JP2018146685A - Recovery container and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recovery container capable of adjusting a timing of detecting a sign that the recovery container reaches a full state so as to appropriately secure a duration from the detection of the sign to the full state, and an image formation apparatus equipped with the same.SOLUTION: A recovery container 1 is capable of being attached to/detached from an apparatus main body 110 of an image formation apparatus 100, and configured to contain a recovered object including a developer at the image formation apparatus 100. The recovery container includes: a detection part 5 for detecting that the recovered object is contained to a preset height at least in part of an inside of the recovery container 1 before the recovery container 1 reaches a full state; and adjustment means 6 configured to adjust the preset height detected by the detection part 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a collection container that can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile, and that contains a collected material such as collected toner, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  Conventionally, for example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, collected materials such as transfer residual toner removed from an image carrier and deteriorated developer discharged from a developing device are collected in a collection container, and the collected amount becomes a predetermined amount. When it reaches, it is replaced with an empty collection container.

  If an amount of collected material exceeding the allowable amount is collected in the collection container, there is a possibility that the image forming apparatus may malfunction. Therefore, the image forming apparatus may be stopped until the replacement of the collection container is completed.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, a sign that the amount of collected material collected in the collection container exceeds an allowable amount, that is, a sign that the collection container becomes full is detected, and the recovery container is stopped before the image forming apparatus stops. A configuration that can be exchanged is disclosed.

JP 2004-101667 A

  However, the time (period) from when a sign that the collection container is full is detected to when it is full varies depending on the usage status of the image forming apparatus such as the number of prints (print volume) per unit time. For this reason, if the number of prints per unit time is relatively large, the image forming apparatus may be stopped due to a full state in a relatively short time after the sign is detected. On the other hand, when the number of prints per unit time is relatively small, it takes a relatively long time to become full after the sign is detected. For this reason, when a replacement collection container is prepared when a sign is detected, the replacement collection container must be held for a relatively long time. In addition, when the time from the detection of the sign to the full state is relatively long, the bulk density of the recovered material filled in the recovery container changes, so it can be recovered before it becomes full. The accuracy of predicting the amount of recovered material tends to decrease. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a margin for the amount (volume, height, etc.) of the collection set as a full state with respect to the volume of the collection container, and the filling rate may have to be set low.

  Therefore, the present invention adjusts the timing at which the sign that the collection container is full is detected, and can appropriately secure the time from when the sign is detected until it becomes full, And an image forming apparatus including the same.

  The above object is achieved by the collection container and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, according to the present invention, in a recovery container that is detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus and contains a recovered material including a developer recovered in the image forming apparatus, the recovery container becomes full. A detection unit for detecting that the collected material has been accommodated up to a predetermined height in at least a part of the inside of the recovery container, and an adjustment for adjusting the predetermined height detected using the detection unit A recovery container.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material using a developer and outputs the image, a transport device that transports a collection including the developer, and a recovery transported by the transport device And a detecting means for detecting that the recovered material is stored up to the predetermined height in at least a part of the inside of the recovery container using the recovery container of the present invention to which an object is supplied and the detection portion of the recovery container A storage unit that accumulates and stores an index value that correlates with the amount of the recovered material supplied to the recovery container after the detection unit detects that the recovered material has been stored up to the predetermined height; and the detecting unit When it is detected that the collected material has been accommodated up to the predetermined height, a process for notifying the predetermined information is performed, and the integrated value of the index value is different depending on the predetermined height. When the accumulated value is reached An image forming apparatus characterized by having a control means for processing for notifying predetermined information is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately secure the time from when a sign is detected until the sign that the collection container is full is detected, and until the sign is full.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. (A) Cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the drum cleaning device, (b) Cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the belt cleaning device. It is sectional drawing of a collection container. It is sectional drawing of a part of collection container. It is a general | schematic fragmentary sectional perspective view of the collection container of the vicinity of a detection part. It is a partial section perspective view of the recovery container near the detection part. It is sectional drawing of the collection container of the vicinity of the control part of an adjustment member. It is an external appearance perspective view of the collection container near the knob portion of the adjustment member. It is a figure which shows the identification pattern of the height of the entrance of a detection part. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control mode of a main part of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart figure of alerting | reporting control of the state of a collection container. It is a graph which shows an example of the relationship between the setting of the height of the entrance of a detection part, and the period from a sign to fullness. It is an external appearance perspective view of the vicinity of the adjustment member of a collection container. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control mode of a main part of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart figure of adjustment control of the height of the entrance of a detection part.

  Hereinafter, the collection container and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[Example 1]
1. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Here, with respect to the image forming apparatus 100 and its elements, the front side of the paper in FIG. 1 is the “front (front)” side, and the back side of the paper is the “back (rear)” side. It is assumed that the rotation axis direction (longitudinal direction) 101 is substantially parallel. Further, regarding the image forming apparatus 100 and its elements, the horizontal direction is the horizontal direction when viewed from the front side. Further, regarding the image forming apparatus 100 and its elements, the vertical direction is the vertical direction of the gravitational direction, but does not mean just above or directly below, but above and below the horizontal plane passing through the target element or position. Is included. Further, these positional (direction) relationships are those when the image forming apparatus 100 is placed in a state where normal use is possible.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment is an inline type (tandem type) laser beam printer that employs an intermediate transfer method and can form a full-color image using an electrophotographic method. The image forming apparatus 100 includes first, second, and second toner images that form yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images, respectively, as a plurality of image forming units (stations). It has third and fourth image forming units PY, PM, PC, PK. Note that elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations in each of the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are Y, M, C, and K at the end of a symbol representing an element for any color. Omitted, may be explained comprehensively. In the present embodiment, the image forming unit P includes a photosensitive drum 101, a charging roller 102, an exposure device 103, a developing device 104, a primary transfer roller 105, and a drum cleaning device 106, which will be described later.

