JP7091771B2 - Cleaning unit and image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning unit and an image forming apparatus to which the cleaning unit can be attached and detached.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus including a waste toner recovery unit for removing toner adhering to a transport belt is known (see Patent Document 1). The waste toner collection unit includes a waste toner container for accommodating waste toner and a cleaning member for collecting waste toner adhering to the transport belt.

Further, the waste toner recovery unit has a rotatable lever. When the amount of toner in the waste toner container is low, the lever is rotatable. On the other hand, when the waste toner is almost full, the rotation of the lever is stopped by the toner contained in the waste toner container.

When the image forming apparatus detects that the rotation of the lever is stopped, it determines that the waste toner in the waste toner container is almost full, and tells the user when to replace the waste toner collection unit. Will notify you that is approaching.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-237422

By the way, in order to improve the cleaning performance, it is required to determine the life of the cleaning member. Therefore, it is conceivable to detect a new waste toner recovery unit, in other words, detect a new cleaning unit.

However, in the prior art, the rotation of the lever is stopped only when the waste toner is almost full, so that it is not possible to detect a new cleaning unit depending on the presence or absence of rotation of the lever.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning unit and an image forming apparatus capable of detecting a new product for determining the life of a cleaning member.

In order to solve the above problems, the cleaning unit of the present invention has a cleaning member for collecting the developer, a housing for accommodating the developer collected by the cleaning member, and a first position for the first axis extending in the axial direction. A first lever that can rotate between the second position, a first lever that is partially exposed to the outside of the housing, and an auger that can rotate about an auger shaft that extends in the axial direction, and is inside the housing. An auger that can convey the developer in the axial direction, and an auger that can convey the developer in the housing toward the first lever, and an auger that can move axially from the new position to the old product position as the auger rotates. It is a slide member, and in the case of a new product position, it contacts the first lever to stop the first lever in the first position, and in the case of the old product position, the contact with the first lever is released and the first lever is moved to the first position. A slide member that is rotatable between the position and the second position is provided.

According to this configuration, it is possible to change a part of the operation of the first lever exposed to the outside of the housing depending on whether the slide member is in the new position or the slide member is in the old position. As a result, it is possible to detect a new product for determining the life of the cleaning member from a part of the operation of the first lever exposed to the outside of the housing.

Further, the slide member has a cam surface that is inclined with respect to the axial direction, and the auger is an auger shaft that can rotate about the auger shaft and an auger protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the auger shaft and can rotate together with the auger shaft. The auger protrusion can be configured to come into contact with the cam surface and move the slide member from the new position to the old position when rotated together with the auger shaft.

Further, the auger has a plurality of auger protrusions, and the plurality of auger protrusions can be configured to be located at different positions in the axial direction.

According to this, since the moving distance of the slide member from the new position to the old position in the axial direction can be gained, the time for keeping the first lever in the first position can be gained.

Further, the slide member has a plurality of cam surfaces, and the plurality of cam surfaces can be configured to be aligned in the axial direction.

According to this, the slide member can be smoothly moved while gaining a moving distance from the new position to the old position of the slide member in the axial direction.

Further, the plurality of auger protrusions may be configured to be a first auger protrusion and a second auger protrusion protruding in the opposite direction to the first auger protrusion.

According to this, when the auger is molded with a resin by a mold, it can be easily molded.

Further, the housing is a guide rail that guides the movement of the slide member, and may be configured to have a guide rail extending in the axial direction.

According to this, the slide member can be moved smoothly.

Further, the guide rail is a first surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the new position, and a second surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the old product position. The configuration may include a second surface located farther from the auger than the first surface in the orthogonal direction, and a third surface forming a step between the first surface and the second surface.

According to this, when the slide member is in the old product position, it is possible to prevent the slide member from getting in the way of the auger.

Further, the guide rail is a first surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the new position, and a second surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the old product position. A second surface located farther from the auger than the first surface in the orthogonal direction and away from the first surface in the axial direction, and a third surface inclined from the first surface to the second surface. It may be configured to have.

According to this, when the slide member is in the old product position, it is possible to prevent the slide member from getting in the way of the auger. Further, the slide member can be smoothly moved by the inclined third surface.

Further, the first lever has a shaft that is rotatable about the first shaft, and a first lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and is rotatable together with the shaft, and the guide rail has a first lever protrusion. It can be configured to have a cut through it.

According to this, it is possible to prevent the guide rail from getting in the way of the first lever.

Further, the housing may be configured to have a guide surface for guiding the movement of the slide member and having a guide surface facing the guide rail in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

According to this, the slide member can be moved more smoothly.

Further, the slide member may have a main body portion supported by the guide rail and an extending portion protruding from the main body portion and extending along the guide rail.

Further, the slide member may have a groove extending in the axial direction and having a groove into which the guide rail fits.

Further, the housing may be configured to have a first stopper surface that can come into contact with the upstream surface in the moving direction of the slide member from the new product position to the old product position.

According to this, it is possible to restrict the slide member from moving upstream in the moving direction from the new product position to the old product position.

Further, the housing can be configured to have a second stopper surface that can come into contact with the surface on the downstream side in the moving direction of the slide member from the new product position to the old product position.

According to this, it is possible to restrict the slide member from moving downstream in the moving direction from the new product position to the old product position.

Further, the first position can be a position that can be detected by the sensor of the image forming apparatus, and the second position can be a position that cannot be detected by the sensor.

In this case, the first lever is a shaft that is rotatable about the first shaft and a first lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and is rotatable together with the shaft, and a predetermined amount or more of the developer is contained in the housing. A first lever protrusion that stops the first lever at the second position by being stopped by the developer when it is accommodated, and a second lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and can rotate with the shaft. The configuration may include a second lever protrusion that contacts the slide member and stops the first lever at the first position when the slide member is in a new position.

According to this, it is possible to detect whether or not a predetermined amount or more of the developer is contained in the housing depending on the presence or absence of rotation of the first lever, and it is possible to detect a new product for determining the life of the cleaning member. can do.

Further, the auger can be configured so that the developer in the housing can be conveyed toward the first lever protrusion.

Further, the cleaning unit can rotate between the fourth position and the fifth position, which are not detected by the sensor, through the third position which can be detected by the sensor for the second axis which extends in the axial direction with the rotation of the auger. The first lever is a first detected portion exposed to the outside of the housing and has a first detected portion that can be detected by a sensor, and the second lever is a housing. The second detected portion exposed to the outside, which has a second detected portion that can be detected by a sensor, and when the slide member is in the old product position, the second lever is rotated from the fourth position to the fifth position. By moving the second detected portion, the second detected portion comes into contact with the first detected portion and the first lever can be rotated from the first position to the second position.

