JP4888827B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

  A technique used in this type of image forming apparatus and image forming unit, which has a developer supply means for supplying a developer to an image carrier and is contained in an air flow discharged from the developer supply means There is known a technique for filtering a filter using a filter member (Patent Document 1). Further, there are a technique for pulling out an image forming unit provided with a developer supply means from this type of image forming apparatus, and a technique for mounting an image forming unit provided with a developer supply means to this type of image forming apparatus. Known (Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2005-173295 JP-A-9-230686

However, the conventional technique has a problem in that the developer adheres to the filter member with use, and the exhaust from the developer supply means is not satisfactorily performed. In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to frequently replace the filter member, and there is a problem that the maintenance of the apparatus is complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is easier to maintain.

The present invention according to claim 1, the image forming apparatus main body, an image bearing member provided in the image forming apparatus main body, a developing agent supply means for supplying a developer to said image bearing member, said developer supply A filter member for filtering the developer contained in the airflow discharged from the means, and a vibration applying means for applying vibration to the filter member, wherein the vibration applying means is formed in the image forming apparatus main body. Opening / closing of an opening / closing member for opening / closing the opening, movement of the developer supply means supported movably in the image forming apparatus main body by developer supply means support means, and contact with a belt for conveying a developer image or sheet. the first position and in conjunction with any of the movement of the image bearing member which is supported by the movable image bearing member supporting means and a second position away from the belt in contact, vibration to the filter member An image forming apparatus characterized by imparting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the vibration applying unit applies vibration to the filter member in conjunction with the movement of the developer supply unit, and the filter member is provided in the developer supply unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the vibration applying unit applies vibration to the filter member in conjunction with opening / closing of the opening / closing member and movement of the image carrier, and the surface of the image carrier. residual developer further comprises a collection vessel to be recovered, the filter member may be an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein provided in the collection container.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the filter member is provided so as to close an exhaust opening formed in the developer supply means. .

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus that is easier to maintain is provided.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, and an intermediate transfer belt 14 is disposed in the image forming apparatus main body 12. For example, four image forming units 16 are arranged in parallel to the intermediate transfer belt 14, and the image forming apparatus 10 is a so-called tandem system. The image forming unit 16 is arranged in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black in the order from the upper right to the lower left. The developer images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are respectively placed on the intermediate transfer belt 14. Form.

  A sheet supply device 18 is provided below the image forming apparatus main body 12. The sheet supply device 18 includes a sheet supply cassette 20 on which sheets are stacked, a pickup roll 22 that picks up the sheets stacked on the sheet supply cassette 20, and a feed roll 24 and a retard roll 26 that send out the sheets while rolling them. . The sheet supply cassette 20 is detachably provided to the image forming apparatus main body 12 so that the sheet supply cassette 20 can be pulled out in the front direction in the figure, for example, and a sheet as a transfer medium such as plain paper or OHP sheet is stacked and stored. Has been.

  Near one end of the image forming apparatus main body 12 (near the left end in the figure), a sheet supply path 28 is provided along a substantially vertical direction. In the sheet supply path 28, a transport roll 29, a resist roll 30, a secondary transfer roll 32, a fixing device 34 and a discharge roll 36 are provided. The registration roll 30 temporarily stops the sheet sent to the sheet supply path 28 and sends it to the secondary transfer roll 32 at a timing. The fixing device 34 includes a heating roll 34a and a pressure roll 34b, and fixes the developer image on the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the sheet passing between the heating roll 34a and the pressure roll 34b. It has become.

  A discharge tray section 38 is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 12. The sheet having the developer image fixed thereon is discharged onto the discharge tray portion 38 by the discharge roll 36 described above, and is stacked on the discharge tray portion 38. Accordingly, the sheets in the sheet supply cassette 20 are sequentially discharged to the discharge tray unit 38 through a C-shaped path.