  A photosensitive drum 101, which is a drum-type photosensitive member (electrophotographic photosensitive member) as an image bearing member that carries a toner image, is driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing. The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 101 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential having a predetermined polarity (negative polarity in this embodiment) by a charging roller 102 which is a roller-type charging member as a charging unit. The surface of the charged photosensitive drum 101 is scanned and exposed based on image information by an exposure device (laser scanner) 103 as an exposure unit, and an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic image) is formed on the photosensitive drum 101. . In this embodiment, the exposure apparatus 103 is configured as one unit (laser optical unit) that exposes each photosensitive drum 101 of each image forming unit P. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 101 is developed (visualized) by supplying toner as a developer by a developing device 104 as developing means, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 101. . In this embodiment, the charged portion of the photosensitive drum 101 having the same potential as the charged polarity of the photosensitive drum 101 (negative polarity in the present embodiment) is applied to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 101 where the absolute value of the potential is reduced by exposure after uniform charging. ) Is charged with charged toner.

  Opposing each photosensitive drum 101, an intermediate transfer belt 107 as an intermediate transfer member constituted by an endless belt is disposed. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is stretched by a plurality of stretching rollers. The intermediate transfer belt 107 rotates (circulates) in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing when a driving roller that is one of a plurality of stretching rollers is driven to rotate. On the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 107, a primary transfer roller 105, which is a roller-type primary transfer member serving as a primary transfer unit, is disposed corresponding to each photosensitive drum 101. The primary transfer roller 105 is pressed toward the photosensitive drum 101 via the intermediate transfer belt 107 to form a primary transfer portion (primary transfer nip) T1 where the photosensitive drum 101 and the intermediate transfer belt 107 are in contact with each other. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 as described above is primarily transferred onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 107 by the electrostatic force and pressure applied by the primary transfer roller 105 in the primary transfer portion T1. The For example, when forming a full-color image, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 101 are sequentially transferred so as to be superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 107.

  On the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 107, a roller-type secondary transfer member serving as a secondary transfer unit is disposed at a position facing a secondary transfer counter roller that is one of a plurality of stretching rollers. A next transfer roller 108 is disposed. The secondary transfer roller 108 is pressed toward the secondary transfer counter roller via the intermediate transfer belt 107, and a secondary transfer portion (secondary transfer nip) where the intermediate transfer belt 107 and the secondary transfer roller 108 come into contact with each other. T2 is formed. As described above, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 107 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 107 and the secondary transfer roller 108 by the electrostatic force and pressure applied by the secondary transfer roller 108 in the secondary transfer portion T2. Is secondarily transferred onto the transfer material S that is nipped and conveyed. A transfer material (recording material, recording medium, sheet) S such as paper is stacked on a transfer material cassette 111, fed by a pickup roller 112, and conveyed to a registration roller 113. After the skew of the transfer material S is corrected by the registration roller 113, the transfer material S is supplied to the secondary transfer portion T2 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 107.

  The transfer material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 114 as a fixing unit, where the toner image is fixed (melted and fixed) on the surface by being heated and pressed. Thereafter, the transfer material S is discharged (output) to the outside of the apparatus main body 110 of the image forming apparatus 100.

  On the other hand, the primary transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 101 during the primary transfer step is removed from the photosensitive drum 1 and collected by the drum cleaning device 106 as a photosensitive member cleaning means. Further, the secondary transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 107 in the secondary transfer step is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 107 and collected by a belt cleaning device 109 as an intermediate transfer member cleaning unit.

2. Cleaning Device FIG. 2A is a schematic sectional view in the vicinity of the drum cleaning device 106. The drum cleaning device 106 includes a first cleaning container 161, a first cleaning blade 162 as a cleaning member, and a first discharge screw 163 as a conveying member. The first cleaning container 161 is disposed along the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 101 and supports the first cleaning blade 162 and the first discharge screw 163. The first cleaning blade 162 is a plate-like member (elastic blade) formed of an elastic material such as urethane rubber. The first cleaning blade 162 is arranged with the longitudinal direction along the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 101, and is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 at the edge portion of one end portion (free end portion) in the short side direction. ing. The first cleaning blade 162 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 101 in a counter direction in which a free end portion faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 101. The drum cleaning device 106 rubs the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 101 with the first cleaning blade 162 to scrape the primary transfer residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 and put it inside the first cleaning container 161. Accommodate. The primary transfer residual toner accommodated in the first cleaning container 161 is moved from the back side toward the front side along the longitudinal direction of the first cleaning container 161 by the rotation of the first discharge screw 163. It is conveyed to. The collected toner (primary transfer residual toner) as the collected material is discharged from a discharge port (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the front end of the first cleaning container 161, and is transported 115 (FIG. 1). Sent to the inside.

  FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the belt cleaning device 109. The belt cleaning device 109 includes a second cleaning container 191, a second cleaning blade 192 as a cleaning member, and a second discharge screw 193 as a conveying member. The second cleaning container 191 is disposed along the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 107 (rotational axis direction of the stretching roller), and supports the second cleaning blade 192 and the second discharge screw 193. The second cleaning blade 192 is a plate-like member (elastic blade) formed of an elastic material such as urethane rubber. The second cleaning blade 192 is disposed along the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 107 in the longitudinal direction, and is brought into contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 107 at the edge portion of one end portion (free end portion) in the short side direction. It has been. The second cleaning blade 192 is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 107 in a counter direction in which a free end portion faces an upstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 107. The belt cleaning device 109 scrapes off the secondary transfer residual toner on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 107 by rubbing the surface of the rotating intermediate transfer belt 107 with the second cleaning blade 192, thereby cleaning the second cleaning container 191. House inside. The secondary transfer residual toner accommodated in the second cleaning container 191 is moved forward from the back along the longitudinal direction of the second cleaning container 191 by the rotation of the second discharge screw 193. Conveyed to the side. Then, the collected toner (secondary transfer residual toner) as the collected material is discharged from a discharge port (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the front end of the second cleaning container 191 and is conveyed to the transport pipe 115 (FIG. 1). ) Is sent inside.

  As described above, the collected toner sent into the conveyance pipe 115 is conveyed toward the collection container 1 inside the conveyance pipe 115 by the rotation of the collection screw 116 as a conveyance member provided inside the conveyance pipe 115. And collected in the collection container 1. In the present embodiment, a conveying device 117 that conveys the collected toner as the collected material to the collecting container 1 is configured by the conveying pipe 115, the collecting screw 116, and the like.

  The collection container 1 is detachably attached to a mounting portion 118 provided in the apparatus main body 110 of the image forming apparatus 100. As will be described in detail later, the collection container 1 is typically removed from the apparatus main body 110 and replaced with an empty collection container 1 when the collection amount reaches a predetermined amount before exceeding the allowable amount. Is done.

3. Recovery Container FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a cross section taken along a vertical plane substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the recovery container 1 of the present embodiment as viewed from the right side.

  In the present embodiment, the collection container 1 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped container that is long in the front-rear direction, and has a housing portion 2 that houses the collected toner as a collected material. The collection container 1 is made of, for example, soft plastic. The collection container 1 is moved in the direction from the near side to the far side as indicated by arrow D in the drawing and is attached to the mounting portion 118 of the apparatus main body 110, and conversely is moved in the direction from the far side to the near side. It is removed from the mounting portion 118 of the apparatus main body 110.

  The collection container 1 has an inflow port 3 that is an upward opening on the upper wall 11 near the front end. The collection container 1 is provided with a shutter (not shown) that opens and closes the inflow port 3 in conjunction with the attachment / detachment operation of the collection container 1 with respect to the apparatus main body 110. The collection container 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 110 and the shutter is opened, so that the inlet 3 communicates with the above-described transport pipe 115. Collection of the collected toner from the transport pipe 115 to the collection container 1 is performed by dropping the collected toner from the transport pipe 115 through the inlet 3 to the inside of the storage unit 2 by gravity.

  The collection container 1 has a transport screw 4 as a transport member, which is rotatably disposed inside the storage unit 2. The collected toner that has flowed into the housing portion 2 from the inlet 3 is filled (deposited) inside the housing portion 2 while the powder surface is leveled by the conveying screw 4. The conveying screw 4 has a screw shape having a rotating shaft 41 and blades 42 formed around the rotating shaft 41. The conveying screw 4 is made of plastic, for example. The transport screw 4 is rotatably supported between the front side and the back side of the collection container 1 so that the rotation axis thereof is substantially parallel (substantially horizontal) to the front-rear direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the conveying screw 4 is disposed substantially at the center in the left-right direction inside the housing portion 2.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the back end of the collection container 1 cut by a vertical plane passing through the rotation axis of the transport screw 4. The back end of the rotation shaft 41 of the conveying screw 4 protrudes outside the collection container 1, and a coupling member 43 as a drive connecting portion is fixed to the protruding end of the rotation shaft 41. The conveying screw 4 engages a drive transmission member (main body side coupling member) (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 110 with the coupling member 43, and a drive source (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 110. ) Is driven to rotate. The coupling member 43 is formed of a material different from that of the rotating shaft 41. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 41 and the blades 42 formed integrally therewith are formed of ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer), and the coupling member 43 is relatively slidable. It is made of POM (polyacetal). The back end of the rotating shaft 41 of the conveying screw 4 is covered with a coupling member 43, and the coupling member 43 is rotatably supported by the bearing portion 12 of the collection container 1. Thus, since the coupling member 43 with relatively high slidability is configured to slide with respect to the bearing portion 12, problems such as scraping of the rotating shaft 41 are suppressed. In addition, a seal member 44 is provided at a position adjacent to the bearing portion 12 on the inner side of the housing portion 2, and the collected toner is prevented from entering the bearing portion 12.