Further, the cleaning unit is provided with a spring that urges the second lever from the fourth position to the fifth position, and the second lever protrusion contacts the slide member by the urging force of the spring when the slide member is in the new position. It can be configured as such.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sensor capable of detecting a first detected portion and a second detected portion and a control device, and an image forming device to which a cleaning unit can be attached and detached is provided. In the device, the control device causes the sensor to detect the displacement of the first detected portion due to the rotation between the first position and the second position of the first lever for a predetermined time or longer. , When the displacement of the first detected portion due to the rotation between the first position and the second position of the first lever is detected, it is determined that the cleaning unit is new.

According to this configuration, it is possible to detect a new product for determining the life of the cleaning member from the displacement state of the first detected portion.

Further, the first position may be a position that is not detected by the sensor of the image forming apparatus, and the second position may be a position that can be detected by the sensor.

In this case, the first lever is a shaft that can rotate about the first shaft and a first lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and rotates together with the shaft. When the slide member is in a new position, the slide member The first lever is stopped at the first position in contact with the above, and when a predetermined amount or more of the developer is contained in the housing, the rotation is stopped by the developer to stop the first lever at the first position. It can be configured to have one lever protrusion.

According to this, it is possible to detect whether or not a predetermined amount or more of the developer is contained in the housing depending on the presence or absence of rotation of the first lever, and it is possible to detect a new product for determining the life of the cleaning member. can do.

Further, the auger can be configured so that the developer in the housing can be conveyed toward the first lever protrusion.

Further, the cleaning unit can rotate between the fourth position and the fifth position, which are not detected by the sensor, through the third position which can be detected by the sensor for the second axis which extends in the axial direction with the rotation of the auger. The first lever is a first detected portion exposed to the outside of the housing and has a first detected portion that can be detected by a sensor, and the second lever is a housing. The second detected portion exposed to the outside, which has a second detected portion that can be detected by a sensor, and when the slide member is in the old product position, the second lever is rotated from the fourth position to the fifth position. By moving the second detected portion, the second detected portion comes into contact with the first detected portion and the first lever can be rotated from the first position to the second position.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sensor capable of detecting a first detected portion and a second detected portion and a control device, and an image forming device to which a cleaning unit can be attached and detached is provided. In the device, the control device detects the displacement of the second detected portion due to the rotation between the fourth position and the fifth position of the second lever, and then the sensor is the first of the first lever. When the displacement of the first detected portion due to the rotation between the first position and the second position is detected, it is determined that the cleaning unit is new.

According to this configuration, it is possible to detect a new product for determining the life of the cleaning member from the displacement state of the first detected portion and the second detected portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect a new product for determining the life of the cleaning member.

It is sectional drawing of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the cleaning unit of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the housing of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the auger of 1st Embodiment, a 1st lever, a 2nd lever, and a slide member. It is a top view which shows a part of the cleaning unit of 1st Embodiment. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 5, which is a diagram (a) when the slide member is in a new position, a diagram (b) in the middle of movement, and a diagram (c) when the slide member is in the old product position. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB when the slide member of the first embodiment is in a new position. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB when the slide member of the first embodiment is in the old product position. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB when toner is accumulated in the detection space. It is a figure (a)-(c) which shows the output signal of a sensor. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the cleaning unit of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the housing of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the auger of 2nd Embodiment, 1st lever, 2nd lever, and a slide member. It is a figure (a) corresponding to the AA cross section of FIG. 5 when the slide member of the 2nd Embodiment is a new position, and the figure (b) corresponding to the BB cross section. It is a figure (a) corresponding to the AA cross section of FIG. 5 when the slide member of the 2nd Embodiment is an old product position, and the figure (b) corresponding to the BB cross section. It is the figure (a) when the slide member of the 2nd Embodiment is a new position, the figure (b) in the process of moving, and the figure (c) when it is an old product position.

Next, the first embodiment of the invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, as an example of the image forming apparatus, the color printer 1 includes a main body housing 10, a sheet supply unit 20, an image forming unit 30, a sheet discharging unit 90, and a cleaning unit 100. .. In the following description, the axial direction of the auger 130, which will be described later, of the cleaning unit 100 will be referred to as the first direction.

The main body housing 10 has a cover 11 located on one side in the third direction and a discharge tray 12 located on one side in the second direction. In the color printer 1, the process unit 50 and the cleaning unit 100, which will be described later, can be attached to and detached from the color printer 1 by opening the cover 11.

Here, the second direction is a direction that intersects with the first direction. Preferably, the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The second direction is the direction in which the container 120A and the lid 120B constituting the housing 120 described later of the cleaning unit 100 face each other. Further, the third direction is a direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction. Preferably, the third direction is a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.

The sheet supply unit 20 includes a sheet tray 21 for accommodating a sheet S such as paper, and a sheet supply mechanism 22 for supplying the sheet S in the sheet tray 21 to the image forming unit 30. The seat tray 21 is located on the other side of the main body housing 10 in the second direction, that is, opposite to the discharge tray 12.

The image forming unit 30 includes an exposure device 40, a process unit 50, a transfer unit 70, and a fixing device 80.
The exposure apparatus 40 faces the sheet tray 21 in the second direction. The exposure apparatus 40 emits a light beam indicated by an alternate long and short dash line to expose the surface of the photoconductor drum 52.

The process unit 50 is located between the sheet tray 21 and the exposure apparatus 40 in the second direction when mounted on the color printer 1. The process unit 50 includes a drum housing 51, four photoconductor drums 52, four chargers 53, and four developing cartridges 60. The developing cartridge 60 has a developing housing 61, a developing roller 62, a supply roller 63, and an agitator 65, respectively. The developing housing 61 can accommodate toner as an example of a developing agent.

The process unit 50 charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 52 with the charger 53. When the photoconductor drum 52 is exposed by the exposure apparatus 40, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof. Further, the process unit 50 agitates the toner in the developing housing 61 by the agitator 65 and supplies the toner to the developing roller 62 via the supply roller 63. Then, the process unit 50 supplies the toner on the developing roller 62 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 52. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and a toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 52.

The transfer unit 70 is located between the seat tray 21 and the process unit 50 in the second direction. The transfer unit 70 includes a drive roller 71, a driven roller 72, a transfer belt 73, and four transfer rollers 74. The transfer unit 70 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 52 to the sheet S by the transfer roller 74 while conveying the sheet S supplied from the sheet supply unit 20 on the transfer belt 73.