  For example, four toner bottles 40 are provided on the other end side (right end side in the figure) of the image forming apparatus main body 12. The toner bottle 40 contains toner of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and supplies the toner to the image forming unit 16 through a toner supply path (not shown). A recovery bottle 86 is provided below the four toner bottles 40. The used toner collected from the image forming unit 16 is collected in the collection bottle 86 via a waste toner collection path (not shown).

  The image forming unit 16 includes an image forming unit 48 provided on one surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 and a primary transfer roll 50 provided on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14. The image forming unit 48 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12. For example, the image forming unit 48 can be pulled out in the front direction in FIG. Details of the image forming means 16 will be described later.

  The intermediate transfer belt 14 is supported by a plurality of conveying rolls 42, and the belt surface on which the above-described image forming unit 16 is provided is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. One of the transport rolls 42 constitutes a backup roll for the secondary transfer roll 32. Further, an intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 44 is disposed near the upper end of the intermediate transfer belt 14, and the other one of the transport rolls 42 constitutes a backup roll of the cleaning device 44. Further, a tension roll 46 is disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 14, and an appropriate tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 14 by the tension roll 46.

  The secondary transfer roll 32 is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 12 as a secondary transfer unit 33. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 14, the plurality of transport rolls 42, the primary transfer roll 50, the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 44, and the tension roll 46 are united and integrated, and, for example, pulled out toward the front in FIG. You may comprise so that it can.

  FIG. 2 shows details of the image forming means 16. The image forming unit 48 includes a photoconductor 52 used as an image carrier facing the intermediate transfer belt 14, a charging device 54 having, for example, a charging roll for charging the photoconductor 52, and, for example, an LED (light emitting diode). An exposure device 56 that forms a latent image on the photosensitive member 52, a developing device 58 that develops the latent image on the photosensitive member 52 formed by the exposure device 56 with a developer, and a photosensitive member after transfer. And a cleaning device 60 for cleaning the developer remaining on the body 52. In this embodiment, the image forming unit 48 is configured by combining a separable photosensitive unit 62 and a developing unit 64 used as a developer supply unit. The photoconductor unit 62 has a first housing 66, and the photoconductor 52, the charging device 54, the exposure device 56, and the cleaning device 60 are accommodated in the first housing 66. The developing unit 64 has a second housing 68, and the developing device 58 is accommodated in the second casing 68. The first casing 66 and the second casing 68 are detachably coupled to form the image forming unit 48.

  Bearings 53 that rotatably support the photosensitive member 52 are mounted on both ends of the photosensitive member 52. A part of the bearing 53 is exposed from the first casing 66 and the second casing 68 together with a part of the photosensitive member 52.

  The developing device 58 is, for example, a two-component system, and a developer composed of toner and carrier is used. For example, the two augers 70 and 72 arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction and the discharge auger 72 are arranged obliquely above. The developer roll 74 is used as a developer supply member, and the developer is stirred by the augers 70 and 72 and supplied to the development roll 74. In the developing roll 74, a magnetic brush is formed by a carrier, and the toner attached to the carrier is conveyed by rotation by the magnetic brush, and the latent image on the photosensitive member 52 is developed by the toner. As in this embodiment, in the two-component developing device 58, the developing roll 74 is disposed above the augers 70 and 72, so that the developer is prevented from accumulating and the developer is uniformly stirred. Development performance can be maintained.

  The cleaning device 60 includes a toner scraping unit 76 formed of, for example, a blade, and a collecting unit 78 that collects the toner scraped off by the toner scraping unit 76. The collection unit 78 communicates with the above-described collection bottle 86 (FIG. 1) via a waste toner collection path (not shown), and the toner temporarily collected by the collection unit 78 is conveyed to the collection bottle 86. Is done.

