JPH09146432A - Toner recovering device for image forming equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To operate a shutter fitted to a discharge nozzle arranged on the downstream side end part of a recovered toner carrying mechanism by actions from two directions. SOLUTION: A toner recovering device for image forming equipment has a toner receiving mechanism having a receiving port 761 formed on the upper end of a toner recovery tank and a fitting recessed part 762 formed on the wall surrounding the receiving port 751; a discharge nozzle 701 arranged on the downstream side end part of a recovered toner carrying mechanism 760 and having a discharge port 701 on the lower part; a shutter 72 having a delivery port 721 matched to the discharge port by being fitted to the discharge nozzle 70 in such a manner as to be axially and circumferentially slidable, and capable of being fitted to the fitting recessed part 762; and an operating mechanism for turning the shutter 72, when the shutter 72 is fitted to the fitting recessed part 762 from above, to match the delivery port 721 to the discharge port 701, and axially moving the shutter 72 relatively to the discharge nozzle 70, when the discharge nozzle 70 is fitted to the fitting recessed part 762 from sideways, to open the discharge port 701.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner collecting device installed in an image forming machine such as an electrophotographic device or an electrostatic recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming machine, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive drum, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image, and then the toner image is transferred onto a transfer paper in a transfer area. You are getting a transfer image. Even after the toner image thus formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the transfer paper, the toner remains on the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning device is provided to remove the residual toner. Has been done. The residual toner removed by the cleaning device is transported to the toner recovery tank by the recovered toner transport mechanism provided in the cleaning device. The discharge port formed at the downstream end of the collected toner transport mechanism opens toward the toner collection tank and engages with the toner collection tank. Therefore, the collected toner carried by the collected toner carrying mechanism is discharged to the toner collecting tank through the discharge port.

On the other hand, in a recent image forming machine, a so-called clamshell type in which the machine housing is divided into a lower housing and an upper housing, and the upper housing can be opened with a transfer paper transport path as a boundary is practically used. Has been converted. In such a clamshell type image forming machine, a process unit in which a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a cleaning device and the like are integrated is provided in an open upper housing, and a transfer paper conveying means and a toner are provided in a lower housing. A recovery tank and the like are provided. Therefore, the clamshell type image forming machine is characterized in that if the upper housing is opened, when a paper jam occurs in the transfer paper conveyance path, the processing can be easily performed. However, if the upper housing is opened when the transfer paper is jammed in the transfer paper transport path and the transfer paper is removed, or when the toner recovery tank is full of recovered toner and the toner recovery tank is replaced, Since the engagement with the recovery tank is released, the toner may be scattered around from the discharge port of the recovery toner transport mechanism.

As a solution to the above-mentioned problems, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-37372 discloses an exhaust toner conveying device provided in a cleaning device, which is provided at a downstream end portion thereof and has a discharge port provided below. A nozzle portion provided with the nozzle portion; a cap having a discharge port that is slidably fitted in the nozzle portion in the circumferential direction and the axial direction and aligned with the discharge port; and the cap is moved by moving the cap in the axial direction. Disclosed is a discharged toner discharging mechanism including a rotating unit that rotates the discharging port and the discharging opening to a position where the discharging opening and the discharging opening are aligned with each other and a position where the discharging opening is closed.

[0005]

Therefore, the discharged toner discharging mechanism disclosed in the above publication is rotated by axially operating the cap so that the discharge port and the discharged toner carrying mechanism provided on the cap are rotated. The structure is aligned with the discharge port provided in the device, and the operation of the cap is performed only in one direction. However, in the clamshell type image forming machine, it is necessary to operate the above-mentioned cap having a shutter function every time the upper housing is opened, and the photoconductor drum, the developing device, the cleaning device, etc. are closed with the upper housing closed. It is desirable that the cap be operated when the process unit integrated with is attached to the upper housing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its main technical problem is to provide two shutters fitted to the discharge nozzle arranged at the downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner collecting device of an image forming machine that can operate by an action from a direction.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above main technical problems, according to the present invention, a collected toner conveying mechanism provided in a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on a photosensitive drum, and In a toner recovery device of an image forming machine, comprising a toner recovery tank for storing recovered toner transported by a recovered toner transport mechanism, a receiving port formed at an upper end of the toner recovery tank and a wall surrounding the receiving port. A collected toner receiving mechanism having a fitting recess formed therein, a discharge nozzle provided at a downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism and having a discharge port below, and the discharge nozzle in an axial direction and a circumferential direction. A shutter that is slidably fitted and has a discharge port that is aligned with the discharge port and that can be fitted into the fitting recess, and when the shutter is fitted into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism from above. The shutter is rotated by a predetermined angle to align the discharge port with the discharge port, and when the discharge nozzle is laterally fitted into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism, the shutter is attached to the discharge nozzle. A toner collecting device for an image forming machine, comprising: an operating mechanism that slides relatively in the axial direction to open the discharge port.

