JP5386459B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a toner recovery unit that recovers waste toner generated in a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a multi-function machine or the like using an electrophotographic system.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is directly transferred to a sheet or transferred to a sheet via an intermediate transfer belt. At this time, a part of the toner is not transferred and remains as a residual toner on the image carrier such as the photosensitive drum or the intermediate transfer belt. If the residual toner is left as it is, the next image formation cannot be performed satisfactorily. Therefore, the residual toner is removed by a cleaning unit such as a drum cleaner or a belt cleaner, and the removed residual toner (waste toner) is collected by the toner. Collected in the unit. The toner recovery unit includes a toner recovery container for storing the waste toner. When the waste toner is stored in the toner recovery container and the toner recovery container is filled with the waste toner, the toner recovery container is replaced with a new unused toner recovery container. Replacement work is performed.

  In recent years, the toner collection container is integrated with another part into a cartridge shape so that such a part replacement operation can be easily performed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a toner supply container for supplying toner to a developing device and a toner recovery container for recovering waste toner generated on an image carrier are integrally formed, and this cartridge is an image forming apparatus. It is detachably attached to the main body. The residual toner is removed by the cleaning unit, and the waste toner is transported from the cleaning unit to the toner recovery container and stored in the toner recovery container. On the other hand, when the toner is consumed for development and the toner in the toner supply container runs out, the cartridge is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the pulled out cartridge is discarded, and a new cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.

JP-A-6-222628 (paragraph [0017], FIG. 1)

  In the above-described prior art, when the cartridge is replaced, the toner in the toner replenishing container has been replenished to the developing device and no toner remains in the toner replenishing container, but the toner collection container is full of waste toner. It may not be. In this case, a space for storing the waste toner is generated in the toner recovery container, and the empty space is wasted. Further, when a low density image or an image with a low printing rate is frequently formed, the toner in the developing device is forcibly consumed regularly in order to prevent the toner from deteriorating. That is, the toner on the image carrier is removed by the cleaning unit without being transferred to the paper, and the toner is transported to the toner recovery container. Therefore, a large amount of waste toner is stored in the toner recovery container. Although the toner is full, toner may still remain in the toner supply container. As described above, there is an inconvenience that the cartridge must be replaced even though the toner in the toner supply container remains.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. A toner replenishing container capable of replenishing toner to a developing device without waste, an improvement in workability of replacement, and efficient disposal of waste toner. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including a toner recovery unit for recovery.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention provides a cleaning unit for removing residual toner on the image carrier, a toner recovery unit for recovering waste toner removed by the cleaning unit, and a replenishment unit. In the image forming apparatus including a toner supply container for storing toner, the toner collecting unit stores a waste toner transported by the toner transport unit and a toner transport unit for transporting the waste toner of the cleaning unit, and stores the waste toner. A first toner collection container that is provided integrally with the toner supply container so as to be detachable from the main body, and is provided downstream of the first toner collection container in the conveyance direction of the toner conveyance unit, and stores waste toner. A second toner collecting container, storing waste toner in the first toner collecting container until the first toner collecting container is full, Is characterized in that the toner recovery container for storing the waste toner in the second toner container to become filled with waste toner.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus further includes an openable / closable valve disposed in the toner conveying portion provided between the first toner collecting container and the second toner collecting container. The open / close valve is closed until the first toner collection container is full of waste toner, and the open / close valve is opened when the first toner collection container is full of waste toner.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above image forming apparatus, the first toner collection container includes a toner amount detection member that detects waste toner in the container, and the open / close valve includes the toner amount detection member. It is characterized by being opened and closed based on the detection result.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the second toner collection container has a waste toner storage volume larger than that of the first toner collection container.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the residual toner on the image carrier is removed by the cleaning unit, and the residual toner removed by the cleaning unit is conveyed to the first toner recovery container through the toner conveyance unit, and is discarded toner. Is stored in the first toner collecting container. When the first toner collecting container is filled with the waste toner, the waste toner in the toner transport unit in the vicinity of the first toner recovery container is pushed by the waste toner transported from the upstream side in the waste toner transport direction, so that the inside of the toner transport unit is Is moved toward the second toner collection container and stored in the second toner collection container. Therefore, for example, even if the first toner collecting container filled with the waste toner is attached to the apparatus main body until the toner in the toner replenishing container is used up, the waste toner conveyed from the cleaning unit is removed from the second toner collecting container. It can be stored in Thus, when the toner in the toner replenishing container is used up, the first toner collecting container formed together with the new toner replenishing container is removed from the apparatus main body together with the full first toner collecting container. Can be attached. As described above, if the toner supply container is replaced with no toner remaining and the first toner collection container is full of waste toner, the toner in the toner supply container is supplied to the developing device without waste. The replacement workability is improved, and waste toner is efficiently collected.

