Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus comprising a cleaning unit that is easily connected to a toner recovery box while ensuring cleaning performance.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image carrier that moves an image carrying surface holding toner images in a vertical direction; and a cleaning unit for removing a toner remaining on the image carrying surface after transfer. The cleaning unit has a plurality of subunits that are arranged in the vertical direction along the image carrying surface and a communication pipe that communicates between the subunits. The subunits each include a toner collection path that receives, below a cleaning member, a toner scraped off by the cleaning member, and a toner conveying member that is arranged along the bottom of the toner collection path and conveys the toner in one direction. The communication pipe is arranged such that it drops the toner from the toner collection path of the subunit arranged in an upper part of the subunits into the toner collection path of the subunit arranged in a lower part of the subunits.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on an image bearing surface. A technology related to this cleaning unit is disclosed in the following Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes that "the cleaning unit includes first and second cleaning members arranged adjacent to each other, a toner collection box having openings facing both the first and second cleaning members and collecting the toner cleaned by the first and second cleaning members, and a pair of conveying members arranged side by side in the toner collection box and recovering the toner collected in the toner collection box." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-4224 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when the above-mentioned cleaning unit is provided on a vertically disposed image bearing surface, two cleaning members are arranged one above the other. As a result, the toner scraped off from the image bearing surface by the upper cleaning member falls onto the lower cleaning member, impairing the cleaning performance. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a toner collection box for each cleaning member, and transport the toner in each toner collection box by a transport member and collect it in a toner collection box outside the cleaning unit.

[0005] However, in such a configuration, it is necessary to provide multiple connection ports in the toner collection box and connect multiple toner collection boxes to one toner collection box, which makes it difficult to determine the positions of the multiple connection ports in relation to the toner collection box and the toner discharge ports in the multiple toner collection boxes, and makes it difficult to connect the cleaning unit to the toner collection box.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including a cleaning unit for removing residual toner, which can be easily connected to a toner recovery box while still ensuring cleaning performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising an image carrier having an image carrying surface for holding a toner image and moving the image carrying surface in a vertical direction, and a cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the image carrying surface after the toner image has been transferred from the image carrying surface, wherein the cleaning unit has a plurality of subunits arranged in a vertical direction along the image carrying surface, and a communicating tube connecting the subunits, each of the subunits comprising a cleaning member arranged in contact with the image carrying surface for scraping toner from the image carrying surface, a toner collection path that receives the toner scraped from the image carrying surface by the cleaning member at the lower part of the cleaning member, and a toner transport member arranged along the bottom of the toner collection path for transporting toner in the toner collection path in one direction, and the communicating tube is arranged in a state in which the toner falls from the toner collection path of the subunit arranged at the upper part of the subunits into the toner collection path of the subunit arranged at the lower part of the subunits. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with a cleaning unit for removing residual toner, which can be easily connected to a toner recovery box while ensuring cleaning performance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion [A] in FIG. 1 for explaining a cleaning unit provided in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cleaning unit provided in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cleaning unit provided in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion [A] in FIG. 1 for illustrating a cleaning unit provided in an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cleaning unit provided in an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cleaning unit provided in an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention First, prior to describing the image forming apparatus according to each embodiment to which the present invention is applied, a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0011] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1 as seen from the front (front), and a drawing common to image forming apparatuses 1 (2, 3, 4) according to each embodiment described below. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1 (2, 3, 4) shown in this figure has an image reading unit 11 on the top surface of a housing 10. Inside the housing 10, in order from the image reading unit 11 side, an image forming unit 20, a transfer unit 30, a fixing unit 40, and a paper supply unit 50 are provided. The configuration of each of these members is as follows.

[0012] <Image reading unit 11> The image reading unit 11 reads an image of a document placed on a document table 11a formed on the upper surface thereof, and generates image data. Note that in this embodiment, the image data is not limited to data generated by the image reading unit 11, and may be data received from an external device such as a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus or another image forming apparatus.

[0013] <Image forming unit 20> The image forming section 20 has four image forming units 20y, 20m, 20c, and 20k for forming toner images of each color, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Each of the image forming units 20y, 20m, 20c, and 20k includes a photoconductor 21, a developing section 23 arranged around the photoconductor 21, and a cleaning section 25, and further includes a charging section and an exposure section, which are not shown here.

[0014] Of these, the photoconductor 21 has a drum-shaped peripheral surface uniformly charged by a charging unit as an image bearing surface 21a, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the image bearing surface 21a by exposure scanning by an exposure unit. Note that the exposure scanning by the exposure unit is performed based on image data read by the image reading unit 11 or image data received from an external device, for example.

[0015] Moreover, the developing unit 23 supplies charged toner to the photoconductor 21, thereby causing the toner of each color to adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrying surface 21a of the photoconductor 21. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the image carrying surface 21a of the photoconductor 21 in the image forming unit 20y, a magenta toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 21 in the image forming unit 20m, a cyan toner image is formed on the photoconductor 21 in the image forming unit 20c, and a black toner image is formed on the photoconductor 21 in the image forming unit 20k.

[0016] The cleaning unit 25 also scrapes off and collects toner remaining on the image bearing surface 21a of the photoreceptor 21 without being transferred to the transfer unit 30, which will be described next.

[0017] <Transfer unit 30> The transfer section 30 is disposed in parallel with the image forming section 20. The transfer section 30 includes an intermediate transfer belt 31 configured as a rotating endless belt, a plurality of rollers 33a to 33d inscribed in the intermediate transfer belt 31, a primary transfer section 35, a secondary transfer roller 37, and a discharging roller 39. The transfer section 30 further includes a cleaning unit 100 (200, 300, 400) that is characteristic of each embodiment. The configuration of each of these members is as follows.

[0018] [Intermediate transfer belt 31] The intermediate transfer belt 31 is an image carrier that is stretched over a plurality of rollers 33a to 33d that are arranged in a horizontal direction, and the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is used as an image carrier surface 31a that carries a toner image. The intermediate transfer belt 31 rotates in the opposite direction to the photoconductors 21 of the image forming unit 20, and is disposed so that the image carrier surface a is brought into contact with all the photoconductors 21 in sequence. The intermediate transfer belt 31 rotates the image carrier surface 31a in a vertical plane, and moves the image carrier surface 31a in the vertical direction.

[0019] [Primary transfer section 35] The primary transfer units 35 are disposed on the inner periphery side of the intermediate transfer belt 31, facing the photoconductors 21 of the image forming units 20, in a state in which the moving intermediate transfer belt 31 is sandwiched between the photoconductors 21. A voltage of the opposite polarity to that of the toner is applied to these primary transfer units 35, whereby the toner of each color adhering to the photoconductors 21 is transferred sequentially onto the intermediate transfer belt 31 to form a color image.

[0020] [Secondary transfer roller 37] The secondary transfer roller 37 is disposed on the outer periphery of the intermediate transfer belt 31, in a state where the intermediate transfer belt 31 is sandwiched between the secondary transfer roller 37 and one roller 33c. The nip portion where the secondary transfer roller 37 and the roller 33c come into contact with each other is a transfer position where the toner image formed on the image carrying surface 31a of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is transferred to the recording paper P transported from the paper supply unit 50 described below.

[0021] [Static elimination roller 39] The charge removal roller 39 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer roller 37 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31 and upstream of the primary transfer section 35 in a state in which the intermediate transfer belt 31 is sandwiched therebetween, and removes electric charge from the intermediate transfer belt 31.

[0022] [Cleaning unit 100 (200, 300, 400)] The cleaning units 100 (200, 300, 400) are provided facing the image carrying surface 31a of the intermediate transfer belt 31, downstream of the secondary transfer roller 37 in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31 and upstream of the discharging roller 39. Each of these cleaning units 100 (200, 300, 400) is provided extending horizontally across the width of the image carrying surface 31a at a position where the image carrying surface 31a moves substantially vertically, and removes toner remaining on the image carrying surface 31a that has not been transferred onto the recording paper P. The configuration of each of these cleaning units 100 (200, 300, 400) will be described in detail in each of the following embodiments.

[0023] <Fixing unit 40> Fixing unit 40 is disposed downstream of secondary transfer roller 37 in transfer unit 30 with respect to the transport direction of recording paper P transported from paper supply unit 50, which will be described next. Fixing unit 40 nips and transports recording paper P supplied from secondary transfer roller 37 in a heated state, and fixes the toner image transferred to recording paper P to recording paper P. It also ejects recording paper P with the fixed toner image to the outside of housing 10.

[0024] <Paper supply unit 50> The paper supply unit 50 is disposed adjacent to the secondary transfer roller 37 in the transfer unit 30. The paper supply unit 50 includes a cassette 51 that stores recording paper P, a feed roller 53 that feeds the recording paper P stored in the cassette 51, and a transport roller 55 that transports the recording paper P sent out by the feed roller 53. The transport roller 55 sandwiches the recording paper P together with the intermediate transfer belt 31 on the outer circumferential side of the intermediate transfer belt 31 between the secondary transfer roller 37 and roller 33c.

[0025] The image forming apparatus 1 (2, 3, 4) configured as described above is characterized by being equipped with a cleaning unit 100 (200, 300, 400) which will be described in each of the following embodiments. Details of the cleaning unit 100 (200, 300, 400) will be described in each of the following embodiments. Note that in each of the embodiments, a detailed description of the schematic configuration described using FIG. 1 will be omitted, and further, common components in each of the embodiments will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0026] First Embodiment Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion [A] in Fig. 1 for explaining the cleaning unit 100 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a schematic view for explaining the cleaning unit 100 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the cleaning unit 100 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment will be explained based on Figs. 2 and 3, and with reference to Fig. 1.

[0027] The cleaning unit 100 has a configuration in which a plurality of subunits 102 arranged in a vertical direction are integrally held by a single housing 101. Here, an example in which two subunits 102 are arranged in the vertical direction along the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is illustrated, but this is not limiting, and three or more subunits 102 may be arranged. In addition to the subunits 102, this cleaning unit 100 also includes a communication pipe 103 that communicates between the subunits 102, and a discharge pipe 104. The configurations of these members that make up the cleaning unit 100 will be described below.

[0028] <Subunit 102> Each of the sub-units 102 constitutes a cleaning unit, and here there are two: an upper unit 102a located at the top, and a lower unit 102b located below it. The lower unit 102b is the sub-unit located at the bottom.

[0029] Each of these subunits 102 is a conveying type cleaning unit, and is intended to remove toner remaining on the image bearing surface 31a of the intermediate transfer belt 31 in the transfer section 30. Each of these subunits 102 is configured to house a cleaning member 106 and a toner conveying member 107 in a toner collecting path 105. In the following, these members will first be described.

[0030] [Toner collection path 105] The toner collecting path 105 has a U-shaped cross section that opens toward the image carrying surface 31a of the intermediate transfer belt 31, and receives and collects at its bottom the toner that is scraped off and falls by the cleaning member 106, which will be described next. The toner collecting path 105 extends horizontally across the width of the image carrying surface 31a. It is preferable that the toner collecting path 105 is formed small enough to accommodate the cleaning member 106 and the toner transport member 107. For this reason, the toner collecting path 105 only needs to be large enough to accommodate the cleaning member 106 and the toner transport member 107, which will be described next. The toner collecting paths 105 of the subunits 102 may be of the same shape, but may be configured differently to prevent toner from scattering to the outside.

[0031] In particular, the toner collection path of the lower unit 102b, which is the sub-unit arranged at the bottom, is provided with a toner discharge port 105-1 at the most downstream position in the toner transport direction [x].

[0032] [Cleaning material 106] The cleaning member 106 is a member for scraping off toner electrostatically attracted to the image carrying surface 31a of the intermediate transfer belt 31, and is provided extending horizontally across the width of the image carrying surface 31a. Such a cleaning member 106 is a cleaning blade that comes into contact with the image carrying surface 31a, or a cleaning brush. If it is a cleaning brush, the configuration can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. If it is a cleaning brush, the arrangement area can be reduced, and therefore the cleaning unit 100 can be made more compact.

[0033] [Toner conveying member 107] The toner transport member 107 is disposed below the cleaning member 106 along the bottom of the toner collection path 105, and transports the toner scraped off into the toner collection path 105 by the cleaning member 106. The toner transport member 107 is, for example, in a screw shape, and transports the toner in one direction along which the toner collection path 105 extends.

[0034] In addition, in each subunit 102, the toner transport member 107 is installed so as to transport the toner in the same transport direction [x] indicated by the arrow in FIG.

[0035] <Communication pipe 103> The communicating pipe 103 is a tubular body laid so as to allow toner to fall from the toner collecting path 105 of the upper unit 102a to the toner collecting path 105 of the lower unit 102b. Such a communicating pipe 103 extends downward from the bottom of the toner collecting path 105 of the upper unit 102a. The lower end 103a of the communicating pipe 103 hangs down at a position within the toner collecting path 105 of the lower unit 102b so as not to overlap with the cleaning member 106 in the vertical direction. This prevents toner transported by the toner transport member 107 of the upper unit 102a from falling onto the cleaning member 106 of the lower unit 102b, and the toner removal performance of the cleaning member 106 of the lower unit 102b can be maintained.

[0036] Further, the lower end 103a of the communication pipe 103 is disposed at a position overlapping the cleaning member 106 in the horizontal direction on the opposite side of the image bearing surface 31a of the intermediate transfer belt 31, via the cleaning member 106 in the lower unit 102b. This makes it possible to reduce the length of the cleaning unit 100 in the extension direction.

[0037] It should be noted that the communication pipe 103 does not need to be a straight pipe, and may be bent within a range that allows the toner to drop from the toner collecting path 105 of the upper unit 102a to the toner collecting path 105 of the lower unit 102b.

[0038] In the first embodiment, the communicating pipe 103 is disposed at an end of the toner collecting path 105, and here, is disposed at the most downstream portion in the toner transport direction [x] of each subunit 102. This allows the toner collected in each subunit 102 to join at the most downstream portion by the communicating pipe 103, and to be discharged from the discharge port 105-1 of the toner collecting path 105 of the lower unit 102b.

[0039] <Discharge pipe 104> The discharge pipe 104 is a tubular body that is laid so as to discharge the toner in the cleaning unit 100 into the waste toner recovery box 60. The discharge pipe 104 is connected to a discharge port 105-1 of the toner collection path 105 of the lower unit 102b, and is provided in a state of extending outward from the bottom of the toner collection path 105. The discharge pipe 104 is also configured so that its tip is joined to the waste toner recovery box 60.

[0040] Here, the waste toner collection box 60 is a member that stores collected waste toner and is replaced when the amount of stored waste toner becomes full, and is freely connected to the discharge pipe 104. This waste toner collection box 60 has an opening 60a into which the tip of the discharge pipe 104 is fitted. Such a waste toner collection box 60 may be disposed either in front or at the back of the cleaning unit 100 in the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. Also, FIG. 1 is a view from the side of an operator who operates the image forming apparatus 1, and when the operator side is defined as the front side, the arrangement position of the waste toner collection box 60, and the arrangement positions of the discharge pipe 104 and the communication pipe 103 may be either in the front or at the back of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0041] The discharge pipe 104 is not limited to a member constituting the cleaning unit 100, and may be provided in the waste toner recovery box 60. In this case, the tip of the discharge pipe 104 provided on the waste toner recovery box 60 side is configured to be connected to the discharge port 105-1 of the toner collection path 105 of the lower unit 102b.

[0042] <Advantages of the First Embodiment> The cleaning unit 100 of the first embodiment described above has a configuration in which the toner collecting paths 105 of the upper and lower sub-units 102 communicate with each other through the communication pipe 103. This prevents toner from falling from the upper unit 102a to the cleaning member 106 of the lower unit 102b, and allows the toner in each toner collecting path 105 to be discharged from one discharge port 105-1. This makes it possible to easily position and connect the toner discharge port 105-1 and the waste toner collection box 60 while ensuring the cleaning performance of the cleaning member 106 of the lower unit 102b disposed at the bottom in the vertical direction.

[0043] Second Embodiment Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a cleaning unit 200 provided in an image forming apparatus 2 of the second embodiment. The cleaning unit 200 of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 4 differs from the cleaning unit 100 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3 in the toner transport direction and the installation position of a communication pipe 103. Since the other configurations are the same, the description here will be omitted.

[0044] That is, in each sub-unit 102, the toner transport member 107' of the upper unit 102a is configured to transport toner in a transport direction [-x] opposite to that of the toner transport member 107 of the lower unit 102b, as shown by an arrow in Fig. 4. That is, the toner transport member 107' of the upper unit 102a is provided to transport toner in the transport direction [-x] with the joint side with the waste toner recovery box 60, where the discharge pipe 104 is disposed, being the upstream side.

[0045] The communicating tube 103 is the same as that in the first embodiment. This communicating tube 103 is disposed between the most downstream portion of the upper unit 102a in the toner transport direction [-x] and the most upstream portion of the lower unit 102b in the toner transport direction [x]. As a result, the toner collecting path 105 of the upper unit 102a and the toner collecting path 105 of the lower unit 102b are connected in series by the communicating tube 103 to form one continuous toner collecting path.

[0046] <Effects of the second embodiment> The cleaning unit 200 of the second embodiment described above has a configuration in which the toner transport directions [x], [-x] of the sub-units 102 arranged adjacent to each other vertically are opposite to each other. This prevents the large amounts of toner collected in the toner collecting paths 105 of the sub-units 102 from joining together on the way to the toner discharge port 105-1. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to transport the toner to the discharge port 105-1 smoothly without any delay.

[0047] Third Embodiment Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion [A] in Fig. 1 for explaining a cleaning unit 300 provided in an image forming apparatus 3 of the third embodiment. Fig. 6 is a schematic view for explaining a cleaning unit 300 provided in an image forming apparatus 3 of the third embodiment. The cleaning unit 300 of the third embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 differs from the cleaning unit 100 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3 in the extension lengths of the toner collecting path 105A and the toner transporting member 107A. Since the other configurations are the same, the description here will be omitted.

[0048] That is, in each subunit 102, the toner transport member 107A has a length in the extension direction greater than that of the cleaning member 106 and is provided so as to protrude in the same horizontal direction. These toner transport members 107A are disposed so as to protrude in the toner transport direction [x] relative to the cleaning member 106.

[0049] In each subunit 102, the toner collection path 105A that accommodates the toner transport member 107A of such a size is larger than that in the first embodiment. The communicating tube 103 is similar to that in the first embodiment and is disposed at the same position as in the first embodiment, at the most downstream part of the toner transport direction [x] in each subunit 102. As a result, the communicating tube 103 is provided at a position where the toner transport member 107A protrudes horizontally relative to the cleaning member 106, and can be disposed downstream of the cleaning member 106 in the toner transport direction [x].

[0050] <Effects of the third embodiment> According to the configuration of the third embodiment, the communication pipe 103 can be disposed downstream of the cleaning member 106 in the toner transport direction [x]. This makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the cleaning unit 100 in the normal direction to the image bearing surface 31a in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

[0051] Fourth Embodiment FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a cleaning unit 400 provided in an image forming apparatus 4 of a fourth embodiment. The cleaning unit 400 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a modified example of the cleaning unit 300 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, and is an example in which the configuration of the third embodiment is combined with the configuration of the second embodiment. The cleaning unit 400 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 differs from the cleaning unit 300 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 in the toner transport direction and the installation position of the communication pipe 103. Since the other configurations are the same, the description here will be omitted.

[0052] In each sub-unit 102 of the cleaning unit 400, the toner transport member 107A' of the upper unit 102a is installed so as to transport toner in a transport direction opposite to that of the toner transport member 107A of the lower unit 102b, as shown by an arrow in Fig. 7. That is, the toner transport member 107A' of the upper unit 102a is arranged so as to transport toner in the transport direction [-x], with the joint side with the waste toner recovery box 60, where the discharge pipe 104 is arranged, being the upstream side.

[0053] In each sub-unit 102, the toner transport members 107A, 107A' are disposed so as to protrude from the cleaning member 106 on the side opposite to the side where the discharge pipe 104 is disposed. That is, in the upper unit 102a, the toner transport member 107A' is disposed so as to protrude in the toner transport direction [-x] from the cleaning member 106. On the other hand, in the lower unit 102b, the toner transport member 107A is disposed so as to protrude from the cleaning member 106 on the side opposite to the toner transport direction [x].

[0054] The communicating tube 103 is the same as that in the first embodiment. However, this communicating tube 103 is arranged between the most downstream part of the upper unit 102a in the toner transport direction [-x] and the most upstream part of the lower unit 102b in the toner transport direction [x]. As a result, the toner collecting path 105A of the upper unit 102a and the toner collecting path 105A of the lower unit 102b are connected in series by the communicating tube 103 to form one continuous toner collecting path.

[0055] <Effects of the Fourth Embodiment> The configuration of the fourth embodiment described above has the effect of the second embodiment in addition to the effect of the third embodiment, and therefore, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, it is possible to transport toner to the discharge port 105-1 smoothly without any delay. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1, 2, 3, 4...Image forming device 31...Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) 31a...image bearing surface 60...Waste toner collection box 100, 200, 300, 400...Cleaning unit 101…Housing 102…Subunit 102a...Upper unit (subunit placed at the top) 102b…Lower unit (sub-unit located at the bottom, lowest part) 103…Communication pipe 103a...Lower end of communicating pipe 104...Discharge pipe 105, 105A…Toner collection path 105-1…Discharge port 106...Cleaning member 107, 107', 107A, 107A'...Toner conveying member [x], [-x]...Transport direction

Claims

1. an image carrier having an image bearing surface for holding a toner image and moving the image bearing surface in a vertical direction; a cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the image bearing surface after the toner image is transferred from the image bearing surface, The cleaning unit includes: a plurality of subunits arranged in a vertical direction along the image bearing surface; and a communication pipe for communicating between the subunits; Each of the subunits is a cleaning member disposed in contact with the image bearing surface for scraping off toner from the image bearing surface; a toner collecting passage that receives the toner scraped off from the image bearing surface by the cleaning member below the cleaning member; a toner transport member that is disposed along a bottom of the toner collecting path and transports toner in the toner collecting path in one direction, the toner transport member being disposed so as to at least partially overlap with the cleaning member on a projection plane when the image forming apparatus is viewed from above, The communication pipe is The subunits are arranged in such a manner that the toner falls from the toner collecting passage of the subunit arranged at the upper part to the toner collecting passage of the subunit arranged at the lower part. Image forming device.

2. The subunit disposed at the bottom of the subunits has a toner discharge port at the most downstream portion of the toner collection path in the toner transport direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The communication pipe is connected to a most downstream portion of the subunit arranged at the top in the toner transport direction.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The toner is transported in the same direction by the toner transport member of each of the subunits. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The toner transport directions of the subunits arranged adjacent to each other vertically are opposite to each other. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. A lower end of the communication pipe is suspended at a position where it does not overlap in the vertical direction with the cleaning member of the subunit that is disposed at the lower part of the subunits. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The lower end of the communication pipe is disposed at a position that overlaps the cleaning member in the horizontal direction on the opposite side of the image bearing surface via the cleaning member of the subunit disposed at the lower portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

8. the toner transport members of the subunits are provided to protrude in the same horizontal direction relative to the cleaning member, The communication pipe is provided at a position where the toner transport member protrudes horizontally relative to the cleaning member.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

9. the subunit disposed at the bottom among the subunits includes a toner discharge port at a most downstream portion of the toner collecting path in a toner transport direction, A waste toner collection box is provided which is freely connected to the discharge port. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The cleaning member is a cleaning blade. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The cleaning member is a cleaning brush. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The image carrier is an intermediate transfer belt that transfers the toner image. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images