JP2012083603A - Waste toner recovery container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste toner recovery container capable of wholly and evenly recovering waste toner in a large-capacity container with neither causing malfunction of conveying members nor causing unexpected damage of components, abnormal noise and the like; and to provide an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A waste toner recovery container 30 is projectingly provided with a waste toner inflow part 32 in the upper part of a waste toner storage part 31 extending in the depth direction. A first conveying member 41 that conveys the waste toner in the waste toner storage part 31 in the depth direction is actuated in conjunction with the actuation of a second conveying member 51 that conveys the waste toner accumulated inside the waste toner inflow part 32 in the width direction. Furthermore, a specific portion 41c of the first conveying member 41 is adapted to be fractured or elastically deformed when a load of a prescribed value or more is applied to the first conveying member 41.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, and a waste toner collection container installed therein.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, untransferred toner remaining on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive belt, an intermediate transfer belt, and an intermediate transfer drum after a transfer process is performed is cleaned. A technique is known in which untransferred toner removed by the cleaning unit and untransferred toner collected by the cleaning unit is discharged as waste toner from the cleaning unit and collected in a waste toner collection container (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
When the waste toner collection container is filled with the collected waste toner (or nearly full), the waste toner collection container is taken out from the image forming apparatus main body and replaced (maintenance) with an empty container. The

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like, a waste member transporting member (waste toner transporting means, paddle) is disposed in the waste toner reservoir so that the waste toner is uniformly filled in the waste toner reservoir in the waste toner collection container. A technology to be installed is disclosed. In such a waste toner collection container, a cam mechanism (drive transmission unit) that transmits a driving force to the conveying member is installed inside the waste toner storage unit.

In the waste toner collecting containers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like described above, the cam mechanism (drive transmission unit) of the conveying member that conveys the waste toner into the waste toner storage unit is installed inside the waste toner storage unit. There was a high possibility that waste toner would enter the mechanism (drive transmission unit) and cause the conveyance member to malfunction. If a malfunction of the conveying member occurs, the waste toner storage unit in the waste toner collection container is not filled with waste toner uniformly, and the maintenance cycle of the waste toner collection container is accelerated.
In particular, in recent image forming apparatuses, in order to prolong the maintenance cycle of the waste toner collection container, the space other than the functional units such as the image forming unit, the paper feeding unit, the fixing unit, and the paper transport unit is used to the maximum. In many cases, a large-capacity waste toner collecting container is installed, and the above-described problems cannot be ignored.

  On the other hand, if the waste toner storage section of the waste toner collecting container is filled with waste toner evenly exceeding the limit, the load on the transport member increases, and the waste of the transport member, gear, drive motor, etc. There may be a problem that unexpected damage to some of the components related to toner conveyance occurs, a problem that abnormal noise occurs, a problem that the current consumption of the drive motor increases, etc. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and does not cause malfunction of the conveying member, and does not cause unexpected damage to component parts, abnormal noise, or the like. It is another object of the present invention to provide a waste toner collecting container and an image forming apparatus that can collect waste toner uniformly throughout.

  The waste toner collecting container according to the first aspect of the present invention is a waste toner collecting container for collecting the untransferred toner discharged from the cleaning unit for removing the untransferred toner on the image carrier as waste toner. The waste toner storage part for storing the waste toner, and protruding above the waste toner storage part, and the waste toner discharged from the cleaning part is formed to extend in the depth direction. A waste toner inflow portion having an inflow port formed therein, wherein the waste toner storage portion conveys the waste toner that has flowed in and accumulated through the waste toner inflow portion in a depth direction. The waste toner inflow portion includes a second transport member that transports the waste toner accumulated up to that position in a width direction orthogonal to the depth direction, and the first transport member is the second transport member. It is driven in conjunction with the driving of the wood, in which the specific portion when a predetermined value or more load is applied to the first conveying member is formed so as to break or elastic deformation.

  A waste toner collecting container according to a second aspect of the present invention is the waste toner collecting container according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the second conveying member has a shaft portion in which a cam member is formed in a part in the width direction thereof. A screw part wound around a position excluding the position where the cam member is formed in the shaft part, and a screw part formed so as to convey waste toner in a direction away from the cam member. The conveying member is formed in a lattice shape, and is connected to the flat plate portion provided in the waste toner storage portion and the flat plate portion, and is an arm suspended from the cam member of the second conveying member. And the specific part is formed in either the arm part or a connection part between the arm part and the flat plate part, and the first transport member is a part of the second transport member. In conjunction with the rotational drive, the arm portion and the cam member It said plate contact portion becomes the driving force transmitting portion is one that swings while varying the inclination angle and position relative to the depth direction.

  A waste toner collecting container according to a third aspect of the present invention is the waste toner collecting container according to the first or second aspect, further comprising: a torque detecting unit that detects a driving torque of a driving motor that drives the second conveying member. And determining when the waste toner collected in the container is full on the basis of the time when the decrease amount of the driving torque detected by the torque detecting means becomes a predetermined value or more.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the waste toner collecting container according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the specific portion of the first conveying member is compared with other portions. It is formed of a material having a low breaking strength.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the waste toner collecting container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the specific portion of the first conveying member is compared with other portions. It is formed of a material having a small Young's modulus.

  The waste toner collecting container according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the waste toner collecting container according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the specific portion of the first conveying member is a portion adjacent thereto. On the other hand, it is formed in a constricted shape.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which the waste toner collecting container according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is detachably installed on the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is.

