JP3695209B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copying machine that forms an image using electrophotographic technology. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for removing the waste toner container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic technique has a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on an outer peripheral surface, a charging unit that uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member, and a charging unit that is uniformly charged by the charging unit. An exposure unit that selectively exposes the outer peripheral surface to form an electrostatic latent image, and a toner that is a developer is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure unit to form a visible image (toner image). Developing means for transferring, a transfer means for transferring the toner image developed by the developing means to a recording material such as paper to be transferred, and a cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member after transfer. Have.
[0003]
In addition, as a transfer unit, an intermediate transfer member that transfers (secondary transfer) a toner image formed on the photosensitive member (primary transfer) and further transfers (secondary transfer) the toner image to a recording material such as a sheet to be transferred. What is used is known, and a cleaning means is also provided for the intermediate transfer member.
[0004]
In such an image forming apparatus, in order to increase the recovery capacity of the toner (waste toner) removed by the cleaning unit, the waste toner container different from the cleaning unit is used and removed by the cleaning unit. It is desirable to collect the used toner.
[0005]
Also, the waste toner container should be configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body so that it can be replaced when it is full of waste toner, or in order to enable replacement of the cleaning means and the like. Is desirable.
[0006]
Therefore, conventionally, an image forming apparatus in which a waste toner container is configured to be detachable from an apparatus main body is known.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional image forming apparatus in which the waste toner container is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, when the waste toner container is removed from the apparatus main body, the waste toner spills into the apparatus or the like from the toner receiving port of the waste toner container. There was a risk of it.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above-described problems and can prevent waste toner from spilling from a toner receiving port of the waste toner container when the waste toner container is removed from the apparatus main body. It is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, an image carrier that transfers a toner image carried on a surface to a transfer target;
Cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer;
A waste toner container having a receptacle for receiving the toner removed by the cleaning means, configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and collecting the toner removed by the cleaning means in a mounted state;
Guide means for guiding the position of the waste toner container so that the opening of the receptacle faces upward when the waste toner container is removed from the apparatus main body;
With
The guide means includes a guided portion provided on a side surface of the waste toner container and a guide portion provided in a support portion of the waste toner container provided in the apparatus main body.
The waste toner container is configured to be pulled out from the support portion in a substantially horizontal direction when the waste toner container is removed, and the guided portion includes convex portions provided on upper and lower sides of the waste toner container. The upper and lower guide grooves respectively guide the upper and lower convex portions so that when the waste toner container is pulled out from the support portion, the upper guide grooves guide the upper convex portions to the lower side. The lower guide groove is configured to be released before the guide to the lower convex portion by the guide groove, and the lower guide groove after the guide to the upper convex portion is released. It has the control part which controls the movement to the said pull-out direction of a convex part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0012]
[Function and effect]
According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image carried on the surface to the transfer target is removed by the cleaning means, Since the toner (waste toner) is collected through the receptacle in the waste toner container mounted on the apparatus main body, the waste toner collection capacity can be increased. Further, since the waste toner container is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, the waste toner container can be replaced when it is full of waste toner.
[0013]
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 includes guide means for guiding the posture of the waste toner container so that the opening of the receptacle faces upward when the waste toner container is removed from the apparatus main body. Therefore, when the waste toner container is removed from the apparatus main body, the opening of the receiving port faces upward.
[0014]
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the waste toner does not spill from the toner receiving port of the waste toner container.
[0015]
In particular, in an image forming apparatus that does not have a space for moving the waste toner container downward in order to remove the waste toner container from the apparatus main body, the waste toner container must be taken out in the horizontal direction. When removing the toner container from the apparatus main body, there is a high possibility that the waste toner spills into the apparatus or the like from the toner receiving port of the waste toner container. According to the image forming apparatus of claim 1, Even when the paper is taken out in the horizontal direction, the waste toner does not spill from the toner receiving opening of the waste toner container.
[0016]
That is, the invention described in claim 1 is particularly effective for an image forming apparatus of a type in which the waste toner container is taken out in the lateral direction.
[0017]
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide means includes a guided portion provided on a side surface of the waste toner container and a waste toner provided on the apparatus main body. Since it is composed of a guide portion provided in the support portion of the container, there is no need to provide special guide means other than the support portion of the waste toner container provided in the apparatus main body which is basically required.
[0018]
Therefore, the posture of the waste toner container can be guided with a simple configuration so that the opening of the receiving port faces upward.
[0019]
According to an image forming apparatus of claim 3, in the image forming apparatus of claim 1, the waste toner container is configured to be pulled out from the support portion in a substantially horizontal direction when removed, and the guided portion. Is composed of convex portions provided on the upper and lower sides of the waste toner container, and the guide portion is composed of upper and lower guide grooves for guiding the upper and lower convex portions, respectively. When pulling out from the support portion, the guide to the upper convex portion by the upper guide groove is configured to be released before the guide to the lower convex portion by the lower guide groove, and the lower guide groove Since the guide groove has a restricting portion that restricts the movement of the lower convex portion in the pull-out direction after the guide to the upper convex portion is released, Waste toner container The posture may be opened in its receptacle that guide facing upwards.
