JP5482984B2 - Toner discharging apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner discharge device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer, and an image forming apparatus including the toner discharge device.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is equipped with a cleaning device to remove toner and deposits remaining on the electrostatic latent image carrier (photosensitive member) and the intermediate transfer member without being transferred to the transfer paper in the transfer process. It is arranged. As the cleaning member of this cleaning device, a cleaning member made of an elastic material such as rubber is used, and the cleaning member comes into contact with the surface of the image carrier or the intermediate transfer member as the image carrier or the intermediate transfer member moves. The toner adhering to the surface is scraped off and cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 14, a cleaning device that cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt includes a cleaning blade 201 that scrapes off toner from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 201 is discharged to a waste toner container by a toner discharge device. As shown in FIG. 14, the toner discharging device includes a cleaner case 200 and a conveying screw 202 that conveys waste toner removed from the intermediate transfer belt to the outside. Furthermore, a toner conveyance path 203 provided in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt so that the waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 201 can be received, and a downstream end of the toner conveyance path 203. And a toner discharge path 204 for guiding the waste toner to the waste toner container.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the toner discharge path 204 has a wall surface 207 inclined obliquely downward, and guides the waste toner obliquely downward from a discharge port 206 on the downstream side of the toner conveyance path 203 in the waste toner conveyance direction. The thing is proposed (patent document 1). Thus, the wall surface 207 of the toner discharge path 204 is inclined for the following reason. That is, since there is a pair of registration rollers near the waste toner container, a member such as a registration sensor must be arranged. For this reason, for convenience of layout, it is not possible to provide an entrance portion of the waste toner container (exit of the toner discharge path) immediately below the discharge port 206 of the toner conveyance path 203, and the toner discharge path 204 can be provided vertically. Can not.

  In the toner discharging apparatus having the above-described configuration, when the cleaning blade 201 scrapes off the toner on the intermediate transfer belt and the waste toner is supplied to the toner transport path 203, the transport screw 202 removes the waste toner from the upstream side to the downstream side. Transport to. Then, the waste toner transported to the discharge port 206 of the toner transport path 203 naturally falls into the toner discharge path 204, is guided to the wall surface 207 of the toner discharge path 204, and is discharged to the waste toner container.

  As described above, since the toner discharge path 204 is inclined (30 ° in the illustrated example) with respect to the vertical direction, the outlet of the toner discharge path 204 is obliquely downward with respect to the discharge port 206 of the toner transport path 203. It will shift. As a result, the waste toner that naturally falls from the discharge port 206 of the toner conveyance path 203 tends to adhere to the wall surface 207 of the toner discharge path 204 in the vicinity immediately below the discharge port 206 as indicated by a range H in FIG. For this reason, when waste toner stagnates in the toner discharge path and solidification of this stagnant waste toner (so-called waste toner lock) occurs, waste toner clogging occurs, and the waste toner may be discharged to the toner container. Can not.

  Therefore, in view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a toner discharge device capable of preventing clogging of waste toner in a toner discharge path, and an image forming apparatus including the toner discharge device.

  A toner discharge device according to the present invention is a toner discharge device that discharges toner removed from the surface of an image carrier by a cleaning device including a cleaning member, and includes a toner conveyance path that supplies waste toner removed by the cleaning member. A toner conveying path for conveying waste toner in the toner conveying path; a toner discharging path having an outlet disposed obliquely downward with respect to a discharge port of the toner conveying path; Toner that falls vertically downward from the discharge port to the toner discharge path or toner that falls vertically downward and adheres to the toner discharge path is guided to the outlet of the toner discharge path and discharged out of the toner discharge path. And a removing means for performing.

  When the exit of the toner discharge path is disposed obliquely below the discharge port of the toner conveyance path, waste toner that has naturally dropped from the discharge port tends to adhere to the toner discharge path. Therefore, in the toner discharge device of the present invention, the waste toner falling vertically downward in the toner discharge path can be guided by the removing means to the outlet of the toner discharge path, and the waste toner adheres to the toner discharge path. Can be prevented. Further, when the toner drops to the lower side in the vertical direction and adheres to the toner discharge path, the toner attached by the removing means can be removed and guided to the outlet of the toner discharge path. Furthermore, the waste toner that has been aggregated into a lump can be finely dispersed by the removing means.

  The conveying means includes a conveying screw that rotates around an axis and conveys waste toner to the toner discharge path, and the removing means drops vertically to the toner discharging path as the conveying screw rotates. It is possible to operate to remove the toner that has fallen downward in the vertical direction and has adhered to the toner discharge path. Thereby, the rotational force of a conveyance screw can be used as the drive source of a removal means. That is, the rotational force of the conveying screw can be transmitted to the removing means, and the operation of the removing means can be interlocked with the operation of the conveying screw.

  The toner discharge path is inclined obliquely downward and can be constituted by an inner wall of the casing. As a result, the waste toner that naturally falls on the inner wall slides down obliquely downward along the inner wall of the casing.

  The inner wall of the casing has a tapered guide wall that receives waste toner falling from the discharge port of the toner conveyance path, and the removing means includes at least a sliding body that slides on the guide wall of the casing; The rotation mechanism of the conveyance screw of a conveyance means can be provided with the conversion mechanism which converts into the reciprocating motion of the said sliding body which slides on the said guide wall surface. Accordingly, the sliding body can reciprocate so as to slide on the guide wall surface of the toner discharge path by the conversion mechanism, and scrape off the waste toner adhering to the guide wall surface.

  The sliding body of the removing means can reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction as the image carrier travels in the forward and reverse directions. The image carrier is periodically run in the reverse direction to remove foreign matter accumulated on the cleaning member. When the image carrier travels in the forward direction, the conveying screw receives force toward the anti-toner discharge path side to transfer the waste toner to the toner discharge path side. On the other hand, when the image carrier travels in the reverse direction, the transport screw rotates in the reverse direction and transports the waste toner to the side opposite to the toner discharge path, and therefore receives a force toward the toner discharge path. As described above, when the conveying screw periodically reciprocates in the axial direction, the sliding body also reciprocates in the direction orthogonal to the sliding direction.

  The conversion mechanism includes a support shaft that is provided on the downstream side of the transport screw and is misaligned with the rotational axis of the transport screw, and a connecting portion that is connected to the slide body and pivotally connected to the support shaft. Can do. Accordingly, the connecting portion can perform an eccentric motion with respect to the rotation axis of the conveying screw, and the eccentric motion can be converted into a reciprocating motion in which the sliding body slides on the guide wall surface.

