JPH0548919B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an image forming apparatus equipped with a waste toner container;
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine equipped with a removable waste toner container.

Hereinafter, the case of an electrophotographic copying machine will be explained as an example.

Conventionally, a cleaning device for a copying machine consists of a blade for scraping off toner remaining on an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum, a magnetic roller for collecting the toner scraped off by the blade, and a magnetic roller for collecting the toner scraped off by the blade. Generally, the device includes a conveying means such as a screw that conveys the toner collected by the net roller to a waste toner container (or toner collection container). At this time, the waste toner container is located at the front of the device (in most cases, just behind the front cover), and is quite large in order to reduce the number of times the waste toner container is disposed of when it is full. It has become a capacity thing.

However, if such a large-capacity waste toner container is located at the front of the device, it not only gets in the way during maintenance such as jam removal, but also requires manual evacuation to a position that does not interfere with jam removal. occurs.

Furthermore, some of the copying machines to which the present invention is applied include photosensitive drums, as will be described later (FIGS. 1 and 2).
There is also a process cartridge that integrates some or all of the charger, developer, cleaner unit, etc., and is detachably attached to the main body of the copying machine. After pulling out the process cartridge from the apparatus main body, it is necessary to replace the developing device with a developing device capable of developing the desired color.

That is, in FIG. 1, 3 is a photosensitive drum that rotates in the direction of the arrow around a shaft 3a. 2 is a short focus lens array, 4 is a primary charger, 5 is a developer,
8 is a transfer charger, 9 is a separation charger, 7 is a fixing device,
14 is a cleaner unit. Each of these devices is for forming a copy image of the original O on the transfer material P sent from the transfer material storage box S.
Among these process devices, the photosensitive drum 3, charger 4, developer 5, and cleaner unit 14 are housed in the process cartridge 17 as described above.

Then, as shown in FIG.
is placed on the holding frame 18, and by opening the front cover 19 and pulling the handle 30 attached to the front of the cartridge 17, the holding frame 18 can be pulled out together with the cartridge 17 from the main body of the apparatus. The device main body and the holding frame 18 are engaged with each other by inserting a hollow movable rail 3 into a rail guide frame 31 attached to the main body.
2 is loosely fitted, and a fixed rail 33 attached to the holding frame 18 is loosely fitted into the hollow part of the holding frame 18.
Each rail is designed to slide by pushing and pulling. Elongated hole 3 drilled in the center of the rail 32
2a engages with a pin 33a attached to the rail 33 and a pin (not shown) attached to the guide frame 31, and becomes a stopper when pulled out to the position shown in the figure. When the cartridge 17 is pushed into the main body together with the holding frame 18, the taper pins 34a and 34b attached to the front side of the cartridge 17 are inserted into the holes 36a and 3 provided at the front of the main body chassis.
Taper pins 35a and 35b, which are fitted into the holes 6b and attached to the rear side of the cartridge 17, are similarly fitted into holes (not shown) on the rear side of the chassis to position the cartridge 17.

Therefore, as is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, even when drawing out the process cartridge 17, the waste toner container must be manually evacuated to a position where it does not interfere with drawing out the process cartridge 17. . This is undesirable because it causes physical and mental burden on the user. Furthermore, when the waste toner container is manually evacuated, parts of the user's body such as hands and feet may become contaminated with toner, which is also undesirable.

Furthermore, if the waste toner container is not correctly attached to the main body of the apparatus, the toner may scatter, making it difficult to handle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and it eliminates the need for the evacuation operation of the waste toner container, which is an obstacle when performing jam processing and other maintenance of the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that reduces mental burden and is easy to use.

The present invention achieves this object by providing a cleaning means for removing residual toner from an image bearing member, a collection container detachably attached to an apparatus main body for collecting the residual toner, and a conveying means for transporting the residual toner to the collection container. An image forming apparatus comprising: an opening/closing door provided on the apparatus main body; and a biasing means provided on the conveying means for biasing the collection container in a direction away from a predetermined position when the opening/closing door is opened. The collection container moves away from a predetermined position according to the opening operation of the opening/closing door, and when the opening/closing door is closed, the collection container is positioned at a predetermined position by a protrusion provided on the opening/closing door. It is characterized by

The present invention will be explained below based on an illustrated embodiment.

First, FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views for explaining how the waste toner container and the like are attached when the front cover 80 of the copying machine 40 is used. A frame (hereinafter referred to as a holding frame) 71 is rotatably supported by a metal plate 72 and a shaft 73 fixed to the main body of the copying machine. The holding frame 71 has a locking member 74,
When setting the apparatus to be operable, first rotate the holding frame 71 from the state shown in FIG. 4, and attach the lock member 74 to the process cartridge 47 (the structure is the same as the process cartridge 17 shown in FIG. 2). As will be described later, the opening of the waste toner container 70 is engaged with the hook 47a (FIG. 5) fixed to the front side plate of the waste toner container 70.
After fitting the toner discharge portion of the cleaner unit 14, the front cover 80 is closed (FIG. 9).

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the lock member 74 is biased by a compression spring 75 about its rotation axis 74a in the direction of engagement with the hook portion 47a provided on the front plate of the process cartridge. has been done.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the toner discharge section of the cleaner unit 14 includes a sleeve 7 that incorporates a screw (not shown) for conveying waste toner.
6, a shutter 77 for covering a sleeve opening 76a provided at the end of the sleeve through which waste toner falls, and a compression spring 78.
The shutter 77 has a groove 77a provided in itself.
and a protrusion 7 provided on a part of the surface of the sleeve 76.
6b allows smooth movement on the sleeve in the left and right direction in FIG. 6A.

