JP2011248131A - Toner collection container and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner collection container and an image formation device that facilitate cleaning inside a container body.SOLUTION: A toner collection container 2 includes a collection area A1 for collecting toners and a detection area A2 for collecting toners that overflows from the collection area A1. A detection window 60 is provided in the detection area A2 and detects inside the toner collection container 2 being full of toners. A partition member 62b separates inside a container body 50 so that the collection area A1 and the detection area A2 are arranged in horizontal direction. There is space Sp between a bottom edge S1 of the partition member 62b and a bottom surface S2 of the toner collection container 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner collection container and an image forming apparatus, and more specifically to a toner collection container and an image forming apparatus that can easily clean the inside of the container body.

  As a conventional toner collection container, for example, a toner collection container described below is known. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional structure diagram of a conventional toner recovery container 500.

  The toner recovery container 500 of FIG. 9 includes a main body 515, a detection window 522, a partition member 525, a discharge port 532, and a cap 531.

  The main body 515 is provided with a recovery area 523 and a detection area 524. The collection area 523 and the detection area 524 are partitioned by a partition member 525 so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction.

  The inflow portion 517 is attached to the main body 515 and discharges waste toner (hereinafter simply referred to as toner) generated in the image forming apparatus main body on which the toner recovery container 500 is mounted to the recovery area 523. The collection area 523 stores toner. The detection area 524 stores the toner that overflows from the collection area 523 when the collection area 523 is full of toner.

  Here, the detection window 522 is provided in the detection region 524, and is configured by a transparent member. Thereby, the amount of toner accommodated in the detection region 524 can be observed from the outside through the detection window 522. Then, when the detection window 522 is blocked by toner, the control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus performs toner based on the output of a sensor (not shown) attached to the detection window 522. It is determined that the collection container 500 is full.

  In the toner recovery container 500 as described above, a recovery area 523 and a detection area 524 are provided. If the volume of the collection area 523 is sufficiently larger than the volume of the detection area 524, when the collection area 523 is full of toner, the amount of toner contained in the detection area 524 is increased. Regardless, it can be considered that the toner collection container 500 is full of toner. Therefore, the detection window 522 may be provided either above the detection region 524 or below the detection region 524. Therefore, in the toner recovery area 500, the degree of freedom of the position of the detection window 522 can be increased.

  The toner collection container 500 as described above is cleaned by the method described below. First, the cap 531 that covers the opening 532 provided on the side surface of the main body 515 is removed, and the toner is discharged from the opening 532 to the outside of the toner collection container 500. Then, air is circulated through the opening 532 inside the main body 515. As a result, the toner remains on the detection window 522, thereby preventing erroneous detection that the toner is contained in the toner collection container 500.

  However, as described below, the toner collection container 500 has a problem that full detection is likely to occur because the inside of the main body 515 is difficult to clean. More specifically, in the toner recovery container 500, the partition member 525 extends vertically upward from the bottom surface of the main body 515. For this reason, the air may not sufficiently circulate to the bottom of the detection area 524, and toner may remain in the detection window 522. As a result, the toner collection container 500 is not full, but the toner adheres to the detection window 522, so that there is a possibility that an erroneous detection that the toner collection container 500 is full may occur.

  As the toner collection container, for example, a toner collection container described in Patent Document 1 is known. However, in the toner collection container described in Patent Document 1, the main body is not partitioned into two regions, so the above problem does not occur.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-45743

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner recovery container and an image forming apparatus that can easily clean the inside of the container body.

  A toner collection container according to an aspect of the present invention is provided in a collection area for collecting toner, a container main body provided with a detection area for collecting toner overflowing from the collection area, and the detection area, And a detection window for detecting that the inside of the container body is filled with toner, and a partition member for partitioning the inside of the container body so that the recovery area and the detection area are aligned in a horizontal direction. The collection area and the detection area are communicated with each other by the presence of a gap between the lower end of the partition member and the bottom surface of the container body.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the toner collection container.

