Powder collection container and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To prevent powder from adhering to the periphery of a shutter to be scattered inside an apparatus body and make the periphery dirty.SOLUTION: A powder recovery container 10 has: a powder storage chamber 51 that includes a receiving port 511 and stores powder; a cover part 52 that includes an opening 521 corresponding to the receiving port 511; and a shutter 53 that is disposed between the powder storage chamber 51 and the cover part 52, and is movable to a position to open the receiving port 511 and a position to close the receiving port. The cover part 52 includes a projection wall part 522 projecting toward the powder storage chamber 51 at the edge of the opening 521. The shutter 53 is arranged to face a leading end on a projection side of the projection wall part 522. A magnetic member 55 is disposed to surround an outer peripheral part of the projection wall part 522 on a side of the projection wall part 522 of the cover part 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder recovery container and an image forming apparatus equipped with the powder recovery container. [Background technology]

[0002] In electrophotographic image forming devices, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoreceptor and developed with toner supplied from a developing device. In developing devices using two-component developers, toner is consumed during the development process, while magnetic carrier particles remain unconsumed within the developing device. This increases the frequency of carrier agitation within the developing device, which can gradually degrade the developer's charging performance. For this reason, some image forming devices employ a trickle development system, in which developer (including toner and carrier) is replenished in small amounts while excess developer is discharged into a powder recovery container as depleted developer. Repeated developer replenishment and discharge maintains the developer's charging performance by replacing depleted developer with newly supplied toner and carrier particles.

[0003] For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the powder collection container is provided with a waste toner receiving port corresponding to the waste toner discharge section on the device main body side, and a degraded developer receiving hole corresponding to the degraded developer discharge section. The degraded developer receiving hole is provided in the degraded developer receiving chamber, and is configured so that the powder collection container equipped with the degraded developer receiving chamber can be removed from the device main body and the stored degraded developer can be discarded. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-72310 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional powder collection container disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the powder collection container is removed from the device body for collection, there is a risk that powder may fall and adhere around the receiving port or scatter inside the device body. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a shutter at the connection part with the receiving port that moves between a position that covers the receiving port and a position that opens the receiving port in conjunction with the removal operation of the powder collection container.

[0006] However, there have been problems such as powder falling around the shutter contaminating the receiving port and the shutter itself, causing powder to scatter inside the device body and causing the shutter to malfunction.

[0007] The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a powder recovery container and an image forming apparatus that can prevent powder from adhering around the shutter that closes the receiving port for receiving the powder and scattering or contaminating the inside of the apparatus body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The solution of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object is a powder recovery container having a powder storage chamber that has an inlet for receiving powder and stores powder, a cover portion that has an opening corresponding to the inlet and is provided on the outside of the powder storage chamber, and a shutter that is arranged between the powder storage chamber and the cover portion and is movable between a position that opens the inlet and a position that closes the inlet, wherein the cover portion has a protruding wall portion that protrudes toward the powder storage chamber at the edge of the opening, the shutter is arranged to face the tip of the protruding side of the protruding wall portion, and a magnetic member is arranged on the protruding wall portion side of the cover portion so as to surround the outer periphery of the protruding wall portion.

[0009] More specifically, in a powder recovery container having the above configuration, the shutter has a gap S1 between it and the tip of the protruding wall portion, and it is preferable that the gap S1 is smaller than the gap S2 between the shutter and the magnetic member.

[0010] In the powder recovery container having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the magnetic member is sheet-shaped and has a through hole into which the protruding wall portion is fitted.

[0011] Furthermore, in a powder recovery container having the above configuration, it is preferable that the magnetic member is a sheet-like member that is long in the movement direction of the shutter, and that the length L1 from the through hole to the outer edge of the magnetic member in the movement direction is longer than the length L2 from the through hole to the outer edge of the magnetic member in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction.