The fixing device 80 is located on the other side of the process unit 50 and the transfer unit 70 in the third direction, that is, opposite to the cover 11. The fixing device 80 includes a heating roller 81 and a pressure roller 82. The fixing device 80 heat-fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet S to the sheet S by transporting the sheet S between the heating roller 81 and the pressure roller 82.

The sheet discharging unit 90 includes a transport roller 91 and a discharging roller 92. The sheet discharging unit 90 discharges the sheet S on which the image is formed by the transport roller 91 and the discharging roller 92 onto the discharging tray 12 outside the main body housing 10.

The cleaning unit 100 is located between the sheet tray 21 and the transfer unit 70 in the second direction when mounted on the color printer 1. Furthermore, the cleaning unit 100 is located opposite to the process unit 50 with the transfer unit 70 interposed therebetween in the second direction. The cleaning unit 100 includes a cleaning member 110 and a housing 120.

The cleaning member 110 is a member that collects the toner adhering to the transport belt 73, and includes a first cleaning roller 111, a second cleaning roller 112, and a cleaning blade 113. The first cleaning roller 111 faces the backup roller 75 with the transport belt 73 interposed therebetween.

The housing 120 has a container 120A and a lid 120B. The lid 120B rotatably supports the first cleaning roller 111 and the second cleaning roller 112, and also supports the cleaning blade 113. The housing 120 has a waste toner accommodating space 120C for accommodating the toner collected by the cleaning member 110 inside.

The cleaning unit 100 collects the toner adhering to the transport belt 73 by the first cleaning roller 111, and adsorbs the toner adhering to the first cleaning roller 111 to the second cleaning roller 112. Then, the cleaning unit 100 scrapes the toner adsorbed on the second cleaning roller 112 by the cleaning blade 113 and drops it into the waste toner accommodating space 120C.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 100 further includes an auger 130, a first lever 140, a second lever 150, and a slide member 160.

The housing 120 has a detection space 120D partitioned from the waste toner storage space 120C by the partition wall 121A of the container 120A. The waste toner accommodating space 120C and the detection space 120D communicate with each other through a communication port 122. The container 120A rotatably supports the auger 130 and rotatably supports the first lever 140 and the second lever 150. Further, the container 120A supports the slide member 160 so as to be slidable in the first direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 120 has a guide rail 123, a guide surface 124, a first stopper surface 125, and a second stopper surface 126 in the detection space 120D.

The guide rail 123 guides the movement of the slide member 160 in the first direction. The guide rail 123 projects upward from the container 120A. The top and bottom in the embodiment are the top and bottom in a state where the cleaning unit 100 is attached to the color printer 1. The guide rail 123 extends in the first direction. The guide rail 123 has a first surface 123A, a second surface 123B, and a third surface 123C.

The first surface 123A and the second surface 123B support the slide member 160. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the first surface 123A supports the slide member 160 from below when the slide member 160 is in a new position. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the second surface 123B supports the slide member 160 from below when the slide member 160 is in the old product position.

The second surface 123B is located in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, here, in the second direction, away from the auger 130 than the first surface 123A. Specifically, the second surface 123B is located below the first surface 123A. Further, the second surface 123B is located away from the first surface 123A in the first direction.

The third surface 123C is located between the first surface 123A and the second surface 123B in the first direction. The third surface 123C is inclined from the first surface 123A toward the second surface 123B. Specifically, the third surface 123C is inclined so as to move away from the auger 130 as it approaches the second surface 123B from the first surface 123A. Specifically, the third surface 123C is inclined so as to be positioned downward as it approaches the second surface 123B from the first surface 123A.

Returning to FIG. 3, the guide rail 123 has a cut 123D. The cut 123D is formed so as to divide the first surface 123A into two in the first direction. The cut 123D is passed through the first lever protrusion 143, which will be described later, of the first lever 140.

The guide surface 124, together with the guide rail 123, guides the movement of the slide member 160 in the first direction. The guide surface 124 is a part of the surface of the partition wall 121A on the detection space 120D side. The guide surface 124 faces the guide rail 123 in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, in this case, a third direction. The guide surface 124 can support the slide member 160 in the third direction.

The first stopper surface 125 restricts the movement of the slide member 160 to one side in the first direction. The container 120A has a first partition wall 121B on one side of the guide rail 123 in the first direction. The first stopper surface 125 is a surface of the first partition wall 121B facing the guide rail 123. The first stopper surface 125 is in contact with one surface of the slide member 160 in the first direction. In other words, the first stopper surface 125 can come into contact with the surface on the upstream side in the moving direction of the slide member 160 from the new product position to the old product position.

The second stopper surface 126 restricts the movement of the slide member 160 to the other side in the first direction. The container 120A has a second partition wall 121C on the other side of the guide rail 123 in the first direction. The second stopper surface 126 is a surface of the second partition wall 121C facing the guide rail 123. The second stopper surface 126 is in contact with the other surface of the slide member 160 in the first direction. In other words, the second stopper surface 126 can come into contact with the surface on the downstream side in the moving direction of the slide member 160 from the new product position to the old product position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the auger 130 is rotatable about the auger shaft 130A extending in the first direction, and can convey the toner in the housing 120 in the first direction. Specifically, the auger 130 can convey the toner that has flowed into the detection space 120D from the waste toner storage space 120C through the communication port 122 toward the first lever protrusion 143 (see FIG. 4) of the first lever 140. Is.

The auger 130 has an auger shaft 131 extending in the first direction and wings 132 spirally formed around the auger shaft 131. The auger shaft 131 is rotatable about the auger shaft 130A. An auger gear 139 is mounted on one end of the auger shaft 131 in the first direction. The auger 130 can rotate by inputting a driving force from the color printer 1 to the auger gear 139.

As shown in FIG. 4, the auger 130 has a disk 133 and an eccentric protrusion 134 at the other end of the auger shaft 131 in the first direction. The eccentric protrusion 134 protrudes from the disk 133 in the first direction. The eccentric protrusion 134 is a columnar axis having a shaft parallel to the auger shaft 130A and having a shaft located at a position different from that of the auger shaft 130A.

The auger 130 has a plurality of auger protrusions 135. The auger protrusion 135 projects from the outer peripheral surface of the auger shaft 131 in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The auger protrusion 135 is formed integrally with the auger shaft 131 and can rotate together with the auger shaft 131.

The plurality of auger protrusions 135 are located at different positions in the first direction. Specifically, the plurality of auger protrusions 135 are a first auger protrusion 135A and a second auger protrusion 135B, and the second auger protrusion 135B is located on the other side of the first auger protrusion 135A in the first direction. The second auger projection 135B projects in a direction orthogonal to the first direction in the direction opposite to the first auger projection 135A. The first auger protrusion 135A and the second auger protrusion 135B are columnar.