  The transport screw includes a transport screw main body and an end member provided on a front end side of a front end of the transport screw main body, and at least the support shaft can be provided on the end member. If a support shaft is provided in the transport screw body, the support shaft may be weak in strength. Therefore, by providing an end member having a support shaft separately from the conveying screw main body and making the end member high strength, the support shaft can be made high strength.

  The support shaft includes a core member that is provided on the downstream side of the transport screw and is misaligned with the rotational axis of the transport screw, and a bearing member that is fitted to the core member. Can be connected to the conveying screw. That is, since the bearing member is interposed between the core member and the connecting portion, the core member and the connecting portion slide smoothly.

  In this case, the end of the core member and the bearing member can be integrated by heat welding. Here, in the heat welding, the end of the bearing member is melted by applying heat, and the bearing member is joined to the core member by applying pressure before the melted portion is cooled and solidified.

  The support shaft can be fixed via a snap fit composed of a male part and a female part fitted to the male part. As a result, the heat caulking process and the retaining member can be omitted, and the number of processes and the number of members can be reduced.

  The sliding body of the removing means may have a flat shape that fits in a plane including the center line of the toner discharge path in the casing or a plane parallel to the plane. Thereby, the pressure receiving area (pressing area) when the sliding body presses the waste toner becomes small, and the load (resistance) against the waste toner of the sliding body can be made small.

  The sliding member of the removing means has at least a first flat part that fits in a plane including the center line of the toner discharge path in the casing or a plane parallel to the flat surface, and the first flat part has a predetermined angle. And a second flat part that fits in a plane formed. As a result, the toner discharge path can be slid in a wide range. Here, the center line refers to a line that forms the center of the inner wall of the casing among straight lines extending along the waste toner discharge direction of the toner discharge path.

  The sliding body of the removing means can be constituted by a linear body. As a result, the pressure receiving area when the sliding body presses the waste toner is reduced, and the load (resistance) of the sliding body on the waste toner can be further reduced.

  In this case, the sliding member of the removing means can be a metal wire having a circular cross section, and its diameter can be 1 mm or less.

  The sliding member of the removing means may be provided with a mountain-shaped bent portion and a valley-shaped bent portion alternately along the waste toner discharge direction of the casing, and scraping off the waste toner at the corner edge portion of the bent portion. it can. Thereby, it is possible to concentrate one point with an excessive load.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes the cleaning unit of the present invention.

  According to the toner discharge device and the image forming apparatus including the toner discharge device of the present invention, even when the layout is such that the entrance portion of the waste toner container (the exit of the toner discharge passage) is provided obliquely below the discharge port of the toner transport passage. The waste toner can be prevented from adhering to the toner discharge path, and the toner adhering to the toner discharge path can be removed and guided to the outlet of the toner discharge path. For this reason, clogging of waste toner in the toner discharge path can be prevented. In addition, since the aggregated and agglomerated waste toner can be dispersed and refined, the fluidity of the waste toner can be improved and the waste toner can be effectively prevented from being clogged.

  When the operation of the removing means is interlocked with the operation of the conveying screw, the motor and the drive gear for driving only the removing means can be omitted, the configuration can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

  If the toner discharge path is configured with the inner wall of the casing inclined obliquely downward, the waste toner slides obliquely downward along the inner wall in combination with the operation of the removing means, so that the waste toner is difficult to adhere and the toner is discharged. It can be easily discharged from the road, and clogging of waste toner can be effectively prevented.

  If the sliding body reciprocates so as to slide on the guide wall surface of the casing to scrape off the attached waste toner, the waste toner can be removed even if the waste toner adheres firmly to the toner discharge path. And the removal effect can be improved.

  When the sliding body slides in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction, waste toner attached to the guide wall surface over a wide range can be removed.

  The crank mechanism can be easily configured by converting the eccentric motion of the connecting portion into the sliding motion of the sliding body.

  When the connecting portion is externally fitted to the core member via the bearing member, the core member and the connecting portion slide smoothly, and the wear of the core member due to the eccentric movement of the connecting portion can be prevented. Long life can be achieved.

  If an end member having a support shaft is provided separately from the conveying screw main body and the support shaft is made strong, the frequency of parts replacement due to breakage of the support shaft can be reduced, and the removal member can be supported over a long period of time. The anti-clogging effect can be maintained for a long time. Further, when the support shaft is damaged, only the end member can be exchanged without exchanging the conveying screw main body part, so that the material can be saved and the exchange work can be facilitated.

  When the end of the core member and the bearing member are integrated by heat welding, the bearing member can be prevented from coming off, and the connected state can be stably maintained.

  If the support shaft is fixed via the snap fit, the number of steps and the number of members can be reduced, and the assembly workability can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

  When the sliding body of the removing means is a flat shape that fits in a plane including the center line of the toner discharge path in the casing or a plane parallel to this plane, the pressure receiving area where the sliding body presses the waste toner becomes small, The load (resistance) with respect to the waste toner of the sliding body becomes small, and the waste toner can smoothly fall down the toner discharge path. Moreover, it is particularly suitable when the space in the casing is small.

  When the sliding member of the removing means includes the first flat portion and the second flat portion, the toner discharge path can be slid over a wide range, and the scraping effect of the waste toner is improved.

  If the sliding body of the removing means is constituted by a linear body, the pressure receiving area where the sliding body presses the waste toner becomes small, and the load (resistance) on the waste toner of the sliding body can be further reduced. In this case, even when the entire sliding body is buried in the toner discharge path, the pressure applied to the sliding body can be reduced, and the waste toner can smoothly fall through the toner discharge path.

  In particular, when the sliding body of the removing means is a metal wire having a circular cross section and the diameter thereof is 1 mm or less, the pressure receiving area where the sliding body presses the waste toner can be effectively reduced, and the sliding body with respect to the waste toner can be effectively reduced. The load (resistance) can be reduced.

  When the sliding body of the removing means has a configuration in which a mountain-shaped bent portion and a valley-shaped bent portion are alternately provided along the waste toner discharge direction of the casing, a single point can be concentrated with an excessive load, It is possible to effectively prevent waste toner from adhering in the toner discharge path.