  Further, the collection container 1 is for detecting that the collection toner has been stored up to a predetermined height in at least a part of the inside of the collection container 1 before the collection container 1 becomes full near the back end. It has a detector 5. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 5 is disposed on the right side of the approximate center in the left-right direction inside the storage unit 2. The detection unit 5 includes an intrusion port 51 that is an upward opening as an intrusion unit into which the collected toner accommodated in the collection container 1 enters, a detection chamber 52 that accommodates the collected toner that has entered through the intrusion port 51, Have

  FIG. 5 is a schematic partial cross-sectional perspective view of the vicinity of the detection unit 5. The detection unit 5 is configured such that at least a part of the detection chamber 52 is exposed to the outside of the collection container 1. In the present embodiment, a part of the lower end side of the detection chamber 52 has a convex shape that protrudes to the outside of the collection container 1, and the convex part constitutes the detection window 53. The apparatus main body 110 is provided with an optical sensor 120 as a detecting unit that detects that the collected toner is stored up to a predetermined height in at least a part of the inside of the collecting container 1 using the detecting unit 5. The optical sensor 120 receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 121 and passed through the detection window 53, and the light emitting unit 121 that emits light to the detection window 53 in a state where the collection container 1 is attached to the apparatus main body 110. A light receiving unit 122. That is, the detection unit 5 is provided such that the detection window 53 exposed to the outside of the collection container 1 shields the optical path from the light emitting unit 121 to the light receiving unit 122. At least the detection window 53 of the detection unit 5 is formed of a material that can transmit at least part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 121. When there is no collected toner in the detection chamber 52, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 121 passes through the detection window unit 53 and enters the light receiving unit 122. In this state, as will be described in detail later, it is determined that the amount of toner stored in the collection container 1 is sufficiently small on the apparatus main body 110 side. On the other hand, when the collected toner enters the detection chamber 52 and the optical path from the light emitting unit 121 to the light receiving unit 122 is blocked by the collected toner, the light is not incident on the light receiving unit 122. In this state, as will be described in detail later, it is determined on the apparatus main body 110 side that a state is to be informed of a sign that the collection container 1 is full. Here, the “full state” of the collection container 1 is the amount (volume, height, etc.) of the collected material collected in the collection container 1 set in advance according to the configuration (volume, shape, etc.) of the collection container 1. ) Means a state in which an allowable amount that can cause a malfunction of the image forming apparatus 1 is reached when the number of collected images is more than that. Specifically, the “full state” of the collection container 1 means a state set in advance as a timing for informing a “full error” described later.

  In the present embodiment, the inflow port 3 and the detection unit 5 are arranged apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the collection container 1. As a result, the optical path of the optical sensor 120 is prevented from becoming dirty due to toner scattering near the inlet 3.

  FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the vicinity of the detection unit 5 of the collection container 1. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 5 is fixed to the recovery container 1 and has a base unit 5a as a detection unit main body constituting the detection chamber 52, and is attached so as to be relatively movable with respect to the base unit 5a, and an intrusion port 51 is formed. Movable part 5b. In the present embodiment, the movable portion 5b is movable up and down substantially along the direction of gravity. The movable portion 5b is nested in the opening of the upper end portion of the base portion 5a. When the movable portion 5b moves within the movable range, the detection chamber 52 is accommodated only in the entrance 51. 2 communicates with the inside. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 5 includes a biasing member 5c as a biasing unit that biases the movable portion 5b in the direction toward the base portion 5a. In the present embodiment, the urging member 5c is constituted by a tension coil spring, and one end is fixed to the inside of the accommodating portion 2 and the other end is fixed to the movable portion 5b. In the present embodiment, the movable portion 5b is urged downward along the substantially gravity direction by the elastic force of the urging member 5c.

  The collection container 1 includes an adjustment member 6 that constitutes an adjustment unit that adjusts a predetermined height of the collected toner detected using the detection unit 5. In the present embodiment, the adjustment member 6 includes a regulating portion 62 that abuts on the movable portion 5b of the detecting portion 5 and regulates the movement of the movable portion 5b in the direction toward the base portion 5a (downward in the present embodiment). Yes. The movable part 5b of the detection part 5 is urged downward by the urging member 5c, and the position is fixed from the lower side by the restriction part 62 of the adjustment member 6 so that the position is fixed. That is, in this embodiment, the adjustment member 6 changes the height of the entrance 51 formed in the movable portion 5b by changing the height of the position where the restricting portion 62 contacts the movable portion 5b.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the restricting portion 62 as viewed from the back side of a cross section cut by a vertical plane substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the collection container 1. 7A shows a state in which the height of the entrance 51 is the first height H1, FIG. 7B shows a state in which the height of the entrance 51 is the second height H2, FIG. 7C. Indicates a state in which the height of the entrance 51 is the third height H3. The heights H1, H2, and H3 are, for example, heights in the gravitational direction with reference to the bottom portion inside the substantially stationary housing portion 2, for example, and have a relationship of the following expression: H1 <H2 <H3. However, the standards for the heights H1, H2, and H3 are not limited to the bottom inside the housing unit 2, and the above relationship does not change even when the floor surface on which the image forming apparatus 100 is installed, for example.

