JPH0469955B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a cleaning device for removing residual toner from the surface of a photoreceptor in an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine.

<Prior Art> In an image generating machine such as an electrostatic copying machine, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photoreceptor disposed on a rotating drum or an endless belt, and then the electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image. After development, the toner image is transferred to a transfer material, which may be conventional paper, and the toner image remaining on the photoreceptor surface after transfer is removed for the next image forming step. A cleaning device used to remove residual toner from the photoreceptor surface needs to include a removal means for removing the residual toner from the photoreceptor surface and a toner storage means for storing the removed toner.

On the other hand, particularly in small and low-cost image generating machines, a rotating drum having a photoreceptor disposed on its peripheral surface and various components such as a cleaning device located around the drum are constructed as a unit. It has been proposed and put into practical use to be replaceably attached to an image generator. In such a unit-type image generating machine, for example, if the toner storage capacity of the toner storage means in the cleaning device is made sufficiently large for the effective life of the photoreceptor, it can be used continuously until the above-mentioned effective life. Later, the entire unit can be replaced with a new unit and the old unit discarded. However, if the toner accommodating capacity of the toner accommodating means is made sufficiently large for the above-mentioned useful life, the cleaning device will inevitably become sublime, and the unit will become smaller and smaller.
Furthermore, miniaturization of the image generator to which the unit is installed is also hindered.

Regardless of whether the cleaning device is configured as a unit with a rotating drum or the like, it is desirable to downsize the toner storage means in the cleaning device in order to miniaturize the cleaning device and also the image forming machine. desired. However, when the toner storage means is made smaller, the toner storage capacity inevitably decreases. In such a case, when the toner storage means becomes filled with toner during use, it is necessary to interrupt use of the image generator and collect the toner. In order to conveniently carry out such toner collection, the toner storage means is constituted by a removable toner collection box, and when the toner collection box is filled with toner, the toner collection box is removed. Replacement with a new toner collection box has also been proposed and put into practice.

<Problems with the Prior Art> In particular, cleaning devices for small and inexpensive image generating machines require a relatively complicated and expensive spiral blade mechanism to transport the toner removed from the photoreceptor forward or backward. Although it is desirable to omit this, in such a case, in order to collect the toner sufficiently uniformly over the entire toner collection box, a toner inlet of a type having a toner inlet extending in the front and back direction along the photoconductor is provided. It is important to use a toner collection box. However, especially when such a toner collection box is used, when or after the toner collection box filled with toner is taken out from the cleaning device, the toner may scatter from the toner inlet, causing damage to the surroundings or the operator. It often contaminates hands and clothes.

<Problems to be solved by the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and includes a cleaning device in which a toner collection box having a toner inlet extending in the front-rear direction is replaceably mounted. To reliably prevent toner from scattering from the toner inlet when and after taking it out from the toner.
This is a technical issue.

<Solution Means of the Invention> According to the present invention, (a) the supporting frame of the cleaning device including the toner collection box storage space extending in the front-rear direction is provided with an operating element; A toner storage box including a box body having a toner inlet includes a cover member attached to the box body so as to be movable between a closed position where the toner inlet is closed and an open position where the toner inlet is opened; (c) a non-operating element provided on the cover member is disposed together with an elastic means for elastically biasing the toner collection box to the closed position; acting on the non-actuating element to move the cover member into the open position against the bias of the resilient means;
The above technical problem is thereby achieved.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a support frame including a toner collection box storage space extending in the front-rear direction and an operating element, a box body having a toner inlet extending in the front-rear direction, a closed position in which the toner inlet is closed, and a support frame including an operating element; A cover member attached to the box body so as to be movable between an open position and an open position, an elastic means for elastically biasing the cover member to the closed position, and a non-operating element provided on the cover member. and a toner collection box that is inserted into the housing space in a freely drawable manner, and the operating element and the non-operating element are configured such that when the toner collection box is inserted into the accommodation space, the operating element is inserted into the non-operating element. A cleaning device in an image generator is provided, characterized in that the cleaning device is configured to act on an actuating element to move the cover member into the open position against the bias of the resilient means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least the front surface of the storage space is open, and the toner collection box is inserted into the storage space by moving at least toward the rear, and the toner collection box is inserted into the storage space by moving at least toward the front. The actuating element and the non-actuating element are pulled out from the accommodation space by moving the element, and the actuating element and the non-actuating element are
The actuating element does not act on the non-actuating element while the toner collecting box is being moved rearward to a specific position, but while the toner collecting box is being moved rearward from the specific position to the final position. The actuating element is configured to act on the non-actuating element. In the particular position, the toner inlet of the toner collection box is surrounded by the support frame over its entire length.

