Image forming apparatus and waste powder recovery bottle

Abstract

To detect an amount of waste powder recovered into a waste powder recover bottle, while reducing the use of an electronic component material in the waste powder recovery bottle.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a recovery container that receives waste powder discharged from an image forming unit and stores the waste powder; a conveying unit that is oscillatably cantilevered inside the recovery container, is inclined according to a height of the waste powder accumulated in the recovery container, and conveys the waste powder; and an output unit that, on the basis of a position of the conveying unit in the recovery container, outputs recovery amount information that is information on an amount of waste powder stored in the recovery container.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a waste powder recovery bottle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus including a waste toner recovery unit that recovers waste toner, and an image forming unit to which the waste toner recovery unit is detachably attached. The waste toner recovery unit includes a toner container that stores waste toner, and an auger that equalizes uneven distribution of the waste toner. The image forming unit includes an auger motor that drives the auger, a torque sensor that detects the load on the auger motor, and a status detection unit. The status detection unit detects the amount of waste toner in the toner container based on the load on the auger motor detected by the torque sensor. Patent document 2 discloses an untransferred toner recovery device that includes a recovery container that recovers untransferred toner removed from the photosensitive drum surface by a cleaning section as waste toner, and a transport and stirring screw inside the recovery container that is connected to a drive source via a drive path and transports and stirs the recovered untransferred toner by rotating, and in which a torque limiter is provided in the drive path that detects the rotational torque of the transport and stirring screw and, when the rotational torque rises to a set value as the amount of recovered toner increases, cuts off the drive path and blocks the transmission of torque to the transport and stirring screw. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-102155 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2015-225156 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a waste powder recovery bottle, which is a bottle for recovering waste powder such as waste toner, a detection window is provided in the waste powder recovery bottle, and a transmission sensor is used to detect whether the bottle is full. In this method of detecting whether the bottle is full using a transmission sensor, the waste powder may scatter inside the waste powder recovery bottle, causing the waste powder to adhere to the detection window, resulting in a false detection by the transmission sensor. In addition, the use of a transmission sensor using electronic components increases the product price. An object of the present invention is to detect the amount of waste powder contained in a waste powder collection bottle while suppressing the use of electronic component materials in the waste powder collection bottle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The invention described in claim 1 is an image forming apparatus comprising: a collection container that receives waste powder discharged from an image forming unit and stores the waste powder; a transport unit that is cantilevered inside the collection container so as to be able to swivel freely and tilts according to the height of the waste powder accumulated in the collection container, and transports the waste powder; and an output unit that outputs collection amount information, which is information regarding the amount of the waste powder stored in the collection container, based on the position of the transport unit within the collection container. The invention described in claim 2 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 1, characterized in that the output section outputs the recovery amount information according to the position of a leading end portion that is the leading end on the free end side of the transport section. The invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the output section outputs the collection amount information when the tip portion comes into contact with an upper side of the collection container. The invention described in claim 4 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 3, further comprising a measuring unit that measures the load on a driving source that drives the conveying unit, and the output unit outputs the recovery amount information when the load measured by the measuring unit reaches a predetermined value. The invention described in claim 5 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 4, characterized in that the measuring unit measures the load when the tip portion, which is the tip of the free end side of the conveying unit, contacts the upper side of the collection container, and the output unit outputs the collection amount information based on the load measured by the measuring unit when it contacts the upper side of the collection container. The invention described in claim 6 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 1, characterized in that the collection container is provided with a resistance imparting portion that contacts the upper side of the collection container with a tip portion, which is the tip of the free end side of the transport portion, and generates frictional resistance against the tip portion. The invention described in claim 7 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 6, characterized in that the surface of the tip portion is subjected to a process for increasing the surface roughness. The invention described in claim 8 is the image forming apparatus described in claim 1, characterized in that the collection container has a pressure sensor provided on the upper side of the collection container at a position where it comes into contact with the tip end portion, which is the tip end of the free end side of the conveying section. The invention described in claim 9 is a waste powder collection bottle comprising: a collection container that receives waste powder discharged from an image forming unit and stores the waste powder; a transport section that is cantilevered inside the collection container so as to be able to swing freely and tilt according to the height of the waste powder accumulated in the collection container, and transports the waste powder; and a resistance imparting section that comes into contact with a tip section, which is the tip of the free end side of the transport section, on the upper side inside the collection container, and generates frictional resistance against the tip section. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the invention of claim 1, it is possible to detect the amount of waste powder contained in a collection container that contains the waste powder while suppressing the use of electronic component materials. According to the invention of claim 2, the accuracy of fullness detection is improved compared to a case where the position of the conveying part is not measured at the leading end of the conveying part. According to the invention of claim 3, it is easier to detect whether the collection container is full, compared to a case where the transport section and the collection container are not in physical contact with each other. According to the invention of claim 4, erroneous detection can be reduced compared to a case where collected amount information is output without measuring the load applied to the drive source. According to the invention of claim 5, more stable recovery amount information can be output. According to the inventions of claims 6 and 7, the performance of detecting physical contact can be improved. According to the invention of claim 8, detection can be performed without being affected by the toner floating in the waste container. According to the invention of claim 9, the amount of waste powder contained in the waste powder recovery bottle can be detected while suppressing the use of electronic component materials in the waste powder recovery bottle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an image forming apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a waste powder recovery bottle. [Diagram 3] 13(a) to 13(d) are diagrams illustrating the movement of the agitator member from when the collection container is empty to when it is full. [Figure 4] 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control unit; FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart of a process for detecting when a collection container is full. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] <Image forming device 1> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a diagram showing an image forming apparatus 1 to which the present embodiment is applied. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a plurality of image forming units 10 in which toner images of respective color components are formed by an electrophotographic method. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K.