The second casing 68 has a developing opening 88 in the vicinity of the developing roll 74 and an exhaust opening 90 on the auger 70 side.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, air flows out from the developing device unit 64, and the developer stored in the developing unit 64 may diffuse into the image forming device main body 12 as the air flows out. This phenomenon is called toner cloud. When toner cloud occurs, the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 12 becomes dirty with the developer, or the sheet stored in the sheet supply cassette 20 or the sheet being conveyed in the image forming apparatus main body 12 is transferred. The developer adheres and the image quality deteriorates. One of the causes of the occurrence of toner cloud is an increase in the atmospheric pressure in the developing unit 64. For example, air flows into the developing unit 64 due to high-speed rotation of the developing roll 74, so that the air pressure in the developing unit 64 rises. The toner cloud is generated by flowing out of the developing unit 64 through the gaps between the two end portions and the members constituting the second casing 68. Therefore, in this embodiment, the above-described exhaust opening 90 is formed in the second casing 68 to suppress an increase in the atmospheric pressure in the developing unit 64, and is used as an exhaust means, through the exhaust opening 90. A duct 92 connected to the developing unit 64 is provided to suppress generation of toner cloud.

  In FIG. 3, a duct 92 is shown. The duct 92 is connected to an exhaust opening 90 formed in each image forming unit 48 and extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and the end of the horizontal duct 94 on the exhaust opening 90 side is opposite to the end. An end portion is connected, and a vertical duct 96 extending substantially vertically is formed. The lower end of the vertical duct 96 is connected to the recovery bottle 86. An opening 100 is formed in the recovery bottle 86, and a filter member 98 made of, for example, cloth, paper, nonwoven fabric, or the like is attached to the opening 100. Fine holes are formed in the filter member 98, and the size of the fine holes is determined so that the developer can not pass though air passes.

  When the pressure in the second casing 68 increases due to the rotation of the developing roll 74, an air flow from the second casing 68 to the recovery bottle 86 through the horizontal duct 94 and the vertical duct 96 is generated by this pressure. It is discharged from the opening 100 formed in the collection bottle 86. For this reason, the atmospheric pressure in the second casing 68 is kept high, and air and developer are prevented from leaking from the second casing 68. Further, since the airflow is discharged through the filter member 98 provided in the opening 100, the developer contained in the airflow is filtered by the filter member 98, filtered, and the developer enters the image forming apparatus main body 12. It is prevented from spreading.

  Although the developer is filtered by the filter member 98, the developer may clog the fine holes formed in the filter member 98 with use, and the airflow may not pass through the filter member 98 well. In this case, leakage of air and developer from the second casing 68 may not be prevented satisfactorily. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the filter member 98 is prevented from being clogged by providing the vibration applying unit 102 that applies vibration to the filter member 98.

  FIG. 4 shows the vibration applying means 102. The vibration applying means 102 has a projection 104 used as a vibration applying member. The protrusion 104 is attached to an open / close cover 12a that forms a part of the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to protrude from the open / close cover 12a. The opening / closing cover 12a is used as an opening / closing member for opening / closing an opening portion 12c formed in the image forming apparatus main body 12. The opening / closing cover 12a is attached to a side wall 12b forming a part of the image forming apparatus main body 12 through a support member 106 so as to be openable / closable. ing. The open / close cover 12 a is opened and closed when performing maintenance of the image forming apparatus 10 such as replacement of the toner bottle 40 and replacement of the collection bottle 86. In the closed state, the open / close cover 12a is disposed at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In a state where the opening / closing cover 12 a is disposed at this position, the tip of the protrusion 10 abuts against the filter member 98. In a state where the opening / closing cover 12a is opened, the opening / closing cover 12a is disposed at a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4, for example. In this state, the tip of the protrusion 104 is separated from the filter member 98.

  As described above, the opening / closing cover 12a opens and closes the distal end portion of the protrusion 104 to and away from the filter member 98. Accordingly, in conjunction with closing the open / close cover 12a in the opened state, the tip of the protrusion 104 collides with the filter member 98 to vibrate the filter member 98. When the vibration is applied, the developer attached to the filter member 98 falls from the filter member 98, and the filter member 98 is prevented from being clogged.