[0012] Furthermore, in a powder recovery container having the above configuration, the magnetic member is a sheet-like member that is long in the movement direction of the shutter, and the through hole and a flat portion arranged on one side of the through hole are arranged side by side in the movement direction, and it is preferable that the length L3 from the through hole to the outer edge on the flat portion side in the movement direction is longer than the length L4 from the through hole to the outer edge on the opposite side to the flat portion in the movement direction.

[0013] In the powder recovery container having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the surface of the magnetic member facing the shutter is provided with magnetic particles forming a magnetic brush.

[0014] The present invention also encompasses an image forming apparatus equipped with a powder collection container according to any of the solutions described above. This arrangement provides a magnetic member facing the shutter of the powder collection container, and the magnetic brush formed by the raised bristles of the magnetic member prevents powder from scattering around the receiving port. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, a magnetic brush of raised bristles can be formed around the shutter that closes the receiving port through which powder is received in the powder recovery container, making it possible to suppress the scattering of powder. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing a powder collection container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a powder collection container (without a cover) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutter of the powder recovery container (without a cover) is in an open position. [Figure 6] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the powder recovery container taken along line II in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a perspective view showing a cover portion provided on the powder recovery container as viewed from below. FIG. [Figure 8A] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a magnetic member provided in the cover portion. [Figure 8B] 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 8A showing the magnetic member. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an upper part of the powder recovery container. [Figure 10A] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing how waste developer is collected by the powder collection container. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram showing the next step of FIG. 10A. [Figure 10C] FIG. 10C is an explanatory diagram showing the next step of FIG. 10B. [Figure 10D] FIG. 10D is an explanatory diagram showing the next step of FIG. 10C. [Figure 11A] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a magnetic member provided in a powder recovery container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11B] 11B is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic member taken along line BB in FIG. 11A. [Figure 12A] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing how waste developer is collected by the powder collection container. [Figure 12B] FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram showing the next step of FIG. 12A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A powder collection container and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention with an access cover removed, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 as seen from the left side.

[0019] In the following description, the surface facing the user who uses image forming apparatus 1 is referred to as the front (front face) of apparatus body 20, and the front-rear direction (depth direction) Y of image forming apparatus 1 and its components is defined as shown in Fig. 1 etc. Also, the left-right direction (width direction) X and height direction Z of image forming apparatus 1 are defined and described based on the state when the image forming apparatus 1 is viewed from the user.

[0020] The image forming apparatus 1 according to the illustrated embodiment is an internal paper discharge type image forming apparatus that includes an image forming unit 21, an image reading unit 22, etc. in an apparatus main body 20, and has an internal paper discharge space 23 between the image forming unit 21 and the image reading unit 22. The image forming apparatus 1 forms a multicolor or monochrome image on a predetermined sheet of paper (recording medium) based on image data read by the image reading unit 22, etc., and discharges the sheet of paper with the image formed thereon into the internal paper discharge space 23. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that has functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

[0021] The image reading unit 22 has a document placement table made of a transparent material, and is equipped with a light source, multiple mirrors, an imaging lens, a line sensor, etc. The image reading unit 22 exposes the document surface to the light source, and the light reflected from the document surface is guided by multiple mirrors to the imaging lens, which forms an image on the light receiving element of the line sensor. The line sensor detects the luminance and chromaticity of the reflected light that forms an image on the light receiving element, and generates image data based on the image of the document surface. A CCD, CIS, etc. is used as the line sensor.

[0022] An openable / closable document hold-down device 24 is provided above Z1 the image reading unit 22. The document hold-down device 24 is supported by an open / close shaft at an end on the rear side (rear side) Y2 of the device main body 20. The document hold-down device 24 is rotatable about the open / close shaft, and the front side (near side) Y1 can be opened and closed.

[0023] The document pressing device 24 is provided with a document feeder (ADF) 25 that automatically transports documents one by one to the image reading position of the image reading unit 22. The document feeder 25, by the operation of a document transport mechanism (not shown) provided therein, feeds documents placed on a document placement tray 26 to the image reading position and discharges the documents after reading onto a document discharge tray 27. The document discharge tray 27 is provided below the document placement tray 26 in position Z2.

