JP2000010409A - Toner recovering device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner recovering device whose the detection accuracy is high and whose the adjustment operability is good while securing large capacity in a toner recovering container and to provide an image forming device. SOLUTION: As to this toner recovering device provided with a toner recovering container recovering residual toner removed from an image carrier, a container case 1 storing the toner recovering container, a container stay 2 which supports the toner recovering container, whose one end is turnably supported to the case 1, and whose the other end is supported by a detection spring (elastic member) 4 and a toner full-state detecting sensor (detecting means) 3 operating by linking with the action of the stay 2 when the specified amount of the toner is stored in the toner recovering container, a detection weight adjusting mechanism 30 adjusting the length of the spring 4 is interposed between the case 1 and the stay 2 and also a through-hole 2c through which an adjusting tool 41 for operating the mechanism 30 should pass, is formed on the stay 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner collecting device and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer provided with the toner collecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a toner collecting device of a copying machine has a container case 101 and a container stay 1 as shown in FIG.
02, a full detection sensor 103, a detection spring 104, a stay support shaft 105, a toner collection container 110, and a toner transport pipe 120.

One end of the container stay 102 is rotatably mounted in the container case 101 by a stay support shaft 105, and the other end is elastically supported by a detection spring 104.
In a predetermined position.

The toner collected by a cleaning device (not shown) is conveyed by a toner conveying pipe 120 and filled in a toner collecting container 110. When a predetermined amount of toner is filled in the toner collection container 110, the container stay 102 rotates counterclockwise around the stay support shaft 105 by the weight of the toner collection container 110, and the sensor flag 102a activates the full detection sensor 103. The ON state of the toner container 110 can be detected.

By the way, the space occupied by the toner collecting device in the image forming apparatus is often restricted due to other components.

However, it is desired to secure the capacity of the toner collecting container 110 as large as possible from the merit of extending the maintenance interval. Therefore, in order to make components other than the toner collection container 110 occupying the toner collection container 100 compact, a fullness detection sensor 103 and a detection spring 104 are arranged between the container case 101 and the container stay 102.

[0007]

However, an increase in the capacity of the toner collection container 110 causes an increase in the detection weight at the time of toner full detection, and an increase in the design spring force of the detection spring 104.
It is generally said that a spring force has an error of about ± 10% with respect to a design value. When the design spring force of the detection spring 104 increases, the error of the spring force increases,
As a result, the error in the detected weight increases, and the detection accuracy is reduced.

Although the risk of toner overflowing from the toner collection container 110 can be avoided by estimating the amount of toner in the toner collection container 110 at the time of full detection by taking into account the amount of error caused by the spring force, it is possible to avoid the risk of toner overflow. The amount may be detected with an amount smaller than the design value, so that the advantage of increasing the capacity of the toner collection container 110 cannot be utilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a toner collecting apparatus and an image forming apparatus which have high detection accuracy and high adjustment workability while securing a large capacity in a toner collecting container. It is to provide a device.

[0010]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner collection container for collecting residual toner removed from an image carrier, and a container case for storing the toner collection container. A container stay supporting the toner collection container, one end of which is rotatably supported by the container case, and the other end of which is supported by an elastic member; and a case where a predetermined amount of toner is stored in the toner collection container. In the toner collecting device having a detecting means that operates in conjunction with the operation of the container stay, a detection weight adjusting mechanism for adjusting the length of the elastic member is interposed between the container case and the container stay, A through hole through which an adjustment tool for operating the detection weight adjustment mechanism is to be penetrated is formed in the container stay.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the detection weight adjustment mechanism is provided with a spring seat for receiving one end of the elastic member, and the spring seat is freely adjustable with respect to the container case. And an adjusting screw for operating the adjusting screw is formed in the container stay and the spring seat, respectively.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image carrier, a cleaning device for removing residual toner on the image carrier,
A toner collection device that collects residual toner removed from the image carrier by the cleaning device; the toner collection device includes a toner collection container, a container case that stores the toner collection container, and a supporter that supports the toner collection container. A container stay having one end rotatably supported by the container case and the other end supported by an elastic member, and interlocking with the operation of the container stay when a predetermined amount of toner is stored in the toner collection container. And a detection weight adjusting mechanism for adjusting the length of the elastic member is provided between the container case and the container stay. A through hole through which an adjustment tool for operating the adjustment mechanism is to be penetrated is formed in the container stay.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the through hole through which the adjustment tool for operating the detection weight adjustment mechanism is to penetrate is formed in the container stay, it touches the container stay which is a movable portion when adjusting the detection weight. By operating the detection weight adjustment mechanism, the detection weight can be adjusted by changing the length of the elastic member, the adjustment error can be reduced and the detection accuracy can be increased, and from the top of the container stay The adjustment work is facilitated because the adjustment of (1) is possible.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus provided with a toner collecting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 200 denotes an image forming apparatus main body, on which a reading optical system 300 and an automatic document feeder 400 are arranged. A sorter 50 is provided on the side of the apparatus body 200.
0 is arranged.