  In this embodiment, the protrusion 104 is configured to collide with the filter member 98. However, the protrusion 104 is provided at a position where the protrusion 104 collides with a portion other than the portion where the filter member 98 is provided. The developer may be dropped from the filter member 98 by the vibration of the entire recovery bottle 86 caused by the above.

  As long as the vibration applying means 102 applies vibration to the filter member 98 in conjunction with opening / closing of the opening / closing cover 12a, other than the configuration in which the protrusion 104 collides with the filter member 98 or the recovery bottle 86 when the opening / closing cover 12a is closed. It may be configured as follows. For example, a mechanism may be provided in which the collection bottle 86 moves up and down in conjunction with opening and closing of the opening / closing cover 12a, and the collection bottle 86 is moved up and down to apply vibration to the filter member 98.

  FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the vibration applying means 102. Compared with the first embodiment described above, in the first embodiment, the projection 104 is attached to the opening / closing cover 12a, and the impact of the tip of the projection 104 colliding with the filter member 98 when the opening / closing cover 12a is closed. Whereas the vibration applying means 102 is configured to apply vibration to the filter member 98, in the second embodiment, an eccentric cam used as a vibration applying member connected to a drive source for image formation. Vibration is applied to the filter member 98 by an impact that 110 collides with the filter member 98.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the eccentric cam 110 is attached to a shaft 112, and the shaft 112 is connected to a motor 116 used as a drive source via a drive transmission mechanism 114. The motor 116 is, for example, a motor for rotationally driving the photosensitive member 52 (see FIG. 2), a motor for the intermediate transfer belt 14 (see FIG. 1), and the drive transmission mechanism 114 is composed of a gear train, for example. . In the vibration applying means 102 of the second embodiment, the rotational drive from the motor 116 is transmitted to the shaft 112 via the drive transmission mechanism 114, and the eccentric cam 110 collides with the filter member 98 as the shaft 112 rotates. The filter member 98 is vibrated.

The drive transmission mechanism 114 may be provided with an electromagnetic clutch for starting and disconnecting the rotation drive from the motor 116 to the shaft 112. By controlling the timing at which the electromagnetic clutch is turned ON / OFF, vibration can be applied to the filter member 98 at a predetermined timing. For example, by controlling the electromagnetic clutch to be turned on after the image forming operation by the image forming unit 16 is finished, vibration is applied to the filter member 98 other than during the image forming operation, which causes vibration. Thus, the developer can be dropped from the filter member 98 without causing the image quality to deteriorate.

  In the second embodiment, the eccentric cam 110 is configured to collide with the filter member 98, but the position where the eccentric cam 110 collides with a portion other than the portion where the filter member 98 of the recovery bottle 86 is provided. The developer may be dropped from the filter member 98 by vibration of the entire recovery bottle 86 caused by the collision. Further, a pressing means made of an elastic body such as a spring for pressing the collection bottle 86 against the eccentric cam 110 may be provided, and the collection bottle 86 may be moved up and down by the rotation of the eccentric cam 110. According to this configuration, the filter member 98 is vibrated by the vertical movement of the collection bottle 86, and the developer falls from the filter member 98.

