JP2010072310A - Waste powder recovery container, and image forming device provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste powder recovery container capable of detecting a fully filled state of waste powder, and capable of determining a period from the detection of the fully filled state up to printing inhibition in response to discharge amounts of waste toner and a deteriorated developer, and an image forming device provided therewith. <P>SOLUTION: This waste powder recovery container includes: divided chambers 10, 14 divided by a partitioning plate 13; waste toner reception ports 7A-E for receiving the waste toner; a waste toner conveying means 25 for conveying and stirring the waste toner supplied from the waste toner reception ports 7A-E to the divided chamber 14; a deteriorated developer reception hole 9 for receiving the deteriorated developer; a deteriorated developer conveying means 30 for conveying and stirring the deteriorated developer supplied from the deteriorated developer reception hole 9 to the divided chamber 10; the first detecting part 35 provided in the divided chamber 14, and for detecting whether the waste toner reaches a prescribed amount or not; and the second detecting part 21 provided in the divided chamber 10, and for detecting whether the deteriorated developer reaches a prescribed amount or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a waste powder collecting container that is detachably loaded in an image forming apparatus having a front door and stores waste powder, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus employing a so-called trickle system that supplies and discharges a developer including toner and carrier includes toner, toner, and carrier as disclosed in Patent Document 1. A technique has been proposed in which a discharge path for conveying and joining the deteriorated developer is provided, and the collected toner and the deteriorated developer are stored in a waste powder recovery container that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

  In the trickle method, in order to prevent the charging performance of the developer from degrading and extend the interval for changing the developer, the developer is gradually replenished in the developing container while the developer that has become excessive (deteriorated) is removed. This is a development method in which development is performed while discharging. In this trickle system, the deteriorated developer in the developing container is gradually replaced with a new developer, and the development characteristics such as the charging performance of the developer in the developing device can be kept constant, and the deterioration of the copy image quality can be suppressed. In this trickle system, it is necessary to replenish and discharge the developer so that the amount of developer in the developing device is always kept within a predetermined range.

  In addition, as in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, a technique for fully detecting a merged waste toner and a deteriorated developer using a magnetic sensor has been proposed. In Patent Document 3, the waste toner scraped off from the surface of the photoreceptor and the waste toner scraped off from the intermediate transfer belt are accommodated in separate compartments, respectively. There has been proposed a waste toner container and an image forming apparatus including the waste toner container that can detect that the waste toner in any of the compartments is full when the waste toner falls from the hole into one detection chamber. Yes.

  In the image forming apparatuses of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is necessary to install a discharge path in the apparatus main body. In addition, since the developing device for discharging the deteriorated developer and the cleaner for discharging the toner are usually provided at separate positions, if the waste toner discharge path and the deteriorated developer discharge path are joined, Therefore, there is a problem about downsizing the entire apparatus and increasing the cost of the apparatus. The waste toner container of Patent Document 3 and the image forming apparatus equipped with the waste toner container employ a trickle development system that discharges two types of waste powders of toner and deteriorated developer because there is one detection chamber. However, the image forming apparatus has a problem in that the amount of accumulated waste powder cannot be detected separately.

Also, the waste powder collection container is usually printed for a certain period of time for the user to prepare a replacement waste powder collection container, rather than stopping the device immediately after the full detection means detects fullness. It can be done. The deteriorated developer is discharged in a developing device employing a trickle system. Therefore, for example, when the trickle method is used for black only, the amount of waste toner and the amount of deteriorated developer that are discharged differ depending on whether color is printed or monochrome. That is, the mixing ratio of waste toner and deteriorated developer is not constant depending on the print mode. For this reason, it is difficult to set the permitted number of prints for the remaining volume in a method in which waste toner and deteriorated developer are merged, a magnetic material contained in the deteriorated developer is detected, and full detection is performed. Regardless of the printing mode, printing must be prohibited for a certain period of time, always assuming the maximum discharge so that it will never overflow, and there is still room to accommodate the waste powder collection container. However, the machine must be stopped and replaced.
JP 11-212361 A JP 2006-119289 A JP 2005-292608 A

  The present invention relates to a waste powder recovery container capable of detecting fullness of waste powder and determining a period from full detection to printing prohibition according to the amount of waste toner and deteriorated developer discharged, and an image including the same. It is an object to provide a forming apparatus.