  In the present application, the “process cartridge” refers to a charging unit that charges the image carrier, a developing unit (developing device) that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning on the image carrier. It is defined as a unit in which at least one of the cleaning unit (cleaning device) and the image carrier are integrated and detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, the first conveying member in the waste toner storing portion is driven in conjunction with the driving of the second conveying member in the waste toner inflow portion located above the waste toner storing portion, and further, the first conveying member has a predetermined value. When the above load is applied, the specific location of the first conveying member is formed to be broken or elastically deformed. As a result, the waste toner collection container can collect waste toner evenly in a large-capacity container without causing malfunction of the conveying member, unexpected damage to component parts, abnormal noise, etc. An image forming apparatus can be provided.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an image creation part. It is a block diagram which shows a waste toner collection container in the depth direction. FIG. 4A is a top view showing a waste toner inflow portion and FIG. 4B is a top view showing a waste toner storage portion in a waste toner collecting container. It is a figure which shows a waste toner collection container in the width direction. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a 1st conveying member. It is a figure which shows the waste toner collection container of another form in the width direction. FIG. 10 is a view showing a part of a first conveying member in a waste toner collecting container of another form.

Embodiment.
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

First, the configuration and operation of the entire image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a tandem color image forming apparatus in which process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK as a plurality of image forming units are arranged in parallel so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 17. .

  In FIG. 1, 1 is an apparatus main body of a color copying machine as an image forming apparatus, 3 is a document conveying unit that conveys a document to a document reading unit 4, 4 is a document reading unit that reads image information of a document, and 6 is input image information. A writing unit (exposure unit) that emits laser light based on the above, 7 is a paper feeding unit that accommodates a recording medium P such as transfer paper, and 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). A corresponding process cartridge as an image forming unit, 17 is an intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) on which toner images of a plurality of colors are transferred, and 18 is a toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17 on a recording medium P. A secondary transfer roller for transferring, a fixing unit 20 for fixing an unfixed image on the recording medium P, and a toner 28 for each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK. Because of the toner container, 30 denotes a waste toner container, the waste toner is collected.

Here, each of the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK (image forming unit) includes a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging unit 12, a developing unit 13 (developing device), and a cleaning unit 15 (cleaning device). ) Are integrated (see FIG. 2). And each process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK is replaced | exchanged for a new thing when the lifetime is reached.
A toner image of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 (image carrier) in each of the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.

Hereinafter, an operation during normal color image formation in the image forming apparatus will be described.
First, the document is transported from the document table by the transport rollers of the document transport unit 3 and placed on the contact glass of the document reading unit 4. Then, the document reading unit 4 optically reads the image information of the document placed on the contact glass.
Specifically, the document reading unit 4 scans an image of a document on the contact glass while irradiating light emitted from an illumination lamp. Then, the light reflected from the original is imaged on the color sensor via the mirror group and the lens. The color image information of the original is read for each color separation light of RGB (red, green, blue) by the color sensor, and then converted into an electrical image signal. Further, an image processing unit (not shown) performs color conversion processing, color correction processing, spatial frequency correction processing, and the like on the basis of RGB color separation image signals, so that yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are processed. Get color image information.

  Then, image information of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is transmitted to the writing unit 6. Then, laser light (exposure light) based on the image information of each color is emitted from the writing unit 6 toward the photosensitive drums 11 of the corresponding process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK, respectively.

On the other hand, the four photosensitive drums 11 rotate in the clockwise direction in the figure. Referring to FIG. 2, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging unit 12 (charging roller) (a charging process). Thus, a charged potential is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier. Thereafter, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 11 reaches the irradiation position of each laser beam.
In the writing unit 6, laser light corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the light source corresponding to each color. Although not shown, the laser light is incident on the polygon mirror and reflected, and then passes through a plurality of lenses. The laser light after passing through the plurality of lenses passes through different optical paths for each of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black color components (this is an exposure process).

  Laser light corresponding to the yellow component is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the first process cartridge 10Y from the left side of the drawing. At this time, the yellow component laser light is scanned in the rotational axis direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 11 by a polygon mirror (not shown) that rotates at high speed. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow component is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 after being charged by the charging roller 12a.

  Similarly, the cyan component laser light is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the second process cartridge 10 </ b> C from the left side of the sheet, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image of the cyan component. The laser beam corresponding to the magenta component is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the third process cartridge 10M from the left side of the paper, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the magenta component is formed. The black component laser light is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 of the process cartridge 10BK (black image forming unit), which is fourth from the left side of the drawing (the most downstream side with respect to the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 17). Thus, an electrostatic latent image of the black component is formed.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 on which the electrostatic latent image of each color is formed reaches a position facing the developing unit 13 (see FIG. 2). Then, each color toner is supplied from each developing unit 13 onto the photosensitive drum 11, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed (this is a developing step).
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the development process reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 17 (intermediate transfer body) as an image carrier. Here, a primary transfer roller 14 is installed at each facing position so as to contact the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. At the position of the primary transfer roller 14, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 11 are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17 as an image carrier (in the first transfer process). is there.).

Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 after the first transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning unit 15 (see FIG. 2). The untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 (image carrier) is collected by the cleaning unit 15 (cleaning process).
Thereafter, the surface of the photoconductive drum 11 passes through the position of a static elimination unit (not shown), and a series of image forming processes on the photoconductive drum 11 is completed.

On the other hand, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 on which the images of the respective colors on the photosensitive drum 11 are transferred in an overlapping manner travels in the direction of the arrow in the drawing and reaches the position of the secondary transfer roller 18. Then, the full color image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is secondarily transferred onto the recording medium P at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 (second transfer step).
Thereafter, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 (cleaning unit). Then, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 17 as the image carrier is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 (cleaning unit), and a series of transfer processes on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is completed.