  According to the second invention, the waste toner is stored in the first toner collection container until the first toner collection container is full, and when the first toner collection container is full, the waste toner is stored in the second toner collection container. As the opening and closing valve opens and closes, the first toner collection container is fully filled, and when the first toner collection container is full, the waste toner is surely stored in the second toner collection container. To be transported and stored.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the toner amount detection member detects that the waste toner in the first toner recovery container is full, the first toner recovery container is fully filled in order to open the opening / closing valve. In addition, the waste toner is reliably conveyed and stored in the second toner collecting container.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, for example, when the ratio of the low printing rate image in the output image is large, even if the first toner recovery container becomes full of waste toner before the toner in the toner supply container is used up. The waste toner can be stored in the second toner collecting container.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a main part of an image forming apparatus including a toner recovery unit and a toner container according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a cross section of the toner container according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematically the toner collection | recovery unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematically the toner collection unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment The side view which shows the cross section of the toner container which concerns on 2nd Embodiment

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Further, the use of the invention and the terms shown here are not limited thereto.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a sheet feeding unit 2 disposed in a lower portion thereof, a sheet conveying unit 3 disposed on a side of the sheet feeding unit 2, and an upper side of the sheet conveying unit 3. An image forming unit 4, a fixing unit 5 disposed on the discharge side of the sheet 9 from the image forming unit 4, an image reading unit 6 disposed above the image forming unit 4 and the fixing unit 5, and toner Container 120.

  The paper feed unit 2 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 7 for containing paper 9, and the paper 9 from the paper feed cassette 7 selected from among the plurality of paper feed cassettes 7 by rotating the paper feed roller 8. Each sheet is sent out to the sheet transport unit 3.

  The paper 9 sent to the paper transport unit 3 is transported toward the image forming unit 4 via the paper transport path 10. The image forming unit 4 forms a toner image on a sheet 9 by an electrophotographic process. The image forming unit 4 is a photoconductor 11 supported so as to be rotatable in the direction of an arrow in FIG. A charging unit 12, an exposure unit 13, a developing device 14, a transfer unit 15, a cleaning unit 16, and a charge eliminating unit 17 are provided.

  The charging unit 12 includes a charging wire to which a high voltage is applied. When a predetermined potential is applied to the surface of the photoconductor 11 by corona discharge from the charging wire, the surface of the photoconductor 11 is uniformly charged. Then, when light based on the image data of the original read by the image reading unit 6 is irradiated to the photoconductor 11 by the exposure unit 13, the surface potential of the photoconductor 11 is selectively attenuated, and the surface of the photoconductor 11 is irradiated. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

  Next, the developing device 14 develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 11, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 11. This toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 15 to the paper 9 supplied between the photoconductor 11 and the transfer unit 15.

  The sheet 9 on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed toward the fixing unit 5 disposed on the downstream side of the image forming unit 4 in the sheet conveying direction. In the fixing unit 5, the sheet 9 is heated and pressed by the heating member 18 and the pressure roller 19, and the toner image is melted and fixed on the sheet 9. Next, the sheet 9 on which the toner image is fixed is discharged onto the discharge tray 21 by the discharge roller pair 20.

  After the transfer by the transfer unit 15, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 11 is removed by the cleaning unit 16, and the residual charge on the surface of the photoconductor 11 is removed by the charge eliminating unit 17. Then, the photosensitive member 11 is charged again by the charging unit 12, and image formation is performed in the same manner.

  When image formation is repeated, the toner of the developing device 14 is consumed. In order to supply toner to the developing device 14, a toner container 120 is disposed above the developing device 14. The toner container 120 stores unused toner and supplies the toner to the developing device 14.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the image forming unit 4 and its periphery. As described above, the image forming unit 4 includes the photoconductor 11 that is an image carrier, the charging unit 12, the exposure unit 13, the developing unit 14, the transfer unit 15, the cleaning unit 16, and the charge eliminating unit 17. In the vicinity of the image forming unit 4, a toner container 120, a toner transport unit 141, a first toner collection container 131, and a second toner collection container 136 are provided.