[0024] 1, an operation panel 28 is provided on the front side of the device main body 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the operation panel 28 is provided on the side (right side X2) of the internal paper discharge space 23, and is provided with a display and multiple operation keys such as a start key. Below the internal paper discharge space 23, Z2, the image forming unit 21 is provided.

[0025] Image forming unit 21 includes an exposure unit, a development unit (developing device), a photosensitive drum, a charger, an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer roller, a fixing unit, etc. Image forming unit 21 forms an image by electrophotography on paper conveyed from paper feed unit 30, etc., located below image forming unit 21 Z2. Each of the above components provided in image forming unit 21 is covered by an open / close cover located on the front side.

[0026] The image forming unit 21 converts the image data for each pixel of R, G, and B corresponding to the input color document into density data for black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), and then exposes and scans the surface of each photosensitive drum with a laser beam modulated at a duty ratio corresponding to each converted density data to form each electrostatic latent image. The image data includes image data read by the image reading unit 22 and image data sent from an external computer. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred to paper by an intermediate transfer belt and transfer rollers, and the toner image transferred to the paper is thermally fixed by a fixing unit. The paper on which the image has been formed is discharged to a paper discharge tray 231 in the internal paper discharge space 23.

[0027] The development units employ a trickle development system, containing developer consisting of toner and carrier in a toner cartridge. The carrier is replenished to the development unit along with the toner. The development units maintain a constant volume of developer within the development unit, discharging excess developer as degraded developer (hereafter referred to as waste developer) from the development unit to waste developer dischargers 42K, 42C, 42M, and 42Y. Similarly, toner is discharged as waste toner from waste toner dischargers 41K, 41C, 41M, and 41Y. The waste developer dischargers 42K, 42C, 42M, and 42Y each have a roughly cylindrical discharge path extending in the front-rear direction Y and an internal screw for transporting the waste developer downstream. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a detachable powder collection container 10 (see FIG. 2, etc.; details will be described later) for collecting waste developer. As shown in FIG. 1, the powder recovery container 10 can be removed from the device main body 20, and waste developer and the like can be disposed of from the powder recovery container 10.

[0028] The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit in the apparatus body 20 that controls the operation of each of the above-mentioned units. The control unit includes a CPU, a memory, etc., and transmits control signals to each of the above-mentioned units in response to user operations, etc., to cause them to perform various operations.

[0029] (Powder collection container) 3 to 6 show a powder collection container 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the powder collection container 10 as viewed from the upper right of the main body side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the powder collection container 10 with the shutter 53 in the closed position (the cover portion 52 is not shown to make the position of the shutter 53 easier to understand), and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the powder collection container 10 with the shutter 53 in the open position (the cover portion 52 is not shown for the same reason as in FIG. 4). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view II of FIG. 4 of the powder collection container 10 attached to the image forming apparatus 1, taken in the vertical direction Z. Note that FIGS. 3 to 5 show the powder collection container 10 as viewed from the side facing the image forming unit 21 of the apparatus main body 20 (as viewed in the Y1 direction in FIG. 6).

[0030] The powder collection container 10 according to the illustrated embodiment includes a powder storage chamber 51 that stores waste developer, which is powder, a receiving port 511 provided in the powder storage chamber 51 for receiving the waste developer, a cover portion 52 provided on the outside of the powder storage chamber 51, and a shutter 53 that closes the receiving port 511. The cover portion 52 is provided with an opening 521 that corresponds to the receiving port 511 of the powder storage chamber 51 (see FIG. 3).

[0031] The container body 50 of the powder collection container 10 has a space therein for a powder storage chamber 51 and the length in the left-right direction X in Fig. 3 is at least the length including the waste developer discharge units 42K, 42C, 42M, and 42Y aligned in the left-right direction X of the image forming unit 21 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 6, the container body 50 is a bottomed container that has a back plate 501 and a front plate 502 on the front and rear sides, and the powder storage chamber 51 is formed by being surrounded by these back plate 501, front plate 502 and left and right side plates 503.