Here, the recording medium P at the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 is conveyed from the paper supply unit 7 via the conveyance guide, the registration roller 19 and the like.
Specifically, the transfer paper P fed by the paper feed roller 8 from the paper feed unit 7 that stores the recording medium P is guided to the registration roller 19 after passing through the conveyance guide. The recording medium P that has reached the registration roller 19 is conveyed toward the position of the secondary transfer roller 18 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17.

Thereafter, the recording medium P on which the full-color image is transferred is guided to the fixing unit 20. In the fixing unit 20, the color image is fixed on the recording medium P at the nip between the fixing roller and the pressure roller.
The recording medium P after the fixing step is discharged as an output image outside the apparatus main body 1 by the paper discharge roller 29 and then stacked on the paper discharge unit 5 to complete a series of image forming processes.

Next, the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the black process cartridge 10BK. The other three process cartridges 10Y, 10M, and 10C are configured substantially the same as the black process cartridge 10BK except that the color of the toner used in the image forming process is different. Are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 10BK contains a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, a charging unit 12 for charging the photosensitive drum 11, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11. A developing unit 13 for developing and a cleaning unit 15 for collecting untransferred toner on the photosensitive drum 11 are integrally stored in a case.

Here, the photosensitive drum 11 as an image bearing member is a negatively charged organic photosensitive member, and a photosensitive layer or the like is provided on a drum-shaped conductive support. Although not shown, the photosensitive drum 11 has an undercoat layer that is an insulating layer, a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer as a photosensitive layer, and a protective layer (surface layer) in this order on a conductive support as a base layer. Are stacked.
The charging unit 12 is a charging roller formed by covering an outer periphery of a conductive metal core with an intermediate resistance elastic layer. Then, a predetermined voltage is applied to the charging unit 12 (charging roller) from a power supply unit (not shown), thereby uniformly charging the surface of the opposing photoconductive drum 11.

  The developing unit 13 (developing device) mainly includes a developing roller 13a facing the photoconductive drum 11, a first transporting screw 13b1 facing the developing roller 13a, and a first transporting screw 13b1 facing the first transporting screw 13b1 via a partition member. It is comprised by the 2 conveyance screw 13b2 and the doctor blade 13c facing the developing roller 13a. The developing roller 13a includes a magnet that is fixed inside and forms a magnetic pole on the peripheral surface of the roller, and a sleeve that rotates around the magnet. A plurality of magnetic poles are formed on the developing roller 13a (sleeve) by the magnet, and the developer is carried on the developing roller 13a.

In the developing unit 13, a two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner is accommodated. In the present embodiment, a toner having a small particle diameter and a substantially spherical shape is used to improve the image quality.
Specifically, the toner is formed so that the circularity is 0.92 or more. The “circularity” is an average circularity measured by a flow type particle image analyzer “FPIA-2000” (manufactured by Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.). Specifically, 0.1 to 0.5 ml of a surfactant (preferably an alkylbenzene sulfonate) is added as a dispersant to 100 to 150 ml of water from which impure solids have been removed in advance. Further, about 0.1 to 0.5 g of a measurement sample (toner) is added. Thereafter, the suspension in which the toner is dispersed is subjected to a dispersion treatment with an ultrasonic disperser for about 1 to 3 minutes, and the dispersion liquid concentration is set to 3000 to 10000 / μl in the above-described analyzer. Then, the shape and distribution of the toner are measured.
The toner is formed so that the shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2 are both in the range of 100 to 180.
The toner has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) in the range of 3 to 8 μm, and a ratio (Dv / Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to the number average particle diameter (Dn) is 1.05. It is formed to be in the range of 1.40.
Further, the toner has a ratio of the major axis to the minor axis (r1 / r2) in the range of 0.5 to 1.0, and a ratio of the thickness to the minor axis (r3 / r2) of 0.7 to 1. In the range of 0.0, and the long axis r1 ≧ the short axis r2 ≧ the thickness r3 is satisfied.
Such a small particle size / spherical toner crosslinks a toner composition containing a polyester prepolymer having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant, and a release agent in the presence of resin fine particles in an aqueous medium. Alternatively, it can be produced by an extension reaction.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 15 (cleaning device) includes a cleaning blade 15a that contacts the photosensitive drum 11, and a non-transferred toner collected in the cleaning unit 15 as a waste toner collection container 30 (see FIG. 2). 3), a transfer coil 15b (transfer pipe 16), etc., which is transferred toward is provided. The cleaning blade 15a is made of a rubber material such as urethane rubber, and is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 at a predetermined angle and a predetermined pressure. As a result, deposits such as untransferred toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 11 are mechanically scraped and collected in the cleaning unit 15. The untransferred toner recovered in the cleaning unit 15 is transported to the waste toner recovery container 30 via the transport pipe 16 (a transport coil 15b is provided), and is recovered as waste toner. It is collected inside the container 30.
Similarly, referring to FIG. 1, an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 as a cleaning unit also has a cleaning blade in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 17 and untransferred toner collected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 as waste toner. As a waste toner collecting container 30 (refer to FIG. 3), a transport coil (transport pipe 16) for transporting toward the waste toner collecting container 30 (see FIG. 3) is installed. Then, the untransferred toner collected in the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 is transported to the waste toner collection container 30 via the transport pipe 16 (a transport coil is provided), and is discarded as waste toner. The toner is collected in the toner collection container 30. The configuration and operation of the waste toner collection container 30 will be described in more detail later.
In addition to the untransferred toner, the adhering matter adhering to the photosensitive drum 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 is not only the untransferred toner but also paper dust generated from the recording medium P (paper), and the photosensitive member during discharge by the charging roller 12 (charging unit). There are discharge products generated on the drum 11, additives added to the toner, and the like. In the present application, these are collectively referred to as “untransferred toner”.