<Operation of the Invention> In the cleaning device of the present invention, when the toner collection box is inserted into the storage space of the support frame, the operating element acts on the non-operating element to move the cover member to the open position, and the toner inlet of the box is opened. will be released. Therefore, toner can be carried into the box from the toner inlet without any hindrance. On the other hand, when the toner collection box is pulled out from the storage space of the support frame when the box is filled with toner, the actuating element no longer acts on the non-actuating element, and thus the cover member is moved by the biasing action of the elastic means. is placed in the closed position, and the toner inlet of the box is closed. Therefore, toner is reliably prevented from scattering from the toner inlet.

<Preferred Specific Examples> Hereinafter, preferred specific examples of the cleaning device constructed according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a unit containing a preferred embodiment of a cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. The unit, designated as a whole by the number 2, has a support frame 4. A rotary drum 6 is mounted on the support frame 4 and has a suitable photoreceptor disposed on its circumferential surface. The support frame 4 is further provided with a charging corona discharger 8 as well as a cleaning device generally designated by the number 12. The illustrated cleaning device 12 includes a removing means 14 , a sealing means 16 , a loading means 18 and a toner containing means 20 . The removing means 14 includes a support member 22 attached to the support frame 4 and an elastic blade 24 attached to the support member 22. A free end, ie, a lower end, of the blade 24 extending in the front-rear direction is pressed against the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6. The sealing means 16 is formed from a flexible film extending in the front-rear direction, and the lower end of this film is connected to the support frame 4.
The upper end portion is in light contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6. The carrying means 18 has a sponge roller 28 rotated in the direction shown by an arrow 26 and a separation plate 30. The separation plate 30 is
It is fixed to a hanging wall 32 integrally formed with the support frame 4, and the lower end of the hanging wall 32, which protrudes downward beyond the lower end, is pressed against the circumferential surface of the sponge roller 28. The toner storage means 20 will be described in detail later.

The unit 2 is removably mounted within the housing of an image generating machine such as an electrostatic copying machine. 1st
Continuing with the drawings, in the illustrated embodiment, a horizontally extending substrate 31 is disposed within the housing of the image generator. A pair of guide rails 33 and 34 are fixed to the lower surface of the substrate 31, spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction, and extending in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1). On the other hand, on each side of the upper surface of the support frame 4 of the unit 2, there are guided rails 36 extending in the front and rear direction.
and 38 are integrally formed. unit 2
are the guided rails 36 and 38 of the support frame 4.
It is mounted in a predetermined position within the housing by engaging with the guide rails 32 and 34 and sliding rearward, and removed from the housing by sliding forward. The above board 31
A static elimination lamp 10 and a toner detector 4 are provided on the bottom surface of the
0 is also fixed (the toner detector 40 will be explained in more detail later).

In the image generating machine to which the unit 2 is installed, the rotary drum 6 of the unit 2 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 42. And charging area 44
In this case, the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6 is charged to a specific polarity by a charging corona discharger 8. Next, in the exposure zone 46, the image to be generated is projected onto the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6 by a suitable optical system (not shown), and thus the image to be generated is projected onto the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 6.
An electrostatic latent image is generated on the circumferential surface of. Thereafter, in the developing area 48, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by an appropriate developing device 50 indicated by a two-dot chain line. The developing device 50 is disposed at a predetermined position within the housing. If desired, such a developing device 50 can also be mounted on the support frame 4 of the unit 2. Next, in the copying area 52, a transfer material, which may be ordinary paper, which is conveyed in the direction shown by the arrow 54, is brought into close contact with the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6, and a transfer corona discharger is used to apply corona discharge to the back surface of the transfer material. By the action of a good transfer means (not shown), the toner image on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6 is transferred to the transfer material. The transfer material to which the toner image has been transferred is
The toner image is peeled off from the rotating drum 6 by a suitable peeling means (not shown), and the toner image is fixed by a suitable fixing means (not shown).
After that, it is discharged out of the housing. Meanwhile, the rotating drum 6 continues to rotate, and the cleaning area 5
6, the blade 24 in the cleaning device 12 removes the toner remaining on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6 after the transfer. Furthermore, in the static elimination area 58, the light from the static elimination lamp 10 is irradiated onto the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6, thus eliminating residual charges. The toner removed from the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6 in the cleaning area 56 falls downward, and the sponge roller 28
It is conveyed in the direction shown by arrow 26 along with the rotation of. The toner toner is then separated from the sponge roller 28 by the separation plate 30 and carried into the toner storage means 20 as shown by an arrow 60. The sealing means 16 prevents toner from falling downward from the cleaning device 12.