[0020]
In other words, since the above configuration is adopted, when the waste toner container is pulled out from the support portion in a substantially horizontal direction, the upper convex portion is first brought into a free state, and then the lower convex portion is controlled by the lower guide groove regulating portion. Since the movement in the pulling-out direction is restricted, the waste toner container is rotated around the lower convex portion so that the opening of the receiving port faces upward. Therefore, when the waste toner bottle is extracted, the situation where the waste toner spills from the receptacle is surely prevented.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[0023]
First, the outline of the image forming apparatus will be described, and then the cleaning unit and the waste toner container will be described in detail.
[0024]
The image forming apparatus 300 is an apparatus that can form a full-color image using a developing device using toner of four colors of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K).
[0025]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 301 denotes a case of the apparatus main body. In this case 301, an exposure unit 302, a sheet feeding device 310, a photosensitive unit 320, a developing unit 330, an intermediate transfer unit TU, a fixing unit 340, and the entire apparatus. A control unit (not shown) for controlling the above is provided.
[0026]
The photoconductor unit 320 includes a photoconductor 321, a charging roller 322 as a charging unit, and a cleaning unit 323. The photoconductor 321 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by an appropriate driving means (not shown) during image formation.
[0027]
Around the photoreceptor 321, the charging roller 322, a developing unit 331 (Y, C, M, K) as a developing unit, an intermediate transfer unit TU, and the cleaning unit 323 are arranged along the rotation direction. Yes.
[0028]
The charging roller 322 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 321 and uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface. On the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor 321, selective exposure L1 corresponding to desired image information is performed by the exposure unit 302, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 321 by this exposure L1. .
[0029]
The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner applied by the developing unit 331 of the developing unit 330.
[0030]
The developing unit 330 includes a developing unit 331Y for yellow, a developing unit 331C for cyan, a developing unit 331M for magenta, and a developing unit 331K for black as developing means. Each of these developing devices 331 (Y, C, M, and K) contains yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners, respectively. Further, each is provided with a developing roller 332, and only a developing roller of any one developing device can come into contact with the photosensitive member 321 at the time of image formation by an unshown contact / separation mechanism. Therefore, these developing units 331 develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 321 by applying any one of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner to the surface of the photoconductor 321.
[0031]
The developed toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 160 of the intermediate transfer unit TU.
[0032]
The cleaning unit 323 includes a cleaning blade 324 that scrapes off toner (not shown) that remains and adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 321 after the transfer.
[0033]
As will be described in detail later, the intermediate transfer unit TU includes a driving roller 110, four driven rollers 120, 130, 140, and 150, and an endless intermediate transfer belt that is circulated and stretched between these rollers. 160, a cleaning unit 170 that can contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 160, and a secondary transfer roller 180.
[0034]
The driving roller 110 is rotationally driven at substantially the same peripheral speed as that of the photosensitive member 321 by engaging a gear (not shown) fixed to the end of the driving roller 110 with a driving gear (not shown) of the photosensitive member 321. The transfer belt 160 is circulated and driven in the direction of the arrow in the drawing at substantially the same peripheral speed as that of the photoconductor 321.
[0035]
The driven roller 150 is disposed at a position where the intermediate transfer belt 160 is pressed against the photoconductor 321 by its own tension between the driven roller 110 and the primary roller at the press-contact portion between the photoconductor 321 and the intermediate transfer belt 160. A transfer portion T1 is formed.
[0036]
An electrode roller (not shown) is disposed on the driving roller 110 via an intermediate transfer belt 160, and a primary transfer voltage is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 160 via this electrode roller.
[0037]
The driven roller 120 is a tension roller, and biases the intermediate transfer belt 160 in the tension direction by a biasing means described later.
[0038]
The driven roller 130 is a backup roller that forms the secondary transfer portion T2. A secondary transfer roller 180 is disposed opposite to the backup roller 130 via an intermediate transfer belt 160.
[0039]
The secondary transfer roller 180 can be brought into contact with and separated from the intermediate transfer belt 160 by a contact and separation mechanism (not shown). A secondary transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 180.
[0040]
The cleaning unit 170 includes a cleaning blade 171 that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 160 and scrapes off the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a receiving portion 172 that receives the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 171. ing. The blade 171 of the cleaning unit 170 can be brought into contact with and separated from the intermediate transfer belt 160 by a contact and separation mechanism described later.
[0041]
The driven roller 140 is a backup roller for the blade 171.
[0042]
In the process in which the intermediate transfer belt 160 is circulated, the toner image on the photoconductor 321 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 160 in the primary transfer portion T1, and the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 160 is transferred to the secondary transfer belt 160. In the transfer portion T2, the image is transferred to a sheet (recording material) S such as paper supplied between the secondary transfer roller 180.
[0043]
The sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding device 310 and is supplied to the secondary transfer unit T2 by the gate roller pair G at a predetermined timing. Reference numeral 311 denotes a paper feed cassette, 312 denotes a pickup roller, and 313 denotes a separation roller pair that prevents double feeding of sheets.