The image forming process described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
The developing roller 13a rotates in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. The developer in the developing unit 13 is replenished from the toner container 28 by a toner replenishing unit (not shown) by the rotation of the first transport screw 13b1 and the second transport screw 13b2 that are disposed so as to interpose a partition member therebetween. The toner circulates in the longitudinal direction while being agitated and mixed with the toner (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2).

  The toner that is frictionally charged and adsorbed on the carrier is carried on the developing roller 13a together with the carrier. The developer carried on the developing roller 13a then reaches the position of the doctor blade 13c. The developer on the developing roller 13a is adjusted to an appropriate amount at the position of the doctor blade 13c and then reaches a position facing the photosensitive drum 11 (development region).

  Thereafter, in the developing region, the toner in the developer adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Specifically, the latent image potential (exposure potential) of the image portion irradiated with the laser beam L and the electric field formed by the potential difference (development potential) between the development bias applied to the developing roller 13a cause the toner to become a latent image. (Toner image is formed).

  Thereafter, most of the toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 11 in the developing process is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, the untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is collected in the cleaning unit 15 by the cleaning blade 15a.

  Here, although not shown in the figure, the toner replenishing portion provided in the apparatus main body 1 includes a bottle-shaped toner container 28 configured to be replaceable, and holds and rotates the toner container 28, and the developing unit 13 is newly installed. And a toner hopper for replenishing toner. Also, a new toner (any one of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) is accommodated in the toner container 28. In addition, a spiral protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner container 28 (toner bottle).

  The new toner in the toner container 28 is appropriately supplied from the toner supply port into the developing unit 13 as the toner in the developing unit 13 (existing toner) is consumed. Although illustration is omitted, the consumption of toner in the developing unit 13 is indirectly caused by a reflection type photosensor facing the photosensitive drum 11 and a magnetic sensor installed below the second conveying screw 23b2 of the developing unit 13. Or detected directly.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the waste toner collecting container 30 characteristic of the present embodiment will be described in detail.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the waste toner collecting container 30 mainly includes a waste toner inflow portion 32 into which waste toner discharged from the cleaning units 9 and 15 is introduced, and a waste toner storage portion that stores the waste toner. 31.
The waste toner storage section 31 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped section formed so as to extend in the depth direction (the horizontal direction in FIGS. 3 and 4B and the vertical direction in FIG. 1). And the pushing member 41 as a 1st conveying member is installed in the inside.
The waste toner inflow portion 32 (waste toner discharge portion) is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-like portion protruding above the waste toner storage portion 31, and a conveyance screw 51 as a second conveyance member is installed therein. ing. The entire boundary of the waste toner inflow portion 32 and the waste toner storage portion 31 is open. 4A and 5, the waste toner inflow portion 32 has inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT into which the waste toner discharged from the cleaning portions 9 and 15 flows. 5 are formed (in FIG. 3, the reference numeral “32a” is omitted). Further, the waste toner inflow portion 32 is provided with a full detection sensor 55 as a waste toner full detection portion that detects that the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 32 has reached a predetermined height.
Then, the waste toner collecting container 30 configured as described above is discharged from the cleaning units 15 of the four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK and discharged from the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9. Untransferred toner is collected as waste toner. In addition, a large amount of waste toner is stored in the waste toner storage unit 31, and the waste toner is additionally stored in the space of the waste toner inflow unit 32.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32aBK formed on the rightmost side in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the depth direction and the left-right direction in FIG. 5) is black. For transferring the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning unit 15 of the process cartridge 10BK into the waste toner inflow unit 32 as waste toner, the tip of the transport pipe 16 connected to the black cleaning unit 15 The toner is discharged into the waste toner inflow portion 32 from the discharge port 16a (see FIG. 3) of the transport pipe 16 in a state where the portion is inserted from the inflow port 32aBK.
Further, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32aC formed second from the right in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) is an untransferred portion collected by the cleaning portion 15 of the cyan process cartridge 10C. In order to allow the toner to flow into the waste toner inflow portion 32 as waste toner, the transport tube 16 connected to the cyan cleaning portion 15 is inserted through the inlet 32aC and the transport tube. The toner is discharged into the waste toner inflow portion 32 from 16 discharge ports 16a (see FIG. 3).
In addition, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32aM formed third from the right in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) is an untransferred portion collected by the cleaning portion 15 of the magenta process cartridge 10M. In order to allow toner to flow into the waste toner inflow portion 32 as waste toner, the transport tube 16 connected to the magenta cleaning portion 15 is inserted through the inlet 32aM in the state where the transport tube 16 is inserted. The toner is discharged into the waste toner inflow portion 32 from 16 discharge ports 16a (see FIG. 3).
Further, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32aY formed fourth from the right in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) is an untransferred portion collected by the cleaning portion 15 of the yellow process cartridge 10Y. In order to allow the toner to flow into the waste toner inflow portion 32 as waste toner, the transport tube 16 connected to the yellow cleaning portion 15 is inserted into the transport tube 16 from the inflow port 32aY. The toner is discharged into the waste toner inflow portion 32 from 16 discharge ports 16a (see FIG. 3).
Further, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the inflow port 32aT formed on the leftmost side in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) removes the untransferred toner collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning portion 9 from the waste toner. As a waste toner inflow portion 32, with the leading end of the conveyance tube 16 connected to the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 being inserted from the inflow port 32aT. The toner is discharged into the waste toner inflow portion 32 from 16a (see FIG. 3).

