HK1120116A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Image forming apparatus with a toner supply device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming process unit including a developer, and a toner accommodating portion arranged in association with the process unit. The image forming process unit is connected to the toner storage unit, and constructs a toner conveyance system.

This application claims priority to japanese patent application No. 2006-246741, filed on 9/12/2006, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is often used in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a so-called multifunction peripheral having these functions. As such an image forming apparatus, there is an image forming apparatus using a two-component (toner and carrier) type developer. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming process unit such as a developer unit or a photosensitive drum unit, a toner supply hopper, and a waste toner recovery hopper. The toner supply hopper supplies toner to the developer unit at any time. The waste toner recovery hopper recovers the transfer residual toner. The image forming process unit, the toner supply hopper, and the waste toner recovery hopper are independently mounted to the apparatus main body. In the apparatus main body, an image forming process unit, a toner supply hopper, and a waste toner recovery hopper are connected to each other, thereby constructing a toner conveyance system. Further, the developer unit and the photosensitive drum unit may be integrally formed to constitute an image forming process unit. In addition, there is also a case where the toner supply funnel and the waste toner recovery funnel are integrated.

The image forming apparatus includes toner supply portions that are detachably engaged with each other in a toner supply path of a toner supply system. In the toner transfer portion, since the toner is fine particles, leakage of the toner cannot be completely prevented. Therefore, it is inevitable that some toner leaks out and accumulates in the peripheral portion of the interface. In a normal use state, the leakage and the accumulated toner hardly become a problem. However, when the toner container or each processing unit in which the toner cartridge is replaced, vibration or impact is applied to the apparatus body, and the accumulated toner is scattered. As a result, the toner may be transferred to and attached to a mechanism portion that affects image quality, and may stain clothes or hands of the user. The reason why the toner scatters is as follows. That is, since the housing constituting the toner cartridge and the process unit is made of resin or metal, the toner deposited on the surface of the housing cannot be fixed thereto and is easily detached by vibration or the like.

As a conventional technique, there is a developing device having a structure in which a shutter is provided in a developing section of the developing device, and a double-sided tape is attached to a portion of the shutter facing the inside of the developing section. The developing device is attached to a predetermined portion in the image forming apparatus in a state where the shutter is opened, the surface to which the double-sided tape is attached faces upward, and the release paper of the double-sided tape is peeled. In this attached state, the adhesive surface of the double-sided tape is exposed. Thereby, paper dust and the like falling from the paper supply cassette positioned above the developing device are captured by the double-sided adhesive tape. Therefore, when the developing device is taken out, the paper dust and the like can be prevented from flying to pollute the periphery.

In this conventional technique, the double-sided tape adhered to the shutter of the developing device is used to catch paper dust and the like falling from the paper feed cassette and the like, but the purpose is not to catch leaked toner. Further, the leaked toner is not captured to prevent the toner inevitably accumulated in the peripheral portion of the toner delivery portion from scattering. In particular, although components for image formation, such as a process unit and a toner cartridge, are replaced by a user as consumables, if a toner supply portion is located on the user side in the mounting direction when these components are mounted on the apparatus, toner leaking and accumulated in the peripheral portion of the supply portion is scattered by vibration and impact at the time of replacement, and hands and clothes of the user are contaminated.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including: provided is an image forming apparatus capable of capturing toner leaked from a toner delivery portion disposed on a conveyance path of a toner conveyance system and preventing the toner from scattering.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an image forming process unit including a developing unit and a toner storage unit arranged in association with the process unit are connected to constitute a toner conveying system. The toner conveying system includes toner delivery portions that are engaged in a manner attachable to and detachable from each other. A catching member for catching the leaked toner is attached to a surface of a portion near the transfer portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an opening/closing member that opens when the toner is joined may be provided at a position corresponding to a joint portion of the toner conveying system. Further, it is preferable that the capturing member is composed of a porous member having a plurality of micro-cells that can receive toner particles. The porous member is preferably made of a polyurethane foam with continuous bubbles. Preferably, the image forming process unit and/or the toner containing unit are detachably attached to the apparatus main body from a side portion of the apparatus main body, and the toner supply portion is located closer to a user side in the attaching direction. Here, the side portion is a concept including the front, rear, left, and right side portions of the apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the capturing member for capturing the leaked toner is attached to the surface of the portion near the toner delivering portion, the leaked toner is captured by the capturing member and reliably held. Therefore, even if vibration and impact are applied to the apparatus, the leaked toner is not scattered. Therefore, there is no fear of affecting the image quality or soiling the hands and clothes of the operator (user).