[0032] The powder storage chamber 51 is divided in the front-rear direction Y by a partition plate 504, allowing the waste toner and waste developer to be collected separately. The powder collection container 10 is attached to the device main body 20 with the back plate 501 facing the rear side Y2. A waste developer receiving port 511 that communicates with the powder storage chamber 51 is provided on the top side.

[0033] Four waste developer receiving ports 511 are provided on the top surface of the powder storage chamber 51, one for each color of waste developer. As shown in Fig. 4, from the left in the figure, receiving ports 511 are provided corresponding to the waste developers of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Furthermore, each receiving port 511 is provided at a position corresponding to the waste developer discharge portions 42K, 42C, 42M, and 42Y of each color shown in Fig. 1, and is configured to communicate with each of them when the powder recovery container 10 is attached to the device main body 20.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 2, the powder collection container 10 can be easily attached to the device body 20 by inserting it diagonally from above (the front side) and pushing it toward the rear side (rear side) Y2 around the lower end (the pivot shaft 58 shown in Fig. 3) as the rotation center. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower ends of the left and right side plates 503 of the container body 50 are provided with pivot shafts 58, which serve as the rotation center during attachment. When the powder collection container 10 is attached to the device body 20, the shutter lever 54 is pressed.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 6, a developing unit 211 that discharges waste developer is connected above the waste developer receiving port 511 of the powder storage container 10 that is attached to the device main body 20. A conveying screw 212 is provided within the developing unit 211, and is configured to convey the waste developer toward the powder recovery container 10. A sealing member 56 made of a soft material such as sponge is interposed between the developing unit 211 and the powder recovery container 10.

[0036] 4 and 5, a shutter 53 capable of closing the receiving port 511 is provided above the waste developer receiving port 511. The shutters 53 are each disposed on a holder portion 505 erected on the upper surface of the container body 50.

[0037] Each shutter 53 is linked to a slide frame 59 that is connected to a shutter lever 54. When the shutter lever 54 is pressed or released, the slide frame 59 slides in a movement direction D. Each shutter 53 is movable along the movement direction D on the holder portion 505 in conjunction with the slide frame 59.

[0038] When the powder collection container 10 is attached to the device body 20, the shutter 53 (see FIG. 4), which is in a closed position that closes the receiving port 511, moves from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG. 5 and is positioned at an open position that opens the receiving port 511. Therefore, when the powder collection container 10 is attached to the device body 20, the receiving port 511 is open, and when the powder collection container 10 is removed from the device body 20, the receiving port 511 is closed by the shutter 53.

[0039] Above the waste developer shutter 53, waste toner shutters 61 are provided corresponding to the waste toner of each color. The waste toner shutters 61 are provided at positions corresponding to the waste toner discharge units 41K, 41C, 41M, and 41Y shown in Fig. 1 and are semi-cylindrical with bottoms. The waste toner shutters 61 are also connected to the slide frames 59 and are rotatable between a closed position and an open position as the slide frames 59 move.

[0040] A cover part 52 is provided on the upper part of the container body 50 of the powder collection container 10. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the cover part 52 provided on the powder collection container 10 as viewed from below, Fig. 8A is a plan view showing a magnetic member 55 provided on the cover part 52, Fig. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic member 55 of Fig. 8A taken along line AA, and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the upper part of the powder collection container 10.

[0041] The cover portion 52 has openings 521 corresponding to the waste developer discharge portions 42K, 42C, 42M, and 42Y of each color. The openings 521 are provided to penetrate in the vertical direction Z. Waste developer shutters 53 are provided between these openings 521 provided in the cover portion 52 and each receiving port 511 provided in the container body 50.