  According to the present invention, the inside of the main body can be easily cleaned.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is an external appearance perspective view of a cleaner. 3 is an external perspective view of a toner recovery container. FIG. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional structure diagram of the toner recovery container in AA of FIG. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional structure diagram of the toner recovery container in BB of FIG. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the toner collection container of FIG. 3 from the positive side in the y-axis direction. FIG. 5B is a plan view of the toner collection container with the cover removed from the positive side in the y-axis direction. It is the figure which planarly viewed the detection window of FIG.4 (b) from the positive direction side of az axis direction. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional structure diagram illustrating how the toner collection container is detected to be full. FIGS. 7B and 7C are cross-sectional structural views showing how the toner collection container is cleaned. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional structure diagram illustrating a state where the fullness of the toner collection container according to the modification is detected. FIGS. 8B and 8C are cross-sectional structural views showing a state where the toner collection container according to the modification is cleaned. It is a cross-sectional structure diagram of a conventional toner recovery container.

  Hereinafter, a toner recovery container and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus)
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus including a toner recovery container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an electrophotographic color printer and is configured to synthesize images of four colors (Y: yellow, M: magenta, C: cyan, K: black) in a so-called tandem system. is there. The image forming apparatus 1 has a function of forming an image on a sheet based on image data read by a scanner. As shown in FIG. 1, the toner collecting container 2, the printing unit 3, the paper feeding unit 15, the timing A roller pair 19, a fixing device 20, a paper discharge tray 21, and a main body 110 are provided.

  The main body 110 includes a toner collection container 2, a printing unit 3, a paper feeding unit 15, a timing roller pair 19, and a fixing device 20. The paper supply unit 15 serves to supply paper one by one and includes a paper tray 16 and a paper supply roller 17. A plurality of sheets in a state before printing are stacked on the sheet tray 16. The paper feed roller 17 takes out the paper placed on the paper tray 16 one by one. The timing roller pair 19 conveys the paper while adjusting the timing so that the toner image is secondarily transferred to the paper in the printing unit 3.

  The printing unit 3 forms a toner image on the paper supplied from the paper supply unit 15, and forms an image forming unit 22 (22 Y, 22 M, 22 C, 22 K), an optical scanning device 6 (6 Y, 6 M, 6 C, 6 K), A transfer unit 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K), an intermediate transfer belt 11, a driving roller 12, a driven roller 13, a secondary transfer roller 14, and a cleaner 18 are included. The image forming unit 22 (22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K) includes a photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K), a charger 5 (5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K), and a developing device 7 (7Y, 7K). 7M, 7C, 7K) and cleaner 9 (9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K).

  The photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) has a cylindrical shape, and is rotated clockwise in FIG. The charger 5 (5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K) charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). The optical scanning device 6 (6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K) is controlled by a control unit (not shown) so that the beam B (BY, BY) is applied to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K). BM, BC, BK) are scanned. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K).

  The developing device 7 (7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K) develops a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K).

  The intermediate transfer belt 11 is stretched between the driving roller 12 and the driven roller 13. The toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 4 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 11. The transfer unit 8 is disposed so as to face the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11 and plays a role of primary transfer of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 4 to the intermediate transfer belt 11. The cleaner 9 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 after the primary transfer. The driving roller 12 is rotated by an intermediate transfer belt driving unit (not shown in FIG. 1), thereby driving the intermediate transfer belt 11 in the direction of arrow α. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 11 conveys the toner image to the secondary transfer roller 14.

  The secondary transfer roller 14 faces the intermediate transfer belt 11 and has a drum shape. The secondary transfer roller 14 secondarily transfers the toner image carried by the intermediate transfer belt 11 to a sheet passing between the secondary transfer roller 14 and the intermediate transfer belt 11 by applying a transfer voltage. The cleaner 18 removes the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 11 after the secondary transfer of the toner image onto the paper.

  The sheet on which the toner image is secondarily transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 20. The fixing device 20 fixes the toner image on the paper by performing heat treatment and pressure treatment on the paper. Printed paper is placed on the paper discharge tray 21.

  The toner collection container 2 is connected to the cleaners 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K, and collects the toner removed by the cleaners 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K. As shown in FIG. 1, the toner collection container 2 is provided on the front side of the cleaner 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K. Hereinafter, the configuration of the toner recovery container 2 will be described in more detail.

