JP3700638B2 - Image forming unit and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer that mounts an image forming unit and performs printing processing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Today, for ease of maintenance work and printer design reasons, image forming members such as photoconductors, chargers, and developing units are integrated into a single unit, and a method of replacing or maintaining each unit is adopted. . For example, in the case of a tandem printer, an image forming unit is provided for each of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and each image forming unit includes a drum unit, a toner, and a toner. It consists of units.
[0003]
A drum unit (hereinafter referred to as a drum set) includes, for example, a photosensitive drum, a charger, a cleaner, and the like, and a toner unit (hereinafter referred to as a toner set) includes a developer storage chamber and a developing roll. Further, the drum set and the toner set are set in the printer device by being mounted on a mounting portion provided in the printer device, for example, from the front of the printer device.
[0004]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a conventional image forming unit. In the figure, DS is a drum set, and TS is a toner set. As described above, the drum set DS includes the photoconductor (photosensitive drum) 61, the cleaner 62, and the charger 63, and the toner set TS includes the developer storage chamber 64 and the developing roll 65. Further, new toner is stored as a developer in the developer storage chamber 64, and a waste toner collection bag 66 is disposed above the developer storage chamber 64 to collect the waste toner 68 discharged from the waste toner pipe 67. To do.
[0005]
The state shown in the figure shows a state in which the toner set TS has been set in the printer device and has not passed so much time. Therefore, in this state, the waste toner collected in the waste toner collection bag 66 is not so much. However, when the printing process is repeated thereafter, the waste toner collection bag 66 sequentially accumulates waste toner 68, and a new product in the developer storage chamber 64 is obtained. When the waste toner 68 becomes full in the waste toner collection bag 66 as the toner is depleted, the toner set TS is replaced.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional image forming unit, the waste toner 68 is collected in the waste toner collection bag 66 as described above, and is replaced when the waste toner collection bag 66 is full. However, as described above, in the conventional toner set TS, the waste toner is stored in the waste toner collection bag 66. In some cases, the waste toner in the waste toner collection bag 66 that has become full is extracted, and the developer storage chamber 64 is discharged. If new toner is replenished, the developer unit (toner set TS) can be used again.
[0007]
Therefore, a person who wants to sell a so-called pirated toner set TS regenerates the toner set TS by the above method. However, the toner set TS reproduced in this way is reproduced without checking the parts constituting the developing unit such as the developing roller. Therefore, when printing processing is performed using the developer unit regenerated in this way, the image quality cannot be guaranteed and the image forming apparatus has poor print quality.
[0008]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus with excellent print quality.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the unit casing and the waste toner which is disposed in the unit casing and is carried on the image carrier and which has not contributed to the image formation are gradually collected along with the image forming operation. a waste toner collecting bag to the accumulated, comprising at least a waste toner collecting device and a waste toner discharging means for discharging the waste toner to the waste toner collecting bag, the universal image forming unit detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, the waste when waste toner amount collected in the toner collecting bag has reached a predetermined value, in order to enable leak the waste toner to the outside of the waste toner collecting bag at least the unit casing, the waste toner collecting bag said unit This can be achieved by providing an image forming unit having a bag breaking means that can be broken from the outside of the casing .
[0010]
With this configuration, the waste toner is sufficiently collected in the developer unit. When the developer unit is replaced, the waste toner collection bag is broken by the broken bag means. For example, the waste toner is stored in the developer container. By simply entering the chamber and simply removing the waste toner, the developer unit is made in a state in which it cannot be reused, and easy regeneration of the developer unit is prevented.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the first aspect, the smashing means is a slit-shaped opening provided in the unit casing capable of inserting a smashing tool, for example.
With this configuration, the slit-shaped opening can be easily broken by the bag breaking tool, and the waste toner collecting bag can be broken, thereby preventing easy regeneration of the developing unit.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the waste toner collection bag is made of a heat-melting resin, and the smashing means is connected to an electrode formed outside the unit casing and the electrode. The heating circuit means is disposed in the waste toner collecting bag.