Therefore, the above-described configuration and operation of the unit 2 and the image generator to which it is installed do not constitute novel features of the present invention, and therefore, detailed description thereof will not be provided in this specification. Omitted.

Continuing the explanation with reference to Figure 1, unit 2
A toner collection box accommodating space 62 is formed on the left side of the support frame 4 in FIG. 1 and extends in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1). In this space 62, a toner collection box, which is designated as a whole by number 64 and constitutes the toner storage means 20, is removably inserted.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, especially FIG. 3, along with FIG. Almost the entire area and the left half of its lower surface are also open. On the other hand, the support frame 4 is
A bottom wall 66 extending substantially horizontally along the right half of the lower surface of the space 62, an upper wall 68 extending substantially horizontally along the upper surface of the space 62, and a rear end of the bottom wall 66 to the rear of the upper wall 68. It has a rear wall 70 that extends substantially vertically to the end. The bottom wall 66 is integrally formed with a vertical inner wall 72 that projects upward by a predetermined distance (a distance corresponding to approximately 1/3 of the total height of the space 62) from the top surface thereof. An abutting stepped portion 74 extending in the front-rear direction is formed on one side of the upper end of the guide wall 72 (the left side in FIG. 1). Furthermore, guide walls 76 and 78 are also formed on the bottom wall 66 and project upwardly at intervals, and these guide walls 76 and 78 form a guide groove 8 that extends in the front-rear direction.
0 is specified. The guide wall 78 has a first
A lower guide protrusion 82 is formed that protrudes to the left in the figure. As understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower guide protrusion 82
extends substantially horizontally rearward from a front end aligned with the front end of the bottom wall 66, but does not extend to the rear wall 70, but terminates a predetermined distance forward of the rear wall 70. The upper wall 68 is formed with an upper guide protrusion 84 that hangs down substantially vertically from the left side of the upper wall 68 in FIG. The upper wall 68
The upper guide protrusion 84 extends from the front end aligned with the front end of the rear wall 70 to the rear wall 70.
As shown in the figure, rectangular notches 86 and 88 are formed at the front and rear ends, respectively.
Furthermore, a protrusion 90 that protrudes downward is formed at the rear end of the upper guide protrusion 84 . As shown in FIG. 3, a continuous opening 92 is formed at the rear end of the top wall 68 and at the top of the rear wall 70. As shown in FIG. As will be further described below, when the unit 2 is installed within the housing of the image generator, the toner detector 40, which is fixed to the underside of the substrate 31 within the housing, passes through the opening 92 and into the space 62. stand out. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
On the front surface of the rear wall 70, an actuating element 94 is formed as a protruding piece that protrudes forward.
Furthermore, an L-shaped projecting wall portion 96 that projects forward is formed at the lower end of the rear wall 70, and a stop block portion 98 is formed at the rear end corner of this projecting wall portion 96. .