If an opening/closing member that is opened when the toner is joined is provided at a position corresponding to the joint portion, the opening/closing member is closed when the toner is not joined, and therefore, leakage of the toner from the joint portion before and after the joining operation can be suppressed. Further, if the capturing member is a porous member having a plurality of micro-cells capable of receiving toner particles, the toner as fine particles enters the micro-cells and is captured and fixed. Such a porous member may be, for example, a foam of polyurethane with continuous bubbles, which is easily available at low cost and easy to handle. Further, since the image forming process unit and/or the toner containing portion are detachably attached to the apparatus main body from a side portion of the apparatus main body, and the toner supply portion is positioned closer to the user in the attaching direction, there is less possibility that the user's hand and clothes are contaminated with toner when the user performs the attaching and detaching operation of the process unit.

Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of a toner conveyance system of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y of fig. 2.

Fig. 4A to 4C are plan views schematically showing operations of the Z portion in fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The image forming apparatus 100 of fig. 1 is shown by way of example as a printer having an electrophotographic recording section. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a copying machine having an image reading apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or a so-called multifunction peripheral having both of these functions. In fig. 1, an apparatus main body 1 of an image forming apparatus 100 is configured by stacking a paper feed portion 2 of recording paper (paper), an image recording portion 3 of an electrophotographic system, and a discharge portion 4 of printed recording paper in this order in a height direction. The sheet feeding portion 2 for recording sheets includes a sheet cassette 201, a separation sheet feeding roller 202, and a separation pad 203. The paper feed cassette 201 can stack and store a plurality of recording sheets, and can be inserted into and withdrawn from the apparatus main body 1. The separation paper feed roller 202 is provided at the front end of the paper feed cassette 201 in the paper feed direction. The separation pad 203 is in elastic contact with the periphery of the separation paper feed roller 202. Further, similar cassettes may be stacked below the paper feed cassette 201 to provide a multi-stage cassette. Further, an optional paper cassette (not shown) may be provided.

The image recording section 3 is composed of a processing section and a fixing device 11 on the downstream side thereof. The processing unit includes a photosensitive drum 5, and around the photosensitive drum 5, a charging device 6 of a corona charging system, an exposure device 7 including an LED or the like, a developing device 8, a transfer roller (transfer device) 9, and a cleaning device 10 for transferring excess toner are arranged in this order. The processing unit is constituted as a processing unit including the drum unit 50 and the developer unit 80, in addition to the exposer 7 and the transfer roller 9. The drum unit 50 integrates the photosensitive drum 5, the charger 6, and the cleaning device 10 that transfers residual toner. The developer unit 80 incorporates a developer housing 81, agitating and conveying screws 82 and 83, a supply paddle 84, a developing roller 85, and the like. The drum unit 50 and the developer unit 80 are detachably mounted to the apparatus body 1 from the front side of the apparatus body 1, either individually or in a state where both are coupled by some coupling method. Further, it may be a process unit in which all the process portions other than the exposer 7 and the transfer roller 9 are integrated. These processing units can be replaced with new ones as consumables. Here, the front side of the apparatus body 1 refers to a side of the paper surface of fig. 1 facing the front of the eyes. The paper feed cassette 201 is insertable into and withdrawable from the front side of the apparatus main body 1.