The first lever 140 is rotatable with respect to the first shaft 140A extending in the first direction, and has a first shaft 141 as an example of a shaft, a first detected portion 142, a first lever protrusion 143, and a second lever. It has a lever protrusion 144. The first shaft 141 is rotatable about the first shaft 140A.

The first detected portion 142 extends from the other end of the first shaft 141 in the first direction toward the radial outer side of the first shaft 141. The first detected portion 142 has a notch 142A to which the second detected portion 152, which will be described later, of the second lever 150 can be contacted. As shown in FIG. 5, the first detected portion 142 is exposed to the outside of the housing 120 through the opening 127 of the housing 120. That is, the first detected portion 142 is a part of the first lever 140 exposed to the outside of the housing 120. The first detected unit 142 can be detected by the sensor 15 of the color printer 1.

Here, the sensor 15 will be described. The sensor 15 is an optical sensor having a light emitting element 15A and a light receiving element 15B, and is located in the main body housing 10 of the color printer 1. The light emitting element 15A and the light receiving element 15B face each other in the first direction. The light emitting element 15A emits light 15L toward the light receiving element 15B, and the light receiving element 15B can receive the light 15L emitted from the light emitting element 15A.

When the light receiving element 15B receives the light 15L from the light emitting element 15A, the sensor 15 outputs a High signal to the control device 17. Further, the sensor 15 outputs a Low signal to the control device 17 when the light receiving element 15B does not receive the light 15L from the light emitting element 15A.

Although the details will be described later, the sensor 15 can detect the first detected portion 142 of the first lever 140 and the second detected portion 152 of the second lever 150. Furthermore, the sensor 15 can detect the displacement of the first detected portion 142 due to the rotation of the first lever 140, and can detect the displacement of the second detected portion 152 due to the rotation of the second lever 150. be.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the first lever 140 is rotatable between the detection position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line and the non-detection position indicated by the solid line.

The detection position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is an example of the first position, and is a position that can be detected by the sensor 15 of the color printer 1. When the first lever 140 is in the detection position, the first detection unit 142 is located between the light emitting element 15A and the light receiving element 15B of the sensor 15. As a result, the light 15L emitted from the light emitting element 15A is blocked by the first detected unit 142 and is not received by the light receiving element 15B.

The non-detection position shown by the solid line is an example of the second position, and is a position that is not detected by the sensor 15. When the first lever 140 is in the non-detection position, the first detected portion 142 is not located between the light emitting element 15A and the light receiving element 15B. As a result, the light 15L emitted from the light emitting element 15A is received by the light receiving element 15B.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the first lever protrusion 143 and the second lever protrusion 144 project from the outer peripheral surface of the first shaft 141 in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first lever protrusion 143 and the second lever protrusion 144 extend in different directions. Specifically, in a state where the first lever 140 is located at the non-detection position, the first lever protrusion 143 extends from the first shaft 141 to the other side in the third direction, and the second lever protrusion 144 extends from the first shaft 141. It extends to the other side of the second direction. The length of the second lever protrusion 144 is shorter than the length of the first lever protrusion 143.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first lever protrusion 143 and the second lever protrusion 144 are located at substantially the same position of the first shaft 141 in the first direction. The first lever protrusion 143 and the second lever protrusion 144 are plate-shaped. The first lever protrusion 143 and the second lever protrusion 144 are formed integrally with the first shaft 141 and are rotatable together with the first shaft 141.

The second lever 150 is rotatable with respect to the second shaft 150A extending in the first direction, and has a second shaft 151, a second detected portion 152, and an arm portion 153. The second shaft 151 is rotatable about the second shaft 150A.

The second detected portion 152 extends from one end of the second shaft 151 in the first direction toward the radial outer side of the second shaft 151. The dimension of the second detected portion 152 in the second direction is smaller than the dimension of the first detected portion 142 in the second direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the second detected portion 152 is exposed to the outside of the housing 120 through the opening 127 of the housing 120. The second detected unit 152 can be detected by the sensor 15 of the color printer 1.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the second lever 150 can rotate between the fourth position shown by the solid line and the fifth position shown by the chain double-dashed line through the third position shown by the broken line. be.

The third position shown by the broken line is a position that can be detected by the sensor 15. When the second lever 150 is in the third position, the second detected portion 152 is located between the light emitting element 15A and the light receiving element 15B. As a result, the light 15L emitted from the light emitting element 15A is blocked by the second detected unit 152 and is not received by the light receiving element 15B.

The fourth position shown by the solid line and the fifth position shown by the two-dot chain line are both positions that are not detected by the sensor 15. When the second lever 150 is in the fourth position and the fifth position, the second detected portion 152 is not located between the light emitting element 15A and the light receiving element 15B. As a result, the light 15L emitted from the light emitting element 15A is received by the light receiving element 15B.

The arm portion 153 extends from the outer peripheral surface of the second shaft 151 toward the radial outer side of the second shaft 151. The arm portion 153 is in contact with the eccentric protrusion 134 of the auger 130. The arm portion 153 swings when the eccentric protrusion 134 revolves around the auger shaft 130A with the rotation of the auger 130 in a state of being in contact with the eccentric protrusion 134. As a result, the second lever 150 rotates between the fourth position and the fifth position.

The cleaning unit 100 includes a spring 170, and the arm portion 153 can come into contact with the eccentric protrusion 134 by the urging force of the spring 170. The spring 170 is, for example, a torsion spring, and urges the arm portion 153 clockwise. That is, the spring 170 urges the second lever 150 from the fourth position indicated by the solid line to the fifth position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the second detected portion 152 can come into contact with the notch 142A of the first detected portion 142 of the first lever 140. The second lever 150 rotates from the fourth position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line to the fifth position indicated by the solid line in a state where the second detected portion 152 is in contact with the notch 142A of the first detected portion 142. The second detected unit 152 contacts the first detected unit 142 and pushes up the first detected unit 142 to rotate the first lever 140 from the detected position to the non-detected position. When the second lever 150 rotates from the fifth position to the fourth position, the first lever 140 rotates from the non-detected position to the detected position due to the weight of the first detected portion 142. In this way, the first lever 140 can rotate with the rotation of the second lever 150.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slide member 160 is movable in the first direction and has an L-shape having a main body portion 161 and an extension portion 162.

The main body portion 161 is supported by the first surface 123A and the second surface 123B of the guide rail 123. The main body portion 161 has a first recess 161A to which the second lever protrusion 144 of the first lever 140 can come into contact.