[0042] The shutter 53 includes a flat closing portion 532 that closes the receiving port 511, and a through portion 531 that is an opening that penetrates both the front and back surfaces. The through portion 531 is provided in a substantially rectangular shape that corresponds to the receiving port 511 of the powder containing chamber 51 and the opening 521 of the cover portion 52. The through portion 531 and the closing portion 532 are provided side by side in the movement direction D. As described above, the shutter 53 is movable along the movement direction D between the open position and the closed position.

[0043] 7, the opening 521 of the cover part 52 is provided with a protruding wall part 522 that protrudes downward Z2, that is, toward the container body 50 (powder containing chamber 51). In other words, the cover part 52 is provided with the protruding wall part 522 that protrudes toward the powder containing chamber 51 along the edge of the opening 521. Furthermore, on the underside of the cover part 52, that is, on the protruding wall part 522 side of the cover part 32, a sheet-like magnetic member 55 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the protruding wall part 522.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 9, the opening 521 of the cover part 52 is provided so as to penetrate in the up-down direction Z, and a protruding wall part 522 that protrudes toward the container body 50 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the opening 521. As shown in Fig. 8A, the magnetic member 55 is provided with a through hole 551 that corresponds to the receiving port 511 and the opening 521. The protruding wall part 522 of the cover part 52 is fitted into the through hole 551 of the magnetic member 55. The magnetic member 55 is a sheet-like member having a thickness that fits within the protruding amount of the protruding wall part 522. The magnetic member 55 is provided so as not to protrude below the protruding wall part 522 Z2 (see Fig. 9).

[0045] As described above, magnetic member 55 is provided on the outside of protruding wall portion 522, and shutter 53 is disposed to face magnetic member 55 and the tip of protruding side of protruding wall portion 522. Shutter 53 is disposed between powder containing chamber 51 and cover portion 52 of container body 50.

[0046] Furthermore, the tip of the protruding wall portion 522 is provided so as to have a gap S1 between it and the upper surface of the shutter 53. This gap S1 is smaller than the gap S2 between the upper surface of the shutter 53 and the lower surface of the magnetic member 55. Therefore, when the shutter 53 moves along the movement direction D, even if the shutter 53 moves up and down, it is the protruding wall portion 522 that the shutter 53 abuts against, and is provided so as not to come into contact with the magnetic member 55.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 8A, the magnetic member 55 is a sheet-like member having magnetism, and has a shape that is elongated in the movement direction D of the shutter 53. As shown in Fig. 8B, a substantially rectangular through-hole 551 is provided in the center of the magnetic member 55. The protruding wall portion 522 of the cover portion 52 is fitted into this through-hole 551, as described above.

[0048] 8A, magnetic member 55 is provided such that length L1 from through hole 551 to the outer edge in movement direction D is longer than length L2 from through hole 551 to the outer edge in a direction perpendicular to movement direction D. Magnetic member 55 has a shape in which length L1 around through hole 551 is longer than length L2, thereby ensuring a large area in movement direction D that exhibits magnetism. The portion of magnetic member 55 with length L1 is located on the retraction side when shutter 53 is opened.

[0049] As described above, the opening 521 of the cover portion 52 serves as a path along which the waste developer falls. The magnetic member 55 is provided to surround the protruding wall portion 522 provided along the opening 521. The waste developer that falls through the opening 521 contains magnetic carrier, which is magnetic powder (magnetic particles). Therefore, the magnetic member 55 provided opposite the shutter 53 can adhere (hold) the magnetic powder by its magnetic force.

[0050] 10A to 10D are explanatory diagrams showing in sequence the process in which waste developer falls into and is collected in the powder collection container 10. In FIG. 10A, the shutter 53 is positioned in a closed position to close the receiving port 511. When the powder collection container 10 is attached to or detached from the device main body 20, magnetic powder 72 may fall from the waste developer discharge portions 42K, 42C, 42M, and 42Y of the developing units onto the shutter 53 in the closed position. As the powder collection container 10 is attached, the shutter 53 begins to move in the direction D1 along the movement direction D. At this time, if the cover portion 52 does not have the protruding wall portion 522, the magnetic powder 72 may be drawn into the cover portion 52 together with the shutter 53.