Further, according to the present invention, the operating mechanism is
An elastic urging means for urging the shutter to press to the downstream end side of the collected toner conveying mechanism and for urging the shutter to rotate in a predetermined direction, and the shutter provided on the shutter for collecting the collected toner. When fitting into the fitting recess of the receiving mechanism from above, it abuts the upper wall forming the receiving port of the toner recovery tank, and the discharge nozzle is fitted into the fitting recess of the recovered toner receiving mechanism from the side. There is provided a toner collecting device of an image forming machine having an operating lever that abuts a side wall forming the fitting recess when they are fitted together.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned technical object, the collected toner conveying mechanism disposed in the cleaning device for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, and the collected toner conveying mechanism are used. In a toner recovery device of an image forming machine having a toner recovery tank for storing the transported recovered toner, a receiving opening formed at an upper end of the toner collecting tank and a fitting formed on a wall surrounding the receiving opening. A collected toner receiving mechanism having a recess, a discharge nozzle provided at a downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism and having a discharge port below, and fitted to the discharge nozzle slidably in the circumferential direction. A shutter that has a discharge port that matches the discharge port and that can be fitted into the fitting recess, and when the shutter is fitted into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism from above and the discharge nozzle is the collection toner. When fitted from the side into the fitting recess of the receiving mechanism comprises a turnable operation mechanism allowed to align with the exhaust outlet of the spout and the shutter rotated by a predetermined angle,
A toner recovery device for an image forming machine is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, the rotation operating mechanism includes a helical tooth pinion mounted on the shutter, and a helical tooth rack mounted on the collected toner receiving mechanism and meshingly engaged with the helical tooth pinion. A toner recovery device for an image forming machine is provided.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a more detailed description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of a toner collecting device of an image forming machine constructed according to the present invention.

1 to 8 show an embodiment of a toner collecting device of an image forming machine constructed according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an image forming machine equipped with the toner collecting device constructed according to the present invention. 2 is a front view of a clamshell type image forming machine equipped with a toner collecting device constructed according to the present invention.

The electrostatic copying machine as an image forming machine shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a box-shaped housing indicated by numeral 2 as a whole. The housing 2 is composed of a so-called clamshell type support structure including a lower housing 4 and an upper housing 6 mounted on the lower housing 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper housing 6 has a lower right end portion that extends downward in the lower housing 4 via a shaft 8 that extends in the front-back direction of the lower housing 4, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
Is pivotally connected to the

The upper housing 6 has a housing 2
The process unit 10 located substantially at the center is detachably mounted. This mounting structure is as follows. That is, the upper housing 6 is fixed with a pair of support rails 12 and 14 that are spaced from each other in the left-right direction and extend in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. On the other hand, the process unit 10 includes a process unit frame 16. The process unit frame 16 includes a front wall (not shown) and a rear wall (see FIG. 3) arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and a bottom wall provided between the front wall and the rear wall. 16
1, the left side wall 162, the right side wall 163, and the upper wall 164 are formed in a box shape. Process unit frame 16
The left side wall 162 and the right side wall 163, which are included in the above, are provided with supported portions 165 and 166 extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The process unit 10 can be removably attached to the upper housing 6 by being positioned on the upper housing 14 and sliding the process unit frame 16 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The upper wall 164 that constitutes the process unit frame 16
A step portion is provided substantially in the center in the width direction, and the exposure opening 167 elongated in the front-rear direction is formed in the center portion of the step portion. Further, a transfer opening 168 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the center portion in the width direction of the bottom wall 161 that constitutes the process unit frame 16.