  As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the waste powder collection container of the present invention is a waste powder collection container that is detachably loaded into an image forming apparatus having a front door, and the internal space is divided into two by a partition plate. The divided chambers, a plurality of waste toner receiving ports that communicate with the first divided chambers and receive waste toner, and the waste toners that are supplied to the first divided chambers from the plurality of waste toner receiving ports. Waste toner conveying means provided in the first divided chamber for conveying and stirring, a deteriorated developer receiving hole communicating with the second divided chamber and receiving a deteriorated developer containing toner and carrier, and the deteriorated development A deteriorated developer conveying means provided in the second dividing chamber for conveying and stirring the deteriorated developer supplied from the agent receiving hole to the second dividing chamber; and provided in the first dividing chamber; The waste toner reaches a predetermined amount A first detection unit that detects whether or not the second developer chamber is provided, and a second detection unit that detects whether or not the deteriorated developer has reached a predetermined amount. .

  According to this configuration, in the waste powder collection container loaded in the image forming apparatus, the waste toner supplied from the waste toner receiving port to the first division chamber constituted by the partition plate that partitions the internal space is stored in the first powder chamber. The deteriorated developer supplied from the deteriorated developer receiving hole is accommodated in the two divided chambers. Waste toner in the first division chamber is conveyed and agitated by the waste toner conveying means, and the deteriorated developer in the second division chamber is conveyed and agitated by the deteriorated developer conveyance means. By providing the first detection unit in the first division chamber and the second detection unit in the second division chamber, printing is permitted when full detection is detected in the first detection unit of the first division chamber containing waste toner. The number of sheets allowed for monochrome printing is four times that for color printing, and when the second detection unit of the second division chamber containing the deteriorated developer is detected to be full, the amount of print permitted is discharged. Therefore, it can be set in the waste powder collection container efficiently.

  Of the first detection unit and the second detection unit, it is preferable that one of the detection units positioned on the main body side in a state of being loaded in the image forming apparatus is disposed below the other. According to this configuration, the amount of waste powder deposited in each divided chamber can be detected by disposing different detectors in each of the divided chambers divided up and down by the partition plate.

  One of the first detection unit and the second detection unit is preferably provided on the front door side, and the other is provided on the main body side. According to this configuration, one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit can detect the fullness of the waste powder by the detection unit provided on the front door and the other by the detection unit provided on the main body. it can.

  Preferably, the plurality of waste toner receiving ports are provided at an upper portion of the waste powder collection container. According to this configuration, it is possible to correspond to the position of the waste toner discharge port of the conventional developing device. Further, even if the waste toner and the deteriorated developer are discharged from a position separated vertically, both can be stored in one waste powder recovery container.

  The detection position on the front door side and the detection position on the main body side are preferably different from each other in the height direction. According to this configuration, the waste powder can be efficiently collected in the horizontal direction by dividing the internal space of the waste powder collection container vertically by the partition plate. In addition, the reliability of full detection can be improved.

  As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a waste powder collection container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an upper division chamber of the waste powder collection container. And a lower detection means for detecting the deteriorated developer accumulation height in the lower divided chamber of the waste powder recovery container.

  According to this configuration, the waste toner accumulation height in the upper divided chamber of the waste powder recovery container is detected by the upper detection means of the image forming apparatus, and the lower portion of the waste powder recovery container is detected by the lower detection means of the image forming apparatus. The deteriorated developer accumulation height in the divided chamber can be detected. Thereby, it is possible to detect the fullness of the waste toner and the deteriorated developer. By optimally setting the number of prints permitted from full detection according to the print mode, the storage space of the waste powder collection container can be used efficiently.

  According to the present invention, the internal space of the waste powder recovery container is divided into upper and lower parts, and the detection unit for performing full detection is provided in each of the divided chambers. It is possible to detect the fullness of the waste powder in the container. Thereby, the accommodation space of the waste powder collection container can be efficiently used by optimally setting the permitted number of prints from the full detection according to the print mode. Even if the waste toner and the deteriorated developer are discharged from a position separated vertically, both can be accommodated in one waste powder collecting container.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 are perspective views of the image forming apparatus 2 in a state where a waste powder collection container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is loaded and a state where it is removed, respectively. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the front door 3 of the image forming apparatus 2 is opened and the waste powder collection container 1 is exposed, while in the state shown in FIG. 2, the waste powder collection container 1 is removed, An image forming unit 5 including imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D for executing printing of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) respectively on the recording paper is provided at one end side thereof. Exposed. In the image forming apparatus 2, the imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are arranged in a line along the horizontal direction under an intermediate transfer belt (not shown), and a photosensitive drum (not shown) for each color. ).