  In the present embodiment, the adjustment member 6 includes a rotation shaft 61 that is rotatably supported by the side wall portion 13 (FIG. 6) on the back side of the collection container 1, and a regulation portion 62 that is fixed to the rotation shaft 61. And having. The rotation shaft 61 passes through the side wall 13 on the back side of the collection container 1 and is disposed substantially parallel (substantially horizontal) to the front-rear direction, and is disposed inside the collection container 1 of the rotation shaft 61. A restricting portion 62 is fixed to the front end portion of the portion. In the present embodiment, the restricting portion 62 has a circumferential cam shape in which the distance from the rotation center to the circumference changes, and the height for restricting the movable portion 5b can be adjusted by turning. . That is, in the present embodiment, the restricting portion 62 has first, second, and second contact portions that are different from each other in the radial direction from the rotation center of the adjustment member 6 and that can contact the movable portion 5b. Third contact portions 62a, 62b, and 62c are provided. And the adjustment member 6 changes the contact part which contact | abuts the movable part 5b among the said some contact parts 62a, 62b, 62c of the control part 62, and the position where the control part 62 contacts the movable part 5b is changed. The height of the entrance 51 is changed. In the present embodiment, the first, second, and third contact portions 62a, 62b, and 62c are formed so that the radial distance from the rotation center of the adjustment member 6 is increased in this order. And it forms in this order in the clockwise direction when the regulation part 62 is seen from the back side. As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the first contact portion 62a, the second contact portion 62b, and the third contact portion 62c of the restricting portion 62 become the movable portion 5b. By abutting, the height of the entrance 51 becomes the first height H1, the second height H2, and the third height H3, respectively.

  FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing the vicinity of the adjustment member 6 at the end on the back side of the collection container 1. FIG. 8A shows only the collection container 1, and FIG. 8B shows a push sensor 130 provided in the apparatus main body 110 to be described later in addition to the collection container 1. 8A and 8B, the position (phase) of the adjustment member 6 in the rotational direction is the position shown in FIG. 7A, that is, the height of the entrance 51 is the first height H1. Shows the state.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, in the present embodiment, the adjustment member 6 is arranged outside the collection container 1 and can be operated by an operator such as a user or a service person. A portion 63 is provided. The knob portion 63 is fixed to the rear end portion of the portion of the rotating shaft 61 disposed outside the collection container 1. In the present embodiment, the knob portion 63 has a substantially circular shape centered on the rotation center of the adjustment member 6 when viewed from the back side, and is formed integrally with the rotation shaft 61. In the present embodiment, the height of the entrance 51 is changed by turning the knob portion 63 by the operator. Then, when the height of the entrance 51 is changed in this way, the recovered toner collected in the collection container 1 when it is detected that the height of the collected toner reaches the height of the entrance 51 is detected. The amount of changes.

  In the present embodiment, the height of the entrance 51 is changed by the adjusting member 6 before the collection container 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 110, for example. The operator adjusts the collection container 1 to be newly attached to the apparatus main body 110 when the collection container 1 is replaced, for example, according to the use state of the image forming apparatus 100 such as the number of prints (print volume) per unit time. 6 can be operated to change the height of the entrance 51.

  In the present embodiment, the adjustment member 6 includes a transmission unit that transmits information related to a predetermined height of the collected toner detected by the detection unit 5 that is adjusted by the adjustment member 6 to the apparatus main body 110 side. As shown in FIG. 8A, in the present embodiment, as this transmission means, a protrusion 64 that is a transmission portion that transmits information regarding the position of the adjustment member 6 in the rotation direction to the apparatus main body 110 side is provided on the adjustment portion 6. Is provided. The protrusion 64 is integrally formed on the end face on the back side of the knob portion 63 so as to protrude to the back side. In the present embodiment, three protrusions (first, second, and third protrusions) 64a, 64b, and 64c are provided on substantially the same circumference around the rotation center of the adjustment member 6. In the state where the entrance 51 shown in FIG. 8A is at the first height H1, the first protrusion 64a is disposed on the upper side, the second protrusion 64b is disposed on the lower side, and the third protrusion 64c is disposed on the left side. Is done.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the apparatus main body 110 has a recognition means for recognizing information about a predetermined height transmitted by the transmission means. As shown in FIG. 8B, in this embodiment, the device main body 110 is provided with a push sensor 130 that is a recognition unit whose state changes depending on whether or not the protrusion 64 is pressed. In the present embodiment, two push sensors (first and second push sensors) 130a and 130b are provided side by side in a substantially horizontal direction.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the projection 64 changes according to the position of the adjustment member 6 in the rotational direction, and the pattern 64 presses (turns on) the two push sensors 130a and 130b. The presence / absence of the container 1 and the height of the three-stage entrance 51 can be identified. In the present embodiment, as will be described in detail later, the height of the entrance 51 is identified on the apparatus main body 110 side, and the recovery from when a sign that the recovery container 1 becomes full is detected until it becomes full is recovered. The amount of collected toner can be automatically changed.