A photoconductive drum (rotary drum) 18 as an image bearing member, which has an appropriate photoconductive layer on its peripheral surface, is rotatably mounted at a substantially central portion of the process unit frame 16. The photosensitive drum 18 is rotatably supported between a front wall and a rear wall of the process unit frame 16 via shafts provided at both ends thereof, and its lower portion is
It is exposed to the outside through a transfer opening 168 formed in a bottom wall 161 that constitutes the process unit frame 16. The process unit frame 16 further includes a charging corona discharger 20 as a charging means, a developing device 22 and a developing device 22 around a photosensitive drum 18 which is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow 19 and sequentially in the rotational direction. A cleaning device 24 is attached.

The image forming machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 has an irradiation lamp 26, a first mirror 28, a second mirror 30, a third mirror 32, a lens 34, and a fourth lens arranged above the process unit 10. And an optical system including a mirror 36. This optical system irradiates an original placed on an original placing transparent plate (not shown) with an illumination lamp 26, and a reflected light image thereof is reflected by a first mirror 26, a second mirror 30, a third mirror 32, and a lens. An image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 18 via the third mirror 34 and the fourth mirror 36. Below the photosensitive drum 18 constituting the process unit 10, that is, between the developing device 22 and the cleaning device 24, a transfer corona discharger 38 as a transfer means and a transfer corona discharger 38 as a separation means are provided in a transfer area and a separation area, respectively. A separating corona discharger 40 is provided.

The image forming machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a transfer paper supply device 42 for supplying transfer paper to the transfer area.
The transfer paper supply device 42 includes a transfer paper cassette 44 that stores transfer paper, a transfer paper feed roller 46, and a separation roller pair 4.
8, a guide path 50, a conveyance roller pair 52, a guide path 54, and a registration roller pair 56. Each of the rollers of the transfer paper feeding device 42 thus configured is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving unit (not shown). Further, downstream of the transfer corona discharger 38 and the separation corona discharger 40, a conveyor belt mechanism 58 that conveys the transferred and separated transfer paper, a fixing roller pair 60 and a discharge roller pair that constitute a fixing unit. 62 are provided, and these are rotatably driven in the directions indicated by the arrows by driving means (not shown).

The image forming machine 2 configured as described above is
While the photoconductor drum 18 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow 19, the charging corona discharger 20 charges the photoconductor on the photoconductor drum 18 to a specific polarity substantially uniformly, and then is not illustrated by the irradiation lamp 26. The original placed on the original placing transparent plate is illuminated and the reflected light image is reflected by the first mirror 1.
8, second mirror 30, third mirror 32, lens 34
And the photosensitive drum 18 via the fourth mirror 36.
Scanning exposure is performed on the upper surface, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 18. After that, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 18 is developed into a toner image by the developing device 22. On the other hand, the transfer paper stored in the transfer paper cassette 44 of the transfer paper supply device 42 is sent out from the transfer paper sending roller 46, and the separating roller pair 48, the guide path 50, the conveying roller pair 52, and the guide path 5 are provided.
After passing through 4, the resist roller pair 56 temporarily stops and is conveyed to the transfer area in synchronization with the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 18. The transfer sheet conveyed to the transfer area is provided with the photosensitive drum 18 on which the toner image is formed and the transfer corona discharger 3
The toner image is transferred by passing through the gaps 8 and then separated from the photosensitive drum 18 by the action of the separating corona discharger 40. In this way, the transfer sheet on which the toner image is transferred and separated from the photoconductor drum 18 is conveyed to the fixing roller pair 60 by the conveying belt mechanism 58, and the toner image transferred by the fixing roller pair 60 is fixed. Then, it is discharged from the discharge roller pair 62. Further, the toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 18 after the transfer process is completed is removed by the cleaning blade 241 of the cleaning device 24.