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a set screw (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the support frame 4.
The additional member 100 is fixed by
The support frame body 4 is made to protrude forward at the portion where the support frame 2 is present. If desired, additional member 10
0 can also be formed integrally with the support frame 4.
The additional member 100 includes a bottom wall 102, this bottom wall 1
A relatively high side wall 1 extending upward from one side edge of 02
04, and a relatively low side wall 106 extending upward from the other side edge of the bottom wall 102. Above bottom wall 1
A guide wall 108 is formed in 02, and a guide groove 110 is defined by this guide wall 108 and the lower part of the side wall 104. This guide groove 110
extends in the front-rear direction in alignment with the guide groove 80. The inner surface of the side wall 104 has a circular arc portion 112 and a flat portion 114 extending upward from the circular arc portion. As understood by referring to FIG. 6-B together with FIG. 4, the arcuate portion 112 and flat portion 114 on the inner surface of the side wall 104 are formed on one side edge of the front wall 116 of the support frame 4. arc part 11
8 and the flat portion 120, but the sixth
- In figure B, it is displaced by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction. As can be understood by referring to FIG.
In Figure B, a recessed portion 122 is formed that is recessed clockwise. The recessed portion 122 has a circular arc portion 124 and a flat portion 126 that match the circular arc portion 118 and the flat portion 120, in other words, are flush with the circular arc portion 118 and the flat portion 120.

Referring to FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the toner collection box, generally designated by the numeral 64, includes a box body 128, preferably formed from a transparent to translucent synthetic resin. This box body 128 is a hollow body that is elongated in the front-rear direction. Box body 128
One side, that is, the right side in FIG. 1, has a circular arc portion 130 and a flat portion 132 extending upward from the circular arc portion 130. A toner inlet 134, which is preferably a rectangular opening extending in the front-rear direction over substantially the entire length of the box 128, is formed at the lower part of the arcuate portion 130. A guided protrusion 136 is formed on the lower surface of the box body 128 and projects downward. The lower end portion of the guided protrusion 136 extending in the front-rear direction has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. Box body 12
A lower guided projection 138 having a rectangular shape and projecting rightward in FIG. On the upper surface of the box body 128, rectangular upper guided projections 140 and 142 that protrude upward are formed at the front end and the rear end, respectively. A substantially rectangular sinking portion 1 is provided on one side of the rear end of the upper surface of the box body 128.
44 exists, and a detected protrusion 146 is formed in the depressed portion 144. A grip piece 148 is formed on the front surface of the box body 128 and projects forward. The toner collection box 64 further includes a cover member 15.
Contains 0. This cover member 150 has a main portion 152 that has an arcuate cross section and extends in the front-rear direction. 1st
As shown in the figure, a protrusion 154 is formed on the lower edge of the main portion 152 and protrudes inward. Furthermore,
Connecting pieces 156 and 158 extending inward are formed at the front and rear ends of the main portion 152, respectively. Holes 157 and 159 are bored in the connecting pieces 156 and 158. On the other hand, recesses 160 and 162 are formed in the front and rear surfaces of the box body 128 in correspondence with the connection pieces 156 and 158, and a short shaft 164 that projects forward is provided in the recess 160, and the recess 162 has a short shaft 166 that projects rearward.
(Fig. 6-C) is provided protrudingly. The cover member 150 connects the connecting piece 156 to the recess 160.
The short shaft 164 is inserted into the hole 157, and the connecting piece 158 thereof is positioned in the recess 162, and the short shaft 166 (sixth-C) is inserted into the hole 157.
) is inserted into the hole 159 to be attached to the box body 128. Thus, the box body 12
The cover member 150 attached to the
54 (FIG. 1) in a closed position (the position shown in FIGS. 6-B and 6-C) where the lower surface of the toner inlet 134 contacts the lower edge of the toner inlet 134, and the upper surface of the protrusion 154 (FIG. 1). an axis extending in the front-rear direction, that is, the short axes 164 and 166 It is freely pivotable about the central axis of. Box body 128 and cover member 15
0, an elastic means 168 made of a helical spring is disposed. 6- with Figure 5
As can be understood by referring to Figure C, the helical spring constituting the elastic means 168 is loosely fitted to the short shaft 166, and one arm thereof is brought into contact with one side 170 of the recess 162. and the other arm is positioned within a notch 172 formed in the connecting piece 158. Thus, the elastic means 168 elastically biases the cover member 150 in the clockwise direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 6-C) when viewed from the front, and elastically holds the cover member 150 in the closed position. . When the cover member 150 is in the closed position, the box body 12
The eight toner inlets 134 are closed by cover members 150. On the other hand, when the cover member 150 is moved to the open position as described below, the toner inlet 134 of the box body 128 is opened. The cover member 150 has a non-operating element 17 formed of a protruding piece that protrudes rearward from the connecting piece 158 of the cover member 150.
4 is also formed. An inclined surface 176 is formed at the tip of the protruding piece constituting the non-operating element 174 .