(Configuration of toner collection container)
Next, the configuration of the toner recovery container 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The toner collection container 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to be detachable from the main body 110 of the image forming apparatus 1 and is a container that collects waste toner (hereinafter simply referred to as toner) generated in the main body 110. is there.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the cleaner 9Y. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the toner collection container 2. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional structure diagram of the toner recovery container 2 in AA of FIG. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional structure diagram of the toner recovery container 2 along BB in FIG. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the toner recovery container 2 is defined as the x-axis direction, and the vertical direction is defined as the z-axis direction. Furthermore, the direction orthogonal to the x-axis direction and the z-axis direction is defined as the y-axis direction.

  The toner collection container 2 is connected to the cleaner 9. Therefore, the connection relationship between the toner collection container 2 and the cleaner 9 will be described by taking the cleaner 9Y as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaner 9Y includes a screw 99Y. The screw 99Y is a conveying means for conveying the toner collected from the photosensitive drum 4Y to the toner collecting container 2. The cleaner 9Y includes a cylindrical protrusion 90Y as shown in FIG. In the protrusion 90Y, as shown in FIG. 4A, the screw 99Y of FIG. 1 is provided. Further, the protrusion 90Y is provided with an opening 91Y facing the negative direction side in the z-axis direction. Thus, the toner collected from the photosensitive drum 4Y is conveyed to the protrusion 90Y by the screw 99Y, and is discharged out of the cleaner 9Y through the opening 91Y.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner recovery container 2 generally includes a container body 50 and sealing members 52 (52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K) and 54. The container main body 50 has a box shape and accommodates toner discharged from the cleaner 9. The sealing members 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K, 54 are provided on the upper portion of the container body 50 and are sheets of urethane or the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing members 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K, and 54 are provided with cuts 56Y, 56M, 56C, 56K, and 58, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4A, a protrusion 90Y of the cleaner 9Y is inserted into the notch 56Y. Note that the protrusions of the cleaners 9M, 9C, 9K, 18 are also inserted into the notches 56M, 56C, 56K, 58. Thereby, the toner discharged from the opening 91Y is accommodated in the container body 50.

  Next, the internal configuration of the toner collection container 2 will be described. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the toner recovery container 2 shown in FIG. 3 from the positive side in the y-axis direction. FIG. 5B is a plan view of the toner collection container 2 with the cover 50a removed from the positive side in the y-axis direction. The cover 50a constitutes a part of the container main body 50, and constitutes the surface of the container main body 50 on the positive direction side in the y-axis direction.

  The toner collection container 2 further includes a partition member 62 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B. The partition member 62 partitions the inside of the container main body 50 into a recovery area A1 and a detection area A2. That is, the container body 50 is provided with a collection area A1 and a detection area A2.

  The partition member 62 is a box-shaped member having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, the partition member 62 does not have a surface on the negative direction side in the y-axis direction and a surface on the negative direction side in the z-axis direction. In the partition member 62, the open negative side surface in the y-axis direction is closed by the inner peripheral surface of the container body 50 on the negative side in the y-axis direction, and the open negative surface in the z-axis direction is closed. It is attached in the container main body 50 so that the surface on the direction side is closed by the inner peripheral surface (hereinafter referred to as the bottom surface S2) on the negative direction side in the z-axis direction of the container main body 50. Thereby, a rectangular parallelepiped detection region A2 surrounded by the container body 50 and the partition member 62 is formed. The detection area A2 is located on the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50. Moreover, the area | region except detection area | region A2 among the area | regions in the container main body 50 is collection | recovery area | region A1. As shown in FIG. 5, the recovery area A1 has a much larger volume than the detection area A2.

  Moreover, the partition member 62 has the cylindrical part 62a as shown in FIG.4 (b) and FIG.5 (b). The cylindrical portion 62a is a cylindrical member having a central axis extending in the z-axis direction, and is provided on the surface of the partition member 62 on the positive direction side in the z-axis direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, an opening Op1 is provided at a position on the positive side of the partition member 62 in the z-axis direction where the cylindrical portion 62a is provided. Thereby, the collection area A1 and the detection area A2 communicate with each other.