Next, a device for collecting the toner removed from the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 18 by the cleaning blade 241 of the cleaning device 24 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The cleaning device 24 is provided with a spiral conveyor 242 as a collected toner carrying mechanism for carrying the toner removed by the cleaning blade 241 at the lower part thereof. The spiral conveyor 242 is extended in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1, and its rear end (back side in FIG. 1), that is, the downstream end constitutes the housing of the cleaning device 24 as shown in FIG. The process unit frame 16 is disposed so as to project from the rear wall 160. A discharge nozzle 70 is fitted and attached to the downstream end of the spiral conveyor 242, and the discharge nozzle 70 is fixed to the rear wall 160 of the process unit frame 16 by a fixing means such as a screw. The discharge nozzle 70 has a discharge port 701 below the downstream end, and
A cutout groove 702 is formed in an angular range of approximately 90 degrees from above on the outer peripheral surface. A shutter 72 is fitted on the tip of the discharge nozzle 70 so as to be slidable in the axial direction and the circumferential direction. The shutter 72 is formed in a tubular shape and has a discharge port 721 that can be aligned with the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70. The shutter 72 is provided with an engagement projection 722 that fits into the cutout groove 702 formed in the discharge nozzle 70 at a phase of approximately 90 degrees from the center of the discharge port 721. Further, the shutter 72 is provided with an operating lever 723 that is integrally formed so as to project to the side opposite to the discharge port 721. Between the shutter 72 and the discharge nozzle 70 configured in this manner, the shutter 72 is urged to press downward on the downstream end side of the spiral conveyor 242, that is, in FIG. A coil spring 74 is provided as an elastic urging means for urging to rotate clockwise. Due to the action of the coil spring 74, the engagement protrusion 722 provided on the shutter 72 is provided on the upper edge 7 of the notch groove 702 formed on the outer periphery of the discharge nozzle 70 in a state where it is not engaged with a toner recovery tank described later.
02a and the downstream edge 702b are held in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this state, the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70 and the discharge port 721 provided in the shutter 72 are not aligned,
Therefore, the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70 is closed by the shutter 72. In this way, the coil spring 74 as an elastic biasing means for operating the shutter 72 is used.
The operating lever 723 integrally formed with the shutter 72 constitutes an operating mechanism for operating the shutter 72 in the axial direction and the circumferential direction.

A toner recovery tank 76 for storing the recovered toner conveyed by the spiral conveyor 242 as the recovered toner conveying mechanism is arranged behind the rear side wall of the lower housing 4. This toner recovery tank 7
6 is provided with a collected toner receiving mechanism 760 at the upper end thereof. The collected toner receiving mechanism 760 includes a receiving port 761 formed at the upper end of the toner collecting tank 76, and the spiral conveyor 2 on the wall surface surrounding the receiving port 761.
The fitting recess 762 is formed in the wall on the 42 side. The width of the fitting recess 762 is dimensioned so that the shutter 72 can be fitted therein.

The toner collecting device according to the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. In the state where the upper housing 6 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, since the collected toner receiving mechanism 760 of the toner collection tank 76 and the shutter 72 are not engaged, the action of the coil spring 74 causes the shutter 72 to move the shutter 72. 4 is pressed toward the downstream end of the discharge nozzle 70 and is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4, so that the engagement protrusion 722 provided on the shutter 72 has an upper edge 702a of the cutout groove 702 formed in the discharge nozzle 70 and the downstream side. Edge 70
The discharge port 701 provided at the discharge nozzle 70, which is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Therefore, even if the upper housing 6 is opened to remove the jammed transfer paper, it does not scatter from the collected toner transport mechanism.

Next, when the upper housing 6 is closed from the opened state, the shutter 72 causes the collected toner receiving mechanism 76.
Attempts to fit into the zero fitting recess 742 from above. At this time, the operating lever 723 abuts on the upper end of the wall surrounding the receiving port 761, and the shutter 72 moves as the shutter 72 descends.
Is biased in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 4 and 5 against the force of the coil spring 74. The shutter 72 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the fitting recess 742 is fitted at a position rotated by about 90 degrees. With the shutter 72 rotated by about 90 degrees,
The discharge port 721 provided on the shutter 72 is aligned with the discharge port 701 provided on the discharge nozzle 70. Therefore,
The collected toner conveyed to the downstream side end portion by the spiral conveyor 242 as the collected toner conveying mechanism during the image forming operation is made to flow into the toner collecting tank 76 through the discharge port 701 and the discharge port 721.