  6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the vibration applying unit 102 and the image forming apparatus 10 having the vibration applying unit 102. In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the image forming unit 48Y for yellow, the image forming unit 48M for magenta, and the image forming unit for cyan are arranged in the image forming apparatus main body 12 from the upper right to the lower left. 48C and the image forming unit 48B for black are arranged in this order. In this embodiment, the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are supported by a support plate 120 that is used as a support unit. The support plate 120 is mounted substantially horizontally in the image forming apparatus main body 12, and the image forming unit 48 is shown in the first position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A and in FIG. 7B. It supports so that it can move between 2nd positions. In the state of being supported at the first position, the photosensitive member 52 provided in the image forming unit 48 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 14. Image formation by the image forming apparatus 10 is performed in a state where the image forming unit 48 is disposed at the first position. In a state where the image forming unit 48 is supported at the second position, the photoconductor 52 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  The image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are moved between the first position and the second position by a moving mechanism such as a solenoid (not shown). When full-color image formation is performed by the image forming apparatus 10, the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are arranged at the first positions, respectively, and the photoconductor 52 provided in the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C. Then, the developer image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 14. On the other hand, when black monochrome image formation is performed, the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are disposed at the second position, and the photosensitive member 52 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14. As described above, when forming a black monochrome image, the photosensitive member 52 provided in the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C that are not used for forming the black image is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14, thereby the photosensitive member. Thus, the wear of the photoconductor 52 and the image forming unit 48 can be prolonged.

  A vibration applying means 102 is provided in the vicinity of the lower right end of the image forming unit 48C in FIGS. The vibration applying means 102 includes a swing member 124 that is swingably supported by a shaft 122. The swing member 124 is used as a vibration applying member that applies vibration to the filter member 98. When the image forming unit 48C is in the first position, the swing member 124 is engaged by an elastic body 126 such as a spring that is used as a biasing unit. It is biased in the direction pressed by the stop member 128 (the direction rotating counterclockwise) and is in the first position shown in FIG. In the state of being arranged at the first position, the end 124 a of the swing member 124 is separated from the filter member 98. From this state, for example, when the image forming unit 48C moves to the right due to a change from the full color image forming mode to the black single color image forming mode, the swinging member 124 is pressed by the image forming unit 48C and is elastic. It rotates clockwise about the shaft 122 against the urging force by the body 126 and moves to the second position shown in FIG. When the swinging member 124 moves to the second position, the end 124a of the swinging member 124 collides with the filter member 98, and the developer attached to the filter by applying vibration to the filter member 98. To drop.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the vibration is applied to the filter member 98 in conjunction with the movement of the image forming unit 48C from the first position to the second position. The image forming unit 48C is moved at a timing when image formation by the image forming apparatus 10 is not performed at the time of switching from the full color image forming mode to the black single color mode. For this reason, the developer can be dropped from the filter member 98 without degrading the formed image quality due to vibration.

  In the third embodiment, the swing member 124 is configured to collide with the filter member 98, but the swing member 124 collides with a portion other than the portion of the collection bottle 86 where the filter member 98 is provided. Alternatively, the developer may be dropped from the filter member 98 by vibration of the entire recovery bottle 86 caused by the collision. In addition, about the same part as 1st Embodiment, the same number is attached | subjected to FIG. 6, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Further, the movement of the image forming unit 48C is transmitted to the filter member 98 via the swinging member 124, and instead of vibrating the filter member 98, the right side of the image forming unit 48C is moved to the second position. The filter member 98 may be configured to vibrate by collision between the image forming unit 48 </ b> C and the collection bottle 86 so that the plate collides with the collection bottle 86.

  FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the vibration applying unit 102 and an image forming unit 48 used in the image forming apparatus 10 having the vibration applying unit. In the first to third embodiments, the filter member 98 is provided in the recovery bottle 86. In contrast, in the fourth embodiment, the filter member 98 is provided in each of the exhaust openings 90 formed in the image forming units 48Y, 48M, 48C, and 48B.

In the fourth embodiment, the vibration applying unit 102 has a protrusion 104 that applies vibration to the filter member 98 provided in each of the image forming units 48. In the first embodiment, the protrusion 104 is provided on the opening / closing cover 12a. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the protrusion 104 is attached to the main body frame 132 so as to face the filter member 98.

As in the third embodiment, the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are supported by the support plate 120, and the first position shown in FIG. 8A and the second position shown in FIG. 8B. It can move between positions. When the full-color image forming mode is changed to the black monochrome mode, the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are moved from the first position to the second position, respectively, and the protrusion 104 causes the filter member 98 to move. The projection 104 applies vibration to the filter member 98.