The extending portion 162 projects downward from the main body portion 161. As shown in FIG. 7B, the extending portion 162 is located between the guide rail 123 and the guide surface 124 in the third direction, and extends in the first direction along the guide rail 123.

Returning to FIG. 4, the slide member 160 has a cam 163 that projects upward from the main body portion 161. The slide member 160 has a plurality of, specifically, two cams 163. The plurality of cams 163 are arranged in the first direction. The cam 163 has a second recess 163A into which the auger shaft 131 enters.

As shown in FIG. 5, one surface of the two cams 163 in the first direction is a cam surface 164, respectively. That is, the slide member 160 has a plurality of cam surfaces 164, and the plurality of cam surfaces 164 are arranged in the first direction. Each cam surface 164 is inclined with respect to the first direction. Specifically, each cam surface 164 is inclined so as to be located on one side in the third direction from one side in the first direction to the other. In other words, each cam surface 164 is inclined away from the partition wall 121A from one side to the other in the first direction.

The slide member 160 can move from the new position indicated by the solid line to the old product position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line as the auger 130 rotates. When the slide member 160 is in a new position, it comes into contact with the second lever protrusion 144 of the first lever 140 to stop the first lever 140 at the detection position.

In the case of the old product position, the slide member 160 is released from contact with the second lever protrusion 144 of the first lever 140 so that the first lever 140 can rotate between the detected position and the non-detected position. The first lever 140 rotates with the rotation of the second lever 150 in a state where the contact between the second lever protrusion 144 and the slide member 160 is released, as in the case where the slide member 160 is in the old product position. It is possible.

As shown in FIG. 7B, in the first lever 140, when the slide member 160 is in a new position, the second lever protrusion 144 is in contact with the first recess 161A of the main body portion 161. In this case, the second lever protrusion 144 is in contact with the main body portion 161 of the slide member 160 by the urging force of the spring 170.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, the spring 170 urges the second lever 150 clockwise, so that the second detected portion 152 tries to lift the first detected portion 142. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the first lever 140 is also urged clockwise, and the second lever protrusion 144 comes into contact with the main body portion 161 so as to be pressed against it. The second lever protrusion 144 contacts the slide member 160 when the slide member 160 is in a new position, and stops the first lever 140 at the detection position.

As shown in FIG. 7A, in the second lever 150, the arm portion 153 does not come into contact with the eccentric protrusion 134 of the auger 130 when the slide member 160 is in a new position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer 1 includes a control device 17. The control device 17 is located inside the main body housing 10. Although the details will be described later, the control device 17 can determine whether or not the cleaning unit 100 mounted on the color printer 1 is new. Further, the control device 17 can determine the replacement time of the cleaning unit 100.

Next, the operations and effects of the cleaning unit 100 and the color printer 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the cleaning unit 100 is in a new state, the slide member 160 is in a new position indicated by a solid line. When the slide member 160 is in the new position, the first lever 140 is stopped at the detection position.

When the new cleaning unit 100 is attached to the color printer 1, the first detected unit 142 is located between the light emitting element 15A and the light receiving element 15B of the sensor 15, and the light 15L emitted from the light emitting element 15A is the first covering. It is blocked by the detection unit 142 and is not received by the light receiving element 15B. Therefore, the sensor 15 outputs a Low signal to the control device 17.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the auger 130 rotates, the first auger protrusion 135A and the second auger protrusion 135B rotate together with the auger shaft 131. When the first auger protrusion 135A and the second auger protrusion 135B rotate, they come into contact with the cam surface 164 of the slide member 160 and push the cam surface 164 to move the slide member 160 from the new position to the old position.

As shown in FIG. 6B, during the movement of the slide member 160, the end portion on the downstream side in the moving direction falls and comes into contact with the second surface 123B, so that the slide member 160 becomes slanted. Then, when the slide member 160 is further moved, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line, the slide member 160 moves while sliding on the third surface 123C whose upstream end in the moving direction is inclined.

As shown in FIG. 6 (c), the slide member 160 reaches the old product position as a whole so as to be supported by the second surface 123B. The contact between the second auger protrusion 135B of the auger 130 and the cam surface 164 of the slide member 160 is released just before the slide member 160 reaches the position of the old product, and thereafter, even if the auger 130 rotates, the slide member is released. 160 doesn't work.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the second lever protrusion 144 of the first lever 140 is in contact with the slide member 160 while the slide member 160 is moving, the first lever 140 is moved. It is stopped at the detection position. As a result, the first detected unit 142 continues to be located between the light emitting element 15A and the light receiving element 15B, so that the sensor 15 continues to output the Low signal to the control device 17 as shown in FIG. 10A. ..

When the slide member 160 moves by a predetermined distance or more from the new position and the contact between the second lever protrusion 144 and the slide member 160 is released as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the spring 170 is attached. The arm portion 153 of the second lever 150 comes into contact with the eccentric protrusion 134 of the auger 130 by the force. After that, the second lever 150 rotates with the rotation of the auger 130, so that the first lever 140 rotates between the detected position and the non-detected position.

When the first lever 140 rotates between the detection position and the non-detection position, the sensor 15 changes to Low, High while the auger 130 makes one rotation (one cycle), as shown in FIG. 10 (b). A signal that switches in this order is output to the control device 17.

After the sensor 15 does not detect the displacement of the first detected portion 142 due to the rotation between the detected position and the non-detected position of the first lever 140 for a predetermined time or more, the control device 17 determines the displacement of the first detected portion 142. When the displacement of the first detected portion 142 due to the rotation between the detected position and the non-detected position of the first lever 140 is detected, it is determined that the cleaning unit 100 is new.

Specifically, in the control device 17, after the sensor 15 continues to output the Low signal as shown in FIG. 10 (a) for a predetermined time or more, the sensor 15 switches as shown in FIG. 10 (b). When the pattern signal is output for a plurality of cycles, it is determined that the cleaning unit 100 is new.

The predetermined time is, for example, the time for the auger 130 to make one rotation. The time for continuing to output the Low signal (“predetermined time or longer”) is preferably, for example, the time for the auger 130 to rotate two or more revolutions. Then, the time for continuously outputting the Low signal becomes long, and the difference from the signal shown in FIG. 10B when the sensor 15 detects the displacement of the first detected portion 142 becomes clear, so that a new product is detected. The accuracy of can be improved.

When the control device 17 determines that the cleaning unit 100 is new (hereinafter referred to as "new article detection time") and the predetermined parameter exceeds the threshold value, the control device 17 determines that the cleaning unit 100 is the replacement time. judge. The predetermined parameters are, for example, the number of rotations of the cleaning rollers 111, 112 and the drive roller 71 from the time of detecting a new product, the number of prints from the time of detecting a new product, the elapsed time from the time of detecting a new product, and the like.