The toner collection box 64 as described above is inserted into the toner collection box storage space 62 in the following manner. To explain with reference to FIGS. 6-A to 6-C together with FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, first,
Toner collection box 64 from the front side of the additional member 100
is moved rearward, and the rear part of the toner collection box 64 is inserted into the additional member 100. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6-B, the guided protrusion 136 formed on the box body 128 is positioned within the guide groove 110 of the additional member 100. And the box body 12
8, excluding the upper left portion in FIG. 6-B, is positioned within the space defined by the bottom wall 102 and both side walls 104 and 106 of the additional member 100. Thus, as can be seen from FIG. 6-B, the toner collection box 64 is separated by the side walls 104 and 106 of the additional member 100 from FIGS. 6-A and 6-6.
It is constrained to the first angular position illustrated in Figures B and 6-C. Next, the toner collection box 64 is further moved rearward to a specific position shown in FIG. 6-A. Thus, as shown in Figure 6-A,
One side of the lower end of the rear surface of the box body 128 (lower end left side in FIG. 6-B) abuts the protruding wall 96 (see also FIG. 3), thereby causing the toner collection box 64 to move further rearward. is prevented from moving to.
As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 6-B and 6-C, the toner collection box 64 is
While being moved rearward to the specific position shown in the figure, the guided protrusion 136 of the box body 128 moves rearward within the guide groove 110 of the additional member 100 and the guide groove 80 formed in the support frame 4. Moving. Further, the lower guided protrusion 138 of the box body 128 moves rearward along the lower surface of the lower guide protrusion 82 formed on the support frame 4.

When the toner collection box 64 is inserted to the specific position shown in FIG. 6-A, the front end of the box body 128 is formed at the rear inner surface of the side wall 104 of the additional member 100, as clearly shown in FIG. 6-A. Immersive part 1
It is located corresponding to 22. Further, the lower guided projection 138 of the box body 128 is located beyond the rear end of the lower guide protrusion 82 of the support frame 4 and behind it. In addition, the upper guided protrusions 140 and 14 of the box body 128
2 are located corresponding to the notches 86 and 88 formed in the upper guide protrusion 84 of the support frame 4.
Therefore, the restriction of the toner collection box 64 to the first angular position shown in FIGS. 6-B and 6-C is released. Therefore, when the gripping piece 148 formed on the front surface of the box body 128 is gripped and rotated clockwise in FIG. 6-B and counterclockwise in FIG. 6-C, the toner collection box 64 is 6th-A
from the first angular position illustrated in Figures 6-B and 6-C to the second angular position illustrated in Figures 7-A, 7-B and 7-C, It is rotated around the lower end of the guided protrusion 136. When the toner collection box 64 is rotated to the second angular position, the lower end of the arcuate portion 130 on one side of the box body 128 is rotated as shown in FIGS. 7-B and 7-C. , abuts against the upper end of the vertical inner wall 72 of the support frame 4, and thus the toner collection box 64 moves beyond the second angular position and further into the seventh-B
Rotation clockwise in the figure and counterclockwise in Figure 7-C is prevented. Also, the 7th-
As can be understood by referring to FIG. B and FIG.
It passes through the notches 86 and 88 and is located on the right side of the upper guide protrusion 84 in FIG. 7-B and on the left side in FIG. 7-C. In addition, one side of the lower end of the rear surface of the box body 128 is located above the protruding wall portion 96, so that the toner collection box 64 can be moved further rearward.