  Although not shown in the drawings, the image forming unit 5 sequentially transfers the toner images of each color from the photosensitive drums incorporated in the imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D to the intermediate transfer belt because they are well-known configurations. A primary transfer portion and a secondary transfer portion where the four-color toner images transferred and overlaid at the primary transfer portion are collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the recording paper. In addition, toner remaining on the photosensitive member and the intermediate transfer belt without being transferred to the transfer destination of the intermediate transfer belt and the recording paper is generated in the gap between the toner image transfer in the primary transfer portion and the secondary transfer portion. However, in order to collect the transfer residual toner, the image forming unit 5 is provided with a cleaning device including a cleaning blade that scrapes off the toner not transferred by the primary transfer unit and remaining on each photosensitive drum. A belt cleaning device is provided that includes a cleaning blade that scrapes off the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt at the next transfer portion by being pressed against a drive roller for the intermediate transfer belt located almost opposite to the secondary transfer portion. ing. FIG. 3 shows a black (K) imaging unit 4D. The toner is supplied to the photosensitive drum 43 through the developing roller 42 of the developing device 41, and the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 43 is scraped off by the cleaning device 44 and discharged from the waste toner discharge port 6D. The deteriorated developer containing toner and carrier is discharged from the deteriorated developer discharge hole 8.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the waste powder collection container 1 is attached to the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 2, the cleaning device is used for the intermediate transfer belt and the imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. A waste toner transport mechanism (not shown) for moving the collected waste toner forward in the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 2 is provided. Thus, when printing is performed, the waste toner is transported forward in the depth direction of the image forming apparatus 2 by each waste toner transport mechanism (not shown), and provided at the front end side of each waste toner transport mechanism (not shown). The waste toner is discharged into the waste powder collecting container 1 through the waste toner discharge ports 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the waste powder recovery container 1 according to the present invention as viewed from the main body side (hereinafter referred to as the back side) of the image forming apparatus 2. On the back side of the waste powder collection container 1, there are waste toner discharge ports 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D on the imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D side and a waste toner discharge port 6E of an intermediate transfer belt (not shown). Correspondingly, imaging unit waste toner inlets 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D and an intermediate transfer belt waste toner inlet 7E are provided. Further, when the waste powder collection container 1 is loaded into the main body of the image forming apparatus 2, the deteriorated developer discharge hole 8 (FIG. 3) of the imaging unit 4D that executes black (K) printing described later of the waste powder collection container 1 is performed. A deteriorated developer receiving hole 9 having a shape corresponding to the deteriorated developer discharge hole 8 is provided at a position corresponding to the reference). In addition, when the waste powder collecting container 1 is loaded into the image forming apparatus 2, a back surface of the lower divided chamber 10 described later is used to detect the accumulated height of the deteriorated developer accumulated in the lower divided chamber 10. A deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11 is provided.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front door 3 side (hereinafter referred to as the front side) of the waste powder collection container 1 to which a cover 12 described later is not attached. The internal space of the waste powder collection container 1 is divided into an upper division chamber 14 and a lower division chamber 10 by a partition plate 13.

  The upper division chamber 14 includes waste toner receiving chambers 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 15E, a waste toner storage chamber 16 and a waste toner discharge chamber 17. The waste toner receiving chambers 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, and 15E include imaging unit waste toner receiving ports 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D and an intermediate transfer belt waste toner receiving port 7E. In the waste toner receiving chambers 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 15E, the waste toner discharge ports 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E are respectively inserted into the waste toner receiving ports 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E for the imaging unit. This is a space for receiving each waste toner. The waste toner receiving chambers 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, and 15E and the waste toner storage chamber 16 are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. A space including the waste toner storage chamber 16, the waste toner discharge chamber 17, and the lower division chamber 10 in the upper division chamber 14 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The waste toner storage chamber 16 is adjacent to the waste toner discharge chamber 17 on the deteriorated developer receiving hole 9 side. The waste toner receiving chambers 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 15E, the waste toner storage chamber 16 and the waste toner discharge chamber 17 communicate with each other.

  The lower divided chamber 10 is adjacent to the deteriorated developer receiving chamber 18 provided with the deteriorated developer receiving hole 9 on the upper surface, the deteriorated developer transport chamber 19 adjacent to the deteriorated developer receiving chamber 18, and the deteriorated developer transfer chamber 19. The chamber includes a deteriorated developer accumulation amount detection chamber 20. A second detector 21 is provided on the back side of the deteriorated developer accumulation amount detection chamber 20 to detect whether or not the amount of waste toner has reached a predetermined amount. The second detection unit 21 includes a deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11 made of a transparent member separate from the main body of the waste powder collection container 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11 protrudes from the main body of the waste powder collection container 1, and has a front wall 22, a right wall 23, a left wall (the same shape as the right wall 23), an upper It consists of a wall 24 and a bottom wall (same shape as the top wall 24). Each of the front wall 22, right wall 23, left wall, upper wall 24, and bottom wall has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. The deteriorated developer receiving chamber 18, the deteriorated developer transport chamber 19, and the deteriorated developer accumulation amount detection chamber 20 are in communication with each other.