[0009] The image forming apparatus 1 also includes an intermediate transfer belt 20 that sequentially transfers (temporarily transfers) and holds the color component toner images formed by the image forming units 10. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a secondary transfer device 30 that collectively transfers (secondarily transfers) the superimposed images transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 20 onto paper P as a recording material, and a fixing device 50 that fixes the secondarily transferred image onto the paper P. These components are all contained within the main body of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0010] The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a user interface 90 that is configured with a touch panel or the like and that displays information to a user and receives input from the user. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a control unit 100 that controls the image forming apparatus 1.

[0011] Here, the image forming unit 10 for each color component includes a photoconductor drum 11 and a charging device 12 that charges the photoconductor drum 11 to a predetermined potential. The image forming unit 10 also includes a laser exposure device 13 that writes an electrostatic latent image on the charged photoconductor drum 11, and a developing device 14 that contains a toner of each color component and develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 11. The image forming unit 10 further includes a primary transfer roll 15 that transfers the toner image held on the photoconductor drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 20, and a drum cleaner 16 that removes residues on the photoconductor drum 11 after the primary transfer.

[0012] The developing device 14 employs a two-component development method using a so-called two-component developer (hereinafter referred to as developer) having a toner and a carrier. Also, each developing device 14 according to the present embodiment employs a so-called trickle method in which new developer is supplied into the developing device 14 at a predetermined timing, and the resulting surplus developer is discharged to the outside as waste developer. This makes it possible to remove carrier that has deteriorated with long-term use, and ensure development performance.

[0013] The intermediate transfer belt 20 is stretched across a plurality of support rolls 21-25 and a backup roll 32 of a secondary transfer device 30, which will be described later. Here, the support roll 21 functions as a drive roll for the intermediate transfer belt 20. The support rolls 22-25 are used as driven rolls. A belt cleaner 27 is disposed on the intermediate transfer belt 20 sandwiching the support roll 21 therebetween, for removing any residue on the intermediate transfer belt 20 after the secondary transfer.

[0014] The secondary transfer device 30 includes a secondary transfer roll 31 that is arranged in pressure contact with the toner image bearing surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 20, and a backup roll 32 that is arranged on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 20 and serves as an opposing electrode to the secondary transfer roll 31. Furthermore, the secondary transfer device 30 is arranged in contact with a power supply roll 33 that applies a secondary transfer bias of the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner to the backup roll 32.