The developer unit 80 is a developer in the form of a two-component developer. The developer housing 81 is formed by resin molding and also serves as a developer container. The developer housing 81 contains toner and carrier. The two parallel stirring and conveying screws 82 and 83 stir and convey the toner. The supply paddle 84 supplies the developer to the developing roller 85 to which the bias is applied. A magnetic sensor 86 is attached to the outside of the developer casing 81. The magnetic sensor 86 detects the toner concentration (mixing ratio of toner to carrier) inside the developer housing 81. At a position away from the developer unit 80, a toner container 12 as a toner housing portion and a toner hopper 13 for toner supply are provided. When the magnetic sensor 86 detects a decrease in the toner concentration in the developer housing 81, the toner is replenished from the toner hopper 13 into the developer housing 81 through the auger (pipe screw) 14. In the toner container 12, disposed are: an agitator 121, and a screw 122 for conveying toner to the toner hopper 13.

The toner container 12 is formed integrally with a waste toner container 15 as a toner containing portion. The toner container 12 is configured as a toner cartridge 16 that is detachable from the apparatus main body 1, as described later. The waste toner conveyance screw 17 is connected to the waste toner container 15. The waste toner conveyance screw 17 is conveyed and thrown in step by step: the waste toner removed and recovered by the cleaning device 10. The toner conveying system is configured by connecting a developer unit (process unit) 80 including the developer 8, a drum unit (process unit) 50, and the toner accommodating portions 12, 13, and 15. The toner conveying system is described below.

On the downstream side of the fixing device 11, a switching door 41, a discharge roller pair 42, and a discharge tray 43 are arranged. The switching gate 41, the discharge roller pair 42, and the discharge tray 43 constitute the discharge portion 4. A registration roller pair 18 is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the processing section. Recording sheets (paper) are separated one by one from the paper feed cassette 201 and fed out by the separation paper feed roller 202 and the separation pad 203. The recording paper is positioned by the pair of positioning rollers 18 and guided to the mating portion between the photosensitive drum 5 and the transfer roller 9. The surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly negatively charged by the charger 6 while rotating in the direction of the arrow in fig. 1. An optical image based on image information is irradiated to the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 by an exposure device 7. In this manner, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5. The electrostatic latent image is formed such that the potential of the light irradiated portion changes according to the characteristics of the photoconductor on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5, while the potential of the other portions remains unchanged.

Then, the electrostatic latent image is gradually developed by the developing device 8 to which a bias is applied, and the toner image reaches the mating portion between the photosensitive drum 5 and the transfer roller 9. In this development, at a portion where the potential changes due to the light irradiation, the toner is attracted to the photosensitive drum 5 due to the potential difference with the developing unit 8, and becomes a black portion. In the other part, the toner is not attracted and becomes a white part. In general, a black-and-white toner image is formed based on image information. The registration roller pair 18 is rotated after being controlled to be positioned so that the recording paper can be guided to the registration portion in synchronization with the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5.

The transfer roller 9 is biased and aligned with the photosensitive drum 5. The transfer roller 9 nips and conveys the recording paper while rotating in the direction of the arrow (the direction in which the photosensitive drum 5 rotates). During this time, the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred onto the recording paper. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is removed and recovered by the cleaning device 10. The recording paper with the toner image transferred is guided to the fixing device 11. After the toner image is fixed as a permanent image on the recording paper, the recording paper pushes up the switching gate 41 and is discharged to the discharge tray 43 via the discharge roller pair 42. The feeding and discharging of the series of recording sheets is performed along the main feeding and discharging path P. The main feeding and discharging path P is erected substantially vertically (plumb) immediately after being drawn out from the paper feeding cassette 201, U-folded at the pair of discharging rollers 42, and folded in a direction substantially 180 degrees from the direction of drawing out from the paper feeding cassette 201. With such a layout structure, the entire device can be miniaturized.