  Waste toner (untransferred toner) that has flowed in from the five inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT (discharge port 16a) falls by its own weight and is discharged from the waste toner inflow portion 32 to the waste toner storage portion 31 (waste). It is a position below the toner inflow portion 32). Then, the waste toner accumulated at that position is depthd by a pressing member 41 (refer to an operation range indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6) as a first conveying member in which the flat plate portion 41a swings in the vertical and horizontal directions. It is conveyed so as to be pushed into the back side of the direction (the right side in FIG. 3). When the waste toner is collected (filled) throughout the waste toner storage unit 31 (or close to it), the waste toner that has flowed in from the five inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT. Is accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 32. The waste toner that has reached the vicinity of the position (height) of the conveying screw 51 as the second conveying member is moved by the conveying screw 51 in the width direction (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 and shown in FIGS. It is the direction of the white arrow.) When the state where the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 32 reaches a predetermined height is detected by the full detection sensor 55 (waste toner full detection portion), the control portion returns the waste toner to the waste toner collection container 30. The waste toner is stopped being conveyed, and the state thereof is notified to a display unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1. Then, the user (or service person) who recognizes the state performs replacement maintenance of the full waste toner collecting container 30.

The waste toner collecting container 30 is moved to the left side of FIG. 3 (the front side of the paper in FIG. 1) by opening the main body cover (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 and moving to the left side of FIG. 1 can be taken out. Then, the new (empty) waste toner collecting container 30 is moved to the right side of FIG. 3 (the back side in FIG. 1) with respect to the apparatus main body 1 with the main body cover opened. Installed.
Here, in the present embodiment, the waste toner collection container 30 is provided with the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK, the writing unit 6 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 (in order to extend the maintenance cycle of the waste toner collection container 30. As described above, the waste toner inflow portion 32 is provided above the waste toner storage portion 31 to maximize the space except for the functional portion such as the intermediate transfer belt unit).
In the present embodiment, a piezoelectric sensor is used as the fullness detection sensor 55 as the waste toner fullness detection unit. That is, when the waste toner is accumulated up to the position (height) of the full detection sensor 55 (piezoelectric sensor), the full detection sensor 55 (piezoelectric sensor) detects the pressure due to the waste toner, and the waste toner collection container 30 is Recognize that the toner is full (or close to it) with waste toner.

Here, the conveying screw 51 as the second conveying member is mainly composed of a shaft portion 51a and a screw portion 51b, and both ends in the width direction thereof are waste toner inflow portions via bearings (not shown). 32 cases are rotatably supported.
Specifically, referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 (A), and FIG. 5, cam members 52 are respectively installed at both ends in the width direction of the shaft portion 51a of the transport screw 51 (second transport member). . The cam member 52 rotates around the shaft portion 51a together with the conveying screw 51, and can be formed integrally with the shaft portion 51a or can be formed as a separate member from the shaft portion 51a. it can. It should be noted that the position of the shaft portion 51 a that is the rotation center of the cam member 52 is a position that is eccentric from the center of the circle of the cam member 52, so that the cam member 52 functions as a “cam” as the conveyance screw 51 rotates. Will do. The cam member 52 is for driving a pushing member 41 (first conveying member) described later, and the arm portion 41b of the pushing member 41 is suspended.
A screw part 51b is formed (wound) at a position excluding the position where the cam member 52 is formed in the shaft part 51a of the conveying screw 51 (second conveying member). Further, the screw part 51 b is formed so as to convey waste toner in a direction away from the cam member 52. Specifically, referring to FIG. 5, the screw part 51 b formed on the right side of the conveying screw part 51 and the screw part 51 b formed on the left side of the conveying screw part 51 are different in the winding direction of each other. Are formed differently. Referring to FIG. 5, the transport screw 51 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction by a drive motor 71 (the shaft 51a of the transport screw 51 is connected) installed outside the waste toner collecting container 30. Then, the waste toner is transported in the direction away from the cam member 52 by the transport screw 51 (conveyance in the direction of the white arrow and transport to the center in the width direction).

On the other hand, the pushing member 41 as the first conveying member is a flat plate portion 41a provided in the waste toner storage portion 31 and a depth direction end portion on the side close to the waste toner inflow portion 32 in the flat plate portion 41a and in the width direction. It is comprised by the arm part 41b each connected to both ends, and the connection part 41c (specific part) of the arm part 41b and the flat plate part 41a.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the flat plate portion 41a of the pushing member 41 (first transport member) is formed in a substantially lattice shape. That is, the flat plate portion 41a is provided with a plurality of rectangular watermarks (through holes) in the vertical and horizontal directions when viewed from the vertical direction. In the present application, “lattice” means that a plurality of rectangular watermarks (through holes) are regularly arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a plurality of watermarks (through holes) are randomly formed regardless of the rectangle. It is also included.
Further, the arm portion 41 b of the pushing member 41 (first transport member) has a tip portion formed in a U-shape, and the tip portion serves as a hook portion and is suspended from the cam member 52 of the transport screw 51. Is being caught. The contact portion between the arm portion 41 b and the cam member 52 serves as a drive transmission portion for transmitting the driving force of the conveying screw 51 to the pushing member 41. That is, the pushing member 41 (first transport member) is a flat plate in which the contact portion between the arm portion 41b and the cam member 52 functions as a drive transmission portion in conjunction with the rotational drive of the transport screw 51 (second transport member). The part 41a swings while changing the inclination angle with respect to the depth direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the cam member 52 rotates eccentrically about the shaft 51a, so that the flat plate portion 41a connected to the arm portion 41b in accordance with the operation thereof is It moves up and down in the direction of the arrow and slides in the depth direction. That is, the flat plate portion 41a swings while changing the inclination angle and position with respect to the depth direction. The waste toner accumulated below the waste toner inflow portion 32 is gradually pushed inward in the depth direction by the operation of the lattice-like flat plate portion 41a (pushing member 41) (FIG. 6). Move from the left side to the right side.) Thus, the waste toner is filled (collected) without wasting space over the entire area of the waste toner storage unit 31 extending in the depth direction.

