JPH0369971A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To evenly collect discharged toner to the storing limit of a container by providing a toner collecting container and a cleaning means which are flat in a horizontal direction inside a belt-like image forming body and allowing a cartridge consisting of the toner collecting container and the cleaning means to be attached to and detached from a device main body. CONSTITUTION:A toner conveying tube 34 incorporating a flexible toner conveying screw 33 is laid as a toner conveying means in the front surface of the cartridge 30 and one end of the tube 34 is connected to the bottom part of the cleaning device 13 and the other end thereof is connected to a toner collecting container 4A which is constituted on a part of the guiding member 4 to open a toner collecting port 34A. The collected toner in the cleaning device 13 is fed and stored in the toner collecting container 4A through the toner conveying tube 34. The cartridge 30 is allowed to be attached to and detached from the device main body. Thus, the toner collecting container 4A always stores the toner at an average level and stores much collected toner by fully utilizing the storing ability thereof.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus in which a toner image is formed on a belt image forming member by an electrophotographic method and transferred onto a transfer material to obtain a single image. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[Background of the invention 9k] There are many ways to obtain color images using electrophotography.
A device has been proposed. For example, JP-A-61-10077
As disclosed in Publication No. 0, a latent image is formed and developed in accordance with the number of separated colors of W and an idol on a photoreceptor drum, which is an image forming member, and is transferred onto a transfer drum each time after development. There is a method of forming a multicolor image thereon and then transferring it onto recording paper to obtain a color copy. A device using this method requires a transfer drum large enough to transfer one sheet of image onto its circumferential surface in addition to the photoreceptor drum, and the device does not have a large and complicated structure. Inevitable.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-149972, a latent image is formed and developed on a photoreceptor drum according to the number of separated colors of the original image, and is transferred onto a transfer material each time it is developed. This is a method of obtaining multicolor copies. With this method, it is difficult to overlap multicolor images with high precision, and it is impossible to obtain high-quality color copies.

Another method is to repeatedly form a latent image on a photoreceptor drum according to the number of separated colors of an original image and develop it with color toner, and then overlap the color toner images on the photoreceptor drum and then transfer the images to obtain a color image. The basic process of forming a multicolor image is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-75850 and No. 60-7 by the present applicant.
No. 6766, No. 60-95456, No. 60-9545
No. 8, No. 60-158475, etc.

In a multicolor image forming apparatus that obtains a color image through such superimposition, a plurality of developing units containing different color toners are arranged around the periphery of the photoreceptor drum. The photoreceptor drum is rotated multiple times to develop the latent image on the photoreceptor drum to obtain a color image.

As for image forming bodies, as explained above, there are photosensitive drums with a photoconductor coated or vapor-deposited on the circumference of the drum, as well as belt image forming bodies with a photoconductor coated or mounted on a flexible belt. has also been proposed. The shape of the belt image forming member (hereinafter also referred to as photoreceptor belt) is determined by stretching it between rotating rollers including a drive roller, so it is possible to effectively utilize space and create a compact color image forming apparatus. It is effective when configured. Also, since the photoreceptor belt can run along a small curvature,
By using a rotating roller with a small diameter and separating the transfer material using this curvature, it is also possible to prevent poor separation of the transfer material.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-48350 proposes collecting waste toner inside a photosensitive drum. In addition, due to the balance between the amount of waste toner collected inside the drum and the lifespan of the photosensitive paper used when wrapped around the photoreceptor drum, a container for collecting waste toner from the photoreceptor drum, which is made disposable, was published in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-150782.
It is stated in the No.

All of these proposals are aimed at making the device smaller and more compact.

However, in either case, the durable life of the drum itself is determined by the type of photoreceptor drum, the material of the base, etc., and therefore requires replacement or removal for maintenance, etc., and replacement when the drum is full, which is determined by the amount of toner contained within. Removal, etc. are required for each individual item, and the mechanism is complicated, especially when it comes to the method of transporting toner to the drum rotating body, and defects such as toner leakage and toner collection openings occur, so waste toner collection devices are not necessarily compact and inexpensive. cannot be provided.

[Purpose of the invention]

In the color image forming apparatus using the photoreceptor belt, each image forming means such as a charging means, an image exposure means, a plurality of developing unit groups, and a cleaning means are located mainly on the lower circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor belt. Each of these image forming means, including the photoreceptor belt, is housed as an independent unitized process cartridge, which can be freely attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus.

Therefore, the toner storage container that stores the toner to be replenished to each developing device and the toner collection container that stores the waste toner collected by the cleaning device must also be installed in a position that facilitates functional connection with the process cartridge. However, integrating it with the developing device and the cleaning device poses problems in terms of the difference in service life and maintenance work.

The present invention relates in particular to a toner collection container, and an object of the present invention is to provide a color image forming apparatus equipped with a toner collection container that does not take up much space, has a large capacity, and has good storage efficiency even in an image forming apparatus using the above-mentioned photoreceptor belt. It's two things.

