JP2010286605A - Toner recycling device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner recycling device that has improved efficiency of recycling toner, by compressing the toner recycled in a recycling container and then causing it to fall, and to provide an image forming apparatus with the toner recycling device. <P>SOLUTION: In the toner recycling container of the image forming apparatus, a toner conveyance passages has, between an exhaust port and the terminal end of a conveying means, an area where toner is not conveyed by the conveying means. The toner conveyed by the conveying means is temporarily accumulated in this area and then let out from the exhaust port. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile using an electrophotographic system, and relates to a toner collecting apparatus that collects toner remaining on a toner image carrier after transferring a toner image onto paper or the like. is there. Alternatively, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a toner recovery device.

  In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a toner image carried on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum or an intermediate transfer member is transferred to an intermediate transfer member or a recording material by a transfer unit. However, it is difficult to transfer the entire toner image by transfer by the transfer means, and untransferred toner that remains without being transferred onto the image carrier is generated. The untransferred toner is collected as a collected toner from the image carrier by the cleaning unit, and the collected toner is accommodated in a toner collecting container mounted on the image forming apparatus via a toner conveyance path. When the toner in the toner collection container becomes full, the toner collection container is replaced. The replacement timing of the toner collection container is notified by detecting the filling state of the toner stored in the toner collection container with an optical sensor. When it is known that the toner collection container is full, the operator opens the cover of the image forming apparatus, removes the toner collection container from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and installs a new toner collection container. Alternatively, only the collected toner is discarded from the collecting container containing the collected toner and is mounted again in the apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for rotating the inside of the toner collection container itself to break up the toner accumulated in the container and leveling the toner in the container in order to improve the accommodation efficiency in the toner collection container. .

JP 2006-171608 A

  However, since the toner collection container of Patent Document 1 is configured to level the toner accumulated in the collection container by rotating the toner collection container, a rotation driving unit is required in the image forming apparatus. Since the rotation driving means is configured to rotate the pedestal on which the toner collection container is set in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the paper cassette, at least a mechanism for transmitting the rotation operation from the opening / closing operation of the paper cassette to the pedestal is installed. It is necessary. For this reason, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the number of parts increases and the apparatus becomes large. In addition, when the configuration is such that the operation is performed in a specific operation such as interlocking with the opening / closing operation of the paper cassette, the function is restricted. That is, when the paper feeding is continued with a paper cassette other than the paper cassette, the paper cassette is not opened and closed, so that the toner collection container is rotated to level the toner and increase the toner storage efficiency in the toner collection container. It may not be possible to obtain the desired effect.

  In order to solve the above problems, a toner recovery device of the present invention has a discharge port at one end, a toner transfer path through which toner is transferred from the other end side to the one end side, and the one end side installed in the toner transfer path In a toner recovery apparatus having a transporting means for transporting toner to and a recovery container for recovering toner discharged from the discharge port, the toner transport path is provided between the discharge port and the end of the transporting unit. There is a region where the toner is not transported by the transport unit, and the toner transported by the transport unit is temporarily accumulated in the region and then discharged from the discharge port.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image carrier that carries a toner image, a rotatable intermediate transfer belt, and a primary transfer unit that transfers a toner image from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer belt. A secondary transfer unit that transfers a toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording material; a cleaning unit that collects toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt after the transfer by the secondary transfer unit; and a discharge port at one end. A toner conveyance path through which the toner collected by the cleaning means is conveyed from the other end side to the one end side, a conveyance means that is installed in the toner conveyance path and conveys the toner to the one end side, and is discharged from the discharge port. An image forming apparatus having a collecting container for collecting the toner, wherein the toner is provided by the conveying unit between the discharge port and the end of the conveying unit in the toner conveying path. There is not conveyed region, toner conveyed by the conveying means, characterized in that it is discharged from the discharge port after being temporarily deposited in the region.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the accommodation efficiency of the toner collection container by increasing the condensation rate of the toner conveyed by the conveying means without increasing the size of the apparatus with a simple configuration. In addition, by improving the accommodation efficiency of the toner recovery container, the replacement frequency of the toner recovery container is reduced, so that it is possible to improve usability.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toner recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the toner recovery device according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of the present invention with the front cover opened. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating toner that accumulates in a region α of the toner recovery device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating toner that accumulates in a region α of the toner recovery device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram in which toner accumulated in a region α of the toner recovery device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention falls. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the toner collection | recovery apparatus of a comparative example. It is a principal part perspective view explaining the toner collection | recovery apparatus of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the detection part of Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a toner recovery device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part perspective view explaining the conveyance means of Embodiment 3 of this invention.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The toner collecting apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment is provided in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 and shows a state in which exterior covers are removed.