Next, the toner collection box 64, which has been placed in the second angular position, is further moved rearward to the final position shown in FIG. 7-A. As a result, one side of the lower end of the rear surface of the box body 128 (lower end left side in FIG. 7-B) comes into contact with a stop block 98 (see also FIG. 3) formed on the protruding wall portion 96, Then, one side of the upper end of the box body 128 (upper left side in FIG. 7-B) comes into contact with the protrusion 90 formed at the rear end of the upper guide protrusion 84, thereby collecting the toner. Box 64 is prevented from moving further rearward. Toner collection box 6
4 is moved from the specific position (i.e., the position shown in FIG. 6-A) toward the final position (i.e., the position shown in FIG. 7-A), the box 12
The upper guided protrusions 140 and 142 of No. 8 are located on the right side surface of the upper guide protrusion 84 in Fig. 7-B.
In FIG. 7-C, the toner collection box 64 is prevented from rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 7-B and clockwise in FIG. 7-C. The collection box 64 is the seventh
It is constrained to the second angular position illustrated in Figures A, 7-B, and 7-C. Further, when the toner collection box 64 is moved backward from the specific position to the final position, the toner collection box 64 shown in FIGS.
As can be understood by comparing and referring to FIG. In addition, cover member 150 is pivoted clockwise in FIGS. 6-C and 7-C against the elastic biasing action of elastic means 168. Thus, the cover member 150 is moved from the closed position to the open position, and the toner inlet 134 of the box 128 is opened as shown in FIG.

When the toner collection box 64 is inserted into the desired final position as described above, as shown in FIG. The toner detector 40 is positioned as required relative to the toner detector 40 fixed to the lower surface of the toner detector 31. More specifically, the toner detector 40
is two hanging parts 1 that hang down at a distance.
78 and 180, the detected part 1 of the box body 128
46 is located between these two depending parts 178 and 180. One hanging portion 17 of the toner detector 40
8 is provided with an appropriate light emitting element (not shown), and the other hanging portion 180 is provided with an appropriate light receiving element (not shown) that receives light from the light emitting element. ing.

When the image forming machine equipped with the unit 2 is repeatedly operated, the toner removed from the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 6 is released into the toner collection box 64, as shown by the arrow 60 in FIG. The toner is carried into the box body 128 through the toner inlet 134. When the box 128 is almost filled with toner, toner also exists in the detection protrusion 146 of the box 128. In this way, the light from the light emitting element (not shown) disposed in the hanging part 178 of the toner detector 40 is blocked by the toner, and the light emitting element (not shown) disposed in the hanging part 180 of the toner detector 40 is blocked by the toner. (not shown) can no longer receive light, and based on this, the toner detector 40
28 is filled with toner. A warning means (not shown), such as a warning lamp, provided on the image generator is then activated. Furthermore, if necessary, operation of the image generator may be disabled.

Therefore, when the box body 128 of the toner collection box 64 is filled with toner, the toner collection box 64
It is necessary to separate the toner collection box 64 from the support frame 4 and insert a new toner collection box 64 into the space 62 of the support frame 4. In order to remove the toner collection box 64 from the support frame 4, the above-described insertion operation may be performed in reverse. That is, first, grip the grip piece 148 formed on the front surface of the box body 128,
The toner collection box 64 is moved from the final position shown in FIG. 7-A to the specific position shown in FIG. The toner collection box 64 is moved forward to a position where forward movement of the toner collection box 64 in the second angular position is prevented. . Thus, as can be understood by comparing and referring to FIG. 7-C and FIG. It is disengaged from the actuating element 94 provided. Therefore, the cover member 150 is forced into the closed position, which closes the toner inlet 134, by the elastic biasing action of the elastic means 168, and is elastically held in this closed position. As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 7-A and 6-A, even when the toner collection box 64 is moved forward to the above-mentioned specific position or a position slightly forward of the specified position, the box The toner inlet 134 of the body 128 is surrounded by the support frame 4 itself and the forward extension of the additional member 100, in which case the cover member 150 is already in the closed position. Therefore, at the beginning of the operation of separating the toner collection box 64 from the support frame 4, in other words, before the toner inlet 134 is closed by the cover member 150,
Toner does not scatter to the surroundings from the toner inlet 134 and contaminate the operator's hands, clothes, and the like.

Next, the toner collection box 64 is moved from the second angular position illustrated in FIGS. 7-A, 7-B, and 7-C to FIGS. 6-A, 6-B, and 6-C. C
It is rotated to the first angular position shown in the figure. After that, the toner collection box 64 is moved further forward, and the support frame 4 itself and the additional member 10 are removed.
Make it depart from 0. During such a detachment operation, since the toner inlet 134 of the box body 128 is closed by the cover member 150, toner is reliably prevented from falling off and scattering from the toner inlet 134. The detached toner collection box 64 can be discarded as is.