4). Notification Control FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic control mode of the main part of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 is comprehensively controlled by a control unit (control circuit) 150 provided in the apparatus main body 110. The control unit 150 includes a CPU 151 as a control unit, a memory 152 including a ROM, a RAM, and the like as a storage unit. The control unit 150 is connected to the optical sensor 120 and the push sensor 130 described above. In addition, an operation panel 140 provided in the apparatus main body 110 is connected to the control unit 150. In this embodiment, the operation panel 140 includes keys and switches as input means for the operator to input various instructions and settings to the control unit 150, and display as display means for displaying information to the operator. Part (liquid crystal panel or the like). The control unit 150 is connected to a counter 160 as a storage unit that accumulates and stores an index value that correlates with the amount of collected toner to be described later.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the collection container 1 is configured so that the height of the entry port 51 of the detection unit 5 can be changed. In the case where the height of the entrance 51 is the second height H2 (FIG. 7B) than in the case of the first height H1 (FIG. 7A), and also in the case of the second height H2. In the case of the third height H3, the filling rate of the recovery container 1 is higher when a sign that the recovery container 1 is full is detected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the collection container 1 and the apparatus main body 110 are configured so that the height of the entry port 51 adjusted by the adjustment member 3 can be identified on the apparatus main body 110 side. That is, the CPU 151 refers to the information (FIG. 9) indicating the relationship between the ON / OFF pattern of the push sensor 130 and the height of the entrance 51 stored in the memory 152 based on the signal from the push sensor 130. The height of the entrance 51 can be determined. Further, the memory 152 stores the amount of collected toner corresponding to the height of the entrance 51 and the amount of collected toner until the collection container 1 becomes full after the height of the collected toner reaches the height of the entrance 51. The set value is stored. Then, when it is detected that the height of the collected toner has reached the height of the entrance 51, the CPU 151 displays a predetermined information on the display unit of the operation panel 140 as a notification means (here, “ This is also referred to as a “predictive alarm”.) And the integration of the index value by the counter 160 is started. Thereafter, when the integrated value of the index values reaches a predetermined set value set in advance according to the height of the entrance 51, the CPU 151 displays predetermined information on the display unit of the operation panel 140 as a notification unit. A notification display (herein also referred to as “full error”) is performed.

  Here, the set value can be set as an arbitrary index value correlated with the collected amount of collected toner. In this embodiment, the amount of collected toner collected by the drum cleaning device 106 and the belt cleaning device 107 and supplied to the collection container 1 by the transport device 117 increases as image formation is performed. Therefore, the printing rate of the formed image, the number of prints, the number of pixels of the formed image (dot count, image area exposure area, image area exposure time, etc.), density information of each pixel of the formed image, toner replenishment amount, etc. It can be used as an index value. The set value corresponds to the height of the entrance 51, and is an integrated value of each index value from when the height of the collected toner reaches the height of the entrance 51 until the collection container 1 becomes full. It is obtained in advance based on experimental data or the like. In this embodiment, the number of prints is used as the index value.

  In addition, the “predictive alarm” is an arbitrary message or image (still image, moving image) that can notify predetermined information, such as prompting for replacement of the collection container 1 or prompting replacement of the recovery container 1. , Lighting, voice, etc. In addition, the “full error” is an arbitrary message, image (still image, moving image), etc. that can notify predetermined information such as prompting replacement of the collection container 1 or prompting contact with a service person. It may be lighting, audio, etc.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a notification control procedure for the state of the collection container 1 in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, this notification control is performed every time an image is formed on one transfer material S and output.

  First, when the output of the image is completed, the CPU 151 acquires the detection result of the optical sensor 120 (S101), and determines whether the height of the collected toner has reached a predetermined height of the entrance 51 (S102). ).

  If it is determined in S102 (“YES” in S102), the CPU 151 counts up the count value of the counter 160 (the number of prints in this embodiment) and reads the latest count value (S103). Further, the CPU 151 acquires the detection result of the push sensor 130 and collects the amount of collected toner from when a sign that the collection container 1 is full is detected according to the height of the intrusion opening 51 until the collection container 1 becomes full. Is read from the memory 152 (S104). Then, the CPU 151 determines whether or not the latest count value has reached the set value (S105).

  When it is determined in S105 that it has not been reached (“No” in S105), the CPU 151 displays a “predictive alarm” on the display unit of the operation panel 140 (S106). On the other hand, if it is determined in S105 (“Yes” in S105), the CPU 151 displays “full error” on the display unit of the operation panel 140 and operates the image forming apparatus 100 until the collection container 1 is replaced. Stop (S107).

  If it is determined in S102 that it has not been reached (“No” in S102), the CPU 151 ends the process without displaying a “predictor alarm” or a “full error”.

  FIG. 12 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the setting of the height of the entrance 51 and the period from when a sign that the collection container 1 is full is detected until it becomes full. For example, when the user has a relatively large number of prints per unit time, the height of the entrance 51 can be adjusted to the first height H1. In this case, a relatively large number of printable sheets from when the predictor is detected until it becomes full is secured, and the replacement collection container 1 is prepared from when the predictor is detected until it becomes full. The time (period) can be appropriately secured. On the other hand, if the user has a relatively small number of prints per unit time, the height of the entrance 51 can be adjusted to the third height H3. In this case, the number of printable sheets until the full state is reached after the sign is detected is relatively small. However, even if the replacement collection container 1 is prepared when the sign is detected, it is unreasonably long. It can be exchanged for a full collection container 1 without holding it for (period). Further, in this case, since the time until the full state is detected after the sign is detected is prevented from being unduly long, the full state is set in advance in consideration of an error due to a change in the bulk density of the collected toner. The need to estimate the amount of collected toner less is also reduced. In this manner, an appropriate period from when the sign is detected until the user becomes full can be ensured according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus 100 by the user.