  The process cartridge 20 includes a photosensitive drum 3a as an image carrier, a charger (not shown), a developing device (not shown), and a cleaning unit (not shown). The image forming apparatus 1 mainly includes an exposure unit 2, a process cartridge 20, an intermediate transfer body 4, a primary transfer unit (not shown), a secondary transfer unit 5, a fixing unit 6, and a toner recovery device 7.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum is charged by a charger (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure from an exposure means (not shown). The electrostatic latent image is visualized by a developing device (not shown) to be a toner image. This toner image is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member 4 as an image carrier by a primary transfer unit (not shown). In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer member 4 is a rotatable intermediate transfer belt 4 stretched by a plurality of stretch members. FIG. 3 shows a tandem type image forming apparatus in which four process cartridges 20 are arranged in a straight line. The process cartridge 20 corresponds to four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and forms a toner image of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 4 rotating in the B direction. In the case of monochrome printing, only the black process cartridge 20 forms a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 4. The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is transferred to a recording material such as paper by a secondary transfer unit (not shown) and sent to the fixing unit 6. Therefore, the toner image is fixed on the recording material by heat and pressure.

  On the other hand, untransferred residual toner that is not transferred to the recording material and remains on the intermediate transfer belt 4 is recovered by the toner recovery device 7. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the toner recovery device 7 as seen from the direction B in FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main part of the toner recovery device 7. The toner recovery device 7 mainly includes a cleaning unit 8, a toner transport path 9, a transport unit 10, and a recovery container 11.

  The cleaning unit 8 is a cleaning blade 8 made of a plate-like elastic body that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 4. The tip of the cleaning blade 8 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 4 with a predetermined contact pressure, and collects residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 4 by scraping off the toner. The toner collected by the cleaning blade 8 falls into the toner conveyance path 9. Therefore, at least the toner conveyance path 9 covers the lower surface of the coil spring 10 as shown in FIGS. The toner conveyance path 9 may cover the entire surface of the coil spring. The toner conveyance path has a discharge port 9 a at one end, and the toner in the toner conveyance path is conveyed from the other end side to the one end side by the conveying means 10.

  The conveying means 10 is a coil spring spirally wound in a predetermined direction, and is installed in the toner conveying path. The coil spring 10 rotates in the toner transport path 9 in the direction D shown in FIG. 2, thereby transporting the toner in the direction E, which is the discharge port 9 a side (one end side). In this embodiment, the conveying means is a coil spring, but may be a screw. The coil spring 10 of this embodiment has a width longer than the width of the cleaning blade (direction E in FIG. 4) in order to efficiently convey the toner collected by the cleaning blade toward the discharge port 9a. Further, the coil spring 10 has a width longer than the width (E direction in FIG. 4) of the area (image area) where the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum of the intermediate transfer belt 4.

  The coil spring 10 is connected to the drive unit 12 on the upstream side (the other end side) in the toner conveyance direction, and can rotate when the drive unit 12 rotates. As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal end 10a on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction of the coil spring 10 does not extend to the discharge port 9a, and there is a region α in which the coil spring 10 cannot directly convey the toner on the toner conveyance path 9.

  The end of the coil spring 10 is supported by a hole provided in the drive unit 12, and rotates following the rotation of the drive unit 12. Further, since the end of the coil spring 10 on the upstream side in the toner conveyance direction is fixed to the driving unit 12, the position of the coil spring 10 in the toner conveyance direction is restricted, so that the region α is secured even during the rotation operation. Yes.