  In the upper divided chamber 14, a waste toner transport member 25 (waste toner transport) that transports the waste toner from both sides in the width direction to the center while stirring in order to level the waste toner stored in the waste powder collection container 1. Means). The waste toner transport member 25 includes a waste toner transport unit 26, a waste toner stirring unit 27, and a rotation support member 28. The lower end of the rotation radius of the waste toner conveying member 25 is disposed below the upper end of a waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 described later.

  The waste toner conveying member 25 extends over substantially the entire width direction of the waste powder collecting container 1 body, is configured in a spiral shape, and is supported so as to be rotatable around the axis L. The driving force of a drive motor (not shown) incorporated on the back side is transmitted through the gear portion of the rotation support member 28 provided on one end side of the waste toner transport member 25, so that the waste toner transport is performed. The member 25 is rotatable around the axis L.

  In the present embodiment, the waste toner conveying unit 26 is configured to be wound in opposite directions on both sides of the waste toner agitating unit 27, so that the width of the waste toner conveying unit 25 is stirred while the waste toner is agitated. It can be conveyed from both sides in the direction toward the center in the width direction. A portion corresponding to the waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 of the waste toner conveyance portion 26 is driven by the waste toner conveyance portion 26 as the waste toner conveyance member 25 rotates, and waste toner is collected into the waste toner accumulation height detection window. A paddle 45 to be pushed out inside 29 is provided. In addition, the waste toner agitating unit 27 is configured to rotate around the axis L when the waste toner conveying member 25 rotates, so that the waste toner is appropriately collected at the center in the width direction of the waste powder collection container 1. Can be stirred.

  The lower divided chamber 10 is deteriorated from the side of the deteriorated developer receiving hole 9 of the main body of the waste powder recovery container 1 while stirring the deteriorated developer in order to level the deteriorated developer stored in the waste powder recovery container 1. A deteriorated developer conveying member 30 (deteriorated developer conveying means) for conveying toward the opposite side of the developer receiving hole 9 is provided. The deteriorated developer conveying member 30 includes a deteriorated developer conveying portion 31, a deteriorated developer stirring portion 32 and a rotation support member 33. The lower end of the radius of rotation of the deteriorated developer conveying member 30 is disposed below the upper end of the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11.

  The deteriorated developer conveying member 30 also extends over substantially the entire width direction of the waste powder collecting container 1 main body, is configured in a spiral shape, and is supported so as to be rotatable around the axis M. Yes. A driving force of a driving motor (not shown) incorporated on the back side is transmitted through a gear portion of a rotation support member 33 provided on one end side of the deteriorated developer transport member 30, thereby causing deterioration development. The agent transport member 30 can rotate about the axis M.

  In the present embodiment, the deteriorated developer transport portion 31 of the deteriorated developer transport member 30 is configured to be wound in the direction in which the deteriorated developer transport portion 31 is transported from the deteriorated developer transport portion 31 to the deteriorated developer agitating portion 32, thereby The deteriorated developer can be conveyed from the deteriorated developer conveying portion 31 toward the deteriorated developer agitating portion 32 while stirring the deteriorated developer as the agent conveying member 30 rotates. Further, the deteriorated developer agitating unit 32 is configured to rotate around the axis M when the deteriorated developer conveying member 30 is rotated, and thereby the deterioration of the lower divided chamber 10 of the waste powder collection container 1 is deteriorated. The deteriorated developer can be appropriately stirred in the vicinity of the developer accumulation amount detection chamber 20.

  The opening on the front side of the waste powder collection container 1 is closed by a cover 12 shown in FIG. 6 and sealed by welding. Corresponding between the waste toner receiving port 7A for the imaging unit of the cover 12 and the waste toner receiving port 7E for the intermediate transfer belt, and between the waste toner receiving port 7C for the imaging unit and the waste toner receiving port 7D for the imaging unit. Each part is provided with a handle 34 used when the waste powder collection container 1 is loaded into the image forming apparatus 2. A first detection unit 35 is provided for detecting whether or not the amount of waste toner in the upper divided chamber 14 of the cover 12 has reached a predetermined amount. The first detection unit 35 includes a waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 made of a transparent member separate from the waste powder collection container 1 main body. The waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 protrudes from the main body of the waste powder collection container 1 and includes a front wall 36, a left wall 37, a right wall (the same shape as the left wall), and an upper wall 38. The shapes of the front wall 36 and the upper wall 38 are substantially rectangular. The left wall 37 and the right wall have a shape in which two corners in contact with the upper wall 38 are right angles and one corner in contact with the front wall 36 is an acute angle.