1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a toner discharge device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a part of the toner discharging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conveying screw, a removing member, and a bearing device that constitute the toner discharging device of FIG. 1. It is a perspective view after attaching a removal member and a bearing device to a conveyance screw. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conveying screw and a bearing device that constitute a toner discharging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is before mounting the bearing member and (b) is after mounting the bearing member. It is a perspective view of the conveyance screw main-body part, end member, and removal member which comprise the toner discharge apparatus of 3rd Example of this invention, (a) is before attachment of an end member, (b) is an end member. After installation. It is sectional drawing of the conveyance screw main-body part and end member which comprise the toner discharge apparatus of 4th Example of this invention, (a) is before attachment of an end member, (b) is after attachment of an end member. is there. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conveying screw and a removing member constituting a toner discharging device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the conveyance screw main-body part and end member which comprise the toner discharge apparatus of 6th Example of this invention, (a) is before attachment of an end member, (b) is after attachment of an end member. is there. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conveying screw main body and an end member constituting a toner discharging device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is before attachment of the end member, and (b) is attachment of the end member. Later. It is a partial cross-sectional view of the conveying screw main body and the end member constituting the toner discharging apparatus of the eighth embodiment of the present invention, (a) before attaching the end member, (b) attaching the end member. Later. It is a perspective view of the removal member which comprises the toner discharge apparatus of 9th Example of this invention. It is a front view of a conventional toner discharge device. It is a side view of a conventional toner discharge device.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 includes four process units 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11Bk configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 12. Each process unit 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11Bk has the same configuration except that it contains toners of different colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black corresponding to the color separation components of the color image. Therefore, the configuration of one process unit 11Y will be described as an example.

  The process unit 11Y includes a photosensitive member 1 as an image carrier, a charging roller 13 as a charging unit that charges the surface of the photosensitive member 1, and a developing unit that supplies toner (developer) to the surface of the photosensitive member 1. A developing device 6 and a cleaning member (cleaning blade) 14 as a cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the photoreceptor 1 are provided.

  In FIG. 5, an exposure device 15 as an exposure means for exposing the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is disposed above each process unit 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11Bk. On the other hand, an intermediate transfer unit 16 is disposed below the process units 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11Bk. The intermediate transfer unit 16 has an intermediate transfer member (intermediate transfer belt) 17 as an image carrier composed of an endless belt. The intermediate transfer belt 17 is stretched around a driving roller 18 and a driven roller 19 so as to be able to run around in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

  Four primary transfer rollers 20 as primary transfer means are disposed at positions facing the four photoconductors 1. Each primary transfer roller 20 is pressed against the photoreceptor 1 via the intermediate transfer belt 17, and a primary transfer nip is formed between each photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 17. A secondary transfer roller 21 as a secondary transfer unit is disposed at a position facing the drive roller 18. The secondary transfer roller 21 is pressed against the driving roller 18 via the intermediate transfer belt 17, and a secondary transfer nip is formed between the secondary transfer roller 21 and the intermediate transfer belt 17.

  A belt cleaning device 22 including a cleaning blade 3 and the like is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. A toner discharge device 35 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) for discharging the toner removed by the belt cleaning device 22 is an entrance (not shown) of a waste toner container 23 disposed below the intermediate transfer unit 16. It is connected to the. The belt cleaning device 22 and the toner discharge device 35 constitute a cleaning unit.

  Under the image forming apparatus main body 12, a recording medium storage unit 24 that stores a recording medium S such as paper or an OHP sheet, a paper feed roller 25 that carries the recording medium S out of the recording medium storage unit 24, and the like are provided. . Further, a conveyance path R for conveying the recording medium S to the stock unit 26 provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 12 is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 12. In the transport path R, a pair of registration rollers 27 a and 27 b are disposed between the paper feed roller 25 and the secondary transfer roller 21. Further, a fixing device 28 for fixing the image on the recording medium S is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport path R (upward in the drawing) with respect to the secondary transfer roller 21. The fixing device 28 includes a heating roller 29 and a pressure roller 30. The heating roller 29 and the pressure roller 30 are pressed against each other, and a fixing nip is formed between them. A pair of discharge rollers 31a and 31b for discharging the recording medium S to the outside of the apparatus is disposed at the downstream end of the transport path R in the transport direction.

The basic operation of the image forming apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG.
When the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive members 1 of the process units 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11Bk are driven to rotate clockwise by a driving device (not shown), and the surface of each photosensitive member 1 is predetermined by the charging roller 13. It is uniformly charged to the polarity. The surface of each charged photoconductor 1 is irradiated with laser light from the exposure device 15, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of each photoconductor 1. At this time, the image information to be exposed on each photoconductor 1 is single-color image information obtained by separating a desired full-color image into color information of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 1 in this manner is supplied with toner by each developing device (not shown), whereby the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image.

  A driving roller 18 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 17 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing by a driving device (not shown). As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 17 is driven to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure. Further, a constant voltage or a constant current controlled voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity is applied to each primary transfer roller 20. As a result, a transfer electric field is formed in the primary transfer nip between each primary transfer roller 20 and each photoconductor 1. Then, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptors 1 of the process units 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11Bk are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 by the transfer electric field formed in the primary transfer nip. The Thus, the intermediate transfer belt 17 carries a full-color toner image on its surface.

  Residual toner adhering to the surface of each photoconductor 1 after the toner image is transferred is removed from the surface of the photoconductor 1 by each cleaning blade 14, and then the surface is subjected to a static elimination action by a static eliminator (not shown). Then, the surface potential is initialized to prepare for the next image formation.

  The recording medium S stored in the recording medium storage unit 24 is sent out to the transport path R when the paper feed roller 25 rotates. The recording medium S sent to the conveyance path R is timed by the registration rollers 27a and 27b and is sent to the secondary transfer nip between the secondary transfer roller 21 and the driving roller 18 facing the secondary transfer roller 21. At this time, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charge polarity of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is applied to the secondary transfer roller 21 to form a transfer electric field in the secondary transfer nip. Then, the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 17 are collectively transferred onto the recording medium S by the transfer electric field formed in the secondary transfer nip. The recording medium S to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 28, and when the recording medium S passes through the fixing nip between the heating roller 29 and the pressure roller 30, heat and pressure are applied to the toner. The image is melted and fixed. The recording medium S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the stock unit 26 by the discharge rollers 31a and 31b. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 17 after the transfer is removed by the belt cleaning device 22. The removed toner is transported to the waste toner container 23 by the toner discharge device 35 and collected.

  The above description is an image forming operation when a full-color image is formed on the recording medium S. A single color image can be formed using any one of the four process units 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11Bk. Two or three process units may be used to form a two or three color image.

  Next, based on FIGS. 1 to 13, the configuration of the toner discharging apparatus, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described. 1 to 13, the same reference numerals indicate the same members or parts.

  FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a main part of a toner discharge device according to the present invention. As described above, the toner discharge device (see FIG. 5) discharges the waste toner removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 by the cleaning device 22 having the cleaning blade 3 and the like.

  The toner discharge device 35 includes a toner conveyance path 36 to which waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 3 is supplied, a conveyance means 37 for conveying the waste toner in the toner conveyance path 36, and waste conveyed from the toner conveyance path 36. A toner discharge path 38 for guiding the toner to the waste toner container 23 (see FIG. 5), and a removing means 39 for guiding the waste toner in the toner discharge path 38 to an outlet (not shown) of the toner discharge path 38; It has.