In the image forming apparatus main body 200, a photosensitive drum 20 as an image carrier constituting an image forming portion is provided.
1, a primary charger 202, a developing device 203, a transfer charger 204, and a cleaning device 205 are provided.

The original fed by the automatic original feeder 400 is read by the original reading system 300, and its light image passes through the polygon scanner unit 206 and the mirror 207 in the main body 200 of the image forming apparatus. The light is irradiated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 201.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 201 is charged in advance by a primary charger 202. When the photosensitive drum 201 is irradiated with the light corresponding to the original as described above, the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 is charged. An electrostatic latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 203 and visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the transfer material P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 208 is fed one by one by a paper feed roller 209, and is appropriately transferred to a transfer portion between the photosensitive drum 201 and the transfer charger 204 by a registration roller 210. At an appropriate timing, and the photosensitive drum 2
01 receives the transfer of the toner image. Then, the transfer material P to which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 212 by the conveyance belt 211, and after the toner image is fixed in the fixing device 212, is discharged toward the sorter 500 by the discharge roller 213. You.

In the transfer step, toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 201 without being transferred to the transfer paper P (residual toner) is removed by the cleaning device 205, and the photosensitive drum 201 whose surface is cleaned is removed.
Is subjected to the next image formation.

The residual toner removed from the photosensitive drum 201 by the cleaning device 205 is recovered by the toner recovery device according to the present invention. Here, the toner recovery device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. explain.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner collecting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a detection weight adjusting mechanism of the toner collecting device.

The toner collecting device according to the present invention includes a container case 1, a container stay 2, a fullness detecting sensor 3, a detecting spring 4, a stay support shaft 5, a toner collecting container 10, and a toner conveying pipe 2.
0 and a detection weight adjustment mechanism 30.

One end of the container stay 2 is rotatably mounted in the container case 1 by a stay support shaft 5, and the other end is elastically supported by a detection spring 4. The other end of the detection spring 4 is supported by the detection weight adjustment mechanism 30 provided in the container case 1, and the toner collection container 10 is set at a predetermined position of the container stay 2.

The toner collected by the cleaner (not shown) is conveyed by the toner conveying pipe 20 and filled in the toner collecting container 10. Toner collection container 10
When a predetermined amount of toner is filled in the toner collection container 10,
The container stay 2 rotates counterclockwise about the stay support shaft 5 due to its own weight, and the sensor flag 2a turns on the fullness detection sensor 3 so that the fullness of the toner container 10 can be detected.

The bent portion 1a of the container case 1 determines the lower limit of movement of the container stay 2 by interfering with the container stay 2 when the container stay 2 is lowered by a predetermined amount. Due to the bent portion 1a, the container stay 2 is not lowered too much and the sensor flag 2a does not interfere with the fullness detection sensor 3, thereby preventing the fullness detection sensor 3 from being broken by the interference of the sensor flag 2a.

Next, the configuration of the detection weight adjusting mechanism 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The detection weight adjustment mechanism 30 includes a spring seat 31, a pedestal 32, and an adjustment screw 33. The upper part of the detection spring 4 is attached by a claw 2 b of the container stay 2, and the lower part is supported by a spring seat 31. The spring seat 31 is supported on the pedestal 32 via an adjustment screw 33. The pedestal 32 is fixed to the container case 1 by screws, welding, or the like.

On the other hand, a step screw 6 is provided upright on the container case 1, and when the detection spring 4 raises the container stay 2 by a predetermined amount, the throttle portion 2 d of the container stay 2 and the head of the step screw 6 are formed. 6a interfere to determine the upper limit of the movement of the container stay 2. Then, when the step screw 6 is removed at the time of assembly, the container stay 2 becomes rotatable upward, so that the assemblability of the detection weight adjusting mechanism 30 is improved.

Here, a specific operation of the detection weight adjustment mechanism 30 at the time of detection weight adjustment will be described in detail.

