JPS63271386A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent stain in an image forming device and deterioration in the quality of the formed image by prohibiting an image forming operating operation by a control means when discrimination is made by a detecting means that a recovering means is not mounted on a device body. CONSTITUTION:The image forming device constituted by having the developer recovering means 13 in the device body 11 has the detecting means 16 which detects the presence or absence of the image means of the recovering means 13 and the control means which stops the image forming operation when the discrimination is made by the output of this detecting means 16 that the recovering means 13 is not mounted. For example, a display part 28 of an operation panel 20 is lighted and the copying operation is prohibited when the discrimination is made by the output signal of a switch 16 that the toner recovering box 12 is not mounted in the copying machine body 11. The copying operation is, therefore, not carried out when the toner recovering box 13 is not mounted on the machine. Splashing of the developer and the consequent stain of the body 11 inside are thus obviated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine.

(Prior Art) As is well known, in an electronic copying machine, a toner collection box for storing toner collected from a photoreceptor drum is provided inside the main body of the apparatus.

Conventionally, the toner collection box is simply housed within the copying machine main body, and the copying machine can be operated even if the toner collection box is not housed within the copying machine main body. If a copying operation is performed in such a state that the toner collection box is not housed in the copying machine main body,
Toner sometimes scatters inside the copying machine body, staining the interior of the copying machine body, and also causes the toner to adhere to the copied image, resulting in deterioration of image quality.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) This invention solves the problems caused by performing an image forming operation regardless of the presence or absence of a developer recovery means, and its purpose is to An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent particles from scattering and contaminating the inside of the apparatus body and deteriorating the image quality of formed images.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a developer recovery means in the apparatus main body, a detection means for detecting whether or not an image means is attached to the recovery means; The apparatus further comprises a control means for stopping the image forming operation when it is determined from the output of the detection means that the collecting means is not attached.

(Function) The present invention prevents contamination inside the image forming apparatus by stopping the image forming operation using the control means when the detecting means determines that the collecting means is not installed in the apparatus main body. This is to prevent deterioration of image quality.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, a toner collection box 13 for storing toner collected by a toner collection device 12 is provided inside the copying machine main body 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening of the toner collection box 13 is provided with a stopper 14. Clasp 14.
14 is adapted to be engaged and held by the edge of the mounting base 15.

Further, a switch 16 as a detection means is provided on the upper surface of the mount 15, and when the toner collection box 13 is attached to the mount 15, the switch 16 is turned off by the stopper 14. It looks like this.

FIG. 4 shows an operation panel provided on the main body 11 of the copying machine. The operation panel 20 includes a copy key 21 for starting copying, a numeric keypad 22 for setting the number of copies, a display section 23 for displaying the set number of copies and various operating conditions, and a magnification setting key 24 for setting the copy magnification. , a cassette selection key 25 for selecting a paper cassette, an automatic density setting key 26 for automatically setting the copy density, a manual copy density setting key 27 to be operated to set the copy density as required, and a toner collection box 13. A display section 28 made of, for example, a light emitting diode is provided to display whether or not the device is attached.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the control system.

The control section 31 controls the entire main body of the copying machine, and includes an operation panel 20, an exposure lamp 3, etc.
A high-voltage transformer 37 to which a charging charger 34, a transfer charger 35, and a stripping charger 36 are connected is connected, and also drives the photoreceptor drum 10 and other parts. A motor drive unit 38 that drives various motors (not shown) and the switch 16 are connected.

In the above configuration, when the toner collection box 13 is not attached to the mounting base 15, the switch 16 is in the on state. Therefore, the control unit 31 lights up the display unit 28 to display that the toner collection box 13 is not attached, and also prevents the copying operation even if the copy key 21 of the operation panel 20 is operated. be done.

On the other hand, a toner collection box 13 is mounted on the mounting base 15 of the copying machine main body 11.
When it is attached, the switch 16 is turned off. Therefore, in the control section 31, the display section 28 is turned off and the copying operation is enabled.

According to the above embodiment, when it is determined based on the output signal of the switch 16 that the toner collection box 13 is not attached to the copying machine main body 11, the display section 28 of the operation panel 20 is turned on and the copying operation is blocked. are doing. Therefore, if the toner collection box 13 is not installed, the copying operation will not be performed, and the developer will be scattered and the copying machine body 11 will be damaged.
It does not pollute the inside.

Furthermore, since the inside of the copying machine main body 11 can be prevented from being soiled by toner, deterioration of the copied image can be prevented.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
Of course, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when the detection means determines that the collection means is not installed in the apparatus main body, the control means blocks the image forming operation. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent stains inside the image forming apparatus and prevent deterioration of the image quality of formed images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and is a configuration diagram showing main parts of a control system, and FIG. 2 shows an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a side view of the main parts, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the toner collection box, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of the operation panel. 11... Copying machine main body, 13... Toner collection box, 16
. . . switch, 28 . . . display section, 31 . . . control section. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue b Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus having a developer recovery means within the apparatus body, a detection means detects the presence or absence of the developer recovery means, and when it is determined that the recovery means is not installed based on the output of this detection means, An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for stopping an image forming operation. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collection means comprises a collection box containing the developer.