  Here, the surface on the positive direction side in the y-axis direction of the partition member 62 is referred to as a back surface 62b. The back surface 62b is a rectangular surface parallel to the xz plane. As shown in FIG. 4A, the back surface 62b partitions the inside of the container body 50 so that the collection area A1 and the detection area A2 are aligned in the y-axis direction (that is, the horizontal direction).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the negative end of the back surface 62b in the z-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the lower end S1) and the negative surface of the container body 50 in the z-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the bottom surface S2). A gap Sp is present between them. As shown in FIG. 5B, the gap Sp is formed by cutting out a part of the long side on the negative direction side in the z-axis direction of the rectangular back surface 62b into a rectangular shape. Thereby, the collection area A1 and the detection area A2 communicate with each other via the gap Sp as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the toner recovery container 2 further includes a transport mechanism 61. The transport mechanism 61 extends in the x-axis direction on the positive side in the z-axis direction with respect to the partition member 62 in the container body 50, and accommodates toner in the container body 50 in a uniform state without being biased. As such, it plays the role of conveying the toner. The end of the transport mechanism 61 on the negative side in the x-axis direction is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the container body 50 on the negative direction side in the x-axis direction. The end of the transport mechanism 61 on the positive side in the x-axis direction is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the container body 50 on the positive direction side in the x-axis direction. The transport mechanism 61 can rotate around the x axis. As shown in FIG. 5B, the transport mechanism 61 includes screws 61a and 61b.

  The screw 61a occupies half of the negative side in the x-axis direction of the transport mechanism 61, and has a spiral shape. The screw 61b occupies half of the positive side in the x-axis direction of the transport mechanism 61 and has a spiral shape. However, the turning direction of the screw 61a and the turning direction of the screw 61b are opposite directions. As a result, when the screws 61a and 61b are rotated in a predetermined direction, the screw 61a conveys the toner toward the positive direction side in the x-axis direction, and the screw 61b moves the toner toward the negative direction side in the x-axis direction. Transport. Accordingly, the screws 61a and 61b convey the toner discharged from the openings 91Y, 91M, 91C, and 91K toward the center of the container body 50 in the x-axis direction.

  The toner collection container 2 further includes a detection window 60 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the detection window 60 from the positive side in the z-axis direction. FIG. 6 also shows the detection sensor 100 in addition to the detection window 60.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the detection window 60 is a transparent window for detecting that the inside of the container body 50 is filled with toner. More specifically, the detection window 60 is a transparent window provided on the wall surface of the container body 50 constituting the detection area A2. In the present embodiment, the detection window 60 is provided on the surface of the container body 50 on the negative direction side in the y-axis direction so as to protrude toward the negative direction side in the y-axis direction. As a result, the amount of toner contained in the detection area A2 can be observed from the outside of the container body 50.

  The detection sensor 100 is a light transmission type sensor that is provided in the main body 110 and detects the amount of toner contained in the container main body 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the detection sensor 100 has a U shape and surrounds the detection window 60 from three sides on both sides in the x-axis direction and on the negative direction side in the y-axis direction. The detection sensor 100 includes a light emitting unit 100a and a light receiving unit 100b. As shown in FIG. 6, the light emitting unit 100 a faces the detection window 60 from the positive direction side in the x-axis direction and emits light. As shown in FIG. 6, the light receiving unit 100 b faces the detection window 60 from the negative direction side in the x-axis direction and receives light. That is, in the state where the toner is not contained in the detection region A2 or the state where the toner is contained only slightly in the detection region A2, the detection window 60 is not blocked by the toner. The light emitted by the light emitting unit 100a is received. On the other hand, in a state where a large amount of toner is stored in the detection area A2, the detection window 60 is blocked by the toner, so that the light receiving unit 100b does not receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit 100a. Thereby, the detection sensor 100 detects the amount of toner contained in the detection area A2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the distance D1 between the detection sensor 100 and the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50 is longer than the distance D2 between the lower end S1 of the back surface 62b and the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50. .

  As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5A, the cover 50a of the container body 50 is provided with a discharge port Op2 for discharging the toner. The discharge port Op <b> 2 is closed with a cap 66. The discharge port Op <b> 2 is a hole for discharging the toner stored in the container main body 50 to the outside of the container main body 50.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the cap 66 is a circular cover member that closes the discharge port Op <b> 2 so that the toner does not overflow to the outside when the toner collection container 2 is used. The cap 66 is attached to the discharge port Op2 from the positive side in the y-axis direction.