[0044]
The sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred by the secondary transfer portion T2 passes through the fixing unit 340, and the toner image is fixed. Then, the sheet S passes through the paper discharge path 350 and is formed on the case 301 of the apparatus main body. It is discharged on the part 303.
[0045]
The fixing unit 340 includes a fixing roller 341 having a heat source and a pressure roller 342 pressed against the fixing roller 341.
[0046]
This image forming apparatus has two paper discharge paths 351 and 352 that are independent from each other as the paper discharge path 350, and the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 340 is one of the paper discharge paths (351 or 352). Discharged through. The sheet discharge paths 351 and 352 also constitute a switchback path. When images are formed on both sides of a sheet, the sheet once entered the sheet discharge path 351 or 352 passes through the return path 353. Then, it is fed again toward the secondary transfer portion T2.
[0047]
The outline of the operation of the entire image forming apparatus as described above is as follows.
[0048]
(I) When a print command signal (image formation signal) from a host computer (not shown) (personal computer or the like) is input to a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus, the tension roller 120 moves and becomes intermediate as described later. The transfer belt 160 is stretched. Next, the photoreceptor 321, the rollers 332 of the developing device 331, and the intermediate transfer belt 160 are driven to rotate.
[0049]
(Ii) The outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 321 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 322.
[0050]
(Iii) The exposure unit 302 performs selective exposure L1 corresponding to the image information of the first color (for example, yellow) on the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor 321 so that the first color (for example, yellow) is used. An electrostatic latent image is formed.
[0051]
(Iv) Only the developing roller of the developing device 331Y for the first color (for example, yellow) is brought into contact with the photoconductor 321, whereby the electrostatic latent image is developed, and the first color (for example, yellow) toner image is developed. Is formed on the photoreceptor 321.
[0052]
(V) A primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 160, and the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 321 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 160 in the primary transfer portion T1. The At this time, the secondary transfer roller 180 and the belt cleaning unit 170 are separated from the intermediate transfer belt 160.
[0053]
(Vi) After the toner remaining on the photosensitive member 321 is removed by the photosensitive member cleaning unit 323, the photosensitive member 321 is discharged by the discharging light L2 from the discharging unit 304.
[0054]
(Vii) The operations (ii) to (vi) are repeated as necessary. That is, the second color, the third color, and the fourth color are repeated according to the content of the print command signal, and the toner images according to the content of the print command signal are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 160 to be intermediate. It is formed on the transfer belt 160.
[0055]
(Viii) The sheet S is supplied from the sheet feeding device 310 at a predetermined timing, and immediately before or after the leading edge of the sheet S reaches the secondary transfer portion T2 (in short, an intermediate transfer belt at a desired position on the sheet S). The secondary transfer roller 180 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 160 and a secondary transfer voltage is applied to the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 160 (basically four colors). A full-color image in which the toner images are superimposed) is transferred onto the sheet S. Further, the belt cleaning unit 170 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 160, and the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 160 after the secondary transfer is removed.
[0056]
(Ix) When the sheet S passes through the fixing unit 340, the toner image is fixed on the sheet S, and then the sheet S is directed to a predetermined position (if the sheet S is not double-sided printing, the double-sided printing is performed toward the sheet receiving unit 303). In this case, it is conveyed via the switchback path 351 or 352 toward the return path 353).
[0057]
The outline of the image forming apparatus has been described above. Next, the cleaning unit and the waste toner container will be described.
[0058]
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the cleaning means 170 of the intermediate transfer unit TU. First, the configuration of the intermediate transfer unit TU will be briefly described.
[0059]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the intermediate transfer unit TU and a receiving frame 400 provided in the image forming apparatus 300 for detachably mounting the unit TU and its slide frame 410. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the tension is released. 4 is a partially omitted rear view showing the intermediate transfer unit TU, and FIG. 4 is a partially omitted right side view mainly showing the cleaning means (partially omitted left side view in FIG. 3).
[0060]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate transfer unit TU includes an endless drive roller 110, four driven rollers 120, 130, 140, 150, and an endless shape that is circulated between these rollers. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt 160, a cleaning unit 170 (not shown in FIG. 2) that can contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 160, and a secondary transfer roller 180 (see FIG. 7).
[0061]
The intermediate transfer unit TU includes a first unit U1 and a second unit U2. The second unit U2 is detachable from the first unit U1 by being inserted into the hollow portion 103 of the first unit U1. It is attached to. Accordingly, in order to replace the intermediate transfer belt 160 that is a consumable item, only the first unit U1 needs to be replaced.
[0062]
The first unit U1 has a frame 100, and the side plates 101 and 101 ′ of the frame 100 are used to drive the drive roller 110 and the three driven rollers 130, 140, 150, excluding the tension roller 120, and the two. A next transfer roller 180 is rotatably supported.
[0063]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning unit 170 includes the above-described cleaning blade 171, a receiving portion 172 that receives toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 171, and a conveying screw 173 that conveys toner in the receiving portion 172. These are configured as a unit. Reference numeral 174 denotes a case of the unit, and a cleaning blade 171 is attached to the upper portion of the case 174 via an attachment member 175. The receiving portion 172 is formed by a substantially semi-cylindrical portion of the case 174 (see FIG. 3).