First, the toner collecting container 10 is taken out of the toner collecting device. The container stay 2 has a center-of-gravity hole 2e formed in accordance with the position of the center of gravity of the toner collecting container 10 at the time of detection, and the dowel 40a of the weight 40 having the same weight as the toner container 10 at the time of detection is inserted into the center-of-gravity hole 2e. Position with. The container stay 2 and the spring seat 31 have through holes 2 respectively.
c, 31a are formed, and an adjustment tool 4 such as a driver
1 is passed through the through holes 2c and 31a from the upper side of the container stay 2 so that the adjusting screw 3 can be adjusted without touching the container stay 2.
3 can be turned, and the length of the detection spring 4 can be adjusted by raising and lowering the spring seat 31 with the adjustment screw 33. Since the sensor flag 2a of the container stay 2 moves in conjunction with a change in the length of the detection spring 4, the sensor flag 2a can be adjusted to a position at which the fullness detection sensor 3 is operated (ON).

Further, in the present embodiment, when the detection weight adjusting mechanism 30 is incorporated, the design is made in consideration of the following points.

First, a through hole 1b is formed in the container case 1 in order to make the detection weight adjusting mechanism 30 as small as possible.

Further, even if the adjusting screw 33 is accidentally turned too far and the adjusting screw 33 is removed, the spring seat 31 is not provided with the toner because the inner wall of the spring seat 31 and the pedestal 32 are in a rough guide relationship. It does not come off from the collection container 10 and
Even in this state, since the gap between the container stay 2 and the spring seat 31 has a relationship in which the sensor flag 2a allows the detection sensor 3 to operate (ON), the detection weight is degraded, but the fullness detection sensor 3 Since the operation (ON) is performed, the overflow of the toner from the toner collecting container 10 is prevented.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the length of the detection spring 4 can be increased by operating the detection weight adjustment mechanism 30 without touching the container stay 2 which is a movable part when adjusting the detection weight. The detection weight can be adjusted by changing the height, so that the detection error can be reduced and the detection accuracy can be increased. In addition, since the adjustment from the upper side of the container stay 2 is possible, the adjustment work can be easily performed. It can be carried out.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the through hole through which the tool for operating the detection weight adjusting mechanism penetrates is formed in the container stay. Without touching the container stay which is a movable part,
By operating the detection weight adjustment mechanism, the detection weight can be adjusted by changing the length of the elastic member, the adjustment error can be kept small, the detection accuracy can be improved, and the adjustment from above the container stay can be performed. Since it is possible, the effect that the adjustment work is facilitated is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus including a toner collecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner collecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a detection weight adjusting mechanism of the toner collecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional toner collecting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 container case 2 container stay 2c through hole 3 full sensor (detection means) 4 detection spring (elastic member) 10 toner collection container 30 detection weight adjustment mechanism 31 spring seat 31a through hole 32 pedestal 33 adjustment screw 41 adjustment tool 201 photosensitive drum (photosensitive drum) Image carrier) 205 Cleaning device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A toner collection container for collecting residual toner removed from an image carrier, a container case for storing the toner collection container, and a support for the toner collection container, one end of which is rotatable with respect to the container case. And a detection unit that operates in conjunction with the operation of the container stay when a predetermined amount of toner is stored in the toner collection container. In the above, a detection weight adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the elastic member is interposed between the container case and the container stay, and a through-hole through which an adjustment tool for operating the detection weight adjustment mechanism should penetrate. A toner collecting device formed in the container stay. 2. The detecting weight adjusting mechanism includes a spring seat that receives one end of the elastic member, and an adjusting screw that supports the spring seat so as to be adjustable in position with respect to the container case. 2. The toner collecting device according to claim 1, wherein through holes through which an adjusting tool for operating a screw is to penetrate are formed in the container stay and the spring seat, respectively. An image carrier, a cleaning device for removing residual toner on the image carrier, and a toner recovery device for recovering residual toner removed from the image carrier by the cleaning device; The apparatus, a toner collection container, a container case for storing the toner collection container,
A container stay that supports the toner collection container, one end of which is rotatably supported by the container case and the other end of which is supported by an elastic member, and a case where a predetermined amount of toner is stored in the toner collection container. An image forming apparatus comprising a detection unit that operates in conjunction with the operation of a container stay, wherein a detection weight adjustment mechanism for adjusting a length of the elastic member is interposed between the container case and the container stay. And a through hole through which an adjustment tool for operating the detection weight adjustment mechanism is to be penetrated is formed in the container stay.