  The toner conveyance path 36 is a path provided in a cleaner case 40 formed along a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 17. Waste toner removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 by the cleaning blade 3 is supplied to the passage. Waste toner in the toner conveyance path 36 is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side by a conveyance unit 37 described later. An opening is provided on the downstream side of the toner conveyance path 36 in the conveyance direction of the waste toner, and the opening serves as a discharge port 41 through which the waste toner is discharged.

  The transport unit 37 transports waste toner in the toner transport path along the toner transport path 36. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transport unit 37 includes a transport screw 42 including a shaft portion 43 and a spiral portion 44. In the present embodiment, the conveying screw 42 is made of, for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (ABS resin). A support shaft 45 is provided at the downstream end (downstream end) of the shaft portion 43 in the transport direction of the waste toner. The support shaft 45 includes a core member 35 provided at a position (see FIG. 2) that is deviated from the rotation axis O of the conveying screw 42 by a predetermined dimension (2 mm in this embodiment), and a bearing fitted to the core member 35. And a member 56. The bearing member 56 is composed of, for example, polyacetal (POM), and is composed of a short cylindrical portion 57 and a flange portion 58 as shown in FIG. In this case, it is preferable to integrate the end portion of the core member 35 and the bearing member 56 by heat welding. That is, the end of the core member 35 is melted by applying heat, and the bearing member 56 is joined to the core member 35 by applying pressure before the melted portion is cooled and solidified. A motor and a drive gear (not shown) are provided on the upstream side of the conveying screw 42. By driving the motor and the drive gear, the shaft portion 43 rotates around its rotation axis, and the spiral portion 44 is discarded. By pressing the toner in one direction, the waste toner is transported along the toner transport path 36.

  The toner discharge path 38 is a path for guiding the waste toner conveyed from the toner conveyance path 36 to the waste toner container 23. In the vicinity of the waste toner container disposed at the outlet of the toner discharge path 38, members such as a pair of registration rollers 27a and 27b and a registration sensor must be arranged as shown in FIG. For this reason, for the sake of layout, it is preferable to provide an entrance portion (outlet of the toner discharge path) of the waste toner container 23 obliquely below the discharge port 41 of the toner transport path 36. As shown in FIG. The path 38 is inclined obliquely downward. The toner discharge path 38 is configured by an inner wall 47 of a casing 46 provided on the downstream side of the cleaner case 40 in the waste toner conveying direction. That is, the inner wall 47 has a tapered guide wall 47a that receives waste toner falling from the discharge port 41 of the toner conveyance path 36, an opposing wall 47b that faces the guide wall 47a, and a pair of side walls 47c and 47d. (See FIG. 1). The guide wall 47a, the opposing wall 47b, and the side walls 47c and 47d constitute a toner discharge path 38. In this manner, the outlet of the toner discharge path 38 (the entrance of the waste toner container 23) is disposed at a position that is obliquely shifted downward with respect to the discharge port 41 of the toner transport path 36.

  The removing unit 39 is connected to the downstream end of the conveying screw 42 and is provided in the toner discharge path. As shown in FIG. 3, the removing means 39 converts the rotational motion of the sliding body 48 sliding on the guide wall 47 a and the opposing wall 47 b and the conveying screw 42 into a reciprocating motion sliding on the guide wall surface of the sliding body 48. And a conversion mechanism 49.

  The sliding body 48 is constituted by a linear body, and in this embodiment, the linear body is a metal wire having a circular cross section with a diameter of 1 mm or less. As shown in FIG. 3, a mountain-shaped bent portion 50 (hereinafter referred to as a peak portion) and a valley-shaped bent portion 51 (hereinafter referred to as a valley portion) are alternately provided along the waste toner discharge direction of the casing 46. These peak portions 50 and valley portions 51 are formed in a zigzag shape that is connected by a connecting straight line portion 52. As shown in FIG. 1, the sliding body 48 has a shape that fits in a plane including the center line M of the toner discharge path 38 in the casing or a plane parallel to the plane. Here, the center line refers to a line that forms the center of the inner wall 47 of the casing 46 among straight lines extending along the waste toner discharge direction of the toner discharge path 38. Thereby, the pressure receiving area where the sliding body 48 presses the waste toner can be reduced, and the load (resistance) of the sliding body 48 against the waste toner can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conversion mechanism 49 includes a support shaft 45 provided on the downstream side of the conveying screw 42 and a connecting portion 53 that is externally fitted to the support shaft 45. The connecting portion 53 includes a straight portion 54 that is continuously provided from the end portion of the sliding body 48, and an annular portion 55 that is provided continuously from the straight portion 54. The annular portion 55 is externally fitted to the short cylindrical portion 57 of the bearing member 56 and the axial portion of the annular portion 55 is restricted by the flange portion 58 of the bearing member 56. Thereby, when the conveying screw 42 rotates around its axis, the annular portion 55 performs an eccentric motion with a predetermined eccentric amount (2 mm in this embodiment) with respect to the rotational axis O of the conveying screw 42. Become. This eccentric movement of the annular portion 55 is converted into a sliding movement of the sliding body 48 with respect to the guide wall 47a and the opposing wall 47b as described later.

  Next, a waste toner discharging method in the toner discharging apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described. First, when the cleaning blade 3 scrapes off the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 17, the scraped waste toner is supplied to the toner conveyance path 36. Thereafter, the conveyance screw 42 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 by driving the motor and the drive gear, and conveys the waste toner from the upstream side to the downstream side of the toner conveyance path 36. The waste toner that has reached the discharge port 41 of the toner conveyance path 36 naturally falls downward in the vertical direction with respect to the guide wall 47 a of the toner discharge path 38.

  As the conveying screw 42 rotates, the sliding body 48 performs a reciprocating motion that slides on the guide wall surface of the toner discharge path 38. That is, when the conveying screw 42 rotates, the rotational force of the conveying screw 42 is transmitted to the sliding body 48 via the conversion mechanism 49, and the sliding body 48 reciprocates in the directions as indicated by arrows C1 and C2 in FIG. And reciprocating in the direction indicated by arrow D, the toner discharge path is agitated. Thus, by using the rotational force of the conveying screw 42 as a drive source for the removing means 39, the operation of the removing means 39 is interlocked with the operation of the conveying screw 42.