[0064]
Both end portions of the case 174 (both end portions in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 3) are formed in a cylindrical shape (174a, 174a ′), and a conveying screw 173 is connected to the cylindrical portions 174a, 174a ′ via a bearing member 176. Both end portions of the shaft 173a are rotatably supported. A screw driving gear 173b is fixed to one end (right end in FIG. 4) of the shaft 173a.
[0065]
In the case 174, cylindrical portions 174a and 174a ′ at both ends thereof are fitted into receiving holes 108 and 108 (see FIG. 2) formed in the side plates 101 and 101 ′ of the frame 100 via bearing members 178 and 178 ′. By fitting, the frame 100 is supported so as to be rotatable about the axis of the cylindrical portion 174a.
[0066]
As shown also in FIG. 5, at the lower end of one cylindrical portion 174a of the case 174, waste toner (see reference numeral T in FIG. 11) conveyed by the conveying screw 173 is discarded as a waste toner container to be described later. A discharge port 174d for discharging the toner bottle 500 (see FIG. 11) is provided, and a shutter 179 for opening and closing the discharge port 174d is slidably mounted on the cylindrical portion 174a.
[0067]
As shown in FIG. 8, the shutter 179 is formed integrally with a cylindrical base 179a that is slidably fitted to the cylindrical portion 174a of the case 174, and at one end of the base 179a. Two leg portions 179b and 179b and projecting pieces 179c and 179c are provided. On the other hand, the receiving holes 108 (see FIG. 2) formed in one side plate 101 of the frame 100 described above are formed with receiving openings 108a and 108a for the leg 179b at positions facing the leg 179b and 179b. The leg portions 179b are inserted into the receiving holes 108a and 108a so as to be in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bearing member 178, respectively.
[0068]
As clearly shown in FIG. 5, a compression coil spring 174f is provided on the outer periphery of the bearing member 178 between the inner surface 101e of the side plate 101 and one side surface 174e of the case 174, and the leg 179b is attached to the spring 174f. , 179b are engaged with each other, but when the spring 174f extends to the left in FIG. 5, a part of the spring 174f comes into contact with the inner surface 101e of the side plate 101 (a part other than the receiving hole 108a). Is regulated by.
[0069]
Therefore, the shutter 179 is in a position to close the discharge port 174d as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 unless an external force acts on the shutter 179. However, as will be described later, the waste toner bottle 500 (see FIG. 8, see FIG. 9), and when the protrusion 179c is pressed by the tip 511 of the slider 510, as shown in FIG. 6, it slides in the arrow Z1 direction against the spring force of the spring 174f, The discharge port 174d is opened (see FIG. 11).
[0070]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, pins 174 c and 174 c are provided at the upper ends of both ends of the case 174. The pins 174 c and 174 c and the side plates 101 and 101 ′ of the frame 100 are bent and formed. A tension spring 177 is stretched between the spring hooks 109 and 109. Due to the biasing force of the springs 177 and 177, the case 174 is constantly biased in the direction in which the cleaning blade 171 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 160 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). It is regulated by the mechanism.
[0071]
The contact / separation mechanism includes a cam 305 provided on the receiving frame 400 side, a contact portion 174b of a case 174 that contacts the cam 305, and the spring 177. The cam 305 is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown) provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 300, and the small diameter portion 305a thereof is in contact with the contact portion 174b of the case 174 as shown in FIG. The case 174 rotates counterclockwise around the cylindrical portion 174a by the urging force of the spring 177, and the cleaning blade 171 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 160 by the urging force of the spring 177. The Further, when the cam 305 rotates approximately 120 ° clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 3 and its large diameter portion 305b contacts the contact portion 174b of the case 174, the case 174 has a spring 177 centered on the cylindrical portion 174a. As a result, the cleaning blade 171 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 160 (the separated state is not shown).
[0072]
As shown in FIG. 3, the frame 100 has a connecting plate 102 having a substantially inverted concave shape that connects the side plates 101 and 101 ′, and the presence of the connecting plate 102 has sufficient structural strength. doing. That is, the frame 100 does not have a bottom plate positioned below the intermediate transfer belt 160, but is sufficient in strength.
[0073]
Since the side plates 101 and 101 ′ also have a substantially inverted concave shape when viewed from the side, a hollow portion 103 for receiving the second unit U2 is formed at the recess (103) of the side plates 101 and 101 ′ and the connecting plate 102. Has been.
[0074]
As shown in FIG. 3, the second unit U 2 includes a frame 200, a tension roller (driven roller) 120, a tension applying unit 220 that applies tension to the intermediate transfer belt 160 by the tension roller 120, and the intermediate transfer belt 160. Tension release means 240 that can release the tension of the tension.
[0075]
Accordingly, in a state where the second unit U2 is mounted on the first unit U1, the intermediate transfer belt 160 can be stretched by the rollers 110 to 150 as shown in FIG. 1, or as shown in FIG. Tension can be released.
[0076]
As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer unit TU as described above is detachably attached to the receiving frame 400 provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 300 from above.