[0051] In contrast, in the case of the powder collection container 10 according to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10B, the magnetic powder 72 that has fallen onto the shutter 53 comes into contact with the protruding wall portion 522 of the cover portion 52 as the shutter 53 moves, and is collected on the shutter 53. Then, as shown in Fig. 10C, as the shutter 53 moves further in the D1 direction, the magnetic powder 72 that has been collected by the protruding wall portion 522 falls from the through-hole 531 of the shutter 53 into the powder storage chamber 51. Most of the magnetic powder 72 on the shutter 53 is scraped down into the powder storage chamber 51.

[0052] Even if some magnetic powder 72 remains on shutter 53, the magnetic powder 72 adheres to magnetic member 55 disposed opposite shutter 53, preventing the magnetic powder 72 from scattering and contaminating the surrounding area. As shown in FIG. 10D , as shutter 53 moves multiple times, magnetic brush 71 is formed by the bristles of magnetic powder 72 on the surface of magnetic member 55 facing shutter 53. Magnetic brush 71 acts as a seal to prevent magnetic powder 72 from entering through the gap between protruding wall portion 522 and shutter 53. Therefore, magnetic brush 71 pushes back magnetic powder 72 that has fallen onto shutter 53, preventing it from entering beyond protruding wall portion 522.

[0053] 9, the tip of protruding wall portion 522 is provided so as to have a gap S1 between it and the upper surface of shutter 53, and gap S1 is smaller than gap S2 between the upper surface of shutter 53 and the lower surface of magnetic member 55. Therefore, when shutter 53 moves between the closed position and the open position, even if shutter 53 rises, magnetic member 55 does not come into contact with shutter 53, and protruding wall portion 522 maintains gap S2. This also prevents magnetic brush 71 formed on magnetic member 55 from coming off or scattering due to contact with shutter 53.

[0054] 8A, magnetic member 55 has a shape in which length L1 of the periphery of through-hole 551 is longer than length L2, thereby ensuring a large area in which magnetism is exerted in direction of movement D (direction D1). Therefore, magnetic brush 71 can be formed large on the surface of magnetic member 55 facing shutter 53, particularly along direction of movement D, thereby enhancing the sealing effect.

[0055] With the above-described configuration, magnetic brush 71 having a sealing effect can be formed around shutter 53 in powder collection container 10, thereby preventing powder from scattering or leaking into cover 52 or device body 20. In addition, an increase in the opening and closing torque of shutter 53 can be prevented, allowing shutter 53 to be opened and closed smoothly.

[0056] In addition, in the powder recovery container 10, the protruding wall portion 522 and magnetic member 55 having the above-described configuration may not only be provided in the fall path of the waste developer, but may also be provided between the waste toner discharge portions 41K, 41C, 41M, 41Y, which are the fall path of the waste toner, and the waste toner shutter 61, making it possible to prevent the waste toner from scattering.

[0057] (Embodiment 2) The powder collection container 10 according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the first embodiment, and may be configured in various other forms. For example, the magnetic member 55 is not limited to the form shown in Figures 8A and 8B.

[0058] Figures 11A and 11B show a magnetic member 55 provided in a powder collection container 10 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, where Figure 11A is a plan view showing the magnetic member 55 provided in the cover portion 52, and Figure 11B is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic member 55 taken along line AA in Figure 11A.

[0059] As shown in the figure, the magnetic member 55 is a sheet-like member that is long in the movement direction D of the shutter 53, and is disposed so that a substantially rectangular through-hole 551 and a flat plate portion 552 on one side of the through-hole 551 are aligned in the movement direction D. The length L3 from the through-hole 551 to the outer edge on the flat plate portion 552 side in the movement direction D of the shutter 53 is longer than the length L4 from the through-hole 551 to the outer edge on the opposite side to the flat plate portion 552 in the movement direction D. The portion of the magnetic member 55 with the length L3 is disposed on the retracted side when the shutter 53 is opened.