[0013]
With this configuration, the heating circuit means disposed in the waste toner collection bag generates heat only by energizing the electrode, and the waste toner collection bag is broken to prevent easy regeneration of the developing unit. Can do.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a unit casing, and waste toner which is disposed in the unit casing and is carried on the image carrier and has not contributed to image formation is gradually collected along with an image forming operation. In the image forming apparatus comprising a waste toner collecting bag to be accumulated and a waste toner collecting device having at least a waste toner collecting device for discharging the waste toner into the waste toner collecting bag. The image forming unit mounted so that the waste toner can be leaked out of the waste toner collection bag at least in the unit casing when the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner collection bag reaches a predetermined value. providing an image forming apparatus including a壊袋capable壊袋means the waste toner collecting bag from the unit casing outside against the It can be achieved by Rukoto.
[0014]
With this configuration, the waste toner is sufficiently collected in the developing unit provided in the image forming apparatus, and when replacing the developing unit, the waste toner collecting bag is broken by the broken bag means. In this configuration, the developing unit is made non-reusable, and easy development of the developing unit is prevented.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, the smashing means is a slit-like opening into which the smashing tool provided in the main unit and the smashing tool provided in the unit casing can be inserted. Consists of.
With this configuration, it is possible to more easily break the waste toner collection bag and prevent easy regeneration of the developing unit.
[0016]
According to claim 6 is the invention of claim 4, wherein said壊袋means is connected to the power supply means for supplying power to the electrode formed on the unit casing external provided on the main body apparatus, and the electrode Heating circuit means disposed in a waste toner collecting bag.
[0017]
With this configuration, the waste toner collection bag can be broken into a wide range, the waste toner is dropped into the developer storage chamber, and the reuse of the developer unit is more reliably prevented.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, the detecting means for detecting that the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner collecting bag has reached a predetermined value, and the destruction based on the detection result. And an operation control means for operating the bag means.
[0018]
With this configuration, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can detect that the toner of a predetermined value has been reliably accumulated in the waste toner collection bag and can know the replacement timing of the developer unit more accurately.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, the waste toner discharging means includes a cylinder having one end closed and at least one discharge port in an intermediate region between the both ends. And a waste toner conveying member that is connected to the other end of the cylinder and conveys the waste toner from the outside to the discharge port of the cylinder.
[0019]
With this configuration, the used waste toner can be transported from the image carrier unit side via the waste toner transport member, for example, and collected in a waste toner collection bag.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, the image forming unit includes, for example, an image carrier unit including an image carrier on which an image developed by toner is formed, and a toner used for development. The developer unit is provided with the waste toner collection bag in a predetermined space of the developer storage chamber.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a tandem type printer apparatus (image forming apparatus) in which the image forming unit of this embodiment is disposed.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, the printer apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 2, a duplex printing conveyance unit 3, and a paper feeding unit 4. Here, the image forming unit 2 has a configuration in which four image forming units 5 to 8 are arranged side by side, and magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), They are arranged in the order of black (K). The magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) image forming units 5 to 7 are configured to perform color printing by subtractive color mixing, and the black (K) image forming unit 8 is monochrome printed. Used for.
[0022]
Here, each of the image forming units 5 to 8 includes a drum set C1 and a toner set C2, and has the same configuration except for the developer (color) stored in the developing container. Accordingly, the configuration will be described using the image forming unit 7 for yellow (Y) as an example. The drum set C1 contains a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a cleaner, and the toner set C2 contains a developing roll and toner. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is made of, for example, an organic photoconductive material. In the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9, a charger 10a, a print head 10b, a developing roll 10c, a transfer device 10d, and a cleaner 10e are provided. They are arranged sequentially. The photosensitive drum 9 rotates in the direction of the arrow. First, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is uniformly charged by applying a charge from the charger 10a. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 by optical writing based on print information from the print head 10b, and a toner image is formed by development processing by the developing roll 10c. At this time, the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 is made of yellow (Y) toner stored in the developing container 10c. The toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9 in this way reaches the position of the transfer unit 10d as the photosensitive drum 9 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and directly below the photosensitive drum 9 in the direction of the arrow. Transferred to moving paper.