  In this embodiment, the “predictive alarm” and “full error” are notified on the operation panel 140 provided in the apparatus main body 110, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 150 can communicate with an external device (not shown) such as a user's personal computer or a service person (service base) host computer via the communication unit 180 of the apparatus main body 110. May be connected to. Then, the CPU 151 can notify the “predictive alarm” and the “full error” by a notification unit such as a display unit of these external devices via the communication unit 180.

  In this embodiment, the height of the entrance 51 is automatically identified on the apparatus main body 110 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operator inputs information regarding the adjusted height of the entrance 51 from an input unit of the operation panel 140 (or an input unit of an external device connected to the control unit 150 via the communication unit 180). It may be.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the timing at which a sign that the collection container 1 is full is detected is adjusted, and the time from when the sign is detected until the sign is full is appropriately secured. It becomes possible.

[Example 2]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment are the same as those of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those of the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. .

  In Example 1, the height of the entrance 51 of the detection unit 5 of the collection container 1 was manually adjusted. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the height of the entrance 51 is adjusted by the driving force transmitted from the apparatus main body 110 side.

  FIG. 13 is an external perspective view showing the vicinity of the adjustment member 6 at the back end of the collection container 1 of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the adjustment member 6 is a joint portion which is a drive receiving portion as a drive receiving means for receiving a driving force for driving the adjustment member 6 from the apparatus main body 110 side, instead of the knob portion 63 in the first embodiment. 65. The joint portion 65 engages with a main body side joint portion 171 provided in a drive portion 170 as drive means included in the apparatus main body 110. The drive unit 170 includes, in addition to the main body side joint portion 170, a motor as a drive source that generates a drive force transmitted to the main body side joint portion 171, a drive transmission member that transmits the drive force from the motor to the main body side joint portion 171, and the like. It is configured.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic control mode of a main part of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the push switch 130 in the first embodiment is not provided, and the drive unit 170 is connected to the control unit 150. In the present embodiment, the joint portion 65 and the main body side joint portion 171 are configured to engage only in one phase in the rotation direction of the adjustment member 6. Therefore, the CPU 151 identifies the position of the adjustment member 6 in the rotational direction, that is, the height of the entrance 51, from the state of the drive unit 170, more specifically, the position of the main body side joint 171 in the rotational direction. can do. The position of the main body side joint portion 171 in the rotational direction can be detected by any known means such as an encoder provided for the motor or the drive transmission member.

  In the present embodiment, the height of the entrance 51 is automatically adjusted according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus 100 by the user. In the present embodiment, the CPU 151 adjusts the height of the entrance 51 based on the print volume for a certain period, and collects the toner collected from the detection of the sign that the collection container 1 is full until it becomes full. Automatically change the amount collected. In other words, in the present embodiment, the CPU 151 predicts the amount of collected material supplied to the collection container 1 during a predetermined period by the transport device 117, and drives the adjustment member 6 by the driving unit 170 based on the prediction result. Thus, the predetermined height of the collected toner detected using the detection unit 5 is changed.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for adjusting the height of the entrance 51 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, this adjustment control is performed each time an image is formed on one transfer material S and output.

  First, when the image output is completed, the CPU 151 acquires the detection result of the optical sensor 120 (S201), and determines whether the height of the collected toner has reached a predetermined height of the entrance 51 (S202). ).

  When it is determined in S202 that it has not been reached (“No” in S202), the CPU 151 determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed since the previous adjustment of the height of the entrance 51 (or the start of use of the collection container 1). (S203). The time from the previous adjustment (or the start of use of the collection container 1) is measured by a timer provided in the control unit 150. If it is determined that the time has passed in S203 (“Yes” in S203), the CPU 151 reads the number of prints in the latest predetermined period counted by the counter 160 (S204), and obtains the number of prints per unit time (S205). . Then, based on information indicating the relationship between the number of prints per unit time and the height (H 1, H 2, H 3) of the entrance 51 that is preset and stored in the memory 152, the CPU 151 The height is obtained (S206). Typically, the height of the entrance 51 is changed for each predetermined range of the number of prints per unit time, and the value of the number of prints per unit time (corresponding to the slope of the straight line in the graph of FIG. 12). The larger the is, the lower the height of the entrance 51 can be. Then, the CPU 151 adjusts the height of the entrance 51 by rotating the adjustment member 6 by the drive unit 170 according to the obtained height of the entrance 51 (S207). If it is determined in S203 that the time has not elapsed ("No" in S203), the CPU 151 ends the process without adjusting the height of the entry port 51.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S202 (“Yes” in S202), the CPU 151 ends the process of FIG. 15 and subsequently executes the same processes as S103 to S107 of FIG. 11 described in the first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, in the process corresponding to S104, the CPU 151 reads a set value corresponding to the height of the entrance 51 determined from the state of the drive unit 170.