  The cleaning unit 16 includes a cleaning blade 22 and a conveying screw 23. The cleaning blade 22 is provided in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11 and removes toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 11. The conveying screw 23 is provided in parallel with the axial direction of the photoconductor 11 and conveys the residual toner removed by the cleaning blade 22 toward the toner conveying portion 141 side.

  The toner transport unit 141 transports residual toner (waste toner) removed by the cleaning unit 16 to the first toner recovery container 131 and the second toner recovery container 136. The toner transport unit 141 has a pipe, one end of the pipe is connected to the cleaning unit 16, the other end is connected to the first and second toner collection containers 131 and 136, respectively, and waste toner is contained in the pipe. It has a conveying screw (not shown) for conveying.

  The first and second toner collection containers 131 and 136 collect waste toner conveyed from the cleaning unit 16 via the toner conveyance unit 141. The first toner collection container 131 is provided integrally with the toner container 120 and is disposed on the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 2 in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 120. The second toner collection container 136 is provided downstream of the first toner collection container 131 in the waste toner conveyance direction of the toner conveyance unit 141.

  FIG. 3 is a side view of the toner container as viewed from the left in FIG. The toner container 120 includes a toner supply container 121 that stores unused toner, and a first toner collection container 131 that is integrally formed with the toner supply container 121 in the longitudinal direction.

  A conveying member 122 is provided in the toner supply container 121. The conveying member 122 has a screw and is disposed at the bottom of the toner supply container 121 so as to face the supply port 121a. When the conveying member 122 rotates, the toner is agitated and conveyed toward the replenishing port 121a. The toner in the toner supply container 121 is supplied to the developing device 14 (see FIG. 2) via the supply port 121a. A shutter member (not shown) is provided facing the supply port 121a. The shutter member opens and closes the supply port 121a, always closes the supply port 121a, and opens the supply port 121a when supplying toner to the developing device 14. Open.

  The first toner collection container 131 includes a first toner storage part 131a, a first receiving port 131b, and a shutter part 131c. The first toner storage unit 131a stores waste toner, and the first receiving port 131b is formed on the upper portion of the first toner collection container 131 and receives the waste toner transported from the toner transport unit 141 (see FIG. 2). The shutter part 131c is provided so that the 1st receiving port 131b can be opened and closed. The first receiving port 131b is always opened, and the waste toner conveyed to the first receiving port 131b falls to the first toner storage unit 131a and is stored in the first toner storage unit 131a. The first receiving port 131b can be closed by the shutter part 131c when the first toner storage part 131a is filled with waste toner. Further, the first toner collection container 131 has an inside of the first toner collection container 131 in a state where the toner in the toner supply container 121 is empty when an image having an average printing rate (for example, 5%) is output. The accommodation volume is set to be filled with waste toner.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the toner recovery unit. The toner collection unit 130 includes a toner transport unit 141, a first toner collection container 131, a second toner collection container 136, and the like.

  The second toner collection container 136 has a second toner storage part 136a for storing waste toner, and a second receiving port 136b that is formed on the second toner storage part 136a and receives the waste toner transported from the toner transport part 141. The waste toner conveyed to the second receiving port 136b falls into the second toner storage unit 136a and is stored in the second toner storage unit 136a. The second toner storage unit 136a has a larger waste toner storage volume than the storage unit of the first toner recovery container 131, and the second toner recovery container 136 can store a large amount of waste toner.

  As described above, the toner transport unit 141 includes the pipes 141g and 141h and the transport screw 142, and further includes a first delivery port 141a and a second delivery port 141b.

  The first delivery port 141a is formed to face the first receiving port 131b of the first toner collection container 131, and is discarded from the pipe 141g (hereinafter referred to as the first pipe) through the first receiving port 131b. The toner is sent to the first toner reservoir 131a. The first receiving port 131b of the first toner recovery container 131 is detachably attached to the first delivery port 141a of the toner transport unit 141. A shutter member (not shown) that closes the first delivery port 141a so that the waste toner does not fall from the first delivery port 141a of the toner transport unit 141 when the first toner collection container 131 is removed from the toner transport unit 141. It is good to provide.

  The second delivery port 141b is formed to face the second receiving port 136b of the second toner recovery container 136, and is discarded from the pipe 141h (hereinafter referred to as the second pipe) through the second receiving port 136b. The toner is sent to the second toner reservoir 136a. The second receiving port 136b of the second toner recovery container 136 is fixed to the second delivery port 141b. When the waste toner storage volume of the second toner reservoir 136a is small, the second receiving port 136b is detachably attached to the second delivery port 141b, and the second toner reservoir 136a is made of waste toner. The second toner collection container 136 may be replaceable when it is full.