  In the upper divided chamber 14, a waste toner disposal hole 39 is provided at a position corresponding to the cover 12 below the waste toner discharge chamber 17. The waste toner disposal hole 39 is closed by a cap (not shown). The waste powder collection container 1 is detached from the image forming apparatus 2 and the cap of the waste toner disposal hole 39 of the waste powder collection container 1 is removed, whereby the waste toner stored in the upper divided chamber 14 is discharged to the outside and the waste powder is collected. The body collection container 1 can be reused.

  In the lower divided chamber 10, a deteriorated developer disposal hole 40 is provided at a position corresponding to the cover 12 below the deteriorated developer receiving chamber 18. The deteriorated developer disposal hole 40 is blocked by a cap (not shown). In the same manner as the waste toner discharging method described above, by removing the cap of the deteriorated developer disposal hole 40 of the waste powder recovery container 1, the deteriorated developer stored in the lower divided chamber 10 is discharged to the outside, and the waste powder is discharged. The collection container 1 can be reused.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a state where the front door 3 of the image forming apparatus 2 is closed. For ease of understanding, the front door 3 of the image forming apparatus 2 is illustrated as transparent.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, when the front door 3 is closed on the front door 3 at a position corresponding to the waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 of the waste powder collection container 1, the waste toner accumulation height is increased. A waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50 (upper detection means) having a shape surrounding the left wall 37, the right wall, and the upper wall 38 of the height detection window 29 is provided.

  FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50 surrounding the waste toner accumulation height detection window 29. The waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50 includes a light emitting portion 51 on one of the surfaces facing the left wall 37 and the right wall of the waste toner accumulation height detection window 29, and a light receiving portion 52 on the other. The light emitting unit 51 and the light receiving unit 52 are arranged so that the line connecting the light emitting unit 51 and the light receiving unit 52 is horizontal. The light emitting unit 51 and the light receiving unit 52 are merely examples, and may be in a positional relationship opposite to each other. The waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 is used as the first detection unit 35 by the waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50 of the front door 3 of the image forming apparatus 2.

  In a state where the waste powder collection container 1 is loaded in the image forming apparatus 2, a deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window is provided in the image forming apparatus 2 main body at a position corresponding to the second detection unit 21 of the waste powder collection container 1. 11 includes a deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor 60 (lower detection means) having a shape surrounding the right wall 23 and the left wall.

  FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor 60 having a shape surrounding the right wall 23 and the left wall of the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11. The deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor 60 includes a light emitting portion 61 on one of the surfaces facing the right wall 23 and the left wall of the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11, and a light receiving portion 62 on the other. The light emitting unit 61 and the light receiving unit 62 are arranged so that the line connecting the light emitting unit 61 and the light receiving unit 62 is horizontal. The light emitting unit 61 and the light receiving unit 62 are merely examples, and may be in a positional relationship opposite to each other. The deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11 is used as the second detection unit 21 by the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor 60 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 2.

  The waste powder collection container 1 includes the waste toner discharge ports 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D of the image forming apparatus 2 main body and the waste toner discharge port 6E of the intermediate transfer belt for each imaging unit. The waste toner inlets 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D and the intermediate transfer belt waste toner inlet 7E are respectively inserted and attached.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 2 loaded with the waste powder collecting container 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  Color print data obtained by reading an image with an image reading unit (not shown) or image data input from a personal computer or the like is subjected to predetermined signal processing by a control unit (not shown). Input to the image forming apparatus 2. The image forming apparatus 2 modulates the laser beam based on the input image data and projects it onto a photosensitive drum (not shown) to form an image latent image.