[0015] In addition, the paper transport system takes out the paper P loaded in the paper tray 40 with a nudger roll 41, stops it once with a registration roll (registration roll) 42, and then sends it to the secondary transfer position of the secondary transfer device 30 at a predetermined timing. In addition, the paper P after the secondary transfer is transported to the fixing device 50 via a transport belt 43, and the paper P discharged from the fixing device 50 is discharged outside the machine by a discharge roll 44. The fixing device 50 has an internal heat source and includes a rotatably disposed heating roll 51. The fixing device 50 also includes a pressure roll 52 that is disposed in pressure contact with the heating roll 51 and rotates following the rotation of the heating roll 51.

[0016] Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a waste powder recovery bottle 60 is provided for recovering waste powder discharged from the image forming unit. This waste powder recovery bottle 60 recovers waste powder discharged from the image forming unit, such as waste developer discharged from the developing device 14 by supplying new developer, and waste toner removed by the drum cleaner 16 and the belt cleaner 27. This waste powder recovery bottle 60 is replaceably attached to the image forming apparatus 1. When the waste powder in the waste powder recovery bottle 60 becomes full, the waste powder recovery bottle 60 is removed from the image forming apparatus 1 by the user, and a new waste powder recovery bottle 60 is attached, thereby replacing the waste powder recovery bottle 60.

[0017] <Waste powder collection bottle> Next, the waste powder recovery bottle 60 will be described in detail. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the waste powder recovery bottle 60. Fig. 2 shows an attachment part 70 for attaching the waste powder recovery bottle 60 to the image forming apparatus 1, which is the main body side. In Fig. 2, the right side of the figure is the "rear side" which is the back side of the image forming apparatus 1, and the left side of the figure is the "front side" which is the front side of the image forming apparatus 1. The waste powder recovery bottle 60 is replaceably attached to the attachment part 70 provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 by being pushed from the front side to the rear side.

[0018] The waste powder collection bottle 60 includes a collection container 61 that receives and stores waste powder discharged from the image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1, a handle 62 that is used when attaching and detaching the waste powder collection bottle 60 to and from the image forming apparatus 1, and a handle 63 that makes it easy to carry the waste powder collection bottle 60. The waste powder collection bottle 60 also includes an insertion opening 64 for inserting a conveying pipe 71 that conveys the waste powder into the collection container 61, an inlet 65 that receives the waste powder into the collection container 61, and an automatic shutter 66 that closes the inlet 65. The waste powder collection bottle 60 also includes an agitator member 68 that conveys and agitates the waste powder in the collection container 61, a coupling member 67 that holds the agitator member 68, and a brake portion 69 that comes into contact with the agitator member 68 when the amount of waste powder in the collection container 61 increases.

[0019] The handle 62 is formed to protrude from the front side of the collection container 61. When removing the waste powder collection bottle 60 from the image forming apparatus 1, the user can hold the handle 62 and pull the waste powder collection bottle 60 out to the front side. The handle 63 is a recess provided on the upper central portion of the collection container 61. A user can carry the waste powder collection bottle 60 detached from the image forming apparatus 1 by hooking his / her fingers on the recess of the handle 63.

[0020] The insertion port 64 is provided on the upper side surface on the rear side of the recovery container 61. An entrance 65 for receiving waste powder discharged from the discharge port 73 of the conveying pipe 71 into the recovery container 61 is provided on the inside lower side of this insertion port 64. The automatic shutter 66 is provided inside the insertion opening 64, and opens the carry-in entrance 65 when the conveying pipe 71 is inserted into the insertion opening 64, and closes the carry-in entrance 65 when the conveying pipe 71 is removed from the insertion opening 64. This automatic shutter 66 is biased toward the rear by a biasing member such as a spring, and opens the carry-in entrance 65 when pushed in by the conveying pipe 71.