When the control device 17 determines that it is time to replace the cleaning unit 100, the control device 17 notifies the user to that effect. For example, the control device 17 displays a message that the cleaning unit 100 is about to be replaced on a liquid crystal display (not shown) of the color printer 1.

According to the cleaning unit 100 described above, the operation of the first detected portion 142 of the first lever 140 can be changed depending on whether the slide member 160 is in the new position or the slide member 160 is in the old position. .. As a result, it is possible to detect a new cleaning unit 100 for determining the life of the cleaning member 110 from the operation of the first detected unit 142.

Specifically, the cleaning unit 100 can be detected as new from the displacement state of the first detected portion 142 detected by the sensor 15.

Further, since the plurality of auger protrusions 135 are located at different positions in the first direction, it is possible to increase the moving distance from the new position of the slide member 160 to the old product position in the first direction. As a result, it is possible to increase the time for keeping the first lever 140 at the detection position, so that it is possible to increase the output time of the Low signal at the time of detecting a new product, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting a new product.

Further, since the plurality of cam surfaces 164 of the slide member 160 are arranged in the first direction, the slide member 160 can be smoothly moved while gaining a moving distance from the new position to the old product position of the slide member 160 in the first direction. Can be made to.

When there is only one cam surface, it is necessary to reduce the inclination angle of the cam surface with respect to the first direction in order to increase the moving distance of the slide member, but in this case, the friction between the cam surface and the auger protrusion is large. This makes it difficult for the slide member to move smoothly. By having the plurality of cam surfaces 164, it is not necessary to reduce the inclination angle of each cam surface 164 with respect to the first direction, so that the slide member 160 can be smoothly moved.

Further, since the first auger protrusion 135A and the second auger protrusion 135B project in the opposite direction from the auger shaft 131, it becomes easier to remove the molded product from the mold when the auger 130 is molded from the resin by the mold. That is, the auger 130 can be easily molded.

Further, since the housing 120 has the guide rail 123, the slide member 160 can be smoothly moved from the new position to the old position.

Further, since the second surface 123B of the guide rail 123 is farther from the auger 130 than the first surface 123A, when the slide member 160 is in the old product position, the slide member 160 is prevented from interfering with the auger 130. can do. Further, the slide member 160 can be smoothly moved by the inclined third surface 123C of the guide rail 123.

Further, since the second surface 123B is located below the first surface 123A, the slide member 160 that has moved from the new position to the old position can be dropped down. As a result, it is possible to prevent the slide member 160 from returning to the new position with a simple configuration that does not use a spring or the like.

Further, since the guide rail 123 has a cut 123D through which the first lever protrusion 143 that rotates together with the first shaft 141 passes, it is possible to prevent the guide rail 123 from interfering with the first lever 140.

Further, since the housing 120 has the guide surface 124 facing the guide rail 123, rattling of the slide member 160 can be suppressed, and the slide member 160 can be moved more smoothly.

Further, since the housing 120 has the first stopper surface 125, it is possible to restrict the slide member 160 from moving upstream in the moving direction from the new product position to the old product position, specifically, upstream from the new product position.

Further, since the housing 120 has the second stopper surface 126, it is possible to restrict the slide member 160 from moving downstream in the moving direction from the new product position to the old product position, specifically, further downstream from the old product position. can.

In addition, when the control device 17 contains a predetermined amount or more of toner in the housing 120 even before the predetermined parameter becomes the threshold value or more from the time of detecting a new product, that is, the toner in the housing 120 is almost full. When the state is reached, the cleaning unit 100 determines that it is time to replace it.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when the waste toner accommodating space 120C is almost full with the toner T and the toner T flows into the detection space 120D and accumulates, the first lever The first lever protrusion 143 of 140 is buried in the toner T.

Then, when the rotation of the first lever protrusion 143 is stopped by the toner T after the first lever 140 has rotated from the detection position to the non-detection position, the first lever 140 stops at the non-detection position. When the toner T in the housing 120 is almost full, the first lever protrusion 143 is stopped by the toner T in the detection space 120D to stop the first lever 140 in the non-detection position. ..

When the first lever 140 stops at the non-detection position, after that, as the auger 130 rotates, only the second lever 150 rotates between the fourth position and the fifth position through the third position. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the sensor 15 outputs a signal for switching to Low, High, Low, High in this order to the control device 17 while the auger 130 makes one rotation (one cycle).

In the control device 17, after the sensor 15 detects the displacement of the first detected portion 142 due to the rotation between the detected position and the non-detected position of the first lever 140, the sensor 15 causes the second lever 150 to move to the second position. When the displacement of the second detected portion 152 due to the rotation between the 4th position and the 5th position is detected, the cleaning unit 100 determines that it is time to replace.

Specifically, in the control device 17, after the sensor 15 outputs the signal of the switching pattern as shown in FIG. 10B, the sensor 15 outputs the signal of the switching pattern as shown in FIG. 10C. When the output is performed in a plurality of cycles, the cleaning unit 100 determines that it is time to replace it.

According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to detect whether or not the toner T in the housing 120 is nearly full depending on the presence or absence of rotation of the first lever 140, and the cleaning unit 100 can be detected. Can detect new products. That is, the first lever 140 can perform both full detection and new product detection.

Next, the second embodiment of the invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the same elements as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 11, the cleaning unit 100 includes a cleaning member (not shown), a housing 220, an auger 230, a first lever 240, a second lever 250, and a slide member 260.

As shown in FIG. 12, the housing 220 has a second storage space 220C partitioned from the waste toner storage space 120C and the detection space 120D by the partition walls 121A and 221A of the container 120A. The second accommodating space 220C communicates with the detection space 120D by the second communication port 222, and does not directly communicate with the waste toner accommodating space 120C. The position of the second communication port 222 in the first direction is a position facing the second surface 123B of the guide rail 123.

The guide rail 123 has a first surface 123A, a second surface 123B, and a third surface 223C. The third surface 223C extends vertically to form a step between the first surface 123A and the second surface 123B.

As shown in FIG. 13, the auger 230 has an auger shaft 131, wings 132, eccentric protrusions 134, a plurality of auger protrusions 135, and a second wing 232. The second wing 232 has a plate shape and extends in a direction orthogonal to the first direction from the outer peripheral surface of the auger shaft 131. The second wing 232 is located at a position facing the second communication port 222 of the housing 220 in the first direction (see FIG. 11). The second wing 232 can convey a part of the toner accumulated in the detection space 120D from the second communication port 222 into the second accommodation space 220C as the auger 230 rotates.