  In the image forming unit 5, toner images of respective colors are sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drums incorporated in the respective imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D to the intermediate transfer belt in the primary transfer unit. The four-color toner images transferred and overlaid at the primary transfer portion are collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the recording paper at the secondary transfer portion. In the gap between toner image transfer in the primary transfer portion and the secondary transfer portion, toner remaining on each photoconductor and the intermediate transfer belt without being transferred to the transfer destination such as the intermediate transfer belt and the recording paper is generated. The cleaning device including the cleaning blade of the unit 5 scrapes off the toner remaining on each photosensitive drum without being transferred at the primary transfer unit. In the secondary transfer portion, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt is pressed against the drive roller for the intermediate transfer belt by a belt cleaning device including a cleaning blade located almost opposite to the secondary transfer portion, and scraped off. It is done. The scraped toner is supplied to the waste toner receiving ports 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D for the imaging units and the waste toner receiving port 7E for the intermediate transfer belt in the waste powder collecting container 1. The deteriorated developer discharged from the imaging unit 4D by the trickle method passes through the deteriorated developer receiving hole 9 from the deteriorated developer discharge hole 8, and is supplied to the deteriorated developer receiving chamber 18 of the waste powder collection container 1.

  Regarding the tendency of the image forming apparatus (color), the amount of waste toner generated from the intermediate transfer belt is larger than the amount of waste toner generated from each of the imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, and the imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C. And 4D, it is generally known that the amount of waste toner generated from the imaging unit 4D corresponding to black (K) is larger than the amount of waste toner generated from the other imaging units 4A, 4B, 4C.

  The toners supplied to the waste toner receiving ports 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D for the imaging units and the waste toner receiving port 7E for the intermediate transfer belt in the waste powder collecting container 1 are respectively disposed in the waste toner receiving chambers 15A, 15B, Passes through 15C, 15D and 15E, and accumulates in the waste toner storage chamber 16. In the waste toner storage chamber 16, until the upper surface formed by the accumulated toner reaches the lowest rotation radius of the waste toner agitation unit 27 and / or the waste toner conveyance unit 26 of the waste toner conveyance member 25, The slope is deposited so that it forms an angle of repose. When the upper surface formed by the accumulated toner reaches the lowest point of the rotation radius of the waste toner stirring unit 27 and / or the waste toner transport unit 26 of the waste toner transport member 25, the waste toner near the waste toner transport unit 26 Is conveyed from both sides in the width direction toward the center in the width direction while being agitated as the waste toner conveying member 25 rotates. The waste toner in the vicinity of the waste toner stirring unit 27 is stirred at the center in the width direction of the waste powder recovery container 1 by the waste toner stirring unit 27 configured to rotate around the axis L, and the upper surface of the waste toner is removed. Flattened. In this way, in the waste toner storage chamber 16, the waste toner accumulates so that the entire upper surface of the waste toner is flat while flowing into the waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 of the waste toner receiving chamber 15 </ b> C.

  The deteriorated developer supplied to the deteriorated developer receiving chamber 18 of the waste powder recovery container 1 is such that the upper surface formed by the accumulated deteriorated developer is the rotation radius of the deteriorated developer transport portion 31 of the deteriorated developer transport member 30. Until the lowest point is reached, the slope of the deteriorated developer is deposited so as to form an angle of repose. Then, when the upper surface formed by the accumulated deteriorated developer reaches the lowest point of the rotation radius of the deteriorated developer transport portion 31 of the deteriorated developer transport member 30, the deteriorated development is accompanied by the rotation of the deteriorated developer transport member 30. The agent is conveyed from the deteriorated developer conveying unit 31 toward the deteriorated developer agitating unit 32 while being stirred. The deteriorated developer conveyed to the vicinity of the deteriorated developer agitating unit 32 is deteriorated at the center in the width direction of the waste powder collecting container 1 by the deteriorated developer agitating unit 32 configured to rotate around the axis M. While being stirred in the agent transport chamber 19, the deteriorated developer is transported from the deteriorated developer transport chamber 19 toward the deteriorated developer accumulation amount detection chamber 20 until the upper surface of the deteriorated developer is flattened. In this manner, in the deteriorated developer accumulation amount detection chamber 20, the entire surface of the deteriorated developer is deposited so as to be flat while flowing into the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11.

  As described above, the accumulated height of the waste toner (deteriorated developer) increases with the execution of printing. In the image forming apparatus 2 in which the waste powder collection container 1 is loaded, the user is not informed after the waste powder collection container 1 is full, but a period in which another waste powder collection container 1 is prepared. Need to let them know before they are full. Whether or not the waste powder collection container 1 is approaching a full state is detected based on whether or not a predetermined height inside the detection windows 11 and 26 has been reached. The state approaching the full state is, for example, a state where 90% of the full amount is stored.