The illustrated image forming apparatus 100 has a double-sided recording function. A reverse supply/discharge path P1 merging in a circulating manner is formed from the mounting position of the switching gate 41 in the main supply/discharge path P to the upstream side of the registration roller pair 18. The discharge roller pair 42 is rotatable in the forward and reverse directions. Further, the conveying roller pairs 19 and 20 are disposed on the reverse supply/discharge path P1. In the case of performing the double-sided recording, the recording paper subjected to the single-sided recording as described above is conveyed along the main feeding and discharging path P until the trailing end of the recording paper reaches the discharging roller pair 42. After that, the discharge roller pair 42 temporarily stops and nips the trailing end of the recording paper. Next, the discharge roller pair 42 is reversed, and the recording paper is conveyed from the rear end thereof to the reverse feeding and discharging path P1 by the conveying roller pairs 19 and 20. Then, the recording paper is merged onto the main feeding and discharging path P, and reaches the registration roller pair 18. The recording paper is positioned by the pair of positioning rollers 18, and is guided again to the mating portion between the photosensitive drum 5 and the transfer roller 9, and recording is performed on the reverse side thereof. The recording paper having undergone the double-sided recording is then discharged onto the discharge tray 43 along the main feeding and discharging path P as described above.

The illustrated image forming apparatus 100 also has a function of manually feeding recording paper. A manual feed tray 21 that can be opened and closed vertically is attached to a side portion of the apparatus main body 1. The manual feed tray 21 is closed when not in use, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in fig. 1. The manual feed tray 21 can be opened and closed by operating the handle 211. The manual separation paper feed roller 212 and the separation pad 213 are disposed in elastic contact with each other at the distal end portion of the manual paper feed tray 21, and a manual paper feed/discharge path P2 merging with the main paper feed/discharge path P is provided downstream of the manual separation paper feed roller and the separation pad.

When image recording is performed using the manual feed tray 21, the operation knob 211 opens the manual feed tray 21. A recording sheet is placed on the manual feed tray 21. The manual separation paper feed roller 212 is operated by an appropriate start operation. The recording sheets on the manual feed tray 21 are separated one by the manual separation feed roller 212 and the separation pad 213, and are fed out. The recording paper is conveyed on the manual feeding and discharging path P2, and then merges with the main feeding and discharging path P. Thereafter, the pair of registration rollers 18 registers the position and is introduced into a mating portion between the photosensitive drum 5 and the transfer roller 9, and recording is performed. When double-sided recording is performed on the hand-fed recording paper, the recording paper is conveyed on the reverse feeding and discharging path P1 by the reverse rotation of the discharge roller pair 42, and reverse-sided recording is performed as described above. The recording paper on which recording is completed is discharged onto a discharge tray 43 by a discharge roller pair 42.

Next, the toner conveying system will be explained. In fig. 2, a toner hopper 13 for toner supply and a screw conveyor 14 for toner supply are fixedly provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 1 (above the sheet of fig. 2). The toner supply auger 14 is connected to the discharge side of the toner supply toner hopper 13. The drum unit 50 and the developer unit 80 as process units are detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1 in a state of being vertically integrated. The processing unit is attachable from the user side of the apparatus main body 1 (below the sheet of fig. 2) in the hollow arrow direction X. By this mounting, the toner receiving port 811 of the developer housing 81 is engaged with the toner supply port 141 of the auger 14. Thus, the first toner delivering portion T1 is constituted.

The toner cartridge 16, which is formed by integrating the toner container 12 and the waste toner container 15, is also detachable from the apparatus main body 1. The toner cartridge 16 is mounted from the user side of the apparatus main body 1 (below the sheet of fig. 2) in the hollow arrow direction X1. Here, the hollow arrow direction X, X1 is the same direction. By this attachment, the cylindrical toner supply cylinder 123 is joined to the toner receiving portion 131 of the toner hopper 13, and a second toner transfer portion T2 is constructed. The toner supply cylinder 123 protrudes at the front end portion of the toner container 12. In addition, at the time of this mounting, the waste toner discharge port 171 connected to the waste toner carrying screw 17 of the cleaning device 10 (see fig. 1) is engaged with the waste toner receiving port 151 of the waste toner container 15, and a third toner delivery portion T3 is constructed. The toner delivery portions T1, T2, and T3 thus joined constitute a conveyance system for supplying toner from the toner container 12 to the developer housing 81 and a conveyance system for conveying waste toner from the cleaning device 10 to the waste toner container 15, respectively. The process units 50 and 80 and the toner cartridge 16 are attached to and detached from the front surface side of the apparatus main body 1 in a state where the opening/closing door 101 provided on the front surface side of the apparatus main body 1 is opened.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the first toner delivering portion T1 as viewed from the Y-Y line. Fig. 3 shows a state before the first toner delivering portion T1 is joined. An upstream end of the agitating and conveying screw 82 constituting the developer unit 80 is positioned directly below the toner receiving port 811 of the developer housing 81. The opening of the upper surface of the toner inlet 811 is closed by the opening/closing member 813. The opening/closing member 813 is biased in the hollow arrow direction X by a compression coil spring 812. Further, a toner supply port 141 is provided so as to be opened at a position orthogonal to the hollow arrow direction X on the lower surface of the leading end of the auger 14 extending from the toner hopper 13. The supply port 141 is closed by a closing member 143. The closing member 143 is urged in a direction opposite to the X direction by the compression coil spring 142. Here, the elastic force of the compression coil spring 142 on the auger 14 side is set to be larger than the elastic force of the compression coil spring 812 on the developer housing 81 side.