Although one specific example of the cleaning device configured according to the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such specific example, and without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, various modifications and modifications are possible.

For example, in the specific example shown, the cleaning device 12 is disposed in the unit 2 including the rotating drum 6, but the cleaning device 12 is disposed in the housing of the image generator completely separately from the rotating drum 6. The present invention can also be applied.

Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the operation of inserting and pulling out the toner collection box 64 into the toner collection box storage space 62 is performed by mainly moving the toner collection box 64 in the front-back direction.
If desired, the toner collection box can be inserted into and pulled out of the toner collection box storage space by moving the toner collection box in any other direction such as the vertical direction.

<Effects of the Invention> In the cleaning device configured according to the present invention, when the box body of the toner collection box is filled with toner, when the operation of pulling out the toner collection box for replacement is started, the elasticity of the elastic means The biasing action moves the cover member to the closed position and closes the toner inlet of the box. Therefore, toner is reliably prevented from falling off and scattering from the toner inlet and contaminating the surrounding area or the operator's hands and clothes.
The cover member and associated components may be relatively simple and inexpensive, reducing manufacturing costs of the cleaning device due to the cover member and associated components. It will not increase significantly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a unit containing a preferred embodiment of a cleaning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. 2 is a side view showing a toner collection box housing space in the unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the toner collection box storage space in the unit of FIG. 1 as viewed along the line - in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an exploded partial perspective view showing the front end of the toner collection box storage space in the unit of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the toner collection box in the unit of FIG. 1. 6-A, 6-B, and 6-C are a side view and a front view, respectively, showing the unit shown in FIG. 1 with the toner collection box inserted into the toner collection box storage space to a specific position. and cross-sectional view. 7-A, 7-B, and 7-C are a side view and a front view, respectively, showing the unit shown in FIG. 1 with the toner collection box inserted into the toner collection box storage space to the final position. and cross-sectional view. 2... Unit, 4... Support frame, 6... Rotating drum, 12... Cleaning device, 62... Toner collection box storage space, 64... Toner collection box, 9
4... Operating element, 128... Box body, 134... Toner inlet, 150... Cover member, 168... Elastic means, 174... Inactive element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A support frame including a toner collection box storage space extending in the front-rear direction and an operating element, a box body having a toner inlet extending in the front-rear direction, a closed position in which the toner inlet is closed, and a support frame body including an operating element; The cover member includes a cover member attached to the box body so as to be movable between an open position and an open position, an elastic means for elastically biasing the cover member to the closed position, and a non-actuating element provided on the cover member. , a toner collection box that is inserted into the accommodation space in a freely drawable manner, and the operating element and the non-operating element are arranged so that when the toner collection box is inserted into the accommodation space, the operating element is inserted into the non-operating state. A cleaning device in an image generator, characterized in that the cleaning device is configured to act on an element to move the cover member into the open position against the bias of the elastic means. 2. At least the front side of the storage space is open, and the toner collection box is inserted into the storage space by moving at least toward the rear,
The toner collecting box is pulled out from the accommodation space by moving the toner collection box toward the front, and the activating element and the non-activating element are separated from each other while the toner collecting box is being moved rearward to a specific position. does not act on the actuating element, but
The image generator according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is configured to act on the non-actuating element while the toner collection box is moved rearward from the specific position to the final position. cleaning equipment. 3. The cleaning device for an image generating machine according to claim 2, wherein in the specific position, the toner inlet of the toner collection box is surrounded by the support frame over its entire length. 4. The support frame is provided with a guide means,
The toner collection box is provided with guided means, and the guide means and the guided means move the toner collection box backward to the specific position and from the specific position forward. The toner collection box is restrained at a first angular position while the toner collection box is being held at the first angular position, and when the toner collection box is positioned at the first angular position, the toner collection box is moved backward beyond the specific position. When the toner collection box is rotated from the first angular position to the second angular position, the toner collection box moves backward beyond the specific position to the final position. cleaning in an image generator according to claim 3, wherein the toner collection box is restrained in the second angular position while being moved between the specific position and the final position. Device. 5. The cover member of the toner collection box is pivotable between the closed position and the open position about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. A cleaning device for the image generator according to.