Forming device. 3. A preliminary storage position exists between the storage position and the take-out position, and holding means for releasably holding the container support in the preliminary storage position is provided, and the container support is When the container support is moved toward the storage position, the container support is releasably held in the preliminary storage position by the action of the holding means, and when the cover member is then brought into the closed state, the container support is held in the preliminary storage position by the action of the cover member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support body is placed in the storage position. 4. The control means detects that the optical detection means does not generate the detection pulse signal when the toner collection container is positioned at the predetermined collection position, and the detection means detects that the cover member is in the closed state. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus generates a non-attached signal when the detection pulse signal is not generated even after a second predetermined time has elapsed after detection. 5. The control means is configured such that the optical detection means generates the detection pulse signal when the toner collection container is positioned at the predetermined collection position, and the detection means detects that the cover member is in a closed state. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus generates an overflow signal while continuing to generate the detection pulse signal even after the second predetermined time has elapsed. 6. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light-shielding portion provided on the detected portion is constructed by applying a paint having light-shielding properties to the surface. Forming device. 7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light shielding portion provided on the detected portion is configured by pasting a tape having light shielding properties. .