[0021] The coupling member 67 is provided on the side surface of the collection container 61, approximately at the center on the rear side, penetrating the collection container 61, and is provided so as to be freely rotatable. The coupling member 67 is attached to the collection container 61 via a seal or the like, and prevents the waste powder contained in the collection container 61 from leaking to the outside. The coupling member 67 has a holding portion on the inside side of the collection container 61 that holds the agitator member 68. The coupling member 67 has a protrusion on the outside side of the collection container 61 that engages with a coupling receiving member 74, which will be described later, and connects to the coupling receiving member 74.

[0022] The agitator member 68 is formed by forming a metal such as stainless steel into a spiral shape. The agitator member 68 is supported by the coupling member 67 at one end so as to be able to swing freely, and rotates with the rotation of the coupling member 67. In this embodiment, the agitator member 68 extends to approximately the center of the inside of the collection container 61, and the end on the front side that is not attached to the coupling member 67 is a free end.

[0023] The agitator member 68, which functions as an example of a transport section, transports the waste powder from the rear side to the front side while rotating inside the collection container 61. In addition, while the agitator member 68 transports the waste powder by rotating, the agitator member 68 itself is subjected to pressure in a direction away from the waste powder. Therefore, the agitator member 68 is not buried in the waste powder piling up from below, but is lifted up above the waste powder. The agitator member 68 transports the waste powder by tilting around one end supported by the coupling member 67 in a cantilever manner according to the height of the waste powder piling up in the collection container.

[0024] Furthermore, the tip portion 68a, which is the tip of the free end side of the agitator member 68, is processed so that frictional force is easily generated when it comes into contact with the brake portion 69. For example, the surface roughness of the tip portion 68a is increased. This processing is performed, for example, by scraping the surface of the tip portion 68a with a file or the like. Furthermore, for example, the tip portion 68a may be covered with rubber or the like having a friction coefficient larger than that of the metal used in the agitator member 68 to make it easier to generate frictional force.

[0025] Here, the tip portion 68a may have a certain width in the longitudinal direction of the agitator member 68, not just the tipmost portion on the free end side of the agitator member 68. Here, the certain width refers to a range in which it is assumed that the free end side of the agitator member 68 will come into contact with the brake portion 69. For example, the tip portion 68a may have a width of several pitches, assuming that the longitudinal length of one turn of the spirally wound agitator member 68 is the pitch.

[0026] The brake portion 69 is provided on the upper side of the collection container 61, and is provided at a position that makes contact with the tip portion 68a of the agitator member 68 when the position of the agitator member 68 changes depending on the amount of waste powder in the collection container 61. The brake portion 69, which functions as an example of a resistance applying portion, applies a frictional force in the opposite direction to the direction in which the agitator member 68 rotates when the tip portion 68a comes into contact with the brake portion 69. In other words, the brake portion 69 generates frictional resistance in the tip portion 68a of the agitator member 68.

[0027] Examples of materials for the brake portion 69 include felt fabric and sponge. The inner surface of the upper surface of the collection container 61 may be processed to have a rough surface. In this embodiment, the brake portion 69 is a planar felt fabric fixed to the inner upper surface of the collection container 61 in the range where the tip portion 68a comes into contact.

[0028] <Mounting part> The mounting part 70 includes a conveying pipe 71 which serves as a conduit for conveying the waste powder into the collection container 61, a conveying auger 72 which conveys the waste powder inside the conveying pipe 71, and a discharge port 73 which discharges the waste powder into the collection container 61. The mounting part 70 also includes a coupling receiving member 74 which meshes with the coupling member 67 of the collection container 61 to rotate the coupling member 67.

[0029] The mounting portion 70 also includes a circumferential transmission belt 75 that transmits power generated from a drive motor 81 (see FIG. 4) which is an example of a drive source, and a pulley 76 that is provided at an end of the conveying auger 72 and to which the transmission belt 75 is attached. The mounting portion 70 also includes a coaxial gear 77 that is provided coaxially with the conveying auger 72 and rotates as the pulley 76 rotates, and a multi-stage gear group 78 that receives a driving force from the coaxial gear 77 and transmits the driving force to the coupling receiving member 74.