(Operation of toner collection container)
The operation of the toner recovery container 2 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional structure diagram illustrating how the toner collection container 2 is detected to be full. FIGS. 7B and 7C are cross-sectional structural views showing how the toner recovery container 2 is cleaned. FIG. 7 schematically shows the toner collection container 2 of FIG. 4 for easy understanding.

  First, full detection of the toner collection container 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7A, the toner discharged from the openings 91Y, 91M, 91C, 91K flows into the collection area A1 of the container body 50. Then, the collection area A1 is filled with toner. At this time, the transport mechanism 61 transports the toner toward the center of the container main body 50 in the x-axis direction so that the toner is not housed in the container main body 50 in a biased manner.

  Thereafter, when the collection area A1 is filled with toner, the toner overflows from the collection area A1. The toner overflowing from the collection area A1 flows into the detection area A2 through the opening Op1 (not shown in FIG. 7A) beyond the back surface 62b. When the toner is stored up to the height at which the detection sensor 100 in the detection area A2 is provided, the detection window 60 is closed by the toner. Thereby, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 100a does not reach the light receiving unit 100b. As a result, a control unit (not shown) connected to the detection sensor 100 detects that the toner collection container 2 is full of toner.

  Next, a method for cleaning the toner recovery container 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7B, when cleaning the toner collection container 2, first, the toner collection container 2 is removed from the image forming apparatus 1. Next, the cap 66 attached to the discharge port Op2 is removed. The toner collection container 2 is tilted so that the discharge port Op2 faces the negative side in the z-axis direction. As a result, the accommodated toner is discharged to the outside of the toner collection container 2 through the discharge port Op2. At this time, the toner in the detection area A2 can pass through the gap Sp and flow to the discharge port Op2.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, air is injected into the toner collection container 2 from the discharge port Op2. At this time, in addition to circulating in the collection area A1, the air flows into the detection area A2 through the gap Sp and also circulates in the detection area A2. Therefore, the toner accumulated on the bottom surface S2 of the detection area A2 and the toner adhering to the detection window 60 are removed by air. As a result, the toner recovery container 2 can be reliably cleaned.

(effect)
As will be described below, in the toner recovery container 2, the container body 50 can be easily cleaned.

  In the conventional toner collection container 500 shown in FIG. 9, the negative end of the partition member 525 in the z-axis direction is in contact with the bottom surface of the toner collection container 500. Therefore, air is not circulated even by air cleaning, and the detection window 522 remains dirty.

  On the other hand, in the toner recovery container 2, there is a gap Sp between the lower end S1 of the cylindrical portion 62a and the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C. Therefore, at the time of cleaning, the toner is collected to the outside of the toner collection container 2 through the discharge port Op2 by tilting the toner collection container 2 so that the discharge port Op2 faces the negative side in the z-axis direction. The At this time, the toner in the detection area A2 can pass through the gap Sp and flow to the discharge port Op2.

  During air cleaning, as shown in FIG. 7C, air is injected into the toner collection container 2 from the discharge port Op2. At this time, in addition to circulating in the collection area A1, the air flows into the detection area A2 through the gap Sp and also circulates in the detection area A2. Therefore, the toner accumulated on the bottom surface S2 of the detection area A2 and the toner adhering to the detection window 60 are removed by air. As a result, the toner recovery container 2 can be reliably cleaned.

  The distance D1 between the detection sensor 100 and the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50 is longer than the distance D2 between the lower end S1 of the back surface 62b and the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50. Accordingly, as described below, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous detection that the toner recovery container 2 is full of toner.

  In the toner recovery container 50, the toner discharged from the openings 91Y, 91M, 91C, 91K flows into the recovery area A1. Then, the collection area A1 is filled with toner. During this time, a part of the toner leaks into the detection area A2 through the gap Sp.

  However, if the detection window 60 is blocked by the leaked toner before the collection area A1 is filled with toner, the toner collection container 2 is not filled with toner even though the toner collection container 2 is not filled with toner. 2 is erroneously detected as being full with toner.