[0077]
The receiving frame 400 is attached to a frame 300F1 (see FIG. 7) of the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 and extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and is slidably attached to the guide rails 401, 401. And a slide frame 410.
[0078]
The slide frame 410 has a pair of side plates 411 and 411 ′, a connecting member 412 that connects these side plates at one end side, and a connecting plate 413 that connects the side plates at the other end side. But does not have a bottom plate.
[0079]
The side plates 411 and 411 ′ are respectively provided with front and rear pins 411 a and 411 b protruding outward. The pins are guided by the guide grooves 401 a of the guide rail 401, so that the slide frame 410 is guided by the guide rail 401. Is slidable in a substantially horizontal direction (a substantially horizontal direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rollers 110 to 150 of the intermediate transfer unit TU). The groove width of the front end 401a1 of the guide groove 401a is formed to be the same as the diameter of the front pin 411a for positioning.
[0080]
One side plate 101 of the intermediate transfer unit TU is provided with a first positioning pin 101a and a second positioning pin 101b that protrude outward. The first positioning pin 101a is directly fixed to the side plate 101, but the second positioning pin 101b is fixed in a direction orthogonal to the first positioning pin 101a via a fixing piece 101f. In addition, third and fourth positioning pins 101c and 101d are fixed to the outside of the other side plate 101 ′ in the same direction as the first positioning pin 101a.
[0081]
On the other hand, receiving portions 414a and 414b of the first and second positioning pins 101a and 101b are provided on the inner surface of the side plate 411 of the slide frame 410, and the third plate is provided on the inner surface of the other side plate 411 ′. The receiving portions 414c and 414d of the fourth positioning pins 101c and 101d are provided. These receiving portions 414 (a, b, c, d) have receiving grooves 414a1, 414b1, 414c1, 414d1 for the corresponding positioning pins, respectively. The groove widths of these receiving grooves are formed so as to be sufficiently wider than the outer diameter of each pin at the upper part and gradually narrow toward the lower part. The groove widths of the lower end portions 414a2, 414b2, and 414c2 of the receiving grooves 414a1, 414b1, and 414c1 are formed to be the same as the outer diameter of the corresponding positioning pins 101 (a, b, c), and the lower end portions 414d2 of the receiving grooves 414d1 are formed. The groove width is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the corresponding positioning pin 101d.
[0082]
The intermediate transfer unit TU is attached to the slide frame 410 by inserting the intermediate transfer unit TU into the slide frame 410 from above so that each positioning pin of the intermediate transfer unit TU is inserted into each receiving groove of the slide frame 410. Made. Since the groove width of each receiving groove is sufficiently wider than the outer diameter of each pin in the upper part, the mounting operation can be easily performed.
[0083]
When the intermediate transfer unit TU is attached to the slide frame 410, the power receiving gear 249 (see FIG. 3) of the tension release means 240 is engaged with a power transmission gear (not shown) provided on the slide frame 410. It has become. In addition, a driving gear 173 b of the conveying screw 173 of the cleaning unit 170 is engaged with a power transmission gear (not shown) provided on the slide frame 410. Further, the abutting portion 174b of the case 174 of the cleaning unit 170 shown in FIG. 3 can come into contact with the cam 305 on the slide frame 410 side.
[0084]
As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 300 according to this embodiment includes a first frame 300F1 into which the intermediate transfer unit TU is inserted, and a front view that is configured to be joined and separated from the first frame 300F1. And an inverted L-shaped second frame 300F2. The second frame 300F2 is configured to be slidable in the directions of arrows X1 and X2 with respect to the first frame 300F1. Further, the case 301 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to be separable at the BB position in FIG.
[0085]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the second frame 300F2 is slid in the direction of the arrow X2 to be separated from the first frame 300F1, and the intermediate transfer unit TU for the slide frame 410 is utilized using the space A between them. The attachment / detachment operation is performed.
[0086]
Therefore, actually, as shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate transfer unit TU is attached and detached while the slide frame 410 is pulled out to the rear end of the guide rail 401.
[0087]
As shown in FIG. 7, after the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410, the slide frame 410 is slid until the front pin 411a reaches the tip 401a1 of the guide groove 401a of the guide rail 401, and then When the two frames 300F2 are slid in the direction of the arrow X1 and coupled to the first frame 300F1, the slide frame 410 and the intermediate transfer unit TU are moved to the positions shown in FIG. The transfer belt 160 is positioned and locked in a position where it can properly contact.
[0088]
After the second frame 300F2 is slid and combined with the first frame 300F1, a waste toner bottle 500 as a waste toner container is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 as shown in FIGS.
[0089]
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 306 denotes a front cover of the main body of the image forming apparatus 300. The front cover 306 is attached to the first frame 300F1 so as to be opened and closed by a shaft 306a. The attaching / detaching operation of the waste toner bottle 500 is performed in a state where the front cover 306 is opened as shown in FIG.
[0090]
The first frame 300F1 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 is provided with support plates 520 and 520 as support portions for the waste toner bottle 500 as shown in FIGS.