The joining of the first toner delivering portion T1 is performed as follows. That is, when the developer unit 80 is inserted into a predetermined position of the apparatus main body 1 in the hollow arrow direction X together with the drum unit 50, the front end portion 8131 of the opening/closing member 813 abuts on the acting piece portion 1431. The acting piece 1431 hangs down from the opening/closing member 143 on the screw conveyor 14 side. In this state, when the developer unit 80 is continuously inserted, the compression coil spring 812 is compressed against its elastic force due to the magnitude relationship between the spring force of the compression coil spring 142 and the spring force of the compression coil spring 812. The opening/closing member 813 moves backward in the direction opposite to the X direction with respect to the developer housing 81. As a result, opening 8132 provided in opening/closing member 813 aligns with toner receiving port 811, and toner receiving port 811 is opened. In this state, the rear end of the opening/closing member 813 abuts against the developer housing 81 and prevents further backward movement. When the developer unit 80 is further pushed in, the compression coil spring 142 is compressed against its elastic force, and the shutter 143 moves backward. Finally, the toner supply port 141 on the screw 14 side and the opening portion 8132 of the opening and closing member 813 are aligned with the toner receiving port 811 on the developer housing 81 side. Thereby, the first toner delivering portion T1 is established. When the developing unit 80 is disengaged in the direction opposite to the X direction, the opening/closing members 143 and 813 close the toner supply port 141 and the toner receiving port 811, respectively, by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 142 and 812.

In the above-described operations of connecting and disconnecting the toner supply portion T1, it is inevitable that a small amount of adhered toner leaks to the outside along with the operation of the opening and closing members 143 and 813. Since the leaked toner is accumulated in the peripheral portion of the toner delivering portion T1, the toner is lifted and scattered by vibration and impact during the above-described attaching and detaching operations. A porous member (catching member) 814 is bonded to the surface of the developer housing 81 in the peripheral portion of the toner receiving port 811 at the first toner delivery portion T1. The porous member 814 is made of urethane foam or the like. The porous member 814 has a plurality of microcells within its thickness. Therefore, the toner particles leaking and scattering when the attaching and detaching operations are performed can be captured in the micro cells and fixed. This can suppress the toner from being lifted by vibration or impact.

As shown in fig. 2, the second toner delivery portion T2 is formed by joining the cylindrical toner supply tube 123 to the toner receiving portion 131 of the toner hopper 13. The toner supply cartridge 123 is provided with: projects toward the front end portion in the X1 direction of the toner container 12 constituting the toner cartridge 16. A cylindrical opening/closing member 125 is fitted around the outer periphery of the toner supply cylinder 123. The opening/closing member 125 is biased in the X1 direction by a compression coil spring 124. When the toner supply tube 123 is fitted into and engaged with the toner receiving portion 131 of the toner hopper 13, the opening/closing member 125 is retracted in accordance with the compression of the compression coil spring 124, which is generated against the elasticity of the compression coil spring 124. Thereby, the supply port 1231 of the toner supply cylinder 123 is opened, and the toner supply cylinder 123 is engaged with the toner receiving portion 131. Thereby, the second toner delivering portion T2 is established. The leading end of toner supply screw 122 (see fig. 1) disposed in toner supply hopper 12 reaches toner supply cylinder 123. The toner in the toner container 12 is supplied to the toner hopper 13 by the operation of the supply screw 122.