  Therefore, in the toner recovery container 2, the distance D1 between the detection sensor 100 and the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50 is longer than the distance D2 between the lower end S1 of the back surface portion 62b and the bottom surface S2 of the container body 50. The toner leaking to the detection area A2 through the gap Sp does not reach the positive side in the z-axis direction from the lower end S1 of the cylindrical portion 62a, and therefore does not reach the detection sensor 100. As a result, in the toner collection container 2, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous detection that the toner collection container 2 is full of toner.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the protrusion 90Y is inserted into the notch 56Y provided in the sealing member 52Y. Since the sealing member 52Y has elasticity, the sealing member 52Y is in close contact with the outer periphery of the inserted protrusion 90Y. Therefore, there is no gap between the protrusion 90Y and the sealing member 52Y. Thereby, the toner does not leak out of the toner collection container 2.

(Other embodiments)
The toner collection container 2 configured as described above is not limited to the one shown in the embodiment. Therefore, the toner collection container 2 can be changed within the scope of the gist thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the toner recovery container 2 may be further provided with a sheet member 200. The sheet member 200 is provided at the lower end S1 of the back surface 62b so as to cover the gap Sp2 existing between the lower end S1 of the back surface 62b and the bottom surface S2 of the toner recovery container 2. Since the sheet member 200 has flexibility, it bends with the air at the time of cleaning. Therefore, a gap Sp2 is generated between the bottom surface S2 of the toner recovery container 2 and the sheet member 200. Therefore, air circulates and the detection window 60 can be reliably cleaned.

  The length of the sheet member 200 needs to satisfy the following conditions. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the sheet member 200 is deformed by accommodating the toner in the collection region A1, the distance between the detection sensor 100 and the bottom surface S2 of the toner collection container 2 is the sheet member 200. The distance between the lower end on the negative side in the z-axis direction and the bottom surface S2 of the toner collection container 2 needs to be longer. Thereby, in the toner collection container 2, it can suppress that the erroneous detection that the toner collection container 2 became full with toner generate | occur | produces.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a toner recovery container and an image forming apparatus, and is particularly excellent in that the inside of the container body can be easily cleaned.

A1 recovery area A2 detection area Op1 opening Op2 discharge port S1 lower end S2 bottom surface Sp, Sp2 gap 1 image forming apparatus 2 toner recovery container 3 printing unit 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K photosensitive drum 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K charger 6Y , 6M, 6C, 6K Optical scanning device 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K Developing device 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K Transfer unit 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K Cleaner 11 Intermediate transfer belt 12 Drive roller 13 Follower roller 14 Secondary transfer roller DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Paper feed part 16 Paper tray 17 Paper feed roller 18 Cleaner 19 Timing roller pair 20 Fixing device 21 Paper discharge tray 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K Image forming unit 50 Container main body 50a Cover 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K, 54 Sealing Member 60 Detection window 61 Transport mechanism 61a, 61b Screw Second partition members 62a cylindrical portion 62b back 66 cap 90Y projections 91Y opening 99Y screw 100 detecting sensor 100a emitting portion 100b receiving unit 200 sheet member

Claims (6)

A container body provided with a collection area for collecting toner, and a detection area for collecting toner overflowing from the collection area;
A detection window provided in the detection region and for detecting that the inside of the container body is full of toner;
A partition member for partitioning the container body so that the recovery region and the detection region are aligned in a horizontal direction;
With
The collection region and the detection region communicate with each other by the presence of a gap between the lower end of the partition member and the bottom surface of the container body;
A toner collection container. The distance between the sensor facing the detection window and the bottom surface of the container body is longer than the distance between the lower end of the partition member and the bottom surface of the container body;
The toner recovery container according to claim 1. A discharge port for discharging the toner is provided in the container body;
The toner recovery container according to claim 1, wherein the toner recovery container is a toner recovery container. The outlet is provided in the collection area;
The toner recovery container according to claim 3. A sheet member provided at the lower end of the partition member so as to cover at least a part of the gap existing between the lower end of the partition member and the bottom surface of the container body,
More
The toner recovery container according to claim 1, wherein the toner recovery container is a toner recovery container. Comprising the toner recovery container according to claim 1;
An image forming apparatus.

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