[0091]
On both side surfaces of the waste toner bottle 500, two pairs of convex portions 501, 501, 502, and 502 are provided as guided portions. The support plate 520 guides the convex portions 501 and 502. Slits 521 and 522 constituting guide portions (guide grooves) are provided. Near the end portions 521a and 522a of the slits 521 and 522, constricted portions 521b and 522b are formed to hold the convex portions 501 and 502 inserted up to the end portions 521a and 522a. Accordingly, the convex portions 501 and 502 are aligned with the slits 521 and 522, and the cylindrical mouth portion 503, which is a toner receiving port of the waste toner bottle 500, is aligned with the shutter 179 of the cleaning unit 170 described above, and the convex portions 501 and 502 are slit 521. , 522, the waste toner bottle 500 is attached to the image forming apparatus 300 main body (see FIGS. 8 and 9).
[0092]
When the waste toner bottle 500 is attached in this way, the cylindrical mouth portion 503 of the waste toner bottle 500 and the cylindrical portion 174a having the discharge port 174d of the cleaning means 170 fit loosely (the cylindrical portion 174a is cylindrical). Inserted into the mouth portion 503).
[0093]
A slider 510 as an interlocking member is attached to the cylindrical mouth portion 503 of the waste toner bottle 500. When the waste toner bottle 500 is attached, the tip 511 of the slider 510 comes into contact with the protruding piece 179c of the shutter 179. (At least it will be in a state where it can abut)
[0094]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, a contact portion 306 b that can contact the other end portion 512 of the slider 510 is provided inside the front cover 306.
[0095]
Therefore, when the front cover 306 is closed as shown in FIG. 11 from the state shown in FIG. 9, the contact portion 306 b presses the slider 510, and the tip 511 of the slider 510 presses the protruding piece 179 c of the shutter 179. As a result, the shutter 179 slides to the right in the figure against the spring force of the spring 174f, and the discharge port 174d of the cleaning means 170 is opened.
[0096]
In other words, according to this embodiment, the discharge port 174d of the cleaning unit 170 is opened only when the intermediate transfer unit TU and the waste toner bottle 500 are attached and the front cover 306 is closed.
[0097]
As described above, the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the main body of the apparatus 300, the image forming apparatus 300 is operated, and the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is not released by the tension releasing means 240, that is, the tension releasing means 240 is When the intermediate transfer belt 160 is stretched in a non-operating state (the state shown in FIG. 1), the intermediate transfer belt 160 is a photosensitive member 321 of the main body of the apparatus 300 due to the tension of the belt 160 itself between the rollers 110 and 150. To form the primary transfer portion T1. In the image forming apparatus 300 according to this embodiment, the detection unit (detection unit including a limit switch) that detects that the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted, and the second frame 300F2 are replaced with the first frame 300F1. A detecting unit that detects that the waste toner bottle 500 is mounted; a detecting unit that detects that the front cover 306 is closed; and an intermediate transfer unit. The image forming operation can be performed only when the unit TU is mounted, the second frame 300F2 is connected to the first frame 300F1, the waste toner bottle 500 is mounted, and the front cover 306 is closed.
[0098]
Next, an operation for removing the waste toner bottle 500 will be described.
[0099]
The removal operation is performed as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 with the front cover 306 opened.
[0100]
First, as shown in FIG. 12, the waste toner bottle 500 is pulled out in the arrow Z2 direction (substantially horizontal direction).
[0101]
As shown in FIG. 12, the slits 521 and 522 of the support plate 520 described above are the convex portions 501 on the upper side of the waste toner bottle 500 by the slit 521 when the waste toner bottle 500 is pulled out in the arrow Z2 direction (substantially horizontal direction). The guide with respect to is released before the guide to the lower convex portion 502 by the slit 522. In addition, the lower slit 522 is bent obliquely upward at the end portion 522c of the waste toner bottle 500 in the drawing direction (arrow Z2 direction). The edge portion 522c1 in the end portion 522c constitutes a restricting portion that restricts the movement of the lower convex portion 502 in the pull-out direction after the guide to the upper convex portion 501 is released.
[0102]
Accordingly, when the waste toner bottle 500 is pulled out in a substantially horizontal direction, as shown by a solid line in the figure, first, the upper convex portion 501 is in a free state, and immediately thereafter, the lower convex portion 502 is indicated by a one-dot chain line. Therefore, the movement in the pulling-out direction is restricted by contacting the edge 522c1 at the terminal end 522c of the lower slit 522. For this reason, the waste toner bottle 500 rotates about the lower convex portion 502 so that the opening 503a of the cylindrical mouth portion 503 faces upward, as indicated by a one-dot chain line. Therefore, when the waste toner bottle 500 is extracted, the situation where the waste toner spills out from the cylindrical mouth portion 503 is prevented. The rotation of the waste toner bottle 500 is restricted by the upper convex portion 501 coming into contact with the final horizontal edge 522d of the lower slit 522 as indicated by a two-dot chain line. Does not rotate more than necessary.
[0103]
Next, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 13 from the state shown in FIG. 12, the waste toner bottle 500 is slightly pulled up in the direction of arrow Z3 (the direction along the inclined surface 522e of the lower slit 522), and then shown as it is by the arrow Z4. Pull out in a substantially horizontal direction.