  In this case, the sliding body 48 guides the waste toner that naturally falls downward in the vertical direction to the toner discharge path 38 obliquely downward to prevent it from adhering to the wall surface 47. Further, since the sliding body 48 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the guide wall 47a, the guide is obtained by movement in the direction of the arrow C1 in a state where the corner edge portion of the valley portion 51 is in contact with the guide wall 47a. The waste toner adhering to the wall 47a is scraped off. Furthermore, since the sliding body 48 performs the movement in the direction of the arrow D (that is, the movement toward and away from the guide wall 47a and the opposing wall 47b), the corner edge portion of the peak portion 50 is in contact with the opposing wall 47b. Then, the waste toner adhering to the opposing wall 47b is scraped off by the movement in the direction of the arrow C2. The waste toner thus scraped off slides obliquely downward along the guide wall 47a, reaches the outlet of the toner discharge path 38, and naturally falls into the waste toner container 23.

  By the way, when the intermediate transfer belt 17 travels in the forward direction, the conveying screw 42 conveys the waste toner to the toner discharge path side. For this reason, the spiral portion 44 of the conveying screw 42 is moved in the direction of arrow E in FIG. As a result, the sliding body 48 also moves in the direction of the arrow E. On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt 17 is periodically run in the reverse direction in order to remove foreign matter accumulated on the cleaning blade 3. In this case, the transport screw 42 rotates in the reverse direction and transports the waste toner to the side opposite to the toner discharge path. For this reason, the spiral portion 44 of the transport screw 42 receives a force toward the toner discharge path, and thus moves in the direction of arrow F in FIG. Thereby, the sliding body 48 also moves in the direction of the arrow F. In this way, when the conveying screw 42 periodically reciprocates in the axial direction, the sliding body 48 also reciprocates in the casing in the axial direction of the conveying screw 42, and the guide wall 47 a and the opposing wall 47 b are moved. By reciprocating in the direction of arrow G, the guide wall 47a and the opposing wall 47b slide over a wide range.

  As described above, in the toner discharging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the layout may be such that the entrance (exit of the toner discharge path) of the waste toner container 23 is provided obliquely below the discharge port 41 of the toner transport path 36. The waste toner can be prevented from adhering to the toner discharge path 38, and the toner adhering to the toner discharge path 38 can be removed and guided to the outlet of the toner discharge path 38. For this reason, clogging of the waste toner in the toner discharge path 38 can be prevented. In addition, since the aggregated and agglomerated waste toner can be dispersed and refined, the fluidity of the waste toner can be improved and the waste toner can be effectively prevented from being clogged.

  When the operation of the removing means 39 is interlocked with the operation of the conveying screw 42, the configuration can be simplified by omitting the motor, the drive gear and the like for driving only the removing means 39, and the cost can be reduced.

  If the toner discharge path 38 is constituted by the inner wall 47 of the casing 46 inclined obliquely downward, the waste toner slides obliquely downward along the guide wall 47a in combination with the operation of the removing means 39, so that the waste toner adheres. Therefore, the toner can be easily discharged from the toner discharge path 38, and clogging of waste toner can be effectively prevented.

  When the sliding body 48 reciprocates so as to slide on the guide wall surface of the casing 46 to scrape off the attached waste toner, the waste toner is removed even if the waste toner adheres firmly to the toner discharge path 38. It is possible to improve the removal effect.

  When the sliding body 48 slides in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, waste toner attached to the guide wall surface over a wide range can be removed.

  Since the connecting portion 53 performs an eccentric motion with respect to the rotation axis O of the transport screw 42 and converts this eccentric motion into a sliding motion of the sliding body 48, a crank mechanism can be easily configured.

  When the connecting portion 53 is externally fitted to the core member 35 via the bearing member 56, the core member 35 and the connecting portion 53 slide smoothly to prevent wear of the core member 35 due to the eccentric movement of the connecting portion 53. Therefore, the conveying screw 42 can have a long life.

  When the end of the core member 35 and the bearing member 56 are integrated by heat welding, the bearing member 56 can be prevented from coming off, and the connected state can be stably maintained.

  When the sliding body 48 of the removing means 39 has a flat shape that fits in a plane including the center line M of the toner discharge path 38 in the casing or a plane parallel to this plane, the pressure receiving pressure by which the sliding body 48 presses waste toner. The area is reduced, the load (resistance) of the sliding body 48 on the waste toner is reduced, and the waste toner can smoothly fall through the toner discharge path 38. Moreover, it is particularly suitable when the space in the casing is small.

  If the sliding body 48 of the removing means 39 is formed of a linear body, the pressure receiving area where the sliding body 48 presses the waste toner becomes small, and the load (resistance) of the sliding body 48 against the waste toner can be further reduced. . In this case, even if the entire sliding body is buried in the toner discharge path, the pressure applied to the sliding body 48 can be reduced, and the waste toner can smoothly fall through the toner discharge path 38.

  In particular, when the sliding body 48 of the removing means 39 is a metal wire having a circular cross section and its diameter is 1 mm or less, the pressure receiving area where the sliding body 48 presses waste toner can be effectively reduced, and the sliding body 48 can be effectively reduced. The load (resistance) on the waste toner can be reduced.

  If the sliding body 48 of the removing means 39 has a configuration in which the mountain-shaped bent portions 50 and the valley-shaped bent portions 51 are alternately provided along the waste toner discharge direction of the casing 46, a single point is concentrated with an excessive load. It is possible to effectively prevent the waste toner from adhering in the toner discharge path.

  FIG. 6 shows a support shaft 45 of the toner discharging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the support shaft 45 includes a core member 35 provided at a position shifted from the rotational axis O of the conveying screw 42 by a predetermined dimension, and a bearing member 56 fitted to the core member 35. And. A recess 80 is provided on the outer diameter surface of the core member 35. The bearing member 56 includes a short cylindrical portion 81 and a flange portion 82. A protrusion 83 having a triangular cross section is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the short cylindrical portion 81.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the bearing member 56 is press-fitted from the outside of the core member 35 in a state where the annular portion 55 is externally fitted to the short cylindrical portion 81, the protruding portion 83 becomes the tip portion of the core member 35. Is pressed in the outer diameter direction. As a result, the outer diameter surface of the core member 35 is guided by the tapered portion of the protrusion 83, and when the protrusion 83 reaches the recess 80, the bearing member 56 is fitted into the core member 35 as shown in FIG. Can be made. In this case, the outer end face 84 of the protrusion 83 is engaged with the side wall 85 of the groove 80, and the axial removal of the bearing member 56 is restricted. In addition, the collar portion 82 restricts the annular portion 55 from coming off in the axial direction. In addition, the number of the projections 83 and the recesses 80 fitted to the projections 83 is arbitrary, and the projections 83 and the recesses 80 may be provided continuously along the circumferential direction.