[0030] The conveying pipe 71 is sized to be insertable into the insertion opening 64. A conveying auger 72 is rotatably provided inside the conveying pipe 71. The conveying pipe 71 and the conveying auger 72 convey the waste powder discharged from the developing device 14, the drum cleaner 16, and the belt cleaner 27 described above from the discharge opening 73 to the waste powder recovery bottle 60.

[0031] The coupling receiving member 74 is engaged and connected to a protrusion of the coupling member 67 when the waste powder recovery bottle 60 is attached. The coupling receiving member 74 transmits the driving force of the drive motor 81 transmitted via a gear group 78, etc., to the coupling member 67. That is, in the image forming apparatus 1 to which the present embodiment is applied, the driving force from the drive motor 81 is transmitted to the transport auger 72 and the agitator member 68.

[0032] <Agitator member operation> Next, the operation of the agitator member 68 in the collection container 61 will be described. 3(a) to 3(d) are diagrams showing the positions of the agitator member 68 from when the collection container 61 is empty to when it is full.

[0033] 3(a) shows an initial stage, that is, a state in which no waste powder has been collected in the collection container 61. At this time, the free end 68a of the agitator member 68 hangs down due to its own weight and touches the bottom of the collection container 61. Next, when an image forming operation is performed in the image forming apparatus 1, waste powder generated during image formation is transported through the transport pipe 71. At this time, the transport auger 72 is rotationally driven by the transmission belt 75, so that the waste powder is discharged from the discharge port 73 provided in the transport pipe 71 and is transported into the collection container 61 through the carry-in port 65. The coupling member 67 is also rotationally driven by the transmission belt 75, and the agitator member 68 rotates in the collection container 61 with the rotation of the coupling member 67.

[0034] The waste powder carried into the collection container 61 from the carry-in port 65 is first deposited on the bottom (rear bottom) of the collection container 61 directly below the carry-in port 65. Then, when a certain amount of waste powder is deposited in the collection container 61, the waste powder on the upper side is transported toward the front side of the collection container 61 by the rotating agitator member 68. FIG. 3(b) shows the state at this time. From FIG. 3(b), it can be seen that the height of the waste powder is leveled in the collection container 61 by the waste powder being transported by the agitator member 68. Then, the agitator member 68 is lifted around the attachment position to the coupling member 67 as the pressure is applied from the waste powder deposited in the collection container 61, and moves upward from the position shown in FIG. 3(a). Specifically, the agitator member 68 swings to a position where the agitator member 68 is at an angle that is approximately the same as the upper surface of the waste powder that is the height of the waste powder deposited in the collection container 61.

[0035] FIG. 3(c) shows a state in which waste powder is further carried into the collection container 61 and the collection container 61 is nearly full. At this time, the agitator member 68 moves to the upper surface level of the accumulated waste powder, so the free end side is higher than the coupling member 67 side. In the waste powder collection bottle 60, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c), the agitator member 68 rides on the waste powder and transports it from an empty state to an almost full state inside the collection container 61. Therefore, the frictional force that the agitator member 68 receives from the waste powder is smaller than when the agitator member 68 is buried in the waste powder, and the load on the drive motor 81 that drives the agitator member 68 fluctuates little.

[0036] FIG. 3(d) shows a state in which further waste powder is carried into the collection container 61, and the collection container 61 is full. At this time, the tip 68a of the agitator member 68 is sandwiched between the brake portion 69 of the collection container 61 and the waste powder, and is pressed against the brake portion 69. When the agitator member 68 rotates while contacting the brake portion 69, a frictional force is generated in a direction resisting the rotational direction, and the force for rotating the agitator member 68 increases. In other words, when the agitator member 68 contacts the brake portion 69, the load applied to the drive source that rotates the agitator member 68 increases. In the image forming apparatus 1 to which the present embodiment is applied, the position of the agitator member 68 is detected by detecting this increasing load.