The first lever 240 has a first shaft 141, a first detected portion 142, and a first lever protrusion 143. Unlike the first lever 140 of the first embodiment described above, the first lever 240 does not include the second lever protrusion 144. The first lever protrusion 143 projects in a direction orthogonal to the first direction in the direction opposite to the first detected portion 142.

The second lever 250 has a second shaft 151, a second detected portion 152, and a U-shaped arm portion 253. In the second embodiment, the cleaning unit 100 does not include a spring 170. As shown in FIG. 14A, in the second lever 250, the second groove 253A of the arm portion 253 is in contact with the eccentric protrusion 134 of the auger 230. The second lever 250 is urged counterclockwise by the weight of the second detected portion 152, and one side surface of the second groove 253A is always in contact with the eccentric protrusion 134.

Returning to FIG. 13, the slide member 260 has a main body portion 261 and two cams 163. The main body portion 261 is U-shaped with a groove 261A extending in the first direction. As shown in FIG. 14B, the guide rail 123 fits into the groove 261A.

The first lever protrusion 143 of the first lever 240 comes into contact with the main body portion 261 of the slide member 260 when the slide member 260 is in a new position, and stops the first lever 240 in the non-detection position. The first lever 240 tries to rotate counterclockwise due to the weight of the first detected portion 142 in the non-detected position, but the first lever protrusion 143 is in the new position when the slide member 260 is in the new position. By being caught on the main body portion 261 of the slide member 260, the rotation in the counterclockwise direction is restricted and the slide member 260 is stopped at the non-detection position.

In the second embodiment, the non-detection position where the first detected unit 142 is not detected by the sensor 15 of the color printer 1 is the "first position", which is shown by a solid line in FIG. 15A, and is the first detected position. The detection position that the unit 142 can detect by the sensor 15 is the "second position".

Next, the operations and effects of the cleaning unit 100 and the color printer 1 according to the second embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, in the cleaning unit 100, when the slide member 260 is in the new position, the first lever 240 is stopped in the non-detection position.

When the new cleaning unit 100 is attached to the color printer 1, the first detected unit 142 does not block the light 15L emitted from the light emitting element 15A, so that the light 15L is received by the light receiving element 15B. Therefore, the sensor 15 outputs a High signal to the control device 17.

When the auger 230 rotates, the slide member 260 moves from the new position shown in FIG. 16A toward the old position as shown in FIG. 16B. Then, as shown in FIG. 16C, the slide member 260 falls from the first surface 123A of the guide rail 123 along the step formed by the third surface 223C, and is supported by the second surface 123B. Move to the product position.

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, when the first lever protrusion 143 of the first lever 240 is in contact with the slide member 260 while the slide member 260 is moving, the first lever 240 is moved. It is stopped at the non-detection position.

Therefore, at this time, when the eccentric protrusion 134 revolves around the auger shaft 130A with the rotation of the auger 230 and the arm portion 253 swings, only the second lever 250 passes through the third position indicated by the broken line. It rotates between the 4th position shown by the solid line and the 5th position shown by the alternate long and short dash line. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the sensor 15 outputs a signal for switching to Low, High, Low, High in this order to the control device 17 while the auger 130 makes one rotation (one cycle).

When the slide member 260 moves by a predetermined distance or more from the new position and the contact between the first lever protrusion 143 and the slide member 260 is released as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the first detection is detected. The weight of the portion 142 causes the first lever 240 to rotate from the non-detection position to the detection position. When the first lever 240 rotates from the non-detected position to the detected position, the second detected portion 152 of the second lever 250 comes into contact with the notch 142A of the first detected portion 142.

After that, the second lever 250 rotates with the rotation of the auger 230, so that the first lever 240 rotates between the detected position and the non-detected position. Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, the sensor 15 outputs a signal switching between Low and High in this order to the control device 17 while the auger 130 makes one rotation (one cycle).

After the sensor 15 detects the displacement of the second detected portion 152 due to the rotation between the fourth position and the fifth position of the second lever 250, the control device 17 causes the sensor 15 to detect the displacement of the first lever 240. When the displacement of the first detected portion 142 due to the rotation between the detected position and the non-detected position is detected, it is determined that the cleaning unit 100 is new.

Specifically, in the control device 17, after the sensor 15 outputs the signal of the switching pattern as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the sensor 15 outputs the signal of the switching pattern as shown in FIG. 10 (b). When it is output, the cleaning unit 100 determines that it is time to replace it. When the control device 17 determines that it is time to replace the cleaning unit 100, the control device 17 notifies the user to that effect.

According to the cleaning unit 100 described above, new detection of the cleaning unit 100 for determining the life of the cleaning member 110 from the displacement state of the first detected unit 142 and the second detected unit 152 detected by the sensor 15 is performed. can do.

Further, since the second surface 123B of the guide rail 123 is farther from the auger 230 than the first surface 123A, when the slide member 260 is in the old product position, the slide member 260 is prevented from interfering with the auger 230. can do.

Further, since the second surface 123B is located below the first surface 123A, the slide member 260 that has moved from the new position to the old position can be dropped down. As a result, it is possible to prevent the slide member 260 from returning to the new position with a simple configuration.

Also in the second embodiment, when the toner in the housing 220 is almost full, the control device 17 determines that it is time to replace the cleaning unit 100, as in the first embodiment described above. do. The first lever protrusion 143 of the first lever 240 does not detect the first lever 240 by stopping the rotation by the toner in the detection space 120D when the toner in the housing 220 is almost full. Stop in position.

As described above, also in the second embodiment, the first lever 240 can perform both full detection and new product detection.

In the second embodiment, even when the toner in the housing 220 is almost full and the cleaning unit 100 is determined to be replaced, the auger 230 has the toner in the detection space 120D by the second wing 232. Can be transported to the second accommodation space 220C through the second communication port 222.

As a result, it is possible to gain time until the toner cannot be stored in the cleaning unit 100. That is, the cleaning unit 100 determined to be replaced can be used for a while. Thereby, for example, the color printer 1 can be used even when the cleaning unit 100 cannot be replaced immediately.