  The collection container 11 is a container having an opening 11a at the top, and the opening 11a is connected to the discharge port 9a so that the toner discharged from the toner conveyance path 9 can be collected and stored. The collection container 11 of the present embodiment can be attached to and detached from the discharge port 9a, and the collection container 11 can be replaced when the collection container 11 becomes full. As described above, in this embodiment, the end 10a of the coil spring 10 on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction does not extend to the discharge port 9a in the toner conveyance direction, and the coil spring 10 does not directly convey the toner on the toner conveyance path 9. Region α exists. In FIG. 1, in the toner conveyance direction of the coil spring 10, the position of the terminal end 10a of the coil spring is the same position as the opening 11a, and the position of the discharge port 9a is positioned downstream of the opening 11a. In order to secure the region α, the position of the terminal end 10a of the coil spring need not be the same position as the opening 11a in the toner conveyance direction of the coil spring 10. For example, even if the position of the terminal end 10a of the coil spring is set at a position upstream of the position of the opening 11a and the position of the discharge port 9a is the same position as the opening 11a, the region α can be secured. That is, in the present embodiment, if the position of the terminal end 10a of the coil spring is upstream of the discharge port 9a in the toner conveyance direction of the coil spring 10, the region α can be secured. In this embodiment, the distance from the terminal end 10a of the coil spring to the discharge port 9a in the toner conveyance direction of the coil spring 10 is 2 mm to 3 mm. That is, the width of the region α in the toner conveyance direction of the coil spring 10 is 2 mm to 3 mm.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the toner recovery device 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIGS. 4 to 6, the toner to be deposited is represented by the symbol T. Untransferred residual toner that is not transferred onto the recording material by the secondary transfer unit 5 and remains on the intermediate transfer belt 4 is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 4 by the cleaning blade 8.

  The toner removed by the cleaning blade 8 falls into the toner conveyance path 9 and accumulates on the toner conveyance path 9. As shown in FIG. 4, the toner accumulated on the toner conveyance path 9 is conveyed to the discharge port 9 a side as the coil spring 10 rotates.

  The toner accumulated on the toner conveyance path 9 is conveyed by the coil spring 10 at a predetermined feed amount to the end of the coil spring 10 on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction. However, in the region α between the end of the coil spring 10 on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction and the discharge port 9a, there is no means for directly conveying the toner, so that the toner accumulates on the toner conveyance path 9 as shown in FIG.

  The toner temporarily accumulated on the region α is further condensed by the toner being conveyed by the coil spring from the upstream side in the toner conveying direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the condensed toner is finally pushed out by the toner conveyed from the upstream side, and is condensed and discharged from the discharge port 9a to the collection container 11 and falls freely. The toner is pushed out toward the discharge port 9a by the action of the coil spring 14, but in the region α where the coil spring 14 is not present, the toner stays on the region α due to the friction between the toner and the toner conveyance path 9. Further, the toner is conveyed from the upstream side by the coil spring 14, whereby the toner is condensed on the region α, and when the toner is saturated, the toner is discharged from the discharge port 9 a. In this embodiment, the coil spring 14 is a coil spring wound with a wire diameter of φ1.2 mm, a pitch of 5 mm, and an outer diameter of φ10 mm, and rotates in a predetermined direction at approximately 260 rpm. The width of the region α in the toner conveyance direction of the coil spring 10 is 2.5 mm.

  Therefore, the toner is accommodated in the collection container 11 with a high condensation rate. (Here, the toner condensation rate is the weight per unit volume of the toner, and the unit is g / cc.) Since the toner condensed in the region α has a large weight per unit volume, the collection container 11 It is possible to increase the toner recovery efficiency.

  A comparative example is shown in FIG. In the comparative example, the position of the terminal end 10a of the coil spring 14 is on the downstream side in the transport direction of the coil spring 14 with respect to the discharge port 9a. In the configuration of the comparative example, since there is no region α in the toner conveyance path, the toner is discharged from the discharge port 9a without being condensed. Therefore, since the toner is collected in a state where the weight per unit volume of the toner is low, the toner tends to become fuller than the toner collection container of the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the toner collecting device that collects the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt has been described. However, the toner collecting device can also be used in an image forming apparatus that directly transfers a toner image from a photosensitive drum onto a recording material. Specifically, a toner recovery device that recovers toner adhering to the recording material conveyance belt carrying the recording material may be used. Further, it may be a toner recovery device used in an image forming apparatus configured to collectively collect toner adhering to each photosensitive drum.

[Embodiment 2]
In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus and the toner collection device to which the present invention is applied is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, the elements having the same or equivalent functions and configurations as those of the first embodiment are used. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The toner recovery device 7 of the present embodiment is configured so that the recovery container 11 can be attached and detached, and includes an optical detection means 13 that detects the replacement timing of the recovery container 11. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the main part of the toner recovery device 7 including the detecting means 13, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the toner recovery device 7 as seen from the direction C in FIG. Configurations and functions of parts indicated by reference numerals other than the detection unit 13 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  First, the configuration and function of the toner recovery device 7 will be described. The collection container 11 connected to the discharge port 9 a of the toner conveyance path 9 is detachably provided on the image forming apparatus 1. The toner discharged from the discharge port 9a to the collection container 11 falls in the collection container 11 and accumulates. Below the opening 11 a of the collection container 11, a detection unit (filling unit) 11 b that is detected by the detection unit 13 is provided. The detection unit 11b is a filling unit that is provided at a position below the discharge port 9a in the toner falling direction and is filled with a toner after a predetermined amount of toner has accumulated in the collection container.