[0037] <Control unit functions> Next, the function of the control unit 100 to detect fullness will be described. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control unit 100. Fig. 4 further shows a drive motor 81 that drives the agitator member 68, an ammeter 82 that is an example of a measurement unit that detects the load on the drive motor 81, and a user interface 90 that receives output from the control unit 100 and presents information to the user.

[0038] As described above, the drive motor 81 rotates the agitator member 68 via the transmission belt 75, the gear group 78, etc. When the torque required to rotate the agitator member 68 increases, the load on the drive motor 81 increases, and the current value of the power input to the drive motor 81 increases. The ammeter 82 is connected to the drive motor 81 and measures the current value of the power input to the drive motor 81 .

[0039] The control unit 100 includes a position detection unit 110 that detects the position of the agitator member 68, an output unit 120 that outputs recovery amount information, which is information regarding the amount of waste powder contained in the collection container 61, to the user interface 90 based on the position of the agitator member 68, and a memory unit 130 that stores various setting values ​​used in the processing performed by the control unit 100, acquired measurement values, etc.

[0040] The position detection unit 110 includes a load acquisition unit 111 that acquires the load applied to the driving source that drives the agitator member 68, and a judgment unit 112 that judges the position of the agitator member 68 within the collection container 61 based on the acquired load.

[0041] The load acquisition unit 111 acquires the magnitude of the current from an ammeter 82 that measures the current flowing through the drive motor 81, and calculates the magnitude of the torque as the load applied to the drive motor 81 based on the magnitude of the current. In this embodiment, the drive motor 81 drives the transport auger 72 and the like in addition to the agitator member 68, and the load applied to the drive motor 81 is not limited to the load driving the agitator member 68. The load related to the drive motor 81 excluding the load driving components other than the agitator member 68 may be the load driving the agitator member 68.

[0042] Here, the magnitude of the current flowing through the drive motor 81 when the waste powder collection bottle 60 is empty may be set as a reference value, and the increment relative to this reference value may be set as the load that the agitator member 68 applies to the drive motor 81. As a method for acquiring this reference value, for example, the average of the current values ​​acquired in the initial stage after replacing the waste powder collection bottle 60 may be adopted as the reference value. Note that the initial stage here refers to a stage before the waste powder in the waste powder collection bottle 60 is piled up to the height of the agitator member 68. This reference value is stored in the memory unit 130.

[0043] The determination unit 112 determines whether the load applied to the drive motor 81 has reached a predetermined value. Specifically, it determines whether the torque value calculated by the load acquisition unit 111 is greater than a predetermined value. In other words, the determination unit 112 determines the position of the agitator member 68 based on the load when the tip portion 68a of the agitator member 68 comes into contact with the brake portion 69 provided on the upper side of the collection container 61.

[0044] The predetermined value here is set in advance as a value for determining that the tip portion 68a has come into contact with the brake portion 69, and is stored in the storage unit 130. The predetermined value is set to, for example, a value that is greater than the magnitude of torque fluctuations occurring in normal image forming operations and smaller than the increase in load that occurs when the tip portion 68a comes into contact with the brake portion 69. Furthermore, the determination unit 112 may determine that the tip portion 68a and the brake portion 69 are in contact with each other when the calculated torque value exceeds the predetermined value for several seconds, for example, rather than making a determination when the calculated torque value exceeds the predetermined value only once.

[0045] When the tip 68a of the agitator member 68 comes into contact with the brake portion 69, the output unit 120 outputs, to the user interface 90, collection amount information, which is information relating to the amount of waste powder contained in the collection container 61. In other words, the output unit 120 outputs the collection amount information according to the position of the tip 68a of the agitator member 68. Examples of the collection amount information include a notification indicating that the collection container 61 is full, a notification indicating that the collection container 61 is nearly full, a notification urging the user to replace the waste powder collection bottle 60, and the like.