In the third embodiment, the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are supported so as to be movable between the first position and the second position, whereas in the fourth embodiment, The black developer image forming unit 48 </ b> B also has a first position where the photosensitive member 52 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 14 and a second position where the photosensitive member 52 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14. Is supported so as to be movable between. The movement between the first position and the second position of the image forming unit 48B is performed by a moving mechanism (not shown) such as a solenoid, and this moving mechanism forms an image on, for example, 100 sheets. Each time the image forming unit 48B is moved from the first position to the second position, it is controlled to return to the first position. Therefore, similarly to the filter member 98 to which the image forming units 48Y, 48M, and 48C are attached, vibration is applied to the filter member 98 attached to the image forming unit 48B, and the developer attached to the filter member 98 is filtered. Fall from.

In the fourth embodiment, in order to remove the image forming unit 48 from the image forming apparatus main body 12, the filter member 98 shown in FIG. 8A is arranged so that vibration is applied from the protrusion 104. For example, the image forming unit 48 is pulled out from the position to the front side of the sheet in FIG. In the fourth embodiment, in order to mount the image forming unit 48 to the image forming apparatus main body 12, the filter member 98 shown in FIG. 8A is disposed at a position where vibration is applied from the protrusion 104. As described above, the image forming unit 48 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus and an image forming unit having a filter for filtering a developer in an air stream. Further, the present invention can be applied to an image forming unit mounting method for mounting an image forming unit in such an image forming apparatus and an image forming unit extracting method for extracting an image forming unit from such an image forming apparatus.

1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the gas conveyance path used for the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a vibration applying member used in the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrating a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 3. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the vibration provision member used for the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The configuration of the vibration applying means used in the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described, the portion indicated by the dotted line B in FIG. 6 is shown enlarged, and FIG. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of the vibration imparting member at the time when the image forming unit is disposed at a position used for image formation, and FIG. 7B illustrates the image forming unit disposed so that the photosensitive member is separated from the intermediate transfer belt. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the vibration provision member in the time of being performed. The configuration of the vibration applying means used in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8A shows the vibration applying member at the time when the image forming unit is arranged at a position used for image formation. FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the vibration applying member at the time when the image forming unit is arranged so that the photosensitive member is separated from the intermediate transfer belt.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Image forming apparatus main body 12a Opening / closing cover 12c Opening part 14 Intermediate transfer belt 16 Image forming means 48Y, 48M, 48C, 48B Image forming unit 52 Photoconductor 62 Photoconductor unit 64 Developing unit 66 First housing 68 First Second housing 74 Developing roll 86 Collection bottle 88 Developing opening 90 Exhaust opening 94 Horizontal duct 96 Vertical duct 98 Filter member 102 Vibration applying means 104 Protrusion 110 Eccentric cam 116 Motor 120 Support plate 124 Oscillating member

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus main body;
An image carrier provided in the image forming apparatus main body;
Developer supply means for supplying a developer to the image carrier;
A filter member for filtering the developer contained in the air stream discharged from the developer supply unit,
Vibration applying means for applying vibration to the filter member;
Have
The vibration applying means is an opening / closing member that opens and closes an opening formed in the image forming apparatus main body, and the developer supply means supported movably in the image forming apparatus main body by a developer supply means supporting means. Of the image carrier supported by the image carrier support means movably between a first position abutting on the belt conveying the developer image or sheet and a second position spaced apart from the belt. An image forming apparatus that applies vibration to the filter member in conjunction with any of the movements . The vibration applying means applies vibration to the filter member in conjunction with movement of the developer supply means,
Said filter member, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that provided in the developer supply unit. The vibration applying means applies vibration to the filter member in conjunction with opening / closing of the opening / closing member and movement of the image carrier,
A recovery container for recovering the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier;
Said filter member, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that provided in the collection container. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the filter member is provided so as to close an exhaust opening formed in the developer supply unit.

Images