  The first pipe 141g is formed to extend from the waste toner discharge port of the cleaning unit 16 (see FIG. 2) to the vicinity of the first delivery port 141a. A conveying screw 142 is provided in the first pipe 141g. The conveying screw 142 is provided to extend from a position facing the discharge port of the cleaning unit 16 (see FIG. 2) to a position facing the first delivery port 141a, and is a waste toner from the cleaning unit 16 side to the first delivery port 141a side. Can be transported. The transported waste toner falls from the first delivery port 141a to the first toner storage unit 131a via the first reception port 131b and is stored in the first toner storage unit 131a.

  The second pipe 141h is formed to extend from the first pipe 141g further toward the second outlet 141b. Although the conveying screw 142 is not provided in the second pipe 141h, when the first toner collecting container 131 is filled with the waste toner, the waste toner in the vicinity of the first delivery port 141a of the first pipe 141g By being pushed by the transported waste toner, the toner moves in the second pipe 141h toward the second delivery port 141b. Then, the waste toner falls from the second delivery port 141b to the second toner storage unit 136a via the second reception port 136b and is stored in the second toner storage unit 136a.

  In the toner recovery unit 130 configured as described above, since the waste toner storage volume of the first toner recovery container 131 is set to be relatively small, the toner remains in the toner supply container 121 (see FIG. 3). The first toner collection container 131 may become full. When the first toner collection container 131 becomes full, the waste toner in the toner transport unit 141 near the first toner collection container 131 is pushed by the waste toner transported from the upstream side in the waste toner transport direction. Then, the toner moves toward the second toner collection container 136 in the toner transport unit 141 and is stored in the second toner collection container 136.

  Then, when the waste toner is stored in the second toner collection container 136, when the toner in the toner supply container 121 has been supplied to the developing device 14 and no toner remains in the toner supply container 121. A warning that prompts replacement of the toner container 120 is displayed on an operation panel (not shown). At this time, the toner supply container 121 is in a state where no toner remains, and the first toner collection container 131 is full of waste toner.

  In response to this warning display, the user closes the shutter member (not shown) and closes the shutter part 131c to close the first delivery port 141a of the toner transport part 141, and the waste toner in the first toner collection container 131 is discharged. The toner container 120 is taken out from the apparatus main body so as not to leak outside. Then, a new toner container 120 having a toner supply container 121 filled with toner and an empty first toner collection container 131 is attached to the apparatus main body.

  According to the first embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a cleaning unit 16 that removes residual toner on the photoreceptor 11, a toner collection unit 130 that collects waste toner removed by the cleaning unit 16, And a toner supply container 121 for storing toner to be supplied to the developing unit 14. The toner recovery unit 130 is integrated with a toner supply unit 121 that transports waste toner of the cleaning unit 16, and stores the waste toner transported by the toner transport unit 141 and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. And a second toner collection container 136 that is disposed on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the toner conveyance unit 141 with respect to the first toner collection container 131 and stores waste toner.

  According to this configuration, the residual toner on the photoconductor 11 is removed by the cleaning unit 16, and the waste toner removed by the cleaning unit 16 is conveyed to the first toner recovery container 131 through the toner conveyance unit 141, and The toner is stored in one toner collection container 131. When the first toner collection container 131 is full of waste toner, the waste toner in the toner transport unit 141 near the first toner collection container 131 is transported from the upstream side in the waste toner transport direction to the first toner collection container 131. By being pushed by the waste toner, the toner transport unit 141 moves toward the second toner collection container 136 and is stored in the second toner collection container 136.

  Therefore, for example, in the case of a user who has a high ratio of the low printing rate image in the output image, the first toner collection container 131 may be filled with the waste toner before the toner in the toner supply container 121 is used up. Even if the first toner collecting container 131 filled with the toner remains in the apparatus main body until the toner in the toner replenishing container 121 is used up, the waste toner conveyed from the cleaning unit 16 is stored in the second toner collecting container 136. It becomes possible to do. Thus, when the toner in the toner replenishing container 121 is used up, the first toner collecting container 131 is removed from the apparatus main body together with the full first toner collecting container 131 and is integrally formed with the new toner replenishing container 121. Can be attached to the apparatus main body. Thus, if the toner supply container 121 is replaced with no toner remaining and the first toner collection container 131 is full of waste toner, the toner in the toner supply container 121 is supplied to the developing device 14 without waste. In addition, the workability of replacement is improved, and waste toner is efficiently collected.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a toner recovery unit according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a cross section of the toner container. The second embodiment is applied to, for example, a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming units. The toner collection unit 130 different from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same part as that of the first embodiment will be omitted hereinafter.