[0104]
After that, a new waste toner bottle 500 is mounted by the reverse operation.
[0105]
According to the image forming apparatus as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
[0106]
(A) The toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 after the transfer of the intermediate transfer belt 160 as an image carrier for transferring the toner image carried on the surface to the recording material S to be transferred is removed by the cleaning unit 170. Since the removed toner (waste toner) is collected through the receiving port 503 in the waste toner container 500 mounted on the main body of the apparatus 300, the waste toner collecting capacity can be increased. Further, since the waste toner container 500 is configured to be detachable from the main body of the apparatus 300, the waste toner container 500 can be replaced when it becomes full of waste toner, and the intermediate transfer unit TU including the cleaning unit 170 can be replaced. Exchange is also possible.
[0107]
Then, when the waste toner container 500 is removed from the main body of the apparatus 300, guide means (guided portions 501, 502 and support plate) for guiding the posture of the waste toner container 500 so that the opening 503a of the receiving port faces upward. 520 guide grooves 521 and 522), when the waste toner container 500 is removed from the main body of the apparatus 300, the opening 503a of the receiving port 503 faces upward.
[0108]
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 300, waste toner does not spill from the toner receiving port 503 of the waste toner container 500.
[0109]
In particular, the image forming apparatus 300 according to this embodiment is configured to take out the waste toner container 500 in the lateral direction (in this embodiment, the substantially horizontal direction and the front side of the apparatus), so any measures are taken. If this is not the case, when the waste toner container 500 is removed from the apparatus main body, there is a high possibility that the waste toner spills from the toner receiving port 503 of the waste toner container 500 into the apparatus or the like. According to the apparatus 300, waste toner does not spill from the toner receiving port 503 of the waste toner container 500, although the waste toner container 500 is taken out in the horizontal direction.
[0110]
That is, the present invention is particularly effective for an image forming apparatus that takes out a waste toner container in a lateral direction.
[0111]
(B) The guide means includes guided portions 501 and 502 provided on the side surface of the waste toner container 500 and guide portions 521 and 522 provided in the support portions 520 and 520 of the waste toner container 500 provided in the apparatus main body. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide special guide means other than the waste toner container support 520 provided in the apparatus main body, which is basically necessary.
[0112]
Therefore, the posture of the waste toner container 500 can be guided with a simple configuration so that the opening 503a of the receiving port 503 faces upward.
[0113]
(C) When the waste toner container 500 is removed, the waste toner container 500 is pulled out from the support portion 520 in a substantially horizontal direction, and the guided portion includes convex portions 501 and 502 provided on the upper and lower sides of the waste toner container 500. The upper and lower guide grooves 521 and 522 guide the upper and lower convex portions 501 and 502, respectively. The upper and lower guide grooves 521 and 522 are arranged on the upper side when the waste toner container 500 is pulled out from the support portion 520. The guide to the upper convex portion 501 by the guide groove 521 is released before the guide to the lower convex portion 502 by the lower guide groove 522, and the lower guide groove 522 And a restricting portion 522c1 for restricting the movement of the lower convex portion 502 in the pull-out direction after the guide to the upper convex portion 501 is released. Since, reliably with a simple structure, the posture of the waste toner container 500 can be opened 503a of the receptacle 503 to guide to face upward.
[0114]
That is, when the waste toner container 500 is pulled out from the support portion 520 in a substantially horizontal direction, first, the upper convex portion 501 is in a free state, and then the lower convex portion 502 is pulled out by the restricting portion 522c1 of the lower guide groove 522. Since the movement in the direction is restricted, the waste toner container 500 rotates around the lower convex portion 502 so that the opening 503a of the receiving port 503 faces upward. Therefore, when the waste toner bottle 500 is extracted, the situation where the waste toner is spilled from the receiving port 503 is surely prevented.
[0115]
(D) The image forming apparatus 300 includes a toner discharge port 174d removed by the cleaning unit 170 and a shutter 179 that opens and closes the discharge port 174d. The shutter 179 is attached to the waste toner container 500. Since the discharge port 174d is opened only when the cover 306 is closed, it is ensured that waste toner is discharged from the discharge port 174d when the waste toner container 500 is not attached. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent the waste toner from leaking from the discharge port 174d when the waste toner container 500 is attached or detached.
[0116]
More specifically, according to the image forming apparatus 300, the shutter 179 opens the discharge port 174d only when the waste toner container 500 is attached and the cover 306 is closed. Even if the cover 306 is closed when the waste toner container 500 is not attached, the discharge port 174d remains closed. Therefore, even if the image forming apparatus (and hence the cleaning unit 170) is operated by mistake, waste toner is not discharged from the discharge port 174d.
[0117]
Further, when removing the waste toner container 500, the cover 306 has already been opened, and therefore the discharge port 174d has already been closed by the shutter 179. Therefore, since the waste toner container 500 is always removed after the shutter 179 is closed, the toner does not leak from the discharge port 174d in the process of moving the waste toner container 500.
[0118]
That is, according to the image forming apparatus 300, the waste toner can be reliably prevented from being discharged from the discharge port 174d when the waste toner container 500 is not attached, and the discharge port 174d can be removed when the waste toner container 500 is attached or detached. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the waste toner from leaking out.