[0046] <Full detection process> Next, a process performed by the control unit 100 to detect when the collection container 61 is full will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for detecting when the collection container 61 is full. The control unit 100 acquires the value of the current flowing through the drive motor 81 from the ammeter 82, either constantly or at a predetermined timing (step 201). The control unit 100 converts the acquired current value into a torque value applied to the drive motor 81 (step 202). The control unit 100 judges whether the acquired torque value is greater than a predetermined value (step 203). If the acquired torque value is less than the predetermined value (NO in step 203), the process returns to step 201. If the acquired torque value is greater than the predetermined value in step 203 (YES in step 203), the control unit 100 outputs the collection amount information to the user interface 90 (step 204) and ends the process.

[0047] <Other configurations> In the present embodiment, the load on the drive source is detected based on the magnitude of the current flowing through the drive motor 81, but the method of detecting the load on the drive source is not limited to this. The load on the drive source may be detected by detecting a load on any of the members that transmit the power from the drive motor 81 to the agitator member 68. For example, a torque sensor may be provided on any of the gears in the gear group 78 that rotates the coupling receiving member 74, and the load on the gear group 78 may be detected by the torque sensor and used as the load on the drive source.

[0048] In the image forming apparatus 1 to which this embodiment is applied, the fullness of the waste powder collection bottle 60 is detected based on the load applied to the drive motor 81 that drives the agitator member 68. Also, in the image forming apparatus 1 to which this embodiment is applied, as shown in Figs. 3(a) to (d), the agitator member 68 rides on the waste powder and transports the waste powder from an empty state to a full state inside the collection container 61. Therefore, the frictional force that the agitator member 68 receives from the waste powder is smaller than when the agitator member 68 is buried in the waste powder, and the load applied to the drive motor 81 that drives the agitator member 68 does not fluctuate much from an empty state to just before the collection container 61 becomes full. Then, when the tip portion 68a of the agitator member 68 comes into contact with the brake portion 69, the frictional force that the agitator member 68 receives increases. Therefore, compared to a case where the load applied to the agitator member 68 increases gradually, the image forming apparatus 1 to which this embodiment is applied has higher accuracy in detecting fullness.

[0049] In this embodiment, the position of the agitator member 68 is detected based on the load applied to the drive source, but the method of detecting the position of the agitator member 68 is not limited to this. For example, a pressure sensor may be provided on the upper side of the collection container 61 at a position where the tip 68a of the agitator member 68 comes into contact. In this case, the position of the agitator member 68 is detected depending on whether or not the pressure sensor reacts.

[0050] As described above, in this embodiment, fullness is detected according to the position of the agitator member 68 moving inside the collection container 61. As a result, fullness can be detected more accurately without being affected by waste powder scattered inside the waste powder collection bottle, compared to when fullness is detected using a transmission type sensor.

[0051] [Additional Notes] (((1))) a collection container that receives waste powder discharged from the image forming unit and stores the waste powder; a conveying unit that is supported by a cantilever inside the collection container so as to be able to swing freely and that tilts according to the height of the waste powder accumulated in the collection container to convey the waste powder; an output unit that outputs collected amount information, which is information regarding the amount of the waste powder contained in the collection container, based on the position of the transport unit in the collection container; An image forming apparatus comprising: (((2))) The image forming apparatus according to (((1))) is characterized in that the output section outputs the collected amount information according to the position of a leading end portion that is a leading end on a free end side of the transport section. (((3))) The image forming apparatus according to (((2))) is characterized in that the output section outputs the collection amount information when the tip section comes into contact with an upper side of the collection container. (((4))) A measuring unit that measures a load applied to a driving source that drives the transport unit, The image forming apparatus according to ((3))), wherein the output unit outputs the collected amount information when the load measured by the measuring unit reaches a predetermined value. (((5))) The measuring unit measures a load when a tip portion, which is a tip portion on a free end side of the transport unit, comes into contact with an upper side of the collection container, The image forming apparatus according to (((4))) is characterized in that the output unit outputs the collection amount information based on the load measured by the measuring unit when contacting the upper side of the collection container. (((6))) The image forming apparatus described in any one of (((1))) to (((5))) is characterized in that the collection container is provided with a resistance imparting portion on an upper side of the collection container, which is in contact with a tip portion that is the tip of the free end side of the transport portion and generates frictional resistance against the tip portion. (((7))) The image forming apparatus according to any one of ((2))) to (((6))), wherein the surface of the tip portion is subjected to a treatment to increase the surface roughness. (((8))) The image forming apparatus described in (((1))) is characterized in that the collection container is provided with a pressure sensor at a position above the collection container where it comes into contact with a tip end portion that is the tip end of the free end side of the transport section. (((9))) a collection container that receives waste powder discharged from the image forming unit and stores the waste powder; a conveying unit that is supported by a cantilever inside the collection container so as to be able to swing freely and that tilts according to the height of the waste powder accumulated in the collection container to convey the waste powder; a resistance applying section that is in contact with a tip portion, which is a tip portion of a free end side of the conveying section, on an upper side of an interior of the collection container, and that generates frictional resistance against the tip portion; A waste powder collection bottle.