The toner hopper 13 temporarily stores toner supplied from the toner container 12. When the magnetic sensor 86 of the developing unit 8 sends a signal that toner is absent, the screw conveyor 14 connected to the toner hopper 13 is operated. Toner is supplied from the first toner delivery portion T1 into the developer housing 81. The operation of the feed screw 122 is controlled so that a predetermined amount of toner is always stored in the toner hopper 13, based on a detection signal from a sensor (not shown) provided in the toner hopper 13. The predetermined amount of toner stored in the toner hopper 13 is set to, for example: a sufficient amount of printing operation can be continued until the toner cartridge 16 is replaced with a new one after the toner in the toner container 12 is used up. In this embodiment, the second toner supply portion T2 has less toner leaking from the joint structure, and therefore, it is not necessary to attach the toner capturing member to the second toner supply portion T2. However, when toner leaks due to the characteristics of the joint structure, a toner catching member similar to the above may be attached to the peripheral portion.

Fig. 4A to 4C are schematic plan views showing a process of establishing the third toner delivering portion T3. The toner cartridge 16 is attached to the apparatus main body 1 having the developer unit 80 and the drum unit 50 attached thereto at predetermined positions in the hollow arrow direction X1. Fig. 4A shows a state before the third toner delivering portion T3 is established. The front end side of the waste toner conveyance screw 17 is connected to the cleaning device 10 of the drum unit 50. A waste toner discharge port 171 that opens downward is formed on the front end side of the waste toner carrying screw 17 extending in the direction orthogonal to the rear end of the drum unit 50. The waste toner discharge port 171 is closed by an opening/closing member 173. The shutter 173 is biased in the conveying direction by a compression coil spring 172. On the lower surface of the opening/closing member 173, there are fixed: a cam member 1731 having a cam surface at an angle of 45 ° to the conveying direction. Further, the waste toner receiving port 151 of the waste toner container 15 is opened upward, the waste toner receiving port 151 is closed by the shutter 153, and the shutter 153 is urged in the direction opposite to the conveying direction by the compression coil spring 152. On the upper surface of the opening/closing member 153, a first cam piece 1531 parallel to the X1 direction is connected to the front side thereof, and a second cam piece 1532 at an angle of 45 ° to the X1 direction is integrally fixed upright thereon.

Since the positional relationship is as shown in fig. 4A, when the toner cartridge 16 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1 (see fig. 1 and 2) in the X1 direction, the cam surface of the second cam piece 1532 comes into contact with the distal end corner 174 of the waste toner carrying screw 17. Thereafter, the toner cartridge 16 is inserted, and the shutter 153 is retracted against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 152 by the cam action of the second cam portion 1532. As shown in fig. 4B, the waste toner receiving port 151 is opened, and the tip end portion of the waste toner carrying screw 17 is guided along the cam surface contacting the first cam piece 1531. When the insertion operation is further continued, the cam surface of the first cam piece 1531 moves along the distal end portion of the waste toner transport screw 17, and at the same time, the cam surface of the cam member 1731 on the waste toner transport screw 17 side contacts the peripheral edge corner portion 1511 of the waste toner receiving port 151. By the cam action of the cam member 1731, the opening/closing member 173 is retracted against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 172 as shown in fig. 4C, and the waste toner discharge port 171 is opened. After that, the waste toner discharge port 171 is aligned with the waste toner receiving port 151, thereby establishing the engaged state of the third toner delivery portion T3. At this time, the second toner delivering portion T2 is also established.

As described above, by the establishment of the third toner delivery portion T3, the transfer residual toner removed and recovered by the cleaning device 10 is gradually received again by the waste toner container 15 from the waste toner carrying screw 17. When the toner cartridge 16 is removed in the direction opposite to X1, the cam action of the cam member pieces 1531 and 1532 and the cam member 1731 is released, and the opening/closing members 153 and 173 close the waste toner receiving port 151 and the waste toner discharge port 171 by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 152 and 172.