[0023]
On the other hand, the paper is transported by the paper feed cassette 11, the standby roll 12, the transport belt 13, the drive roll 14, etc. constituting the paper feed unit 4. The unloaded paper is sent to the standby roll 12 and further sent onto the conveying belt 13 at a timing coincident with the toner image, and reaches the transfer device 10d. Then, the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 10d, and the sheet on which the toner image is transferred moves on the conveyor belt 13 in the direction of the arrow as the conveyor belt 13 moves, and the fixing unit 15 performs heat fixing processing.
[0024]
In addition to the yellow (Y) toner image, not only the yellow (Y) toner image but also magenta (M) and cyan (C) toner images transferred by the drum set C1 and toner set C2 of other colors are transferred to the upper surface of the paper. Then, color printing according to the subtractive color mixture described above is performed.
[0025]
The above-mentioned paper includes not only the paper carried out from the paper feed cassette 11 but also the paper supplied from the MPF tray 16. In this case, the paper is carried in by the paper feed roller 16a and printed by the above-mentioned route. Processing is performed.
The fixing unit 15 is composed of heat rolls 15a and 15b and a cleaner 15c. While the paper P is nipped and conveyed between the heat rolls 15a and 15b, for example, toner images of a plurality of colors transferred onto the paper are obtained. It is melted and thermally fixed on the paper P. The cleaner 15c has a function of removing toner remaining on the heat roll 15a. The paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 15 is conveyed upward or leftward on the paper surface via the switching plate 17.
[0026]
On the other hand, the transport unit 3 for duplex printing is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and is a unit to be mounted when duplex printing is performed by the printer apparatus 1 of the present example, and a plurality of transport rolls 18a to 18e are disposed therein. Has been. In the case of double-sided printing, the paper is once sent upward by the switching plate 17, and when the trailing edge of the paper reaches the transport roll 19, for example, the transport of the paper is stopped and the paper is further transported in the reverse direction. By this control, the sheet is conveyed downward on the left side of the switching unit 17 set at the position indicated by the dotted line, is carried into the sheet conveyance path of the duplex printing conveyance unit 3, and is conveyed by the conveyance rolls 18a to 18e. It reaches the standby roll 12 and is sent to the transfer device at the same timing as the toner image as described above, and the toner image is transferred to the back side of the paper.
[0027]
2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming units 5 to 8 described above, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developing unit. The image forming units 5 to 8 have the same structure in each toner set TS of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). In both figures, first, the toner set TS is composed of a developing roll 30 (10c), a supply roll 31, an agitator 32, a developer storage chamber 34, and a waste toner discharge pipe 35. The developer storage chamber 34 has a waste toner collection bag 36. Is provided. The developing roll 30 (10c) is a roll that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 9 with toner, and a predetermined bias voltage is applied from a power source (not shown).
[0028]
The supply roll 31 is a roll that supplies toner to the developing roll 30, and the agitator 32 rotates to prevent the toner from coagulating and stirs the toner. Further, the waste toner discharge pipe 35 is disposed above the developer storage chamber 34, and the waste toner discharge pipe 35 is formed with waste toner discharge holes 35a to 35d at regular intervals as shown in FIG.
[0029]
One end 35e of the waste toner discharge pipe 35 is closed, and the other end 35f is attached to a waste toner transport member 39 connected to the waste toner discharge port 38 of the drum set DS.
The waste toner collection bag 36 is attached to a waste toner discharge pipe 35, and waste toner falling from the waste toner discharge pipe 35 is collected in the waste toner collection bag 36. Further, a groove 40 is formed on the upper surface of the developer accommodating chamber 34, and a cover 41 is disposed on the upper portion of the groove 40. The cover 41 is a thin sheet and seals waste toner in the developer storage chamber 34. On the other hand, a hole 42 is formed in the housing frame of the toner set TS on the image forming apparatus 1 side, and a cutter 43 serving as a bag breaker is provided above the hole 42 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). .
[0030]
On the other hand, the drum set DS includes a photosensitive drum 9 and a charger 10a and a cleaner 10e disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9. A print head 10b is also disposed above the photosensitive drum 9. ing. The drum set DS is also configured to be detachable from the printer device 1 from the front, for example.
In the above configuration, when the toner set TS is set in the printer device 1 and printing processing is performed, the paper is carried out from the paper feed cassette 11 as described above, and each image forming unit is passed through the standby roll 12. 5 to 8 and charging, development, and transfer processes are executed for each color.
[0031]
When the above processing is repeated, the new toner in the toner set TS is consumed, and the waste toner removed by the cleaner 10e is sent to the toner set TS via the waste toner transport member 39 and collected in the waste toner collection bag 36. Is done.
Thereafter, the above process is continued, and when the waste toner is collected in the waste toner collection bag 36 and the waste toner collection bag 36 is filled with the waste toner, this state is detected by a sensor (not shown). This detection signal is sent to the CPU, for example, to drive the cutter 43. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the toner set TS in the vicinity of the cutter 43 or the like that is a bag breaking means. Based on the detection signal, the cutter 43 is driven in the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. By this driving, the cutter 43 breaks through the cover 41 and the waste toner collection bag 36 through the hole 42 in the frame. Therefore, the cover 41 that has sealed the upper portion of the waste toner collection bag 36 by the cutter 43 is broken, and the waste toner stored in the waste toner collection bag 36 can be mixed into the developer storage chamber 34. Therefore, when the toner set TS is transported and disassembled after the above processing, waste toner leaks from the opening and enters the developer storage chamber.
[0032]
With this configuration, since the toner set TS collected by the pirated manufacturer is regenerated thereafter, waste toner is mixed in the developer storage chamber 34 even if the work is performed, and the toner set TS cannot be regenerated. To. Therefore, the toner set TS cannot be used even if it is filled with new toner, and the easy regeneration of the toner set TS can be prevented.
[0033]
In the description of the above embodiment, the waste toner collection bag 36 is perforated by the cutter 43. However, the cutter 43 may be configured to be movable and cut long in the longitudinal direction of the toner set TS.
Further, a single cutter 43 is used to move and collect waste toner used for each image forming unit (toner set TS) of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B). The bag 36 may be broken.
<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an image forming unit for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.
As described above, the toner set TS includes a developing roll 30 (10c), a supply roll 31, an agitator 32, a developer storage chamber 34, and a waste toner discharge pipe 35. A waste toner collection bag 36 is provided in the developer storage chamber 34. Is provided. Further, the waste toner discharge pipe 35 is disposed above the developer storage chamber 34, and the waste toner discharge pipe 35 is formed with waste toner discharge holes 35a to 35d at regular intervals.
[0035]
The waste toner collection bag 36 is attached to a waste toner discharge pipe 35, and waste toner falling from the waste toner discharge pipe 35 is collected in the waste toner collection bag 36. Further, a heating wire 46 is provided around the waste toner collection bag 36, and contacts 47 a and 47 b are attached to the tip of the heating wire 46. The contacts 47a and 47b are connected to main body side contacts 48a and 48b, and power is supplied to the main body side contacts 48a and 48b from a circuit (not shown).
[0036]
The configuration on the drum set DS side is the same as described above. The drum set DS includes a photosensitive drum 9 and a charger 10a and a cleaner 10e disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9. Is also provided with a print head 10b.
In the above-described configuration, when the toner set TS is set in the printer device 1 and printing processing is performed, the paper is carried out from the paper feed cassette 11 as described above, and each developer unit is set via the standby roll 12. 5 to 8 and charging, development, and transfer processes are executed for each color. When the above processing is repeated, the toner in the toner set TS in each of the developing unit 5 to 8 is consumed, and the waste toner removed by the cleaner 10e is transferred to the toner set TS via the waste toner transport member 39. Sent to the waste toner collection bag 36.
[0037]
When the waste toner collection bag 36 is filled with waste toner, this state is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the main body side contacts 48a and 48b are energized from a CPU (not shown). By this energization, a current flows through the heating wire 46 through the contacts 47a and 47b, and the waste toner collection bag 36 is broken. Due to this broken bag, the waste toner in the waste toner collection bag 36 falls into the developer storage chamber 34 and is mixed into the developer storage chamber 34.
[0038]
For this reason, since the toner set TS collected by the pirated company is regenerated thereafter, it is not possible to fill the developer storage chamber 34 with new toner even if the work is performed. Even if new toner is filled, waste toner and new toner cannot be mixed and used.
[0039]
Therefore, according to this example, the waste toner collection bag 36 can be broken more reliably and the waste toner in the waste toner collection bag 36 can be dropped into the developer storage chamber 34 as compared with the above-described embodiment. It is possible to reliably prevent the toner set TS from being regenerated.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents easy reproduction of a toner set, eliminates deterioration in image quality, and has excellent print quality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming unit used in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a developing unit used in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a developing unit used in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming unit used in the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional image forming unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus 2 Image formation part 3 Duplex printing conveyance unit 4 Paper feed part 5-8 Image formation unit 9 Photosensitive drum 10a Charger 10b Print head 10c Developing roll 10d Transfer device 10e Cleaner 10f Eraser 11 Paper feed cassette 12 Standby roll 13 Conveying belt 14 Drive roll 15 Fixing unit 15a, 15b Heat roll 17 Switching portions 18a to 18e Conveying roll 30 Developing roll 31 Supply roll 32 Agitator 34 Developer storage chamber 35 Waste toner discharge pipe 36 Waste toner collection bag 38 Waste toner discharge port 39 Waste toner conveying member 40 Groove 41 Cover 42 Hole 43 Cutter 46 Heating wire 47a, 47b Contact 48a, 48b Main body side contact

Claims (9)

A unit casing, a waste toner collection bag disposed in the unit casing and carried on the image carrier, which has not contributed to image formation, and is gradually accumulated with an image forming operation ; and the waste toner collection bag In an image forming unit comprising a waste toner collecting device having at least a waste toner discharging means for discharging the waste toner into the image forming device, and detachable from the image forming device,
When the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner collection bag reaches a predetermined value, the waste toner collection bag is disposed so that the waste toner can be leaked out of the waste toner collection bag at least in the unit casing. An image forming unit comprising: a smashing means capable of smashing from the outside of the unit casing . 2. The image forming unit according to claim 1, wherein the smashing means is a slit-like opening provided in the unit casing into which a smashing tool can be pushed. The waste toner collection bag is made of a heat-meltable resin, and the smashing means is an electrode formed outside the unit casing , and a heating circuit means connected to the electrode and disposed in the waste toner collection bag. The image forming unit according to claim 1. A unit casing, a waste toner collection bag disposed in the unit casing and carried on the image carrier, which has not contributed to image formation, and is gradually accumulated with an image forming operation ; and the waste toner collection bag In an image forming apparatus comprising a detachable image forming unit including a waste toner collecting device having at least a waste toner discharging means for discharging the waste toner into the interior,
When the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner collection bag reaches a predetermined value, the image forming unit is mounted so that the waste toner can leak out of the waste toner collection bag at least in the unit casing. an image forming apparatus comprising: a壊袋capable壊袋means the waste toner collecting bag from the unit casing outside against the unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the smashing means comprises a smashing tool provided in a main body device and a slit-like opening into which the smashing tool provided in the unit casing can be inserted. The壊袋means be comprised of heat generating circuit means disposed in the waste toner collecting bag is connected to the power supply means for supplying power to the electrode formed on the unit casing external provided on the main body apparatus, and the electrode The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.  And a detection means for detecting that the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner collection bag has reached a predetermined value, and an operation control means for operating the broken bag means based on the detection result. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.  The waste toner discharging means has one end closed and a cylinder having at least one discharge port in an intermediate region between the both ends, connected to the other end of the cylinder, and the cylinder from the outside. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a waste toner transport member that transports the waste toner to the discharge port.  The image forming unit includes an image carrier unit including an image carrier on which an image developed by toner is formed, and the waste toner collection bag in a predetermined space of a developer storage chamber that stores toner used for development. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a developing unit.

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