  FIG. 7 shows a conversion mechanism of the toner discharging apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7A, the conveying screw 42 is provided on the distal end side of the conveying screw main body portion 93 and the distal end portion of the conveying screw main body portion 93 and constitutes the support shaft 45. 94. The transport screw main body 93 is made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (ABS resin), and the end member 94 is made of, for example, polyacetal (POM), and the transport screw main body 93 and the end member 94 are The material is different. POM has a low coefficient of friction and excellent wear resistance. Further, it has excellent heat resistance and cold resistance, and has a property that mechanical strength does not deteriorate much even under high temperature and high humidity. Thereby, the strength of the support shaft 45 can be increased.

  At the downstream end of the conveying screw main body 93, a cylindrical half body 62 having a semicircular cross section whose upper surface is cut out flat is provided. The end member 94 includes a main body portion 59, a flange portion 63, a protruding shaft 64 extending in the axial direction from a part of the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 59, and a locking piece 65 protruding from the protruding shaft 64. Has been. And while providing the male part 60 in the edge part member 94, the conveyance screw main-body part 93 is provided with the female part 61 fitted to the male part 60, and the snap fit comprised by this male part 60 and the female part 61 is provided. The support shaft 45 which is the end member 94 is fixed through the gap.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the end member 94 is press-fitted from the outside of the conveying screw main body 93 with the annular portion 55 fitted on the main body 59, as shown in FIG. 7B. The inner end surface of the locking piece 65 engages with the outer end surface 66 of the cylindrical half body 62, and the inner end surface of the main body 59 engages with the outer end surface of the cylindrical half body 62. In this case, the protruding shaft 64 and the locking piece 65 become the male part 60, and the upper surface and the outer end face 66 of the cylindrical half body 62 become the female part 61. As a result, the cylindrical half 62 is sandwiched between the inner end surface of the locking piece 65 and the outer end surface of the main body portion 59, and the end member 94 is restricted from coming off in the axial direction, so The end member 94 (support shaft 45) is fixed to the conveying screw main body 93. In this case, the flange 63 restricts the annular portion 55 from coming off in the axial direction.

  FIG. 8 shows a conversion mechanism of the toner discharging apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In this case as well, as in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the transport screw 42 is provided on the front end side of the transport screw main body 93 and the front end of the transport screw main body 93, and the support shaft 45. And an end member 94. The conveyance screw main body 93 is provided with a hole 70 having an axis shifted from the rotation axis O of the conveyance screw 42 at the downstream end. The hole portion 70 includes a small diameter portion 78 provided on the distal end side of the conveying screw main body portion 93 and a large diameter portion 71 provided on the inner side of the small diameter portion 78.

  The end member 94 includes a main body portion 62, a flange portion 72, and a bulging portion 73 that bulges from the main body portion 62 toward the outer diameter direction. The bulging portion 73 has a truncated cone shape having slits 74 disposed along the axial direction. The outer diameter of the bulging portion 73 on the flange portion side is made larger than the inner diameter of the hole 70 small diameter portion 78, and the outer diameter of the tip portion of the bulging portion 73 is made larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 78 of the hole 70. It is also small. And while providing the male part 60 in the edge part member 94, the conveyance screw main-body part 93 is provided with the female part 61 fitted to the male part 60, and the snap fit comprised by this male part 60 and the female part 61 is provided. The support shaft 45 which is the end member 94 is fixed through the gap.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the end member 94 is press-fitted from the outside of the conveying screw main body 93 in a state where the annular portion 55 is externally fitted to the main body 62, the bulging portion 73 becomes a hole portion. The inner diameter surface of the small-diameter portion 78 of 70 is pressed to reduce the diameter toward the inner diameter side, and is guided by the taper portion 75 to get over the small-diameter portion 78 of the hole 70 to release the reduced diameter state. In this case, the bulging portion 73 of the end member 94 becomes the male portion 60, and the hole portion 70 at the distal end portion of the conveying screw main body portion 93 becomes the female portion 61. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the bulging portion 73 can be inserted into the hole portion, and the stepped surface 76 of the bulging portion 73 engages with the stepped surface 77 of the hole portion 70 to expand the bulging portion. The protruding portion 73 is prevented from slipping outward in the axial direction, and the end member 94 (support shaft 45) is fixed to the transport screw main body 93 by male-female coupling. In this case, the flange 73 restricts the annular portion 55 from coming off in the axial direction.

  FIG. 9 shows a conversion mechanism of the toner discharge device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The conversion mechanism 49 is provided on the downstream side of the conveying screw 42, and includes a support shaft 45 that is misaligned with the rotation axis O thereof, and a connecting portion 53 that is connected to the slide body 48 and hooked on the support shaft 45. Has been. The support shaft 45 is provided integrally with the shaft portion 43 of the conveying screw 42. The support shaft 45 includes a core member 88 and a flange 89 provided at the tip of the core member 88. The connecting portion 53 includes a first straight portion 54 provided continuously from an end portion of the sliding body 48, a C-shaped arc portion 90, an inclined portion 91 extending obliquely outward with respect to the arc portion 90, and an inclined portion. It is comprised from the part 91 from the 2nd linear part 92 extended in parallel with a 1st linear part. The inner diameter dimension of the circle including the arc portion 90 is substantially the same as the outer diameter dimension of the core member 88 and is smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the flange portion 89.

  When the core member 88 is press-fitted into the arc portion 90 from between the first linear portion 54 and the second linear portion 92, the inclined portion 91 is pressed outward from the core member 88 and slightly expands, and the core member 88 is inclined. Guided to section 91. When the core member 88 enters the arc portion, the inclined portion 91 returns to the original position, and the inclined portion 91 restricts the arc portion 90 from coming off in the radial direction. In addition, the flange portion 89 restricts the arc portion 90 from coming off in the axial direction.

  As described above, in the toner discharging apparatus according to the fifth embodiment, the connecting portion 53 is hooked on the core member 88 of the support shaft 45. Therefore, in the toner discharging device according to the first to fourth embodiments, the connecting portion 53 is used. Can be easily attached to the support shaft 45.

  FIG. 10 shows a conversion mechanism of the toner discharge device according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. In this case, as in the third and fourth embodiments, the conveyance screw 42 is provided on the distal end side of the conveyance screw main body portion 93 and the distal end portion of the conveyance screw main body portion 93 and has a support shaft 45. 94. The transport screw main body 93 has an axial notch 97 formed at the downstream end of the transport screw 42. At the downstream end of the shaft portion 43, two circumferential notches 99 and 100 that are notched along the circumferential direction are provided. The circumferential cutouts 99 and 100 are displaced along the axial direction, and are further arranged to be 180 degrees symmetrical. An engagement groove 98 is provided at the downstream end of the spiral portion 44.