  Although not shown, an image forming unit corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is provided, and each image forming unit is provided with a cleaning unit that removes residual toner on the photoreceptor. The waste toner removed by each cleaning unit is transported to and recovered by the toner recovery unit 130.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the toner recovery unit 130 includes toner transport units 141K to 141N corresponding to the respective colors, first toner recovery containers 131K to 131N storing waste toners of the respective colors, and wastes of the toner transport units 141K to 141N. It has a toner transport unit 141P that transports the toners together and a second toner recovery container 136 connected to the toner transport unit 141P.

  The first toner collection containers 131K to 131N are detachably attached to the waste toner outlets 141Ka to 141Na of the toner transport units 141K to 141N, and can store the waste toner of the corresponding color. Further, the first toner collection containers 131K to 131N include toner amount detection members 147K to 147N that detect that the waste toner is fully stored therein.

  The first toner collection containers 131K to 131N have shutter portions (not shown) that can be opened and closed with respect to the delivery ports 141Ka to 141Na of the toner transport portions 141K to 141N, as in the first embodiment. The portion is opened until the first toner collecting containers 131K to 131N are filled with the waste toner, and can be closed when the toner is filled with the waste toner.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first toner collection containers 131K to 131N are provided integrally with the toner containers 120K to 120N. The toner containers 120K to 120N are unused together with the first toner collection containers 131K to 131N. It has toner supply containers 121K to 121N for storing toner of each color.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the toner transport units 141K to 141N transport the residual toner (waste toner) removed by the cleaning units (not shown) corresponding to the respective colors to the first toner recovery containers 131K to 131N and the toner transport unit 141P. It has a pipe, and one end of the pipe is connected to a cleaning unit corresponding to each color, and the other end is connected to the toner transport unit 141P. Further, each of the toner transport units 141K to 141N has a transport screw (not shown) for transporting waste toner in the pipe.

  Opening / closing valves 143K to 143N are provided in the toner conveying units 141K to 141N.

  The open / close valves 143K to 143N are provided in the vicinity of the downstream side in the waste toner transport direction with respect to the positions corresponding to the first toner recovery containers 131K to 131N in the pipes of the toner transport units 141K to 141N. The open / close valves 143K to 143N are opened / closed by the magnetic force of the solenoid, and are controlled based on the outputs of the toner amount detection members 147K to 147N provided in the first toner recovery containers 131K to 131N. That is, when the first toner collection containers 131K to 13N are filled with the waste toner, the opening / closing valves 143K to 143N are opened, and when the waste toner is not fully stored, the opening / closing valves 143K to 143N are closed.

  The toner transport unit 141P is provided downstream of the toner transport units 141K to 141N in the transport direction of the waste toner, and transports the waste toner transported from the toner transport units 141K to 141N toward the second toner collection container 136. . The toner conveying portion 141P has a pipe, one end of the pipe is connected to the pipe of each of the toner conveying portions 141K to 141N, the other end is connected to the second toner recovery container 136, and the waste toner is further contained in the pipe. Has a conveying screw (not shown).

  The second toner collection container 136 collects and stores the waste toner of each color conveyed from the toner conveyance units 141K to 141N, and has a larger waste toner storage volume than the first toner collection containers 131K to 131N. The collection container 136 can store a large amount of waste toner of each color.

  In the toner recovery unit 130 configured as described above, the waste toner storage volumes of the first toner recovery containers 131K to 131N are set to be relatively small, and the toner remains in the toner supply containers 121K to 121N (see FIG. 6). The first toner collection containers 131K to 131N are filled up. For example, when the first toner collection container 131K becomes full, the opening / closing valve 143K is opened based on the output of the toner amount detection member 147K, and the waste toner is conveyed toward the toner conveyance unit 141P in the toner conveyance unit 141K. The waste toner transported through the toner transport unit 141P is stored in the second toner collection container 136.