Next, the case where the process unit 10 is mounted on the upper housing 6 with the upper housing 6 closed will be described. Supported portions 165 and 166 formed on the left side wall 162 and the right side wall 163 that form the process unit frame 16 of the process unit 10.
The support rails 1 from the front side of the upper housing 6 respectively.
The process unit 10 is removably mounted on the upper housing 6 by being positioned above 2 and 14 and sliding the process unit frame 16 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the spiral conveyor 2
The discharge nozzle 70 and the shutter 72, which are mounted on the downstream side end of 42, face the fitting recess 762 that constitutes the collected toner receiving mechanism 760 of the toner collecting tank 76, and the operating lever 723 provided on the shutter 72 is fitted. The movement of the shutter 72 is stopped by coming into contact with the wall forming the concave portion 762. Then, when the process unit 10 moves further rearward, the downstream end of the spiral conveyor 242 and the discharge nozzle 70 are inserted into the toner recovery tank 76 through the fitting recess 742 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
Therefore, the shutter 72 is in a state of retracting relative to the discharge nozzle 70 against the force of the coil spring 74, and the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70 is opened in the toner recovery tank 76. . Therefore, the collected toner conveyed to the downstream end by the spiral conveyor 242 as the collected toner conveying mechanism during the operation of the image forming machine is caused to flow into the toner collecting tank 76 through the discharge opening 701.

Next, another embodiment of the toner collecting device of the image forming machine constructed according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. The same members as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are designated by the same reference numerals for description. In this embodiment, a rack 765 is attached to the upper end of the toner recovery tank 76 that constitutes the recovered toner receiving mechanism 760, on the inner surface orthogonal to the surface on which the fitting recess 762 is formed. This rack 765 has a fitting recess 762.
It is composed of a helical rack that inclines downward from. On the other hand, an annular stopper 705 is integrally formed on the outer circumference of the tip of the discharge nozzle 70. A cylindrical shutter 72 is fitted in the distal end portion of the discharge nozzle 70 thus configured so as to be slidable in the circumferential direction. Shutter 7
When 2 is fitted in a predetermined position of the discharge nozzle 70, a stop ring 70 is provided on the tip side from the shutter mounting position of the discharge nozzle 70.
6 is attached. Therefore, the shutter 72 is the discharge nozzle 7
It is mounted slidably in the circumferential direction at the shutter mounting position between the stopper 705 and the stop ring 706 at 0. The shutter 72 is provided with an ejection port 721 that can be aligned with the ejection port 701 (see FIG. 10) provided in the ejection nozzle 70. The discharge port 721 does not match the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70 in the state of FIG. 9 and FIG. 11 in which the discharge nozzle 70 is separated from the collected toner receiving mechanism 760, and the discharge nozzle 70 collects the collected toner. When it is positioned at a predetermined position of the receiving mechanism 760, it is provided at a position aligned with the discharge port 701 as shown in FIG. Further, the shutter 72 is provided with a helical pinion 725 capable of meshingly engaging with the helical rack 765. This lotion pinion 725 and lotion rack 7
Reference numeral 65 constitutes a rotation operation mechanism that rotates the shutter 72 in the circumferential direction of the discharge nozzle 70.

The toner collecting device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. In the state where the upper housing 6 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, the recovered toner receiving mechanism 760 of the toner recovery tank 76 and the shutter 72 are not engaged, so that the ejection port 721 provided in the shutter 72 is shown in FIG.
Is located in the state shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 does not match the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70, and the discharge port 701 is closed by the shutter 72. For this reason, even if the upper housing 6 is opened to remove the jammed transfer paper, it does not scatter from the collected toner transport mechanism.