Further, the waste toner container 70 is held in the holding frame 71 by a simple means as described below. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a protrusion 70a is provided on a part of the surface of the waste toner container 70, and when the waste toner container 70 is inserted into the holding frame 71, this protrusion is The portion 70a is inserted while being elastically deformed, and finally the protrusion 70a engages with the hole 71a (provided at the position corresponding to the protrusion 70a) of the holding frame 71, and the waste toner container 70 is held. frame 71
is maintained.

Then, as the holding frame 71 rotates to the left from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG. 3, the waste toner container 70 pushes the flange portion 77b of the shutter 77 with the edge of its opening. And finally, holding frame 7
1 is set in a predetermined position by the locking member 74 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and as shown in FIG.
The opening 76a of the sleeve enters into the waste toner container 70, as shown in FIG.

Next, FIG. 8 shows details of the rotating shaft 73 of the holding frame 71, and a torsion coil spring 79 is inserted into the rotating shaft 73. One end of this spring 79 is hooked to the sheet metal 72, and the other end is hooked to the holding frame 71, and rotationally biases the holding frame 71 in the direction of separating from the toner discharge section of the cleaner 14. (right rotation direction in Figure 3).

In addition, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 9,
The front cover 80 is provided with a protruding member 80a, and when the front cover 80 is closed, the protruding member 80a presses the lock plate 74, and the claw part 74a of the lock member is pressed against the lock plate 74.
The structure is such that the engagement with the hook portion 47a is released. Furthermore, as described above, the front cover 80 is provided with another protrusion member for regulating the waste toner container 70 in a predetermined position when the front cover is closed and the locking member 74 is disengaged from the hook portion 47a. 80b is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the waste toner container 70 has springs 78 and 79
(FIG. 8), it is pushed to the right, but it comes into contact with the protruding member 80b and is restrained.

With the above configuration, when the front cover 80 is opened from the state shown in FIG.
Since the restraint of the protruding member 80b is released, the spring 79
The waste toner container 70 is rotated to the right (FIG. 4) due to the action of the toner container 70, and the waste toner container 70 is removed from the toner discharge portion of the cleaner unit 14 and completely retracted from the extraction path of the process cartridge 47. Here, when the front cover 80 is opened, the locking member 74 is attached to the hook portion 47.
It is configured so that it does not engage again with a.

Therefore, when handling jams, etc., the holding frame 71
There is no need to manually evacuate.

The above embodiment relates to a copying machine in which the front cover 80 is opened by folding it toward the operation panel of the main body of the apparatus, but another embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

In other embodiments, the front cover 80 is structured to open and close in the left direction (or right direction) toward the operation panel, but in this case, A certain locking member 74 is not necessary, and the object of the present invention can be achieved by simply providing the torsion coil spring 79 shown in FIG. 8 and the protruding member 80b of the front cover shown in FIG. 9. That is, this is because the holding frame 71 can be rotated in the same direction while being pushed by the front cover 80.

Therefore, this embodiment has the advantage that the discharged toner holding frame 71 can be attached and detached in conjunction with not only the opening operation but also the closing operation of the front cover.

Furthermore, the following advantages also arise.

That is, in the first embodiment, the waste toner container is taken out in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. After forming it, as shown in FIG. 11, take it out by pinching it. However, when taking out the toner, a part of the front cover 80 not only hits the arm and gets in the way, but also making the knob 70b too large will reduce the capacity of the toner container, which is not preferable. For this reason, the knob becomes smaller and has a shape that is difficult to grasp. In such cases, there is a particular risk that the user or service personnel may drop the waste toner container filled with waste toner during waste toner disposal, resulting in the user's body or the environment around the copying machine being contaminated by the toner. There are concerns.

However, in the second embodiment, since the locking member is not required, the waste toner container 70 can be taken out from the holding frame 71 in an upward direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. In this case, the waste toner container becomes easier to grasp, and there is no need to worry about the situation that occurred in the first embodiment.

The above are explanatory diagrams of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, the waste toner container 70 and the holding frame 71 are separate bodies, but it goes without saying that they may be constructed integrally.

Furthermore, the holding frame 71 may be retracted from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 by the action of the spring 79, or it may be rotated slightly from the position shown in FIG. 3 and then stopped. Also good. In the latter case, it is moved manually to the position shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the present invention, the collection container can be positioned extremely easily and accurately in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus with the process cartridge pulled out, and Fig. 3 is shown with the front cover opened. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the external appearance with the waste toner container removed, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the holding frame of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6A , FIG. 6B is a side view illustrating the operation of the toner conveying section, and FIG. 7A is
is a perspective view of the toner holding frame, FIG. 7B is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 7A, FIG. 8 is a side view showing details of the rotation axis of the toner holding frame, and FIG. 9 is a state with the front cover closed. 10 is a side view showing the toner holding frame, FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of another embodiment, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views showing means for taking out the waste toner container from the holding frame. 47... Process cartridge, 48... Holding frame, 70... Waste toner container, 71... Holding frame, 7
3...Rotating shaft, 74...Lock member, 76...Sleeve, 79...Torsional coil spring, 80...Front cover, 80a...Protrusion member, 80b...Protrusion member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cleaning device for removing residual toner from an image carrier, a collection container detachably attached to the apparatus body for collecting the residual toner, and a conveyance device for transporting the residual toner to the collection container. An image forming apparatus comprising an opening/closing door provided on the apparatus main body, and a biasing means provided on the conveying means for biasing the collection container in a direction away from a predetermined position when the opening/closing door is opened, The collection container moves away from a predetermined position according to the opening operation of the opening/closing door, and when the opening/closing door is closed, the collection container is positioned at a predetermined position by a protrusion provided on the opening/closing door. An image forming apparatus characterized in that: