Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that is formed with a conveyance path of recovered developer so as to cross a first housing and a second housing, the image forming apparatus capable of facilitating downsizing operations involving separation of the first housing and the second housing.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 has: a first housing 200; a second housing 300 that is removably connected to the first housing 200; an image forming unit 101; a conveyance path 10 that conveys developer discharged from the image forming unit 101; and a container arrangement unit 301 in which a recovery container 102 is arranged. The image forming unit 101 is provided inside the first housing 200. The container arrangement unit 301 is provided inside the second housing 300. The conveyance path 10 includes a first conveyance channel 2 and a second conveyance channel 3. The second conveyance channel 3 is removably fixed to a side face part 201 of the first housing 200 that is exposed by removing the second housing 300 from the first housing 200 and is made accessible from the outside of the first housing 200, and can be removed from the first housing 200 by removing the second housing 300 from the first housing 200.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a printing machine that uses an electrophotographic or electrostatic recording method, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a transport mechanism for transporting recovered developer. [Background technology]

[0002] In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method or the like, residual toner remaining on an image carrier after a toner image is transferred from an image carrier such as a photoconductor or intermediate transfer body to a transferee is removed from the image carrier by a cleaning means and collected. The collected toner (recovered toner, recovered developer) is transported to a collection container via a transport path provided inside the image forming apparatus and accumulated therein. When a specified amount of collected toner has accumulated, the collection container is removed from the image forming apparatus by an operator such as a user or a service representative and replaced with an empty one.

[0003] In order to facilitate replacement by an operator, the collection container may be disposed inside another housing (second body, second housing) connected to the device main body (first body, first housing) in which the image carrier and the like are disposed. In this case, the transport path for the collected toner is formed so as to cross between the device main body and the other housing. Therefore, for example, when performing maintenance inside the image forming device, such as replacing parts, it may be necessary to disassemble the transport path for the collected toner.

[0004] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration that simplifies maintenance work by making part of the transport path for collected toner movable so that the transport path can be moved away from areas that require access during maintenance without having to be disassembled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-228544 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, disassembly of the transport path for the collected toner is required not only during the internal maintenance work of the image forming apparatus as described above, but also during downsizing work for installing or relocating the image forming apparatus. In other words, when the image forming apparatus is transported through a passage or elevator that is smaller than the outer shape of the image forming apparatus during operation, downsizing work involving disassembly is required to downsize the image forming apparatus. When the transport path for the collected toner protrudes from the outermost shape of the apparatus body, disassembly of the transport path is required to downsize the image forming apparatus.

[0007] In particular, when a transport path for recovered toner is formed so as to cross between the device main body (first body, first housing) and another housing (second body, second housing) connected to the device main body as described above, it is necessary to remove the transport path from the device main body and disassemble the transport path. This removal and disassembly of the transport path from the device main body may cause toner scattering. This may increase the man-hours and time required for downsizing the image forming device.

[0008] Patent Document 1 does not mention the configuration of a transport path for collected toner that is adapted to downsizing work for installing or relocating an image forming apparatus.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a transport path for recovered developer is formed so as to cross between a first housing and a second housing, which can facilitate downsizing work involving separation of the first housing and the second housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a first housing, and a fixing device provided in the first housing, For recording materialsImage forming section that forms a toner image an image forming section including a first image forming unit that forms a toner image, a second image forming unit that forms a toner image, and a transfer unit that transfers the toner images formed by the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit onto a recording material; and a first housing provided therein. a first conveying path including a first receiving section that receives the toner discharged from the first image forming unit and a second receiving section that receives the toner discharged from the second image forming unit; , the above The first image forming unit and the second image forming unit a first transport path that transports toner discharged from a toner cartridge, a second housing that is detachably connected to the first housing, and a second transport path that transports toner received from the first transport path, the second transport path being configured to receive toner from the first transport path within the first housing and to protrude from the first housing into the second housing when the second housing is connected to the first housing. across a side surface of the first housing that is exposed when the second housing is removed from the first housing, and the first transport path is configured to be removable from the first housing while remaining within the first housing. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, in an image forming device in which a transport path for recovered developer is formed so as to traverse between a first housing and a second housing, it is possible to facilitate downsizing work involving separation of the first housing and the second housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming unit. [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus, illustrating a configuration of a transport mechanism for collected toner. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 5] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the image forming apparatus with an expansion housing removed from the main body of the apparatus. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the image forming apparatus in a state where an expansion housing and an extension pipe are removed from the apparatus main body. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a method for fixing the extension pipe. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining a method for fixing the extension pipe. [Figure 9]4A and 4B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the connection between the main pipe and the extension pipe. [Figure 10] 11 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a connection between a main pipe and an extension pipe. FIG. [Figure 11] 4 is a front view showing the positional relationship between a transport path for the collected toner and a fixing device. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a transport path for collected toner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0014] 1. Configuration of image forming device 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is a tandem type multifunction machine (having the functions of a copier, printer, and facsimile machine) that employs an intermediate transfer method and is capable of forming full-color images using an electrophotographic image forming process.

[0015] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 has an apparatus main body 200 as a first body (main body, first housing) and an expansion housing 300 as a second body (sub-body, second housing) attached to the apparatus main body 200. The apparatus main body 200 has an image forming section 101 disposed therein. The image forming section 101 is configured to have image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, 110K, an intermediate transfer unit 130, a secondary transfer roller 140, a fixing device 150, and the like. The apparatus main body 200 further has a feeding device 120, a pair of registration rollers 191, a conveyor belt 192, a feeding conveying path 181, a discharge conveying path 182, and the like. Meanwhile, the expansion housing 300 has a space for accommodating the collection container 102. The expansion housing 300 further has a relay conveying path 183, a discharge tray 184, and the like.

[0016] The image forming section 101 has first, second, third and fourth image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C and 110K which respectively form images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). The four image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C and 110K are arranged in a line along the moving direction of a horizontal portion (image transfer surface) of an intermediate transfer belt 131 which will be described later. The image forming section 101 forms an image on a recording material (recording medium, transfer material, sheet) S such as paper by an electrophotographic method in response to an image signal transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer. Note that elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations for each color may be generally described by omitting the suffixes Y, M, C and K of the reference numerals which indicate that the elements are provided for any of the colors.

[0017] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming unit 110. The image forming unit 110 has a photosensitive drum 111, which is a rotatable drum-type (cylindrical) photosensitive member (electrophotographic photosensitive member), as a first image carrier. The image forming unit 110 also has a charger 112 as a charging means. The image forming unit 111 also has an exposure device (laser scanner) 113 as an exposure means. The image forming unit 110 also has a developing device 114 as a developing means. The image forming unit 110 also has a drum cleaning device 115 as a photosensitive member cleaning means.

[0018] During image formation, the photosensitive drum 111 is driven to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2. The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 111 is charged to a predetermined potential of a predetermined polarity (negative polarity in this embodiment) by a charger 112. The charged surface of the photosensitive drum 111 is irradiated with laser light according to image information by an exposure device 113 and scanned and exposed, and an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic image) according to the image information is formed on the photosensitive drum 111. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is developed (visualized) by a developing device 114 that supplies toner as a developer (dry developer), and a toner image (toner image, developer image) is formed on the photosensitive drum 111.

[0019] An intermediate transfer unit 130 is disposed so as to face the four image forming units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K. The intermediate transfer unit 130 has an intermediate transfer belt 131, which is an intermediate transfer body formed of an endless belt as a second image carrier. The intermediate transfer belt 131 is stretched by a drive roller 133, a tension roller 134, and a secondary transfer counter roller 132 as a plurality of tension rollers (support rollers). The intermediate transfer belt 131 rotates (moves in a circular movement) in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a driving force transmitted by the drive roller 133 being driven to rotate. Primary transfer rollers 135Y, 135M, 135C, and 135K as primary transfer means are disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 131 in correspondence with the respective photosensitive drums 111Y, 111M, 111C, and 111K. The primary transfer roller 135 is urged toward the photosensitive drum 111 via the intermediate transfer belt 131, forming a primary transfer section where the photosensitive drum 111 and the intermediate transfer belt 131 come into contact with each other. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is primarily transferred onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 131 in the primary transfer section. During the primary transfer, a primary transfer voltage of a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner (charging polarity during development) is applied to the primary transfer roller 135. For example, when a full-color image is formed, the toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black formed on each photosensitive drum 111 are sequentially primarily transferred so as to be superimposed on the same image position on the intermediate transfer belt 131.

[0020] A secondary transfer roller 140 as a secondary transfer means is disposed at a position facing the secondary transfer opposing roller 132 on the outer peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 131. The secondary transfer roller 140 is urged toward the secondary transfer opposing roller 132 via the intermediate transfer belt 131, forming a secondary transfer section where the intermediate transfer belt 131 and the secondary transfer roller 140 come into contact with each other. The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 131 is secondarily transferred onto the recording material S, which is sandwiched and conveyed between the intermediate transfer belt 131 and the secondary transfer roller 140, in the secondary transfer section. During the secondary transfer, a secondary transfer voltage of a polarity opposite to the normal charging polarity of the toner is applied to the secondary transfer roller 140. The recording material S is supplied from a feeding device 120. The feeding device 120 is configured to include recording material cassettes 161 to 164 as a recording material storage section for storing the recording material S, feeding rollers 171 to 174 as feeding members, a feeding conveying path 181, and the like. The recording material S is separated one by one from one of the recording material cassettes 161 to 164 by the rotation of one of the feeding rollers 171 to 174, and is fed to a feeding conveying path 181. This recording material S is conveyed to a secondary transfer portion by a pair of registration rollers 191 as a conveying member so as to be synchronized with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 131.

[0021] The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed by a conveyor belt 192 to a fixing device 150 serving as a fixing means. The fixing device 150 applies heat and pressure to the recording material S carrying the unfixed toner image, thereby fixing (melting and bonding) the toner image onto the recording material S. The recording material S onto which the toner image has been fixed passes through a discharge conveying path 182 provided in the apparatus main body 200 and a relay conveying path 183 provided in the expansion housing 300, and is discharged (output) to a discharge tray 184 serving as a discharge section provided in the expansion housing 300.

[0022] On the other hand, residual toner (secondary transfer residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 111 without being completely transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 131 during the primary transfer is removed from the photosensitive drum 111 and collected by the drum cleaning device 115. Also, residual toner (secondary transfer residual toner) remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 131 without being completely transferred to the recording material S during the secondary transfer is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 131 and collected by the belt cleaning device 136 as an intermediate transfer body cleaning means. The toner (recovered toner) collected by the drum cleaning device 115 and the belt cleaning device 136 is stored in the collection container 102 arranged inside the expansion housing 300 via the conveying path 10 for recovered toner (FIG. 3), as will be described later in detail. In this embodiment, the drum cleaning device 115 is of a blade cleaning type. That is, in this embodiment, the drum cleaning device 115 is configured to include a cleaning blade 115a as a cleaning member, a cleaning container 115b, and a transport member 115c that transports the collected toner inside the cleaning container 115b. The drum cleaning device 115 scrapes off the residual toner from the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 111 by the cleaning blade 115a that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 111, and stores it inside the cleaning container 115b. The collected toner inside the cleaning container 115b is transported by the transport member 115c, discharged from the cleaning container 115b, and sent to the transport path 10 (FIG. 3) for the collected toner. In this embodiment, the belt cleaning device 136 is also of a blade cleaning type having a configuration generally similar to that of the drum cleaning device 115.

[0023] 2. Recovery toner transport mechanism Next, the conveying mechanism of the collected toner in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the conveying mechanism 1 of the collected toner arranged inside the image forming apparatus 100. Here, the front side of the paper of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is the front side (front side) of the image forming apparatus 100, and the back side of the paper is the rear side (rear side) of the image forming apparatus 100. The front-rear direction connecting the front side and the rear side is approximately parallel to the rotation axis direction of the tension roller of the photosensitive drum 111 and the intermediate transfer belt 131. In addition, the left side and the right side when the image forming apparatus 100 is viewed from the front side are the left side and the right side of the image forming apparatus 100, respectively. In addition, the up-down direction refers to the up-down direction in the gravity direction (vertical direction), but does not mean only directly above and directly below, but also includes the upper side and the lower side of the horizontal plane passing through the element or position of interest. In the drawings, the left-right direction may be referred to as the "X-axis direction", the front-back direction may be referred to as the "Y-axis direction", and the direction perpendicular to both the "X-axis direction" and the "Y-axis direction" (usually approximately the direction of gravity) may be referred to as the "Z-axis direction".

[0024] In this embodiment, the recovered toner transport mechanism 1 has a main pipe 2 as a first transport path and an extension pipe 3 as a second transport path. The main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 form a transport path 10 for the recovered toner. In this embodiment, the transport path 10 for the recovered toner is disposed on the rear side of the device body 200. In this embodiment, the main pipe 2 has a main pipe main section 21 extending in the left-right direction and a recovery connection section 22 for connecting a discharge source of the recovered toner to the main pipe main section 21. (Reception Department) 22 (22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K, 22B). In this embodiment, each recovery connection 22 is provided to extend above the main pipe main section 21. The main pipe main section 21 and each recovery connection 22 are substantially integrally formed, and the inside of the main pipe main section 21 and the inside of each recovery connection 22 are in communication. In this embodiment, the discharge source of the recovered toner is each of the drum cleaning devices 115Y, 115M, 115C, 115K and the belt cleaning device 136. In this embodiment, the extension pipe 3 is configured to include an extension pipe main section 31 extending in the left-right direction, and a discharge connection section 32 that connects the extension pipe main section 31 and the recovery container 102. In this embodiment, the discharge connection section 32 is provided so as to extend downward from the extension pipe main section 31. The extension pipe main section 31 and the discharge connection section 32 are formed substantially integrally, and the inside of the extension pipe main section 31 and the inside of the discharge connection section 32 are communicated with each other. In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 1 has a main pipe screw 4 as a first conveying member arranged inside the main pipe main section 21 of the main pipe 2. In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 1 has an extension pipe screw 5 as a second conveying member arranged inside the extension pipe main section 31 of the extension pipe 3. In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 1 further has a motor 6 as a driving member (drive source), a coupling 7 as a connecting member, a coupling shaft 8 and a gear train 9, a holding member 35 as a holding section, and a coupling shaft 8 and a gear train 9 as a coupling shaft 9. (Figure 5) etc.

[0025] Drum cleaning devices 115Y, 115M, 115C, and 115K are disposed facing the photoconductor drums 111Y, 111M, 111C, and 111K, respectively. A belt cleaning device 136 is disposed facing the intermediate transfer belt 131 at a position facing the driving roller 133. The recovered toner collected by each drum cleaning device 115 is discharged from each drum cleaning device 115 and moves into the inside of the main pipe 2. In this embodiment, the recovered toner discharged from each drum cleaning device 115 falls by gravity through the recovery connection parts 22Y, 22m, 22C, and 22K of the main pipe 2 and moves into the inside of the main pipe main part 21 of the main pipe 2. Similarly, the recovered toner collected by the belt cleaning device 136 is discharged from the belt cleaning device 136 and moves into the inside of the main pipe 2. In this embodiment, the collected toner discharged from the belt cleaning device 136 falls by gravity through the collection connection portion 22 B of the main pipe 2 , and moves into the inside of the main pipe main portion 21 of the main pipe 2 .

[0026] The main pipe main section 21 is disposed extending in the left-right direction so as to cross the inside of the device body 200, and forms a transport path 10 for the collected toner inside the device body 200. The main pipe screw 4 disposed inside the main pipe main section 21 is rotated by a driving force transmitted from the motor 6. As the main pipe screw 4 rotates, the collected toner that has moved into the inside of the main pipe main section 21 is transported leftward inside the main pipe main section 21.

[0027] The extension pipe 3 is disposed below the main pipe 2. In this embodiment, the extension pipe 3 is disposed so that the vicinity of the right end of the extension pipe main section 31 is located below the vicinity of the left end of the main pipe main section 21. The main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are fixed to the device body 200. As a result, the main pipe opening 23, which is provided near the left end of the main pipe main section 21 and opens downward, and the extension pipe opening 33, which is provided near the right end of the extension pipe main section 31 and opens upward, are aligned to form a conveying path connecting section 11. The conveying path connecting section 11 constitutes a transfer section that transfers the recovered toner from the main pipe 2 to the extension pipe 3. The recovered toner conveyed inside the main pipe 2 falls by gravity through the conveying path connecting section 11 and moves to the inside of the extension pipe main section 31 of the extension pipe 3. The fixing of the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 and the arrangement of the conveying path connecting section 11 will be described in more detail later.

[0028] The extension pipe main section 31 is disposed extending in the left-right direction so as to cross between the device main body 200 and the expansion housing 300, and forms a transport path 10 for the collected toner that transfers the collected toner from inside the device main body 200 to inside the expansion housing 300. However, as described above, the extension pipe 3 is fixed to the device main body 200. The extension pipe screw 5 disposed inside the extension pipe main section 31 rotates by receiving the power of the main pipe screw 4 via a coupling 7, a coupling shaft 8, and a gear train 9. The collected toner that has moved into the inside of the extension pipe main section 31 as a result of the extension pipe screw 5 rotating is transported to the left. The drive connection between the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5 will be described in further detail later.

[0029] The collection container 102 is arranged in a container arrangement section 301, which is a space inside the expansion housing 300 formed by the expansion housing 300. The collection container 102 is detachable from the expansion housing 300. When the collection container 102 is attached to the expansion housing 300, it is connected to a discharge connection section 32 provided near the left end of the extension pipe 3. When the collection container 102 and the extension pipe 3 are connected, the extension pipe screw 5 rotates, and the collected toner falls by gravity through the discharge connection section 32 of the extension pipe 3 and moves into the collection container 102, where it is accumulated.

[0030] 3. Downsizing of image forming equipment Next, downsizing of the image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment will be described.

[0031] (Connection of expansion cabinet and extension pipe to device main unit) First, the connection of the expansion housing 300 and the extension pipe 3 to the device main body 200 will be described. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the image forming device 100 in a state in which the device main body 200 and the expansion housing 300 are connected. That is, Fig. 4 shows the image forming device 100 in an operable state in which the expansion housing 300 is fixed to the device main body 200.

[0032] 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 100 with the expansion housing 300 removed from the apparatus main body 200. The extension pipe 3 and a holding member 35 serving as a holding part for holding the extension pipe 3 to the apparatus main body 200 are fixed to a side surface part 201 of the apparatus main body 200, which will be described in detail later. Since the extension pipe 3 needs to be connected to a collection container 102 arranged inside the expansion housing 300, when attached to the apparatus main body 200, the extension pipe 3 protrudes from the side surface part 201 of the apparatus main body 200 toward the expansion housing 300.

[0033] 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 100 in a state in which the extension pipe 3 and the holding member 35 are further removed from the apparatus main body 200 compared to FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the state shown in FIG. 6 in which the extension housing 300, the extension pipe 3, and the holding member 35 are removed from the apparatus main body 200 is the downsized form of the image forming apparatus 100. The extension pipe 3, the holding member 35, and the extension housing 300 are fixed to the side portion 201 of the apparatus main body 200 from the left direction of the apparatus main body 200 as indicated by the arrow L in FIG. 6.

[0034] Here, the side surface portion 201 of the device main body 200 refers to a portion near the side surface of the device main body 200 on the side where the expansion enclosure 300 is attached, which is accessible to an operator when the expansion enclosure 300 is removed from the device main body 200, and enables the operator to install and remove components. This side surface portion 201 is not limited to, for example, the outermost side surface of the device main body 200 facing the expansion enclosure 300 side, but includes a portion recessed further inside the device main body 200 than the side surface so as to be accessible to an operator.

[0035] In this manner, in this embodiment, the extension pipe 3 is configured to be fixed to the side surface 201 of the device main body 200 that is exposed when the expansion housing 300 is removed from the device main body 200. This makes it possible to easily remove the extension pipe 3 protruding from the device main body 200 by removing the expansion housing 300 from the device main body 200. This makes it possible to easily disassemble the transport path 10 for the collected toner, simplifying the task of downsizing the image forming device 100 when transporting it.

[0036] (Fixing extension pipe) Next, the fixing of the extension pipe 3 to the device body 200 will be described in more detail. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are removed from a frame 202 of the device body 200, which will be described later. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are fixed to a frame 202 of the device body 200, which will be described later.

[0037] The frame 202 as a support member arranged in the device body 200 is a component to which a plurality of modules provided in the device body 200 are fixed. In this embodiment, the frame 202 is a rear plate provided on the rear side of the device body 200, to which at least a part of the image forming unit 101 is attached. The main pipe 2 is fixed to the frame 202 from the front (Y-axis direction) of the device body 200. In this embodiment, the main pipe 2 is fixed to the surface of the frame 202 facing the front side at the main pipe fixing portion 24 by fixing means such as a screw.

[0038] The holding member 35 is a component for holding the extension pipe 3 on the device body 200. The holding member 35 is fixed to the frame body 202 from the left direction (X-axis direction) of the device body 200. In this embodiment, the frame body 202 has an attachment portion 202a formed by a surface facing the left side, which constitutes at least a part of the side portion 201 of the device body 200. In this embodiment, the holding member 35 is fixed to the attachment portion 202a of the frame body 202 by a fixing means such as a screw at the holding member fixing portion 35a. In this embodiment, the extension pipe 3 is fixed to the holding member 35 by a fixing means such as a screw at the extension pipe fixing portion 34. The holding member 35 may be fixed to the frame body 202 after the extension pipe 3 is fixed, or may be fixed to the frame body 202 after the extension pipe 3 is fixed. In this embodiment, the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are not directly fixed to each other.

[0039] By fixing the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 to the same frame 202, it is possible to reduce the positional deviation between the main pipe opening 23 and the extension pipe opening 33 which form the transport path connecting portion 11. As a result, the positional deviation that needs to be considered in the design of the parts is reduced, making it possible to miniaturize the parts.

[0040] In this embodiment, in order to reduce misalignment of the above-mentioned parts, the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are fixed to the frame 202, which is the same part of the device body 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 may be fixed to different parts of the device body 200.

[0041] In addition, in this embodiment, the holding portion that holds the extension pipe 3 is configured as a holding member 35 that is a separate part from the extension pipe 3, but the holding portion may also be configured as a holding shape portion that is formed essentially integrally with the extension pipe 3.

[0042] 4. Connection of the transport route Next, the transport path joint 11 formed by the main pipe opening 23 and the extension pipe opening 33 will be described in more detail. Fig. 9(a) is a top view showing the vicinity of the connection part between the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3. Fig. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 9(a).

[0043] As shown in Fig. 9(b), the main pipe opening 23 opening downward and the extension pipe opening 33 opening upward face each other to form a transport path joint 11, thereby forming a collected toner transport path 10. In Fig. 9(b), the collected toner is transported through the path indicated by the dashed arrow Tc.

[0044] 9(a) and 9(b), in this embodiment, the transport path connecting portion 11 is disposed inside an area (projected area) obtained by projecting the frame body 202 disposed inside the device body 200 forward (Y-axis direction). That is, the main pipe opening 23 is disposed inside the device body 200. Therefore, the amount of protrusion of the main pipe 2 from the device body 200 can be reduced. That is, in a downsized form during transportation of the image forming apparatus 100, it is possible to reduce the external size of the device body 200, improving the workability during transportation.

[0045] 5. Drive connection Next, a description will be given of the drive connection between the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the connection portion between the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3.

[0046] The coupling 7 is a drive transmission member disposed outside the main pipe 2 and connected to the main pipe screw 4 disposed inside the main pipe 2. In this embodiment, the coupling 7 is connected to the left end of the main pipe screw 4. The coupling 7 rotates coaxially and integrally with the main pipe screw 4 as the main pipe screw 4 rotates by receiving power from the motor 6 (FIG. 3). The coupling shaft 8 is a drive transmission member disposed outside the extension pipe 3 and held by the extension pipe 3. The coupling shaft 8 has a coupling portion 81 that receives power from the coupling 7 and a shaft portion 82 that rotates coaxially and integrally with the coupling portion 81. The coupling 7 and the coupling shaft 8 rotate coaxially and integrally by detachably engaging the coupling 7 with the coupling portion 81 of the coupling shaft 8. In this embodiment, the coupling 7 and the coupling portion 81 of the coupling shaft 8 can be engaged with each other by fixing the extension pipe 3 to the device main body 200. The gear train 9 is a drive train constituted by three gears disposed outside the extension pipe 3 and held by the extension pipe 3. One end of the gear train 9 is connected to the coupling shaft 8, and the other end of the gear train 9 is connected to the extension pipe screw 5 arranged inside the extension pipe 3. In this embodiment, the gear train 9 is connected to the left end of the coupling shaft 8 and the left end of the extension pipe screw 5. In this embodiment, the coupling 7, the coupling shaft 8, and the gear train 9 constitute a connecting member that drives and connects the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5. In this embodiment, the coupling 7 constitutes a first drive transmission unit connected to the main pipe screw 4, and the coupling shaft 8 and the gear train 9 constitute a second drive transmission unit detachably connected to the first drive transmission unit. The coupling shaft 8 and the gear train 9 are held by the extension pipe 3 and are detachable from the device main body 200 together with the extension pipe 3. This makes it even easier to disassemble the transport path 10 for the collected toner.

[0047] With the above configuration, the drive of the main pipe screw 4 can be transmitted to the extension pipe screw 5. In other words, there is no need to provide separate drive sources for the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5, and it is possible to drive the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5 with a simple configuration. This makes it possible to reduce costs, the number of parts, and the size.

[0048] In this embodiment, the specifications of each gear in the gear train 9 are set so as to increase the rotation speed of the extension pipe screw 5 relative to the rotation speed of the coupling shaft 8. This makes it possible to improve the conveying performance of the collected toner in the downstream extension pipe 3 in the conveying direction of the collected toner (the amount of collected toner that can be conveyed per unit time) compared to the conveying performance of the collected toner in the upstream main pipe 2. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent clogging of the collected toner inside the conveying path 10 for the collected toner.

[0049] 6. Screw rotation direction Next, the positional relationship between the collected toner transport path 10 and the fixing device 150, and the rotation direction of the screw will be described. Fig. 11 is a front view showing the positional relationship between the collected toner transport path 10 and the fixing device 150. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 11.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, the fixing device 150 is disposed below and in front of the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3. The fixing device 150 is an example of a heating section provided in the image forming section 101 for heating the recording material S on which an image is formed with a developer. More specifically, in this embodiment, the fixing device 150 is disposed below and in front of the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 in the vicinity of the right side of the conveying path connecting section 11. The fixing device 150 generates heat to heat the recording material S on which the toner image is transferred. Therefore, the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are affected by heat from the direction in which the fixing device 150 is located. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, when viewed from the upstream side of the conveying direction of the collected toner along the rotation axis of the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5, the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are affected by heat from the lower left direction indicated by the arrow D. In this embodiment, the rotation axis direction of the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5 are approximately parallel to each other.

[0051] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the collected toner along the rotation axis of the main pipe screw 4, the main pipe screw 4 rotates in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow E. Also, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the collected toner along the rotation axis of the extension pipe screw 5, the extension pipe screw 5 rotates in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow F. Specifically, in this embodiment, the gear train 9 is configured so that the rotation direction of the main pipe screw 4 and the rotation direction of the extension pipe screw 5 are as described above. As a result, the collected toner is transported inside the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 while leaning toward the back side of the image forming device 100. In other words, the collected toner is transported inside the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 while leaning away from the fixing device 150. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the temperature change of the toner inside the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3, and it is possible to transport the collected toner stably.

[0052] In this embodiment, the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 are disposed on the rear side of the apparatus main body 200. Therefore, when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the collected toner along the rotation axis of the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5, the fixing device 150 is disposed at a position shifted to the left of the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3. In this case, when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the collected toner along the rotation axis of the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5, the toner inside the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 is transported while shifting in a direction away from the fixing device 150 as described above. In contrast, the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 may be disposed, for example, on the front side of the apparatus main body 200. In this case, when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the collected toner along the rotation axis of the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5, the fixing device 150 may be disposed at a position shifted to the right of the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3. In this case, when viewed in that direction, the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5 rotate clockwise, so that the toner inside the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3 is transported while shifting in a direction away from the fixing device 150.

[0053] In this embodiment, the rotation directions of the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5 are specified as described above in order to stabilize the transport of the collected toner for both the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3. However, by specifying the rotation direction of at least one of the main pipe screw 4 and the extension pipe screw 5 as described above, a corresponding effect can be obtained.

[0054] 7.Effects As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment has a first housing 200, a second housing 300 removably connected to the first housing 200, an image forming unit 101 that forms an image using developer, a transport path 10 that transports the developer discharged from the image forming unit 101, and a container arrangement section 301 in which a collection container 102 that contains the developer transported through the transport path 10 is arranged. In this embodiment, the image forming unit 101 is provided inside the first housing 200, the container arrangement section 301 is provided inside the second housing 300, and the transport path 10 includes a first transport path 2 that transports the developer discharged from the image forming unit 101 inside the first housing 200, and a second transport path 3 that transports the developer transferred from the first transport path 2 at a transfer section 11 located inside the first housing 200 toward a collection container 102 arranged in the container arrangement section 301, and the second transport path 3 is removably fixed to a side portion 201 of the first housing 200 that is exposed and accessible from outside the first housing 200 by removing the second housing 300 from the first housing 200, and can be removed from the first housing 200 by removing the second housing 300 from the first housing 200. The second transport path 3 may be fixed to the first housing 200 via a holding portion 35 to which the second transport path 3 is removably attached, or may be formed integrally with the second transport path 3. In this embodiment, the first transport path 2 and the second transport path 3 are fixed to the same support member 202 provided in the first housing 200. Particularly, in this embodiment, the support member 202 is a frame provided in the first housing 200 to which at least a part of the image forming unit 101 is attached. In this embodiment, the first transport path 2 and the second transport path 3 are not directly fixed to each other.

[0055] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a driving member 6, a first conveying member 4 disposed inside the first conveying path 2, a second conveying member 5 disposed inside the second conveying path 3, and connecting members 7, 8, and 9 that drive-connect the first conveying member 4 and the second conveying member 5, and the first conveying member 4 rotates by receiving power from the driving member 6, and the second conveying member 5 rotates by receiving power from the first conveying member 4 via the connecting members 7, 8, and 9. In this embodiment, the connecting members 7, 8, and 9 include a first drive transmission section 7 coupled to the first conveying member 4, and second drive transmission sections 8 and 9 detachably connected to the first drive transmission section 7, and the second drive transmission sections 8 and 9 are held in the second conveying path 3 and are detachable from the first housing 200 together with the second conveying path 3. In this embodiment, the image forming unit 101 has a heating unit 150 that heats the recording material S on which an image is formed with the developer, and the first transport member 4 has a first screw that rotates around a first rotation axis, and when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the developer by the first screw along the first rotation axis, the heating unit 150 is disposed at a position shifted to the left or right with respect to the first transport path 2, and the first screw rotates in a direction in which the developer inside the first transport path 2 is transported while leaning in a direction away from the heating unit 150. In this embodiment, the second transport member 5 has a second screw that rotates around a second rotation axis, and when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the developer by the second screw along the second rotation axis, the heating unit 150 is disposed at a position shifted to the left or right with respect to the second transport path 3, and the second screw rotates in a direction in which the developer inside the second transport path 3 is transported while leaning in a direction away from the heating unit 150.

[0056] In this embodiment, the transport path 10 of the collected toner is composed of the main pipe 2 and the extension pipe 3. The extension pipe 3 is fixed to the side portion 201 of the device main body 200 that is exposed when the expansion housing 300 is removed from the device main body 200. This allows the collected toner transport path 10 to be easily disassembled, and the image forming device 100 to be easily downsized. This improves the workability of the downsizing operation when transporting the image forming device 100. In other words, in the image forming device 100 in which the transport path 10 of the collected developer is formed so as to cross between the first housing 200 and the second housing 300, it is possible to easily perform the downsizing operation involving separation of the first housing 200 and the second housing 300.

[0057] [others] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, when the image forming apparatus is viewed from the front, the expansion housing (second body, second housing) is connected to the left side of the device main body (first body, first housing), but this is not limited to this and may be connected, for example, to the right side of the device main body (first body).

[0059] In the above embodiment, the transport mechanism transports the recovered toner discharged from the cleaning device, but the developer transported by the transport mechanism may be the developer discharged from the developing device. In a developing device that uses a two-component developer containing toner (non-magnetic toner particles) and carrier (magnetic carrier particles) as the developer, the carrier is replenished to the developing device together with the toner, and the developer containing mainly deteriorated carrier is gradually discharged from the developing device. In such a configuration, the developer discharged from the developing device can be transported to a collection container through a transport mechanism having the same configuration as the above embodiment.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the transport path 10 is formed by the first transport path 2 and the second transport path 3, but the transport path may be formed by a plurality of transport paths including a third transport path other than the first transport path 2 and the second transport path 3. For example, a third transport path may be provided between the second transport path 3 and the collection container 102. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Recycling toner transport mechanism 2 Main pipe (first conveying path) 3 Extension pipe (second conveying path) 4 Main pipe screw (first conveying member) 5 Extension pipe screw (second conveying member) 11 Transport path connection section 35 Retaining member (retaining part) 100 Image forming device 101 Image forming section 102 Collection container 200 Device body (first body (first housing)) 201 Side part 202 Frame 300 Expansion Cabinet (Second Body (Second Cabinet))

Claims

1. A first housing; an image forming section provided within the first housing for forming a toner image on a recording material, the image forming section including a first image forming unit for forming a toner image, a second image forming unit for forming a toner image, and a transfer unit for transferring the toner images formed by the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit onto the recording material; a first transport path provided in the first housing, the first transport path including a first receiving portion that receives the toner discharged from the first image forming unit and a second receiving portion that receives the toner discharged from the second image forming unit, the first transport path transporting the toner discharged from the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit; A second housing removably connected to the first housing; a second transport path that transports the toner received from the first transport path; having an image forming apparatus comprising: a toner container configured to receive toner from the first transport path within the first housing; a second transport path extending across a side of the first housing that is exposed when the second housing is removed from the first housing so as to protrude from the first housing into the second housing when the second housing is connected to the first housing; and a toner container configured to be removable from the first housing while leaving the first transport path within the first housing.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transport path and the second transport path are fixed to a same support member provided in the first housing.

3. 2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second transport path is removably fixed to a side surface of the first housing that is exposed when the second housing is removed from the first housing.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the support member is provided in the first housing and includes a frame to which at least a part of the image forming unit is attached.

5. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding portion that holds the second transport path, the holding portion being removably fixed to the first housing.

6. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transport path and the second transport path are not directly fixed to each other.

7. a drive member, a first transport member disposed in the first transport path, a second transport member disposed in the second transport path, and a connecting member that drive-connects the first transport member and the second transport member, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transport member rotates by receiving power from the drive member, and the second transport member rotates by receiving power from the first transport member via the connecting member.

8. the connecting member has a first drive transmission part coupled to the first conveying member and a second drive transmission part detachably connected to the first drive transmission part, 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second drive transmission section is held by the second transport path and is removable from the first housing together with the second transport path.

9. the image forming unit has a heating unit that heats the recording material on which the toner image is formed, The first conveying member has a first screw that rotates about a first axis of rotation, when viewed from the upstream side of the conveying direction of the first screw along the first rotation axis, the heating section is disposed at a position shifted to one side in the left-right direction of the first conveying path, and the first screw is configured to rotate in a direction in which the one side moves from above to below in the left-right direction, The second conveying member has a second screw that rotates about a second axis of rotation, 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the second screw along the second rotation axis, the heating section is positioned at a position shifted to one side in the left-right direction of the second transport path, and the second screw is configured to rotate in a direction such that the one side moves from top to bottom in the left-right direction.

10. The first image forming unit has a first photoconductor on which a toner image is formed, and a first cleaning device that removes toner from the first photoconductor, the second image forming unit has a second photoconductor on which a toner image is formed, and a second cleaning device that removes toner from the second photoconductor, 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transport path transports the toner discharged from the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device.

11. The first image forming unit has a first photoconductor on which an electrostatic image is formed, and a first developing device that supplies toner to the electrostatic image formed on the first photoconductor; the second image forming unit has a second photoconductor on which an electrostatic image is formed, and a second developing device that supplies toner to the electrostatic image formed on the second photoconductor, 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transport path transports the toner discharged from the first developing device and the toner discharged from the second developing device.

12. The transfer unit has an intermediate transfer body onto which a toner image is transferred from the first photoconductor and the second photoconductor, and a third cleaning device that removes toner from the intermediate transfer body, 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first transport path includes a third receiving portion that receives the toner discharged from the third cleaning device, and transports the toner discharged from the third cleaning device.

13. A first housing; an image forming unit provided in the first housing and forming a toner image; a first transport path provided in the first housing and configured to transport toner discharged from the image forming unit; A second housing removably connected to the first housing; a second transport path that transports the toner received from the first transport path; A drive member; A first conveying member disposed in the first conveying path; A second conveying member disposed in the second conveying path; a coupling member that drivingly couples the first conveying member and the second conveying member; having the second transport path is configured to receive toner from the first transport path within the first housing, is provided to protrude from the first housing into the second housing when the second housing is connected to the first housing, and is configured to be removable from the first housing while leaving the first transport path within the first housing; the first conveying member rotates by receiving power from the driving member, and the second conveying member rotates by receiving power from the first conveying member via the connecting member, the connecting member has a first drive transmission part coupled to the first conveying member and a second drive transmission part detachably connected to the first drive transmission part, The image forming apparatus, wherein the second drive transmission unit is held in the second transport path and is removable from the first housing together with the second transport path.

14. The image forming unit has a heating unit that heats the recording material on which the toner image is formed, The first conveying member has a first screw that rotates about a first axis of rotation, when viewed from the upstream side of the conveying direction of the first screw along the first rotation axis, the heating section is disposed at a position shifted to one side in the left-right direction of the first conveying path, and the first screw is configured to rotate in a direction in which the one side moves from above to below in the left-right direction, The second conveying member has a second screw that rotates about a second axis of rotation, 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when viewed from the upstream side of the transport direction of the second screw along the second rotation axis, the heating section is positioned at a position shifted to one side in the left-right direction of the second transport path, and the second screw is configured to rotate in a direction such that the one side moves from top to bottom in the left-right direction.

Images