Next, when the upper housing 6 is closed from the open state, the shutter 72 causes the collected toner receiving mechanism 76.
Attempts to fit into the zero fitting recess 742 from above. At this time, the helical pinion 725 mounted on the shutter 72
Moves downward while meshingly engaging with a helical tooth rack 765 mounted on the upper end of the toner recovery tank 76 that constitutes the recovered toner receiving mechanism 760, so that the shutter 72 is rotated. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the shutter 72 fits into the fitting recess 742 at a position rotated by approximately 90 degrees.
When the shutter 72 is rotated by about 90 degrees, the shutter 7
The discharge port 721 provided in No. 2 is aligned with the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70. Therefore, the collected toner conveyed to the downstream end by the spiral conveyor 242 as the collected toner conveying mechanism during the image forming operation is made to flow into the toner collecting tank 76 through the discharge port 701 and the discharge port 721.

When the upper housing 6 is opened from the closed state, the helical tooth pinion 725 mounted on the shutter 72 causes the helical tooth rack 765 to move.
Since the shutter 72 moves upward while meshing with the shutter 72, the shutter 72 is rotated in the direction opposite to the closing direction of the upper housing 6, and the discharge port 701 is opened as shown in FIG.
Is closed.

When the process unit 10 is pulled out from the state where the upper housing 6 is closed, the shutter 7
The shutter 72 is rotated because the helical pinion 725 attached to the second gear moves toward the helical rack 765 along the inclination. And process unit 1
In the state where 0 is pulled out, as shown in FIG. 11, the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70 has the shutter 72.
Is closed. When the process unit 10 to be replaced is inserted and mounted after the process unit 10 is pulled out from the state in which the upper housing 6 is closed, the shutter 72 is the same as the process unit 1 described above.
When the process unit 10 is mounted, the discharge port 721 and the discharge port 701 provided in the discharge nozzle 70 are aligned with each other by rotating in a direction opposite to the direction in which 0 is pulled out.

[0029]

Since the toner collecting device of the image forming machine according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the following working effects can be obtained.

That is, according to the present invention, the operating mechanism for actuating the shutter slidably fitted in the discharge nozzle provided at the downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism in the axial direction and the circumferential direction is provided. When the shutter is fitted into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism provided at the upper end of the toner collecting tank from above, the shutter is rotated by a predetermined angle and the discharge port provided in the shutter is provided in the discharge nozzle. When the discharge nozzle is fitted sideways into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism, the shutter is slid relative to the discharge nozzle in the axial direction to open the discharge port. As a result, the downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism and the toner collecting tank can be engaged from two directions. Therefore, when applied to a clamshell type image forming machine, a cleaning unit or a process unit equipped with a toner collecting device can be used even when the upper housing constituting the machine housing is opened or the upper housing is closed. It can be attached and detached.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a rotation operation mechanism for rotating the shutter slidably fitted in the discharge nozzle arranged at the downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism. Then, when the shutter is fitted from above into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism provided at the upper end of the toner collecting tank and when the discharge nozzle is fitted into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism from the side, Is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the discharge port provided in the shutter is aligned with the discharge port provided in the discharge nozzle, so that the downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism and the toner recovery tank are engaged with each other. It is possible from one direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming machine equipped with a toner recovery device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a clamshell type image forming machine equipped with a toner recovery device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of a toner recovery device configured according to the present invention in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 4 is a non-engagement in the case where a collected toner receiving mechanism that constitutes a toner collecting device configured according to the present invention engages a discharge nozzle and a shutter provided at an end portion on the downstream side of the collected toner conveying mechanism from above. FIG.

FIG. 5 is an engagement state when a collected toner receiving mechanism that constitutes the toner collecting device configured according to the present invention engages a discharge nozzle and a shutter arranged at an end portion on the downstream side of the collected toner conveying mechanism from above. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a non-engagement in the case where a collected toner receiving mechanism that constitutes a toner collecting device configured according to the present invention laterally engages a discharge nozzle and a shutter arranged at an end portion on the downstream side of the collected toner conveying mechanism. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an engagement in the case of laterally engaging a discharge nozzle and a shutter provided at a downstream side end portion of the collected toner conveying mechanism with a collected toner receiving mechanism which constitutes the toner collecting device according to the present invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the toner collecting device configured according to the present invention, in which the collected toner receiving mechanism includes the discharge nozzle and the shutter arranged at the downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism from above. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a non-engaged state at the time of fitting.