  When the waste toner is stored in the second toner recovery container 136, the toner in the toner supply container 121K (see FIG. 6) has been supplied to the developing device, and the toner remains in the toner supply container 121K. If there is no such state, a warning that prompts replacement of the toner container 120K (see FIG. 6) is displayed on an operation panel (not shown). At this time, the toner supply container 121K is in a state where no toner remains, and the first toner collection container 131K is full of waste toner.

  In response to this warning display, the user closes the shutter member (not shown) and closes the shutter portion of the first toner collection container 131K to close the delivery port 141Ka of the toner conveyance section 141K, and the first toner collection container 131K. The toner container 120K is taken out from the apparatus main body so that the waste toner does not leak to the outside. Then, a new toner container 120K having a toner supply container 121K filled with toner and an empty first toner collection container 131K is attached to the apparatus main body. When any of the first toner collection containers 131L to 131N other than the first toner collection container 131K is filled with the waste toner, the toner containers 120L to 120N may be replaced in the same manner as described above.

  According to the second embodiment, the open / close valve 143K that can be opened and closed is disposed in the toner transport unit 141K provided between the first toner collection container 131K and the second toner collection container 136, and the first toner collection The open / close valve 143K is closed until the container 131K is full of waste toner, and the open / close valve 143K is opened when the first toner collection container 131K is full of waste toner.

  According to this configuration, the waste toner is stored in the first toner collection container 131K until the first toner collection container 131K is full, and when the first toner collection container 131K is full, the waste toner is stored in the second toner collection container 136. Since the opening / closing valve 143K is opened and closed so as to be stored, the first toner collection container 131K is filled without excess or deficiency, and when the first toner collection container 131K is full, the waste toner is stored in the second toner collection container. 136 is reliably transported and stored.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, the first toner collection container 131K includes the toner amount detection member 147K that detects waste toner in the container, and the open / close valve 143K indicates the detection result of the toner amount detection member 147K. Open and close based on. As a result, when the toner amount detection member 147K detects that the waste toner in the first toner collection container 131K is full, the first toner collection container 131K is fully filled to open and close the opening / closing valve 143K. Further, the waste toner is reliably conveyed and stored in the second toner recovery container 136.

  The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus provided with a toner recovery unit that recovers waste toner generated in a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a composite machine using an electrophotographic system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Apparatus main body 11 Photosensitive body (image carrier)
14 Developing Device 16 Cleaning Unit 120, 120K to 120N Toner Container 121, 121K to 121N Toner Supply Container 130 Toner Collection Unit 131, 131K to 131N First Toner Collection Container 131a First Toner Storage Unit 131b First Receiving Port 131c Shutter Unit 136 Second toner collection container 136a Second toner reservoir 136b Second receiving port 141, 141K to 141N, 141P Toner transport unit 141a First delivery port 141Ka to 141Na Delivery port 141b Second delivery port 141g First pipe 141h Second pipe 142 Conveying screw 143K to 143N Open / close valve 147K to 147N Toner amount detection member

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning unit that removes residual toner on an image carrier; a toner collection unit that collects waste toner removed by the cleaning unit; and a toner supply container that stores toner to be supplied to a developing device In
The toner collecting unit is provided integrally with the toner replenishing container so as to store the waste toner transported by the toner transport unit and to be detachable from the apparatus main body while transporting the waste toner of the cleaning unit. A first toner collection container, and a second toner collection container that is disposed downstream of the first toner collection container in the conveyance direction of the toner conveyance unit and stores waste toner.
Waste toner is stored in the first toner recovery container until the first toner recovery container is full, and when the first toner recovery container is full of waste toner, the waste toner is stored in the second toner recovery container ;
The toner recovery unit includes a plurality of first toner recovery containers and a plurality of toner transport units corresponding to a plurality of colors of toner, and one second toner recovery container, corresponding to each color of toner. The first toner collecting container and the toner replenishing container are integrally formed, and the toner transporting unit collects waste toner of each color and transports them to the second toner collecting container. .   An openable openable / closable valve disposed in the toner conveying portion provided between the first toner collecting container and the second toner collecting container, and until the first toner collecting container is filled with waste toner The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the open / close valve is closed and the open / close valve is opened when the first toner collecting container is full of waste toner.   The first toner collection container includes a toner amount detection member that detects waste toner in the container, and the opening / closing valve is opened and closed based on a detection result of the toner amount detection member. The image forming apparatus according to 2.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second toner collection container has a waste toner storage volume larger than that of the first toner collection container. 5.

Images