  The end member 94 is attached to the conveying screw main body 93, and the shaft part forming part 101 that is a part of the shaft part 43 of the conveying screw 42 and the spiral part forming part 102 that is a part of the spiral part 44. And a support shaft 45. The shaft portion forming portion 101 is provided with two locking claws 105 and 106 at positions shifted along the axial direction. The spiral portion forming portion 102 is engaged with the first spiral portion forming portion 102 a that forms the most downstream end of the spiral portion 44 and the engaging groove 98 of the transport screw main body 93 while being attached to the transport screw main body 93. And a second spiral portion forming portion 102 b that becomes a part of the spiral portion 44. The support shaft 45 includes a core member 107 and a flange portion 108 provided at the tip of the core member 107. While providing the male part 60 in the end member 94, the conveying screw main body part 93 is provided with the female part 61 fitted to the male part 60, and the snap fit comprised by this male part 60 and the female part 61 is provided. A support shaft 45 provided on the end member 94 is fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 10 (a), when the locking claws 105, 106 of the end member 94 are locked to the circumferential cutouts 99, 100 provided in the conveying screw main body 93, FIG. 10 (b). As shown, the end member 94 can be attached to the axial notch 97 of the conveying screw 93. In this case, the locking claws 105 and 106 become the male part 60, and the circumferential notches 99 and 100 become the female part 61. Thereby, the axial direction omission and radial direction omission of end member 94 are controlled, and support shaft 45 can be fixed. The second spiral portion forming portion 102b of the end member 94 is fitted into the engagement groove 98, and the spiral portion 44 at this portion is continuous. Further, the first spiral portion forming portion 102 a is continuous from the spiral portion at the most downstream end of the conveying screw main body portion 93. Thereafter, the removal means 39 can be attached to the support shaft 45 by hooking the connecting portion 53 of the removal means 39 on the core member 107 of the support shaft 45.

  FIG. 11 shows a conversion mechanism of the toner discharge device according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. Also in this case, as in the sixth embodiment, the transport screw 42 includes a transport screw main body 93 and an end member 94 having a support shaft 45. The transport screw main body 93 includes an axial hole 110 disposed along the rotation axis O of the transport screw 42 and a circumference disposed inward in a predetermined dimension in the axial direction from the distal end edge of the transport screw main body 93. Direction hole 111.

  The end member 94 is attached to the transport screw main body 93 and has a shaft portion forming portion 112 that is a part of the shaft portion 43 of the transport screw 42 and a spiral portion forming portion 113 that is a part of the spiral portion 44. And a support shaft 45 and an insertion portion 114 to be inserted into the transport screw main body 93. The axial dimension of the insertion portion 114 is substantially the same as the axial dimension of the axial hole 110. A bulging portion 115 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 114. The bulging portion 115 has a triangular cross section formed by a tapered portion whose diameter increases toward the support shaft side. While providing the male part 60 in the end member 94, the female part 61 is provided in the conveyance screw main-body part 93, and the support shaft 45 provided in the end member 94 is being fixed via the snap fit.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, when the insertion portion 114 of the end member 94 is press-fitted from the outside into the axial hole 110 of the transport screw main body 93, the bulging portion 115 is in the axial direction of the transport screw main body 93. It contacts the inner diameter surface of the hole 110. In this case, the bulging portion 115 is pressed in the inner diameter direction from the inner diameter surface of the conveying screw main body 93 to elastically reduce the diameter, and the insertion portion 114 of the end member 94 is moved as shown in FIG. It can be fitted into the axial hole 110. When the bulging portion 115 reaches the circumferential hole portion 111, the reduced diameter state of the bulging portion 115 is released, and the stepped surface 116 of the bulging portion 115 is formed by the shaft portion of the conveying screw main body portion 93. The end member 94 can be attached to the conveying screw main body 93 by engaging with the stepped surface 117. In this case, the insertion portion 114 becomes the male portion 60, and the axial hole portion 110 and the circumferential hole portion 111 at the distal end portion of the conveying screw main body portion 93 become the female portion 61. Accordingly, the axial removal of the end member 94 is restricted, and the support shaft 45 can be fixed.

  FIG. 12 shows a conversion mechanism of the toner discharge device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. Also in this case, as in the sixth and seventh embodiments, the transport screw 42 includes a transport screw main body 93 and an end member 94 having a support shaft 45. At the downstream end of the transport screw main body 93, an axial center portion 120 provided along the rotational axis O of the transport screw 42 and a protrusion 121 projecting from the axial center portion 120 are provided.

  The end member 94 is attached to the conveying screw main body 93, and the shaft portion forming portion 122 that becomes a part of the shaft portion 43 of the conveying screw 42 and the spiral portion forming portion 123 that becomes a part of the spiral portion 44. And a support shaft 45. The shaft portion forming portion 122 has a cylindrical shape on the side opposite to the support shaft, and the tip portion includes a tapered surface 124 that expands toward the side opposite the support shaft, and an inner flange 125. While providing the female part 61 in the end member 94, the male part 60 is provided in the conveyance screw main-body part 93, and the support shaft 45 provided in the end member 94 is being fixed via the snap fit.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, when the end member 94 is press-fitted from the outside of the conveying screw main body 93, the tapered surface 124 comes into contact with the outer diameter surface of the protrusion 121. In this case, the distal end portion of the shaft portion forming portion 122 is pressed in the outer diameter direction from the outer diameter surface of the projecting portion 121 to elastically expand the diameter, and when the projecting portion 121 fits into the shaft portion forming portion 122, the shaft portion The diameter-expanded state of the forming portion 122 is released, and the stepped surface 126 of the projection 121 is engaged with the stepped surface 127 of the inner collar 125 to convey the end member 94 as shown in FIG. It can be attached to the screw body 93. In this case, the axial center portion 120 and the protruding portion 121 become the male portion 60, and the cylindrical portion of the end portion of the end member 94 becomes the female portion 61. Accordingly, the axial removal of the end member 94 is restricted, and the support shaft 45 can be fixed.

  As described above, in the toner discharge devices according to the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment, and the sixth to eighth embodiments, the number of processes and the number of members can be reduced by fixing the support shaft 45 through the snap fit. Thus, the assembly workability can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, the end member 94 having the support shaft 45 is provided separately from the conveying screw main body 93 to make the support shaft 45 high in strength. As a result, the frequency of parts replacement due to breakage of the support shaft 45 can be reduced, the removal member 39 can be supported over a long period of time, and the effect of preventing clogging of waste toner can be maintained for a long period of time. Further, when the support shaft 45 is damaged, only the end member 94 can be replaced without replacing the transport screw main body 93, so that material saving and replacement work can be facilitated.