Here, in the waste toner collecting container 30 in the present embodiment, the pushing member 41 (first transport member) is driven in conjunction with the drive of the transport screw 51 (second transport member). Further, the drive transmission portion (the contact portion between the arm portion 41b and the cam member 52) with the conveying screw 51 is located at a position different from the inside of the waste toner storage portion 31 (both ends in the width direction of the waste toner inflow portion 32). Part).
This makes it difficult for the waste toner stored in the waste toner storage section 32 to adhere to the drive connecting portion between the pushing member 41 and the conveying screw 51, so that the pushing member 41 is reliably driven in conjunction with the driving of the conveying screw 51. As a result, the occurrence of malfunction of the pushing member 41 is suppressed. Therefore, the waste toner is uniformly collected in the large-capacity waste toner collection container 30 as a whole.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the full detection sensor 55 (waste toner full detection portion) is disposed at the center in the width direction of the waste toner inflow portion 32. Further, the cam member 52 of the conveying screw 51 is at both ends in the width direction of the waste toner inflow portion 32, and is outside the range in the width direction in which the five inflow ports 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT are formed. Are disposed at the respective positions. Further, the screw portion 51b of the transport screw 51 is configured so that the waste toner that has flowed in from the five inflow ports 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT is transported toward the full detection sensor 55 (width direction center portion). Is formed.
With this configuration, the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inflow portion 52 is less likely to be directly attached to the cam member 52 (or the drive connection portion with the arm portion 41b). The effect of suppressing malfunction is further ensured.

Here, in the present embodiment, the pushing member 41 (first conveying member) is connected to the connecting portion 41c (specific portion) between the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the pushing member 41. ) Is formed to break.
Specifically, in the pushing member 41, the connection portion 41c (specific portion) between the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a is formed of a material having a smaller breaking strength than other portions. Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 5, the connection part 41c (specific part) of the arm part 41b and the flat plate part 41a is constricted with respect to a part (the arm part 41b and the flat plate part 41a) adjacent thereto. It is formed in a shape. That is, the connecting portion 41c (specific portion) between the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a is formed in a shape that is easily broken by a material that is easily broken.

  With such a configuration, the waste toner storage unit 31 in the waste toner collecting container 30 is filled with waste toner evenly over the limit, and the load applied to the pushing member 41 is increased. Problems such as unexpected damage to some of the components related to the conveyance of waste toner such as the drive motor 71, problems that cause abnormal noise, problems that increase current consumption of the drive motor 71, etc. Will be suppressed. That is, the waste toner storage unit 31 in the waste toner collecting container 30 is filled with waste toner uniformly over the limit, and before the load on the pushing member 41 reaches the limit value, the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion are filled. The connection part 41c (specific part) with 41a fractures | ruptures and the arm part 41b and the flat plate part 41a will part. As a result, problems such as unexpected damage to some of the components, problems that cause abnormal noise, problems that increase current consumption of the drive motor 71, and the like are suppressed. In particular, the connecting portion 41c is configured to be detachable between the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a, so that the pushing member 41 is newly regenerated by replacing the new connecting portion 41c between the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a. can do.

With reference to FIG. 3 and the like, in the present embodiment, the full detection sensor 55 (waste toner full detection unit) is positioned below the transport screw 51 (second transport member) inside the waste toner inflow unit 32. It is arranged.
With such a configuration, the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner inflow portion 52 can be fully detected before the waste toner sufficiently reaches the position (height) of the transport screw 51. The occurrence of detection (which is an event in which the waste toner collection container 30 is full but cannot be detected) is suppressed, and the waste toner is added to the cam member 52 (or the drive connecting portion with the arm portion 41b). It is possible to suppress the problem that the waste toner that has flowed into and accumulated in the inflow portion 52 directly adheres.

  Referring to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the full detection sensor 55 (waste toner full detection unit) has the most waste toner inflow amount among the five inflow ports 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT. The distance in the width direction with respect to the inflow ports 32aBK and 32aT where the flow rate increases is longer than the distance in the width direction with respect to the other inflow ports 32aY, 32aM and 32aC. Generally, monochrome images are printed more frequently than other color images, and four color images are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 so that they flow from the black inlet 32aBK. The amount of waste toner and the amount of waste toner flowing from the inflow port 32aT for the intermediate transfer belt 17 are larger than the amount of waste toner flowing from the other inflow ports 32aY, 32aM, and 32aC. By disposing the inflow ports 32aBK and 32aT where the amount of inflow of waste toner increases in this way at positions far from the full detection sensor 55 (on both ends in the width direction), the position of the waste toner inflow portion 32 is reached. The accumulated waste toner is filled in a well-balanced direction in the width direction (a trouble that the height of the waste toner at both ends in the width direction becomes low is less likely to occur). Therefore, it is possible to suppress a problem that the full detection sensor 55 detects that the full detection timing is advanced (an event that the waste toner collection container 30 is detected as being full when the waste toner collection container 30 is not full).