In the operation of connecting and disconnecting the toner supply portion T3, it is inevitable that a small amount of adhered toner leaks to the outside along with the operation of the opening/closing members 153 and 173. Since the leaked toner is accumulated in the peripheral portion of the toner delivery portion T3, the toner is lifted and scattered by the vibration and impact during the above-described attaching and detaching operation. In the third toner delivery portion T3, waste toner is likely to accumulate particularly on the upper surface of the shutter 153. Therefore, as shown by the mesh-like hatching in the figure, a porous member (catching member) 154 made of urethane foam or the like is stuck to the upper surface of the opening/closing member 153 which is always exposed. The porous member 154 has a plurality of micro-cells within its thickness. The toner particles scattered can be captured and fixed in the micro cells when the attaching and detaching operations are performed. This can suppress the toner from being lifted by vibration or impact. In particular, the third toner delivery portion T3 is located on the front side of the apparatus main body 1 closer to the user. Therefore, when the user attaches and detaches and replaces the process units 50, 80 and the toner cartridge 16, the third toner delivery portion T3 is located in the vicinity of the user, and therefore, if toner scatters from this portion, the user's hand and clothes may be contaminated. However, since the leaked toner is captured by the porous member 154, such a fear is eliminated, and thus it is very effective.

In the present embodiment, a two-component developer is used as the developing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a single-component development system. Further, in the case of the non-cleaning manner, there is no conveyance system of the waste toner. The positions of the porous members (catching members) 814 and 154 to be attached are not limited to the illustrated positions. The porous member is similarly attached to a portion near the toner transfer portion where leaked toner is likely to accumulate, thereby preventing re-scattering of toner. Although the process units 50 and 80 and the toner cartridge 16 are attached from the front side of the apparatus main body 1, the present invention is also applicable to attachment from the left and right side surfaces or the back side surface.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than those specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a process unit and a toner accommodating portion arranged in association with the process unit; a toner containing portion connected to the process unit to form a toner conveying system having a toner delivery portion that is detachably engaged with the toner delivery portion; it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the toner container further includes a catching member attached to a surface of a portion near the transfer portion to catch the leaked toner.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an opening/closing member that is opened when the toner supply portion is engaged, at a position corresponding to the toner supply portion of the toner conveying system.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capturing member is a porous member having a plurality of micro-cells capable of receiving toner particles.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process unit is detachably attached to the apparatus main body from a side portion of the apparatus main body,

the toner delivery portion is located on the user side in the mounting direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner accommodating portion is detachably attached to the apparatus main body from a side portion of the apparatus main body,

the toner delivery portion is located on the user side in the mounting direction.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process unit and the toner accommodating portion are detachably attached to the apparatus main body from a side portion of the apparatus main body,

the toner delivery portion is located on the user side in the mounting direction.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is: a developer unit including a developer of a type in which a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier is used;

the toner containing section includes: a toner container for accommodating toner to be supplied to the developing device.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is: a developer unit including a developer of a type in which a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier is used;

the toner containing section includes: a toner hopper for temporarily storing toner to be supplied to the developing device.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the developing device includes: a developer housing formed with a toner receiving port,

a screw conveyor formed with a toner supply port connected to the discharge side of the toner hopper,

after the developing unit is mounted to the apparatus main body, the toner receiving port is engaged with the toner supply port to construct a toner delivery portion.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is: a drum unit having a cleaning device for removing residual toner and recovering it as waste toner,

the toner containing section includes: a waste toner container for accommodating the waste toner.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cleaning device has a waste toner conveying auger having a waste toner discharge port,

the waste toner container has a waste toner receiving port,

after the waste toner container is mounted to the apparatus main body, the waste toner receiving port and the waste toner discharge port are joined to each other, thereby constructing a toner transfer portion.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is: a developer unit including a developer in a manner of using a two-component developer containing toner and carrier, and a drum unit having a cleaning device for removing residual toner and recovering it as waste toner;

the toner containing section includes: a toner container for containing toner to be supplied to the developing device, and a waste toner container for containing the waste toner;

the toner container is formed integrally with the waste toner container.