  FIG. 13 shows a sliding member of the toner discharging apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. The sliding body 48 includes a first flat portion 130 that fits in a plane including the center line M of the toner discharge path 38 in the casing or a plane parallel to the plane, and the first flat portion 130 is at a predetermined angle (this embodiment). And a second flat portion 131 that fits within a plane of 90 ° in the example. The first flat portion 130 and the second flat portion 131 are bent at 90 ° by a bent portion 132. In this case, since the first flat portion 130 is disposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the guide wall 47a, the second flat portion 131 is disposed in a direction substantially parallel to the guide wall 47a.

  For this reason, when the sliding body 48 is operated, the valley portion 51a of the first flat portion 130 slides on the guide wall 47a to scrape the waste toner adhering to the guide wall 47a, and at the same time, the peak portion 50a of the first flat portion 130. Slides on the opposing wall 47b and scrapes off the waste toner adhering to the opposing wall 47b. Further, the valley portion 51b of the second flat portion 131 slides on the side wall 47c to scrape waste toner adhering to the side wall 47c, and the crest portion 50b of the second flat portion 131 slides on the side wall 47d to slide the side wall 47d. Scrap off the waste toner adhering to the surface.

  Thus, in the toner discharge device according to the ninth embodiment, the first flat portion that fits the sliding body 48 in at least a plane including the center line M of the toner discharge path in the casing or a plane parallel to the plane. 130 and the first flat portion 130 are provided with a second flat portion 131 that fits within a plane that forms a predetermined angle, the toner can be slid in a wide range within the toner discharge path, and the waste toner is scraped. The taking effect is improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example, Of course, a various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, the arrangement pitch and the number of peak portions 50 and valley portions 51 are not limited to the embodiment. Further, the distance between the peak 50 and the valley 51 may not be a straight line. The diameters of the peaks 50 and the valleys 51 can be various. The sliding body 48 may be disposed so that a plane on which the sliding body 48 is disposed is parallel to the guide wall 47a. Various materials can be used for the metal wire constituting the sliding body 48, and the wire diameter is not limited to 1 mm. The material of the bearing member 56, the conveying screw main body 93, and the end member 94 is not limited to that of the embodiment. The method for fixing the bearing member 56 is not limited to heat welding, and may be, for example, bolt-nut connection. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, but may be a monochrome image forming apparatus, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine thereof. As in the ninth embodiment, the sliding body 48 having a plurality of flat portions is not limited to the first flat portion 130 and the second flat portion 131 as shown in FIG. 13, but includes three or more flat portions. You may have. The cleaning member is not limited to a blade shape, and may be a roller shape or a brush shape. Further, the intermediate transfer member is not limited to a belt shape, and may be a drum shape. Furthermore, the toner discharge device of the present invention can also be applied to the case where the toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor is discharged by a cleaning device that cleans the photoconductor.

3 Cleaning blade 17 Intermediate transfer belt 22 Cleaning device 35 Core member 36 Toner transport path 37 Transport means 38 Toner discharge path 39 Removal means 41 Discharge port 42 Transport screw 45 Support shaft 46 Casing 47 Inner wall 47a Guide wall 48 Slide body 49 Conversion mechanism 50 Bending portion 51 Bending portion 53 Connecting portion 56 Bearing member 60 Male portion 61 Female portion 93 Conveying screw main body portion 94 End member 130 First flat portion 131 Second flat portion M Center line O Rotation axis

JP 2006-133465 A

Claims (12)

A toner discharge device for discharging toner removed from the surface of an image carrier by a cleaning device including a cleaning member,
A toner conveying path to which waste toner removed by the cleaning member is supplied;
Conveying means for conveying waste toner in the toner conveying path;
A toner discharge path having an outlet disposed obliquely downward with respect to the discharge port of the toner conveyance path;
The toner falling vertically from the discharge port of the toner conveyance path to the toner discharge path or the toner falling down in the vertical direction and adhering to the toner discharge path is guided to the outlet of the toner discharge path. Removing means for discharging outside the discharge path,
The toner discharge path is inclined obliquely downward and is constituted by an inner wall of the casing.
The inner wall of the casing has a guide wall that receives waste toner falling from the discharge port of the toner conveyance path,
The conveying means includes a conveying screw that rotates around an axis to convey waste toner to a toner discharge path, and the toner is removed while the removing means is in contact with the guide wall as the conveying screw rotates. Is configured to scrape off the toner adhering to the guide wall .
The removing means includes a sliding body that slides at least on the guide wall of the casing, and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the conveying screw of the conveying means into the reciprocating movement of the sliding body that slides on the guide wall surface. Prepared,
The conveying screw is configured to be able to rotate forward and backward as the image carrier travels in the forward direction and the reverse direction, and to reciprocate in the axial direction.
The toner discharging unit, wherein the sliding member of the removing unit reciprocates in the axial direction of the conveying screw by the reciprocating motion of the conveying screw in the axial direction as the image carrier moves in the forward direction and the reverse direction. apparatus. The conversion mechanism includes a support shaft that is provided on the downstream side of the transport screw and is misaligned with the rotational axis of the transport screw, and a connecting portion that is connected to the slide body and is pivotally connected to the support shaft. The toner discharge device according to claim 1. The transport screw includes a transport screw main body and an end member provided on a front end side of a front end of the transport screw main body, and at least the support shaft is provided on the end member. Item 2. The toner discharging device according to Item 2. The support shaft includes a core member that is provided on the downstream side of the transport screw and is misaligned with the rotational axis of the transport screw, and a bearing member that is fitted to the core member. The toner discharging device according to claim 2, wherein the toner discharging device is connected to a conveying screw . 5. The toner discharging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the end portion of the core member and the bearing member are integrated by heat welding . 6. The toner discharging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support shaft is fixed through a snap fit including a male part and a female part fitted to the male part . The sliding body of the removing means, any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plane including the central line of the toner discharge path in the casing, or a flat shape that fits the plane parallel to the plane The toner discharging device according to claim 1 . The sliding member of the removing means has at least a first flat part that fits in a plane including the center line of the toner discharge path in the casing or a plane parallel to the flat surface, and the first flat part has a predetermined angle. toner discharging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a second flat part that fits Nasu plane. Toner discharging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that to constitute a slide of the removing means in the linear body. 10. The toner discharging apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the sliding member of the removing means is a metal wire having a circular cross section, and the diameter thereof is 1 mm or less . The sliding member of the removing means includes a mountain-shaped bent portion and a valley-shaped bent portion provided alternately along the waste toner discharge direction of the casing, and scraping off waste toner at the corner edge portion of the bent portion. The toner discharging device according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the toner discharging device is characterized in that: An image forming apparatus comprising the toner discharge device according to claim 1 .

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