[0052] According to the invention (((1))), it is possible to detect the amount of waste powder collected in a collection container that contains the waste powder while suppressing the use of electronic component materials. According to the invention (((2))), the accuracy of fullness detection is improved compared to a case in which the position of the conveying section is not measured at the leading end of the conveying section. According to the invention (((3))), it is easier to detect whether the collection container is full than when there is no physical contact between the transport unit and the collection container. According to the invention (((4))), erroneous detection can be reduced compared to a case where collected amount information is output without measuring the load on the drive source. According to the invention (((5))), more stable recovery amount information can be output. According to the inventions (((6))) and (((7))), the performance of detecting physical contact can be improved. According to the invention of (((8))), detection can be performed without being affected by toner floating in the waste toner container. According to the invention (((9))), the amount of waste powder collected in the waste powder collection bottle can be detected while suppressing the use of electronic component materials in the waste powder collection bottle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1...image forming apparatus, 60...waste powder collection bottle, 61...collection container, 67...coupling member, 68...agitator member, 68a...tip portion, 69...brake portion, 81...driving motor, 82...ammeter, 90...user interface, 100...control portion, 110...position detection portion, 111...load acquisition portion, 112...determination portion, 120...output portion

Claims

1. a collection container that receives waste powder discharged from the image forming unit and stores the waste powder; a conveying unit that is supported by a cantilever inside the collection container so as to be able to swing freely and that tilts according to the height of the waste powder accumulated in the collection container to convey the waste powder; an output unit that outputs collected amount information, which is information regarding the amount of the waste powder contained in the collection container, based on the position of the transport unit in the collection container; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output section outputs the collected amount information in accordance with a position of a leading end portion of the transport section, the leading end portion being a free end side of the transport section.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the output unit outputs the collection amount information when the tip portion comes into contact with an upper side of the collection container.

4. A measuring unit that measures a load applied to a driving source that drives the transport unit, 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the output section outputs the collected amount information when the load measured by the measuring section reaches a predetermined value.

5. The measuring unit measures a load when a tip portion, which is a tip portion on a free end side of the transport unit, comes into contact with an upper side of the collection container, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the output unit outputs the collection amount information based on a load measured by the measuring unit when the toner comes into contact with the upper side of the collection container.

6. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the waste paper container includes a resistance applying portion on an upper side of the waste paper container, the resistance applying portion being in contact with a tip portion that is a tip portion of a free end side of the transport portion, and generating frictional resistance against the tip portion.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the surface of the tip portion is subjected to a process for increasing the surface roughness.

8. 2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the waste toner container is provided with a pressure sensor at a position on the upper side of the waste toner container where the tip end of the waste toner container contacts the tip end of the free end of the transport section.

9. a collection container that receives waste powder discharged from the image forming unit and stores the waste powder; a conveying unit that is supported by a cantilever inside the collection container so as to be able to swing freely and that tilts according to the height of the waste powder accumulated in the collection container to convey the waste powder; a resistance applying section that is in contact with a tip portion, which is a tip portion of a free end side of the conveying section, on an upper side of an interior of the collection container, and that generates frictional resistance against the tip portion; A waste powder collection bottle.

Images