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a torque detection sensor 72 is installed as a torque detection means for detecting the drive torque of the drive motor 71 that drives the transport screw 51 (second transport member). Yes. The torque detection sensor 72 (torque detection means) detects the drive torque of the conveying screw 51 (drive motor 71) from the value of the current flowing through the drive motor 71, and the load applied to the push member 41 that is drive-connected. The current value increases or decreases according to the magnitude.
Then, the control unit 70 determines when the waste toner collected in the container is full with reference to the time when the decrease amount of the drive torque (current value) detected by the torque detection sensor 72 becomes a predetermined value or more. Judgment will be made. That is, the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner storage unit 31 becomes close to a saturated state (full state) (near full state), the load applied to the pushing member 41 becomes a predetermined value or more, and the connection portion 41c. When the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a are separated due to the breaking of the load, the load applied to the pushing member 41 (arm portion 41b) is rapidly reduced, and the driving torque of the conveying screw 51 (drive motor 71) is also rapidly increased. To drop. Then, this state is detected by the torque detection sensor 72, and after the waste toner collection container 30 (conveying screw 41a) has been operated for a predetermined time from the detection time, the amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner storage unit 31 is full. As a result, the operation of the waste toner collecting container 30 (conveying screw 41a) is stopped.

In this manner, by using the torque detection sensor 72 (torque detection means), the waste toner collection container 30 is filled with waste toner without installing the full detection sensor 55 (waste toner full detection unit) described above. It can be recognized that it is in a state (or a state close thereto). That is, it is possible to effectively use the space in the waste toner collection container 30 by omitting the installation of the full detection sensor 55.
In the present embodiment, the fullness detection by the fullness detection sensor 55 is also performed in order to complement the fullness detection by the torque detection sensor 72 (torque detection means). In this case, it becomes possible to detect fullness with higher accuracy.

  In addition, by using the torque detection sensor 72 (torque detection means), such a state is detected by detecting a state in which the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a are separated due to the breaking of the connection portion 41c in the pushing member 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the waste toner to be pushed into the waste toner storage unit 31 flows back into the waste toner inflow portion 32 due to the operation of the pushing member 41 at a long time. Further, when the pushing member 41 operates for a longer time in a state where the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a are separated, the waste toner stored in the waste toner storage portion 31 rises, and the waste toner is discarded. A problem that an operation failure of the push-in member 41 due to adhesion to the cam member 52 in the toner inflow portion 32 is also suppressed.

In the present embodiment, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the pressing member 41 with the connecting portion 41c of the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a as a specific portion in the pressing member 41 as the first conveying member. The connection part 41c (specific part) was configured to break.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the pushing member 41 as the first transport member, the arm 41 b has a part 41 b 1 as a specific portion, and the arm is pressed when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the pushing member 41. It can also comprise so that part 41b1 (specific location) of the part 41b may fracture | rupture. In detail, the constriction part 41b1 of the arm part 41b is formed in the constriction shape with respect to the location which adjoins there. As a result, the waste toner storage unit 31 in the waste toner collecting container 30 is filled with waste toner evenly over the limit, and before the load on the pushing member 41 reaches the limit value, the constriction of the arm portion 41b occurs. The part 41b1 (specific part) is broken, and the arm part 41b is divided at the position of the constricted part 41b1. Accordingly, problems such as unexpected damage to some of the components, problems that cause abnormal noise, problems that increase current consumption of the drive motor 71, and the like are suppressed.

In the present embodiment, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, the fullness detection sensor 55 (waste toner fullness detection portion) is disposed at the center in the width direction, and the cam members 52 are disposed at both ends in the width direction.
In contrast, as shown in FIG. 7, in the waste toner inflow portion 32, a full detection sensor 55 (waste toner full detection portion) is disposed at the end in the width direction, and the cam member 52 is located at the center in the width direction. It can also be arranged. At this time, the screw portion 51b of the transport screw 51 (second transport member) is configured so that the waste toner that has flowed in from the five inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT is transported away from the cam member 52. And at least one of the five inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT (in FIG. 7, four inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, and 32aBK). The waste toner is formed so as to be conveyed toward the full detection sensor 55 (the left end in the width direction in FIG. 7). That is, the screw part 51b arranged on the right side in the width direction with respect to the position where the cam member 52 is installed conveys the waste toner flowing in from the inlet 32aT for the intermediate transfer belt toward the right side of FIG. On the other hand, the screw part 51b arranged on the left side in the width direction with respect to the position where the cam member 52 is installed has the waste toner flowing in from the four color inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, and 32aBK, respectively, as shown in FIG. To the left side (the side on which the fullness detection sensor 55 is installed).
Even in such a configuration, since the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inflow portion 52 is less likely to be directly attached to the cam member 52 (or the drive connection portion with the arm portion 41b), the above-described pushing operation is performed. The effect of suppressing the malfunction of the member 41 is further ensured.