  The detection means 13 includes a light emitting unit 13L and a light receiving unit 13P, which are arranged so as to sandwich the detection unit 11b. A predetermined amount of toner accumulates in the collection container 11, and the transmittance is changed depending on the presence or absence of toner in the detection unit 11b, and detection is performed by switching between transmission and light shielding. When the light emitted from the light emitting unit 13L cannot be detected by the light receiving unit 13P, the detecting unit transmits a signal to a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1. When the control unit receives the signal from the detection means, it displays the replacement time of the collection container 11 on a display unit (not shown).

  Next, the operation of the toner recovery device 7 will be described. The toner discharged from the discharge port 9a falls in the collection container 11. The dropped toner gradually accumulates on the bottom surface of the collection container 11. When the amount of toner accumulated in the collection container 11 reaches a predetermined amount, the height of the accumulated toner from the bottom surface of the collection container 11 reaches the detection unit 11b. Here, the height is a length based on the bottom surface of the collection container 11 in the dropping direction of the toner falling from the discharge port 9a. When a predetermined amount of toner accumulates on the detection unit 11b, the light receiving unit 13P cannot detect the light emitted from the light emitting unit 13L of the detection unit 13. Since the light receiving unit 13L can no longer detect light, the detection unit detects that the collection container 11 is full (replacement timing).

  Here, the position of the detection unit 11b with respect to the collection container 11 is desirably arranged near the discharge port 9a in order to increase the amount of toner collected in the collection container as much as possible. Further, in the process where the falling toner accumulates in the collection container 11, the detection unit 11b needs to be filled with toner before the toner overflows from the opening 11a in order for the detection unit to detect fullness. If the detection unit 11b is arranged at a position equal to or higher than the height of the opening 11a, the toner accumulated in the collection container 11 flows backward from the discharge port 9a or the collection container 11 is replaced. There is a possibility that the toner leaks from the opening portion 11b at the timing of this. From the above, it is desirable to arrange the detection unit 11b below the height of the opening 11a.

  However, the toner that is discharged from the discharge port 9a and falls in the collection container 11 is scattered in the collection container 11 in some cases. If the detection unit 11b is disposed below the opening 11a, the floating toner may be attached to the inner wall of the detection unit 11b. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the detection unit 13 of FIG. 8 when viewed from the G direction in the drawing. If there is a large amount of floating toner adhering to the inner wall of the detection unit 13 as shown in FIG. 9, the floating toner may cover the light receiving unit 13P of the detection unit 11b.

  In such a case, the detection means 13 erroneously detects that the toner has sufficiently accumulated on the detection unit 11b even if the toner has not accumulated sufficiently on the detection unit 11b. That is, there is a problem that the replacement timing of the recovery container 11 is notified in a state where the recovery container 11 does not yet contain a predetermined amount of toner (a time when the recovery container 11 is not replaced).

  In particular, when the toner is dropped from the outlet 9a without condensing as shown in FIG. 7, the toner is light and easily dispersed in the process of dropping, so that it easily floats in the collection container 11.

  In the toner recovery device 7 of the present embodiment, the toner is condensed in the region α on the toner conveyance path 9, so that the mass of the falling toner becomes heavy, so that it is difficult to be dispersed and scattered during the dropping process. Therefore, the toner is difficult to adhere to the light receiving portion 13P.

  Therefore, even if the detection means 13 and the detection part 11b are arrange | positioned under the discharge port 9a, generation | occurrence | production of the malfunction which misdetects can be prevented.

[Embodiment 3]
In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus and the toner collection device to which the present invention is applied is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, the elements having the same or equivalent functions and configurations as those of the first embodiment are used. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when a coil spring spirally wound around the transport means 10 is used, the end of the wire rod end of the coil spring is not in contact with the adjacent spiral portion in the end shape, and a gap is provided. .

  Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the terminal shape of the conveying means 10, and the configuration and function of the parts indicated by reference numerals other than the coil spring 14 that is the conveying means 10 are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

First, the configuration and function of the toner recovery device 7 will be described.
The conveying means 10 is a coil spring 14 spirally wound in a predetermined direction. By rotating on the toner conveying path 9, the spiral portion moves in the conveying direction, so that the toner is discharged to the discharge port 9a side. Transport.

  As for the terminal shape of the coil spring 14 of this embodiment, as shown to Fig.11 (a), the wire end part 14a is not in contact with the upstream helical part, but the clearance gap 14b is provided.