[Structure of the invention]

The above object is to provide a toner collection container in a belt-like image forming body stretched between a plurality of rotating rollers, to provide a cleaning means on the peripheral edge of the belt-shaped image forming body, and toner collection by the cleaning means; A color image forming apparatus characterized in that the toner is collected by a conveying means from a toner collection port provided in the toner collection container, and the above-mentioned members constitute a cartridge, and the cartridge is removable from the main body of the apparatus. achieved by the device.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 8.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible photoreceptor belt which is a belt-like image forming member. transported to.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a guide member inscribed in the photoreceptor bell (l-1), and the photoreceptor bell (l-1) is brought into a tensioned state by the action of the tension roller 5 which is urged outward, so that its inner circumferential surface is kept under tension. The guide member 4 is rubbed.

Therefore, the photoreceptors on the outer circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt l are always maintained at a constant position relative to the surface of the guide member 4 even during conveyance, making it possible to form a stable image forming surface.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a Sufrotron charger as a charging means, 7 a laser writing system unit as an image exposure means, and 8 to 11 a developing device as a plurality of developing means each containing a developer of a specific color, and these image forming means. is arranged at a position facing the guide member 4 of the photoreceptor belt l. In order to maintain a gap without interfering with the movement of the photoreceptor belt 1, the guide member 4 is brought into contact with the guide member 4 on the outside of the photoreceptor belt 1 with a gap maintaining means.

In addition to the optical system shown in the drawings, the laser writing system unit 7 may also include an optical system that integrates a light emitting section and a convergent light transmission body.

Each of the developing units 8.9, IO, 11 contains, for example, yellow magenta, cyan, and black developers, respectively, and each developing sleeve 8.9, 9 A, and IOA maintains a predetermined gap from the photoreceptor belt 1. , IIA, and has a function of visualizing the latent image on the photoreceptor belt l by a non-contact development method. Unlike contact development, this non-contact development has the advantage of not interfering with the movement of the photoreceptor belt.

12 is a transfer device; 13 is a cleaning device as a cleaning means; a blade 13A and a toner conveying roller 13B of the cleaning device 13 are connected to the photoreceptor belt l during image formation;
The photoreceptor belt 1 is kept in a position apart from the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1, and is pressed against the surface of the photoreceptor belt 1, as shown, only during cleaning after image transfer.

The process of forming a color image by the color image forming apparatus is performed as follows.

First, the formation of a multicolor image according to this embodiment is performed according to the image forming system shown in FIG. That is, the color image data input section (Fig. 4 (a)) where the image sensor scans the original image.
) is processed by the image data processing unit (Figure 4 (b)) to create image data, which is then stored in the image memory (Figure 4 (c)). . Then, the image memory is taken out at the time of recording and sent to the recording section (FIG. 4 (d)).
For example, the image data is input to the color image forming apparatus shown in the embodiment of FIG.

That is, when a color signal output from an image reading device separate from the printer is input to the laser writing system unit 7, the laser writing system unit 7 outputs a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown). is rotated and scanned by a polygon mirror 7B rotated by a drive motor 7A, and passes through an fθ lens 7C to mirrors 7D and 7E.
The optical path is bent by this, and the light is projected onto the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt l, which has been charged in advance by a charger 6 serving as a charging means, to form a bright line.

On the other hand, when scanning is started, the beam is detected by the index sensor, modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam scans the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor belt l. Therefore, by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photoconductor bell (l), the photoconductor bell (l) is
A latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the circumferential surface of -1. This latent image is created using yellow (Y) toner (
A toner image is formed on the belt surface by reversal development in a non-contact state by the developing device 8 loaded with a developing medium (developing medium).

The obtained toner image, while being held on the belt surface, passes under a cleaning device 13, which is a cleaning means, which is separated from the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor bell l-1, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the photoreceptor belt l is charged again by the charger 6, and then the second color signal outputted from the signal processing section is input to the writing system unit 7, and the second color signal is inputted to the writing system unit 7, and the second color signal is inputted to the writing system unit 7. In the same manner, writing is performed on the drum surface to form a latent image. The latent image is reversely developed in a non-contact manner by a developing device 9 loaded with magenta (M) toner as a second color.

This magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow (Y) toner image.

A developing device 10 has cyan (C) toner, and forms a cyan (C) toner image on the belt surface based on a control signal generated by a signal processing section.

Furthermore, +1 is a developing device having black toner, and a black toner image is superimposed and formed on the drum surface by the same process. These developing units 8, 9° 108 and 11
A direct current or even alternating current bias is applied to each sleeve, and jumping development is performed using an l-component or two-component developer, which is a developing means, and reversal development is performed without contact on the photoreceptor belt l whose base is grounded. is now being carried out.

The color toner image thus formed on the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor bell l-1 is transferred to a transfer material fed from the paper feed cassette 14 via the paper feed guide 15 in the transfer section.

That is, the top layer of the transfer material stored in the paper feed cassette 14 is carried out by the rotation of the paper feed roller 16, and transferred to the transfer device 12 via the timing roller 17 in synchronization with the image formation on the photoreceptor belt l. supplied to.