  In the present embodiment, the height of the entrance 51 is adjusted based on the print volume for a certain period, but the present invention is not limited to this. Based on an arbitrary index value correlated with the collected amount of collected toner described in the first embodiment, the collected amount of collected toner for a certain period can be obtained, and the height of the entrance 51 can be adjusted based on the obtained amount.

  In the present embodiment, the height of the entrance 51 is automatically adjusted according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the height of the intrusion port 51 is adjusted in accordance with an operator instruction from the input unit of the operation panel 140 (or the input unit of an external device connected to the control unit 150 via the communication unit 180). It may be. In this case, the operator may arbitrarily specify the height of the entrance 51, or automatically enter the entrance according to the use status of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the operator's instruction, as in the present embodiment. The height of 51 may be determined.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the burden on operators such as users and service personnel can be reduced.

[Others]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated according to the specific Example, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the collected material is the transfer residual toner collected by the cleaning device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in an image forming apparatus using a two-component developer including a toner (non-magnetic toner particles) and a carrier (magnetic carrier particles) as a developer, the carrier is replenished to the developing device and an excess carrier (deterioration) There is a configuration in which the carrier) is gradually discharged from the developing device. In such an image forming apparatus, the developer (including toner and carrier) discharged from the developing device may be transported to a recovery container by the transport device and recovered. As described above, the recovered material may be any transfer residual toner or developer discharged from the developing device as long as it contains the developer.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned Example, the detection part of the collection container was comprised including the detection part main body and the movable part in which the entrance was formed. Thereby, it is possible to change only the height of the entrance without changing the relative position of the detection chamber (detection window) with respect to the optical sensor on the apparatus main body side. However, depending on the configuration of the detection means provided on the apparatus main body side, a configuration in which the height of the entry port is changed by moving the entire detection unit may be contemplated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Collection container 5 Detection part 5a Base part 5b Movable part 5c Energizing member 6 Adjustment member 51 Intrusion port 52 Detection chamber 61 Rotating shaft 62 Restriction part 63 Knob part 100 Image forming apparatus 110 Apparatus main body 120 Optical sensor

Claims (12)

In a collection container that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus and contains a collected material containing the developer collected in the image forming apparatus,
A detection unit for detecting that the collected material is contained up to a predetermined height in at least a part of the inside of the collection container before the collection container becomes full;
Adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined height detected using the detection unit;
A collection container characterized by comprising: The detection unit has an intrusion part into which the collected material stored in the collection container enters, and a detection chamber for storing the collected material intruded from the intrusion part,
The collection container according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts a height of the intrusion portion.   The detection chamber allows light to be transmitted when a collection object is not stored in the detection chamber, and blocks the transmission of light when the collection object is stored in the detection chamber. Item 3. The collection container according to Item 2. The detection unit includes a detection unit main body constituting the detection chamber, a movable unit attached to be movable relative to the detection unit main body and formed with the intrusion unit, and the movable unit as the detection unit main body. Urging means for urging in the direction of heading,
The adjusting means includes an adjusting member that includes a regulating portion that abuts on the movable portion and regulates movement of the movable portion in a direction toward the detection unit main body, and the regulating portion abuts on the movable portion. The collection container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the height of the intrusion portion is changed by changing the height of the position.   The adjustment member is rotatably attached to the collection container, and the regulating portion has a plurality of radial distances from the rotation center of the adjustment member that are different from each other and that can contact the movable portion. The contact part is provided, The said adjustment member changes the height of the position where the said control part contact | abuts the said movable part by changing the said contact part contact | abutted to the said movable part. 4. The collection container according to 4.   The recovery container according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment member includes an operation unit that is disposed outside the recovery container and that can be operated by an operator.   The said adjustment member has a transmission part which transmits the information regarding the position of the rotation direction of the said adjustment member to the said apparatus main body side, The collection container as described in any one of Claims 4-6 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The recovery container according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the adjustment member has a drive receiving portion that receives a driving force for driving the adjustment member from the apparatus main body side. In an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a transfer material using a developer,
A transport device for transporting the collected material including the developer;
The collection container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the collected material conveyed by the conveyance device is supplied,
Detecting means for detecting that the recovered material is contained up to the predetermined height in at least a part of the inside of the recovery container using the detection unit of the recovery container;
A storage unit that accumulates and stores an index value that correlates with the amount of the recovered material supplied to the recovery container after the detection unit detects that the recovered material has been stored up to the predetermined height;
When the detection unit detects that the collected material has been accommodated up to the predetermined height, it performs processing for notifying predetermined information, and the integrated value of the index value is in accordance with the predetermined height. Control means for performing processing for notifying predetermined information when a different predetermined integrated value is reached;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The adjusting means of the recovery container has a transmitting means for transmitting information on the predetermined height adjusted by the adjusting means;
The image forming apparatus includes a recognition unit that recognizes information about the predetermined height transmitted by the transmission unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit acquires information about the predetermined height recognized by the recognition unit. The adjustment means of the recovery container has drive receiving means for receiving a driving force for driving the adjustment means,
The image forming apparatus includes a driving unit that transmits a driving force to the driving receiving unit.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit acquires information about the predetermined height from a state of the driving unit.   The control means predicts the amount of collected material to be supplied to the collection container during a predetermined period by the transport means, and drives the adjustment means by the driving means based on the prediction result, thereby the predetermined height. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus is changed.