  The accumulated height of toner accumulated in the waste toner accumulation height detection window 29 is detected by a waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50. The waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50 determines whether or not the upper surface of the waste toner has reached a predetermined waste toner accumulation height based on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting unit 51 can be received by the light receiving unit 52. To do. When the light emitted from the light emitting unit 51 can be received by the light receiving unit 52, it means that the waste toner accumulation height is lower in the vertical direction than the light emitting unit 51 (light receiving unit 52). The waste toner accumulation height at which light emitted from the light emitting unit 51 cannot be received for the first time by the light receiving unit 52 means that the height of the waste toner accumulation is the same as the height of the light emitting unit 51 (light receiving unit 52) in the vertical direction. When the light emitted from the light emitting unit 51 cannot be received by the light receiving unit 52, it means that the waste toner accumulation height is equal to or higher than the light emitting unit 51 (light receiving unit 52) in the vertical direction. . Thus, a predetermined waste toner accumulation height determined by the height of the light emitting unit 51 (light receiving unit 52) in the vertical direction can be detected.

  The deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor 60 detects the deteriorated developer accumulation height accumulated in the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection window 11. The deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor 60 determines whether or not the upper surface of the deteriorated developer has reached a predetermined deteriorated developer accumulation height depending on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting unit 61 can be received by the light receiving unit 62. Determine whether. When the light emitted from the light emitting unit 61 can be received by the light receiving unit 62, it means that the deteriorated developer deposition height is lower in the vertical direction than the light emitting unit 61 (light receiving unit 62). The deteriorated developer deposition height at which the light emitted from the light emitting unit 61 cannot be received for the first time by the light receiving unit 62 means that the height of the deteriorated developer is the same as the height of the light emitting unit 61 (light receiving unit 62) in the vertical direction. If the light emitted from the light emitting unit 61 cannot be received by the light receiving unit 62, it means that the deteriorated developer deposition height is equal to or higher than the light emitting unit 61 (light receiving unit 62) in the vertical direction. To do. Thus, a predetermined deteriorated developer deposition height determined by the height of the light emitting unit 61 (light receiving unit 62) in the vertical direction can be detected.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to detect whether or not the waste toner accumulation height (deteriorated developer accumulation height) has reached a predetermined height. Until the waste toner accumulation height (degraded developer accumulation height) is reached, the count value of the number of printed sheets is not counted up at all. Therefore, there is no restriction on the number of prints in any color printing. However, after reaching a predetermined waste toner accumulation height (degraded developer accumulation height), the number of prints is limited, and the control method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is detected that the waste toner accumulation height (deteriorated developer accumulation height) has reached a predetermined height. As a result, a “replacement display” is displayed on the display screen (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 2 to notify the user that the waste powder collection container 1 needs to be replaced. It is determined whether or not the detection is a detection in the upper side (divided chamber) 14 (step S1). If an ON signal is input from the waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50 in the upper side (divided chamber) 14, it is determined whether or not color printing is performed (step S2). If it is color printing, “4” is counted up as a count value (step S3), and if it is monochrome printing, “1” is added as a count value (step S4). If an ON signal is input from the deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor 60, “1” is added as a count value regardless of whether color printing or monochrome printing is performed (step S5). In step S3, “4” is added as the count value when the ON signal is input from the waste toner accumulation height detection sensor 50, and in the case of color printing, yellow (Y), This is because the toner discarded from the image forming units of magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) is collected in the waste powder collecting container 1.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the sum of the count values obtained in steps S3 and S4 or the count value obtained in S5 is equal to or greater than a preset count upper limit (set number of sheets) (steps S6 to S8). . For the count upper limit value (set number of sheets), a value predicted to become full from detection of “predetermined height” indicating that the waste powder collection container 1 is approaching full is obtained from, for example, experiments. be able to. If the total of the count values is less than the count upper limit value, the count value determined in any one of steps S3 to S5 is added every time the printing operation on the next recording sheet is completed. In Steps S6 to S8, when the total count value is equal to or greater than the count upper limit value, it is determined that the waste powder collection container is full (Steps S6 to S8).

  According to such a control example, the count value is made different depending on which detection sensor 50, 60 receives the ON signal first. Specifically, when an ON signal is input from the waste toner detection sensor 50, the count value is made different depending on whether or not color printing is performed. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine from a nearly full state to a full state, despite the simple configuration.