10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a discharge nozzle and a shutter arranged at an end portion on the downstream side of the collected toner conveying mechanism are engaged with the collected toner receiving mechanism of the toner collecting device shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 shows a disengaged state in which a collected toner receiving mechanism of the toner collecting device shown in FIG. 9 laterally engages a discharge nozzle and a shutter arranged at a downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism. Vertical sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: Housing 4: Lower housing 6: Upper housing 8: Shaft 10: Process unit 12: Support rail 14: Support rail 16: Process unit frame 18: Photoconductor drum 20: Charging corona discharger 22: Developing device 24: Cleaning device 26: Irradiation lamp 28: First mirror 30: Second mirror 32: Third mirror 34: Lens 36: Fourth mirror 38: Transfer corona discharger 40: Separation corona discharger 42: Transfer Paper supply device 44: Transfer paper cassette 46: Transfer paper feed roller 48: Separation roller pair 50: Guide path 52: Conveyor roller pair 54: Guide path 56: Register roller pair 58: Conveyor belt mechanism 60: Fixing roller pair 241: Cleaning Blade 242: Spiral conveyor (collected toner transport mechanism) 70: Discharge nozzle 701: Outlet 702: Notch groove 72: Shutter 721: Discharge port 722: Engagement protrusion 725: Lotus tooth pinion 74: Coil spring (elastic biasing means) 76: Toner recovery tank 760: Recovered toner receiving mechanism 761: Receiving port 762: Fitting Mating recess 765: Lotus tooth rack

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image including a collected toner conveying mechanism arranged in a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on a photoconductor drum, and a toner collecting tank for storing the collected toner conveyed by the collected toner conveying mechanism. In a toner collecting device of a forming machine, a collected toner receiving mechanism having a receiving port formed at an upper end of the toner collecting tank and a fitting recess formed in a wall surrounding the receiving port; The fitting recess provided with a discharge nozzle disposed at a downstream end and having a discharge port below, and a discharge port slidably fitted in the discharge nozzle axially and circumferentially and aligned with the discharge port And a shutter that can be fitted to the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism from above to rotate the shutter by a predetermined angle to align the discharge port with the discharge port, And an operating mechanism for sliding the shutter in the axial direction relative to the discharge nozzle to open the discharge port when the nozzle is laterally fitted into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism. A toner recovery device for an image forming machine, characterized in that 2. The elastic mechanism for urging the operation mechanism to urge the shutter toward the downstream end of the collected toner conveying mechanism and to rotate the shutter in a predetermined direction, and When the shutter is provided on the shutter and is fitted into the fitting recess of the collected toner receiving mechanism from above, the shutter is brought into contact with an upper wall forming the receiving port of the toner collecting tank, and the discharge nozzle is connected to the collecting toner receiving mechanism. 2. The toner recovery device for an image forming machine according to claim 1, further comprising an operating lever that abuts a side wall forming the fitting recess when the fitting recess is laterally fitted. 3. An image including a collected toner conveying mechanism arranged in a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, and a toner collecting tank for storing the collected toner conveyed by the collected toner conveying mechanism. In a toner collecting device of a forming machine, a collected toner receiving mechanism having a receiving port formed at an upper end of the toner collecting tank and a fitting recess formed in a wall surrounding the receiving port; A discharge nozzle provided at a downstream end and having a discharge port below, and a discharge port that is slidably fitted in the discharge nozzle in the circumferential direction and is aligned with the discharge port. A shutter that can be used, when the shutter is fitted into the fitting concave portion of the collected toner receiving mechanism from above, and when the discharge nozzle is fitted laterally into the fitting concave portion of the collected toner receiving mechanism, The Comprising the exhaust outlet and the matching allowed to turnable operation mechanism spout and rotated by a predetermined angle to Yatta, toner collecting device of an image forming machine, characterized in that. 4. The rotation operating mechanism comprises a helical tooth pinion mounted on the shutter, and a helical tooth rack mounted on the collected toner receiving mechanism and meshingly engaged with the helical tooth pinion. Toner collection device for image forming machines.