[0119]
(E) Interlocking means for opening the discharge port 174d with the shutter 179 only when the waste toner container 500 is mounted and the cover 306 is closed is brought into contact with the cover 306 and thereby the discharge port 174d with the shutter 179. Therefore, the waste toner container 500 is more reliably prevented from being discharged from the discharge port 174d when the waste toner container 500 is not mounted. It is possible to more reliably prevent waste toner from leaking from the discharge port 174d when the toner is attached / detached.
[0120]
The interlocking means can be constituted by an electric circuit, for example. That is, for example, a detection unit that detects that the waste toner container 500 is mounted and a detection unit that detects that the cover 306 is closed are provided, and the shutter (only when both detection units are ON) For example, the discharge port 174d may be opened with an electric shutter. However, such a configuration is not always desirable because it may cause malfunction of the electric circuit or detection means.
[0121]
On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus 300, the interlocking unit is configured by the interlocking member 510 that opens the discharge port 174d by the shutter 179 by contacting the cover 503. Disappear.
[0122]
Accordingly, it is possible to more reliably prevent waste toner from being discharged from the discharge port 174d when the waste toner container 500 is not mounted, and to further ensure that waste toner leaks from the discharge port when the waste toner container 500 is attached or detached. Can be prevented.
[0123]
(F) Since the interlocking member 510 is attached to the waste toner container 500, the discharge port cannot be opened reliably unless the waste toner container 500 is attached.
[0124]
Accordingly, waste toner can be more reliably prevented from being discharged from the discharge port 174d when the waste toner container 500 is not attached, and waste toner can be prevented from leaking from the discharge port 174d when the waste toner container 500 is attached or detached. This can be prevented more reliably.
[0125]
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention.
[0126]
For example,
(1) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the cleaning unit 170 and the waste toner bottle 500 of the intermediate transfer unit TU. However, the present invention can also be applied to the cleaning unit 323 and the waste toner bottle of the photosensitive unit 320. It is.
[0127]
(2) As the shape of each member, any shape can be adopted as long as the predetermined operation of this embodiment is performed.
[0128]
【The invention's effect】
By any of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when removing the waste toner container from the apparatus main body, it is eliminated that the waste toner from the toner receiving port of the waste toner container will spill.
[0131]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an intermediate transfer unit and a receiving frame 400 and its slide frame 410 provided in the image forming apparatus for detachably mounting the unit TU.
FIG. 3 is a partially omitted rear view showing the intermediate transfer unit TU in a state where tension is released.
4 is a partially omitted right side cross-sectional view mainly showing a cleaning means 170. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4;
6 is a diagram corresponding to the partially enlarged view of FIG. 4, and an operation explanatory view of the shutter 179 of the cleaning means 170. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic front view illustrating a frame structure of the image forming apparatus and an attaching / detaching operation of the intermediate transfer unit TU.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a cleaning unit 170 and a waste toner bottle 500. FIG.
9 is a partially cut right side view showing a part of the front cover 306, the waste toner bottle 500, and the cleaning means 170. FIG.
10 is a partially cut enlarged right side view of FIG. 8. FIG.
11 is a partially cut right side view showing a part of the front cover 306, the waste toner bottle 500, and the cleaning means 170. FIG.
FIG. 12 is a partially cut right side view for explaining the removal operation of the waste toner bottle 500;
FIG. 13 is a partially cut right side view for explaining the removal operation of the waste toner bottle 500;
[Explanation of symbols]
TU Intermediate transfer unit 160 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier)
170 Cleaning means 174d Discharge port 179 Shutter 300 Image forming apparatus 306 Front cover (cover)
500 Waste toner bottle (waste toner container)
501, 502 Convex part (guided part of guide means)
503 Tubular mouth (receiving port)
503a opening 510 slider (interlocking member)
520 Support plate (support part)
521,522 slit (guide groove)
522c1 Regulatory Department

Claims (1)

An image carrier for transferring a toner image carried on the surface to a transfer target;
Cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer;
A waste toner container having a receptacle for receiving the toner removed by the cleaning means, configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and collecting the toner removed by the cleaning means in a mounted state;
Guide means for guiding the position of the waste toner container so that the opening of the receptacle faces upward when the waste toner container is removed from the apparatus main body;
With
The guide means includes a guided portion provided on a side surface of the waste toner container and a guide portion provided in a support portion of the waste toner container provided in the apparatus main body.
The waste toner container is configured to be pulled out from the support portion in a substantially horizontal direction when the waste toner container is removed, and the guided portion includes convex portions provided on upper and lower sides of the waste toner container. The upper and lower guide grooves respectively guide the upper and lower convex portions so that when the waste toner container is pulled out from the support portion, the upper guide grooves guide the upper convex portions to the lower side. The lower guide groove is configured to be released before the guide to the lower convex portion by the guide groove, and the lower guide groove after the guide to the upper convex portion is released. An image forming apparatus comprising: a restricting portion that restricts movement of the convex portion in the pull-out direction.

Images