The transfer material that has undergone image transfer and charge removal is reliably separated from the photoreceptor belt 1, which suddenly changes direction along the rotary roller 2, without being affected by image quality such as toner scattering due to the charge removal effect. After the image is fused by the fixing roller 18, the sheet is discharged onto the tray 20 via the discharge rollers 19A and 19B.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor belt l, which has completed the transfer to the transfer material, continues to be conveyed, and the blade 13A facing the rotating roller 3 and the rotating toner conveying roller 13B are brought into pressure contact I; Toner remaining in the cleaning device 13 After the removal is completed, the blade 13A is removed again, and a little later, the toner conveying roller 13B is removed to begin a new image forming process.

As shown in FIG.
It is assembled into a cartridge 30 consisting of parts A and 30B, and is attached to and removed from the main body of the apparatus as a unit.

The cartridge 30 integrates the front and rear substrates 30A and 30B via a guide member 4 and two stays 31, holds each of the image forming means between them, and is inserted horizontally from the front of the apparatus main body. is stored.

That is, the color image forming apparatus of the present invention has a taramshin structure in which the upper housing housing the cartridge 30 can be opened and held clockwise up to a predetermined angle with the rotating shaft 21 as a fulcrum; The rotary rollers 2 and 3 are fitted onto two shafts, a driving shaft and a fixed shaft, which protrude from the upper casing.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. and R2, respectively, in a loosely fitted state.

On the other hand, a drive shaft 2A having a gear G connected to the power system of the device and a fixed shaft 3A are protruded from the upper casing.
By fitting the rotary rollers 2 and 3 onto the fixed shaft 3A and the fixed shaft 3A, the cartridge 30 is supported, and at the same time, the position and spacing of the rotary rollers 2 and 3 are determined. The photosensitive surface is also set at a predetermined position.

The drive shaft 2A and the fixed shaft 3A are connected to each rotary roller 2 and 3.
After passing through, the nut 2B is tightened to fix the rotary roller 2 to the drive shaft 2A to make it integral, and the rotary roller 3 is held rotatably with respect to the fixed shaft 3A by attaching the nut 3B.

It is assumed that the cartridge 30 itself is also held by locking either the substrate 3OA or 30B to the upper housing after being attached to the upper housing.

The cartridge 30 has a toner conveying tube 34 with a built-in flexible toner conveying screw 33 as a toner conveying means on its front surface, one end of which is connected to the bottom of the cleaning device 13, and the other end connected to the guide member. The toner collection port 34A is connected to a toner collection container 4A formed as a part of the toner collection container 4A.

The toner conveying screw 33 is driven and rotated by power from the main body of the apparatus, whereby the cleaning apparatus 13
The collected toner is sent to the toner collection container 4A through the toner transport pipe 34 and stored therein.

The toner collection port 34A is opened at the left end of the toner collection container 4A so as to be located at the upper part of the toner collection container 4A when the upper housing is opened and tilted.

Therefore, collected toner tends to accumulate near the toner collection port 34A, but when the upper housing is opened, the toner collection port 34A is located at the top as shown in FIG. The accumulated toner slides down and moves to the lower part, that is, to the opposite side of the toner collection port 34A, thereby eliminating the accumulation.

As a result, the toner collection container 4A can always store toner at an average level and can store a large amount of collected toner by making full use of its storage capacity.

Similarly, in the case of a color image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 6 in which the upper casing is configured to open counterclockwise about a rotating shaft 121 provided on the left side of the apparatus main body,
If the toner collection port 134A is opened at the right end of the toner collection container 104A as shown in FIG. 7, when the upper case is opened, the collected toner near the toner collection port 134A will be removed as shown in FIG. Move to the left to eliminate the buildup.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention evenly stores the conveyed waste toner in a horizontally flat toner collection container provided inside the belt image forming body, and collects the waste toner up to the storage limit of the container. As a result, a color image forming apparatus is provided which can collect a large amount of toner over a long period of time despite having a compact main body.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1, 3, 6, and 8 are cross-sectional configuration diagrams of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 5, and 7 are
The figure is a diagram of each main part of the apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a professional diagram showing the image forming system. 1.101... Photoreceptor belt 2.3.102.103... Rotating roller 4.104.
...Guide member 4A, 104A...Toner collection container 6.106.
... Charger 7.107 ... Laser writing system unit 8 to 11.1
08~Ill...Developer 12.112...Transfer device 18.118...Fixing roller 21.121...Rotary shaft 3 (1,130...Cartridge 3OA (30B), 130A (130B) ... Substrate 33, 133 ... Toner transport screw 34, 134
... Toner transport pipes 34A, 134A ... Toner collection ports 35, 135 ... Handles

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A toner collection container is provided in a belt-like image forming body stretched between a plurality of rotating rollers, a cleaning means is provided at the peripheral edge of the belt-like image forming body, and the toner collected by the cleaning means is transported. A color image forming apparatus characterized in that the toner is collected from a toner collection port provided in the toner collection container by a means, and the above-mentioned members constitute a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachable from the apparatus main body. Device. (2) The belt-like image forming body has a structure that can be tilted with respect to the main body of the apparatus, and the direction of inclination of the belt-like image forming body is a direction in which a toner collection port in the collection container is located upward. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1.