Moreover, in this Embodiment, in the pushing member 41 as a 1st conveyance member, when the load more than predetermined value was applied to the pushing member 41, it comprised so that the connection part 41c (specific location) might fracture | rupture.
On the other hand, referring to FIG. 8, in the pushing member 41 as the first conveying member, the connection portion 41d (specific portion) is elastically deformed when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the pushing member 41. It can also be configured. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, in the pushing member 41, the connection portion 41d (specific portion) between the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a is formed of a material having a smaller Young's modulus than other portions. . Furthermore, the connection part 41d (specific part) of the arm part 41b and the flat plate part 41a is formed in a constricted shape with respect to the adjacent part (the arm part 41b and the flat plate part 41a). That is, the connecting portion 41d (specific portion) between the arm portion 41b and the flat plate portion 41a is formed in a shape that is easily elastically deformed by a material that is easily elastically deformed.
With such a configuration, when the waste toner storage unit 31 in the waste toner collecting container 30 is filled with waste toner uniformly over the limit and the load applied to the pushing member 41 exceeds a predetermined value, the arm portion 41b. 41d (specific part) between the flat plate portion 41a and the flat plate portion 41a is elastically deformed, and the flat plate portion 41a is prevented from swinging beyond the limit against the load. That is, the connecting portion 41d is elastically deformed so as to absorb the load applied to the pushing member 41 (from the state of FIG. 8A to the state of FIG. 8B). As a result, problems such as unexpected damage to some of the components, problems that cause abnormal noise, problems that increase current consumption of the drive motor 71, and the like are suppressed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pusher member 41 (first transport member) in the waste toner storage unit 31 is the transport screw 51 in the waste toner inflow unit 32 located above the waste toner storage unit 31. The specific portion 41c of the pushing member 41 is formed to be broken or elastically deformed when it is driven in conjunction with the driving of the (second conveying member) and a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the pushing member 41. Thereby, the waste toner can be collected evenly in the large-capacity waste toner collection container 30 without causing malfunction of the push-in member 41, without causing unexpected damage to component parts or abnormal noise. Can do.

In this embodiment, the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK are configured by integrating the units in the image forming unit (the photosensitive drum 11, the charging unit 12, the developing unit 13, and the cleaning unit 15). Therefore, the image forming unit is made compact and the maintenance workability is improved. On the other hand, a part or all of the photosensitive drum 11, the charging unit 12, the developing unit 13, and the cleaning unit 15 are not installed as constituent members of the process cartridge, but are installed in the apparatus main body 1 in a replaceable manner. It can also be configured. In such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus equipped with the two-component developing type developing unit 13 using the two-component developer. However, the one-component developing type using the one-component developer is used. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus in which the developing unit 13 is mounted.

  In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the waste toner collecting container 30 in which the five toner inlets 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, and 32aT are formed in the waste toner inflow portion 32. In contrast, the present invention can naturally be applied to the waste toner collecting container 30 in which the waste toner inflow portion 32 has four or less or six or more inlets. In such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is obvious that the present embodiment can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, other than suggested in the present embodiment. is there. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, and the like suitable for implementing the present invention can be achieved.

1 image forming apparatus body (apparatus body),
9 Intermediate transfer belt cleaning section (cleaning section),
10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK process cartridge (imaging part),
11 Photosensitive drum (image carrier),
15 Cleaning section,
17 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier),
30 Waste toner collection container,
31 Waste toner reservoir,
32 Waste toner inflow section,
32a, 32aY, 32aM, 32aC, 32aBK, 32aT Inlet port,
41 pushing member (first conveying member),
41a flat plate portion, 41b arm portion,
41b1 constricted part (specific part),
41c, 41d connection part (specific part),
51 conveying screw (second conveying member),
51a shaft part, 51b screw part,
52 Cam member.

JP 2007-139905 A Japanese Patent No. 4286704

Claims (7)

A waste toner collection container for collecting untransferred toner discharged from a cleaning unit for removing untransferred toner on an image carrier as waste toner,
A waste toner storage section configured to extend in the depth direction and storing waste toner;
A waste toner inflow portion that protrudes above the waste toner storage portion and that has an inlet into which waste toner discharged from the cleaning portion flows;
With
The waste toner storage unit includes a first transport member that transports waste toner that has flowed in and accumulated through the waste toner inflow unit in a depth direction,
The waste toner inflow portion includes a second transport member that transports the waste toner accumulated up to that position in a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction,
The first conveying member is
Driven in conjunction with the driving of the second conveying member,
A waste toner collecting container formed so that a specific portion is broken or elastically deformed when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the first conveying member. The second conveying member is
A shaft portion in which a cam member is formed in a part of the width direction;
A screw part wound around a position excluding the position where the cam member is formed in the shaft part, and formed to convey waste toner in a direction away from the cam member;
Comprising
The first conveying member is
A flat plate portion formed in a lattice shape and provided in the waste toner storage portion;
An arm portion connected to the flat plate portion and suspended from the cam member of the second transport member;
Comprising
The specific part is formed in either the arm part or a connection part between the arm part and the flat plate part,
The first conveying member is interlocked with the rotational driving of the second conveying member, and a contact portion between the arm portion and the cam member serves as the drive transmission portion, and the flat plate portion has an inclination angle with respect to the depth direction, and The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1, wherein the waste toner collecting container swings while changing a position. A torque detecting means for detecting a driving torque of a driving motor for driving the second conveying member;
The time when the waste toner collected in the container is full is determined based on the time when the amount of decrease in the drive torque detected by the torque detecting means becomes a predetermined value or more. The waste toner collection container according to claim 2.   The waste toner collecting container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specific portion of the first conveying member is formed of a material having a lower breaking strength than other portions.   4. The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1, wherein the specific portion of the first conveying member is formed of a material having a Young's modulus smaller than that of other portions.   The waste toner collecting container according to claim 1, wherein the specific portion of the first conveying member is formed in a constricted shape with respect to a portion adjacent thereto.   7. An image forming apparatus, wherein the waste toner collecting container according to claim 1 is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Images