Next, the operation of the toner recovery device 7 will be described.
The residual toner that is removed from the intermediate transfer member 4 by the cleaning unit 8 and collected may contain fibrous foreign matters.
This is because foreign matter may adhere to the intermediate transfer member 4 via the recording material being conveyed, or foreign matter floating in the image forming apparatus 1 may adhere to the intermediate transfer member 4. The reason is that foreign matter is collected together with the collected toner.

Even when the foreign matter is collected together with the toner, the toner and the foreign matter accumulated on the toner conveyance path 9 are conveyed to the discharge port 9a by the coil spring 14.
Here, if the wire end portion 14a is in contact with the upstream spiral portion at the end of the coil spring 14, the foreign matter β may be caught between the wire end portion 14a and the spiral portion, and discharged to the collection container 11 side. It is not performed (refer FIG.11 (b)). When foreign matter is caught in the coil spring 14, the foreign matter caught in the coil spring 14 rotates with the coil spring 14 and diffuses the toner accumulated in the region α, so that the toner discharged into the collection container 11 is not condensed. It becomes easy to float in the collection container 11.

  On the other hand, if the gap 14b is provided, the foreign matter is not sandwiched between the terminal portions of the coil spring 14, and the foreign matter is discharged together with the toner into the collection container 11. Therefore, when the gap 14b is provided, it is possible to reliably deposit and condense toner in the region α.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Exposure means 3 Process cartridge 3a Photosensitive drum 4 Intermediate transfer body 5 Secondary transfer means 6 Fixing means 7 Toner collection device 8 Cleaning means 9 Toner conveyance path 9a Discharge port 10 Conveyance means 11 Collection container 11a Opening part 11b Detection Part 12 Drive part 13 Detection means 13L Light emitting part 13P Light receiving part 14 Coil spring α area (area where the conveying means 9 does not directly convey toner)

Claims (8)

A toner conveying path that includes a discharge port at one end and conveys toner from the other end side to the one end side, a conveying unit that is installed in the toner conveying path and conveys the toner to the one end side, and is discharged from the discharge port A toner collection device having a collection container for collecting the collected toner,
In the toner conveyance path, there is a region where the toner is not conveyed by the conveyance unit between the discharge port and the end of the conveyance unit, and the toner conveyed by the conveyance unit is temporarily accumulated in the region. A toner recovery device that is discharged from the discharge port.   The toner collection device according to claim 1, wherein the collection container is connected to the discharge port so that the toner that is discharged from the discharge port and freely falls is accumulated.   The collection container is disposed at a position below the discharge port in the toner falling direction, and is disposed so as to sandwich the filling section with a filling section that is filled with toner after a predetermined amount of toner has accumulated in the collection container. The toner recovery apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an optical detection unit configured to detect a change in transmittance depending on the presence or absence of toner in the filling unit.   In the configuration in which the conveying means is a coil spring wound in a spiral shape and the toner is conveyed in a predetermined direction by rotating, the terminal end of the coil spring is not in contact with the adjacent spiral portion and a gap is provided. The toner recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the toner recovery device is a toner recovery device. An image carrier that carries a toner image, a rotatable intermediate transfer belt, a primary transfer unit that transfers a toner image from the image carrier to the intermediate transfer belt, and a toner image that is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording material Secondary transfer means, cleaning means for collecting toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt after transfer by the secondary transfer means, a discharge port at one end, and the cleaning means from the other end side to the one end side. An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner conveying path through which the toner is conveyed; a conveying unit that is installed in the toner conveying path and conveys the toner toward the one end; and a collection container that collects the toner discharged from the discharge port. In the device
In the toner conveyance path, there is a region where the toner is not conveyed by the conveyance unit between the discharge port and the end of the conveyance unit, and the toner conveyed by the conveyance unit is temporarily accumulated in the region. An image forming apparatus which is discharged from the discharge port.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the collection container is connected to the discharge port so that the toner that has been discharged from the discharge port and freely dropped is accumulated.   The collection container is disposed at a position below the discharge port in the toner falling direction, and is disposed so as to sandwich the filling section with a filling section that is filled with toner after a predetermined amount of toner has accumulated in the collection container. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: an optical detection unit configured to detect a change in transmittance depending on the presence or absence of toner in the filling unit.   In the configuration in which the conveying means is a coil spring wound in a spiral shape and the toner is conveyed in a predetermined direction by rotating, the terminal end of the coil spring is not in contact with the adjacent spiral portion and a gap is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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