  According to the present invention, the internal space of the waste powder collection container 1 is divided into upper and lower parts, and the first detection unit 35 and the second detection unit 21 for performing full detection are provided in the respective divided chambers 10 and 12. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the fullness of the waste powder in the waste powder collection container 1 while having an inexpensive and simple configuration. Thereby, the accommodation space of the waste powder recovery container 1 can be efficiently used by optimally setting the number of allowed prints from the full detection according to the print mode. Further, even when the waste toner and the deteriorated developer are discharged from a vertically separated position as in the imaging unit 4 </ b> D shown in FIG. 3, both can be accommodated in one waste powder collection container 1.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus in a state where a front door is opened and a waste powder collection container according to an embodiment of the present invention is loaded. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus in a state where the front door is opened and the waste powder collection container according to the embodiment of the present invention is removed. The perspective view of the imaging unit carrying a trickle development system. The back side perspective view of the waste powder collection container concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The front side perspective view of the waste powder collection container concerning the embodiment of the present invention which is not attached with a cover. The perspective view of the cover welded to the image forming apparatus front side of the waste powder recovery container concerning embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus with a front door closed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between a waste toner accumulation height detection sensor of an image forming apparatus and a waste toner accumulation height detection window of a waste powder collection container in a state where a front door is closed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a deteriorated developer accumulation height detection sensor of the image forming apparatus. 7 is a flowchart showing a control method until the image forming apparatus becomes unable to print after the waste toner accumulation height (degraded developer accumulation height) reaches a predetermined height.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Waste powder collection container 2 Image forming apparatus 3 Front door 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D Imaging unit 5 Image forming part 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E Waste toner discharge port 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D Waste for imaging unit Toner receiving port 7E Waste toner receiving port for intermediate transfer belt 8 Degraded developer discharge hole 9 Degraded developer receiving hole 10 Lower divided chamber 11 Degraded developer accumulation height detection window 12 Cover 13 Partition plate 14 Upper divided chamber 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E Waste toner receiving chamber 16 Waste toner storage chamber 17 Waste toner discharge chamber 18 Degraded developer receiving chamber 19 Degraded developer transport chamber 20 Degraded developer accumulation amount detection chamber 21 Second detection portion 22 Front wall 23 Right wall 24 Upper wall 25 Waste toner conveying member (waste toner conveying means)
26 Waste toner transport unit 27 Waste toner stirring unit 28 Rotating support member 29 Waste toner accumulation height detection window 30 Degraded developer transport member (degraded developer transport unit)
Reference Signs List 31 Degraded Developer Conveying Section 32 Degraded Developer Stirring Section 33 Rotating Support Member 34 Handle 35 First Detection Section 36 Front Wall 37 Left Wall 38 Top Wall 39 Waste Toner Disposal Hole 40 Degraded Developer Disposal Hole 41 Developing Device 42 Developing Roller 43 Photosensitive drum 44 Cleaning device 45 Paddle 50 Waste toner accumulation height detection sensor (upper detection means)
51 Light Emitting Unit 52 Light Receiving Unit 60 Degraded Developer Accumulated Height Detection Sensor (Lower Detection Unit)
61 Light-emitting unit 62 Light-receiving unit L-axis center M-axis center

Claims (6)

In a waste powder collection container that is detachably loaded into an image forming apparatus having a front door,
A divided chamber in which the internal space is divided into two by a partition plate;
A plurality of waste toner receiving ports communicating with the first division chamber and receiving waste toner;
Waste toner conveying means provided in the first division chamber for conveying and stirring the waste toner supplied from the plurality of waste toner receiving ports to the first division chamber;
A deteriorated developer receiving hole communicating with the second divided chamber and receiving a deteriorated developer containing toner and a carrier;
A deteriorated developer conveying means provided in the second divided chamber for conveying and stirring the deteriorated developer supplied to the second divided chamber from the deteriorated developer receiving hole;
A first detector provided in the first division chamber for detecting whether or not the waste toner has reached a predetermined amount;
A second detection unit provided in the second division chamber for detecting whether or not the deteriorated developer has reached a predetermined amount;
A waste powder collection container comprising:   Among the first detection unit and the second detection unit, any one of the detection units positioned on the main body side in a state of being loaded in the image forming apparatus is disposed below the other. The waste powder collection container according to claim 1.   The disposal according to claim 1, wherein one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit is provided on the front door side, and the other is provided on the main body side. Powder collection container.   The waste powder collection container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of waste toner receiving ports are provided in an upper part of the waste powder collection container.   The waste powder collection container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection position on the front door side and the detection position on the main body side are different from each other in the height direction. A waste powder recovery container according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Upper detection means for detecting a waste toner accumulation height in an upper division chamber of the waste powder recovery container;
Lower detection means for detecting the deteriorated developer accumulation height in the lower divided chamber of the waste powder recovery container;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

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