[0060] 12A and 12B are explanatory diagrams schematically showing how waste developer falls into and is collected in the powder collection container 10 according to embodiment 2. As shown in Fig. 12A, a magnetic member 55 is provided on the outside of the protruding wall portion 522, and a shutter 53 is arranged to face the protruding ends of the magnetic member 55 and the protruding wall portion 522. A flat portion 552 of the magnetic member 55 is arranged on the retracted side of the shutter 53 in the closed position.

[0061] In this state, if magnetic powder 72 falls onto the shutter 53, as the shutter 53 moves, the magnetic powder 72 comes into contact with the protruding wall portion 522 of the cover portion 52 and is scraped up on the shutter 53, and then falls into the powder containing chamber 51. Most of the magnetic powder on the shutter 53 can be scraped down into the powder containing chamber 51.

[0062] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12B, a magnetic brush 71 is formed on the surface of the magnetic member 55 facing the shutter 53, which serves to seal the powder. The flat portion 552 of the magnetic member 55 is disposed on the retraction side of the shutter 53 in the D1 direction, which effectively prevents the powder from scattering or leaking into the inside of the cover portion 52 or the device main body 20.

[0063] As described above, according to the powder recovery container 10 and image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, a protruding wall portion 522 is provided along the edge of the opening 521, and a magnetic member 55 is provided opposite the shutter 53, so that, combined with the action of the magnetic brush 71 due to its raised bristles, it is possible to prevent powder from scattering around the receiving port 511.

[0064] The technical scope of the present invention is not to be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiment, but is based on the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1. Image forming device 10 Powder collection container 21 Image forming unit 211 Development unit 42K, 42C, 42M, 42Y Waste Developer Discharge Section 50 Container body 51 Powder Containment Chamber 511 Inlet 52 Cover part 521 Opening 522 Projecting wall part 53 Shutter 531 Penetration 532 Occlusion 54 Shutter lever 55 Magnetic materials 551 through hole 552 Flat plate part 56 Sealing materials 57 Elastic sealing member 58 Rotating shaft 71 Magnetic Brush 72 Magnetic powder

Claims

1. a powder containing chamber having a receiving port for receiving the powder and containing the powder; a cover portion provided on the outside of the powder containing chamber and having an opening corresponding to the receiving port; a shutter disposed between the powder storage chamber and the cover portion, the shutter being movable between a position that opens the receiving port and a position that closes the receiving port, the cover portion includes a protruding wall portion that protrudes toward the powder containing chamber at an edge of the opening, the shutter is disposed to face the tip of the protruding wall portion on the protruding side, A powder recovery container, characterized in that a magnetic member is arranged on the protruding wall side of the cover portion so as to surround an outer periphery of the protruding wall portion.

2. The powder collection container according to claim 1, The powder recovery container is characterized in that the shutter has a gap S1 between it and the tip of the protruding wall portion, and the gap S1 is smaller than the gap S2 between the shutter and the magnetic member.

3. The powder recovery container according to claim 1 or 2, The powder recovery container is characterized in that the magnetic member is sheet-shaped and has a through hole into which the protruding wall portion is fitted.

4. The powder recovery container according to claim 3, The magnetic member is a sheet-like member that is long in the direction of movement of the shutter, and the length L1 from the through hole to the outer edge of the magnetic member in the direction of movement is longer than the length L2 from the through hole to the outer edge of the magnetic member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement.

5. The powder recovery container according to claim 3, the magnetic member is a sheet-like member that is long in the movement direction of the shutter, and the through hole and a flat plate portion on one side of the through hole are arranged side by side in the movement direction, A powder recovery container characterized in that the length L3 from the through hole to the outer edge on the flat portion side in the movement direction is longer than the length L4 from the through hole to the outer edge on the opposite side of the flat portion in the movement direction.

6. The powder collection container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A powder recovery container characterized in that the magnetic member has a surface facing the shutter that is provided with magnetic particles forming a magnetic brush.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder recovery container according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images