Although the embodiments of the invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The specific configuration can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning unit 100 includes the second levers 150 and 250, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cleaning unit 100 may not include the second lever.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning member 110 includes two cleaning rollers 111 and 112 and a cleaning blade 113, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning member may be configured to include one cleaning roller and one cleaning blade. Further, the cleaning unit may be provided with only a cleaning blade as a cleaning member, and may have a configuration in which the toner adhering to the transport belt is directly scraped off by the cleaning blade.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cleaning unit 100 that collects the toner on the transport belt 73 has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning unit may collect toner on an intermediate transfer body such as an intermediate transfer belt. Further, the cleaning unit may be used to collect the toner on the photoconductor drum.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an optical sensor having a light emitting element 15A and a light receiving element 15B is exemplified as the sensor 15, but the sensor is not limited to this, and the sensor may be, for example, an electrostatic induction sensor.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the augers 130 and 230 have two auger protrusions 135, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of auger protrusions may be one or three or more. The same applies to the cam surface of the slide member, which may be one or three or more instead of two.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the color printer 1 capable of forming a multicolor image is exemplified as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the image forming apparatus may be a monochrome printer for forming a monochromatic image. Further, the image forming apparatus may be a printer that exposes the photoconductor drum with the light emitted from the LED. Further, the image forming apparatus may be a copier, a multifunction device, or the like instead of a printer.

In addition, the elements described in the above-described embodiments and modifications can be combined and implemented as appropriate.

1 Color printer 15 Sensor 17 Control device 100 Cleaning unit 110 Cleaning member 111 1st cleaning roller 112 2nd cleaning roller 113 Cleaning blade 120 Housing 123 Guide rail 123A 1st surface 123B 2nd surface 123C 3rd surface 123D Cut 124 Guide surface 125 1st stopper surface 126 2nd stopper surface 130 auger 130A auger shaft 131 auger shaft 135 auger protrusion 135A 1st auger protrusion 135B 2nd auger protrusion 140 1st lever 140A 1st shaft 141 1st shaft 142 1st detected part 143 1st lever protrusion 144 2nd lever protrusion 150 2nd lever 150A 2nd axis 152 2nd detected part 160 Slide member 161 Main body part 162 Extension part 164 Cam surface 170 Spring

Claims (25)

Cleaning members that collect the developer and
A housing for accommodating the developer recovered by the cleaning member,
A first lever that can rotate between the first position and the second position with respect to the first axis extending in the axial direction, and a first lever that is partially exposed to the outside of the housing.
An auger that is rotatable about an auger shaft extending in the axial direction and is capable of transporting the developer in the housing in the axial direction, and is capable of transporting the developer in the housing toward the first lever. Ogre and
It is a slide member that can move in the axial direction from the new product position to the old product position with the rotation of the auger, and in the case of the new product position, it comes into contact with the first lever and the first lever is moved to the first position. A slide member is provided which stops contact with the first lever in the case of the old product position and enables the first lever to rotate between the first position and the second position. A cleaning unit featuring. The slide member has a cam surface that is inclined with respect to the axial direction.
The auger is
An auger shaft that can rotate about the auger shaft and
An auger protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the auger shaft and can rotate with the auger shaft, and when rotated with the auger shaft, comes into contact with the cam surface to move the slide member from the new position to the old position. With the auger protrusion to move toward
The cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit is characterized by having. The auger has a plurality of said auger protrusions.
The cleaning unit according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of the auger protrusions are located at different positions in the axial direction. The slide member has a plurality of the cam surfaces, and the slide member has a plurality of the cam surfaces.
The cleaning unit according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of cam surfaces are aligned in the axial direction. The cleaning unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the plurality of auger protrusions are a first auger protrusion and a second auger protrusion protruding in the direction opposite to the first auger protrusion. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing is a guide rail that guides the movement of the slide member and has the guide rail extending in the axial direction. .. The guide rail is
A first surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the new position, and
A second surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the old product position, and a second surface that is located farther from the auger than the first surface in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. ,
A third surface that forms a step between the first surface and the second surface,
The cleaning unit according to claim 6, wherein the cleaning unit is characterized by having. The guide rail is
A first surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the new position, and
A second surface that supports the slide member when the slide member is in the old product position, is located farther from the auger than the first surface in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and the shaft. A second surface located away from the first surface in the direction,
A third surface that is inclined from the first surface to the second surface,
The cleaning unit according to claim 6, wherein the cleaning unit is characterized by having. The first lever is
A shaft that can rotate about the first axis and
A first lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and can rotate with the shaft,
Have,
The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the guide rail has a cut through which the first lever protrusion passes. The housing is a guide surface for guiding the movement of the slide member, and has a guide surface facing the guide rail in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. Any of claims 6 to 9. Or the cleaning unit according to item 1. The slide member is
The main body supported by the guide rail and
An extension portion that protrudes from the main body portion and extends along the guide rail,
The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the cleaning unit is characterized by having. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the slide member is a groove extending in the axial direction and has a groove into which the guide rail is fitted. Any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing has a first stopper surface that can come into contact with an upstream surface of the slide member in a moving direction from the new position to the old position. The cleaning unit according to item 1. 13. The cleaning unit according to item 1. The first position is a position where the first lever can be detected by the sensor of the image forming apparatus.
The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second position is a position where the first lever is not detected by the sensor. The first lever is
A shaft that can rotate about the first axis and
A first lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and is rotatable together with the shaft. When a predetermined amount or more of the developer is contained in the housing, the rotation is stopped by the developer. The first lever protrusion that stops the first lever at the second position,
A second lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and is rotatable together with the shaft, and when the slide member is in the new position, it comes into contact with the slide member to move the first lever to the first position. The second lever protrusion to stop,
15. The cleaning unit according to claim 15. The cleaning unit according to claim 16, wherein the auger can convey the developer in the housing toward the first lever protrusion. A second axis that extends in the axial direction with the rotation of the auger can rotate between a fourth position and a fifth position that cannot be detected by the sensor through a third position that can be detected by the sensor. Equipped with 2 levers
The first lever is a first detected portion exposed to the outside of the housing, and has a first detected portion that can be detected by the sensor.
The second lever is a second detected portion exposed to the outside of the housing, and has a second detected portion that can be detected by the sensor.
When the slide member is in the old product position, the second lever rotates from the fourth position to the fifth position, so that the second detected portion comes into contact with the first detected portion. The cleaning unit according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the first lever is rotated from the first position to the second position. A spring for urging the second lever from the fourth position to the fifth position is provided.
The cleaning unit according to claim 18, wherein the second lever protrusion is in contact with the slide member by the urging force of the spring when the slide member is in the new position. An image forming apparatus comprising the sensor capable of detecting the first detected portion and the second detected portion, a control device, and a detachable cleaning unit according to claim 18 or 19. ,
The control device is
After the sensor does not detect the displacement of the first detected portion due to the rotation between the first position and the second position of the first lever for a predetermined time or longer.
When the sensor detects the displacement of the first detected portion due to the rotation between the first position and the second position of the first lever.
An image forming apparatus for determining that the cleaning unit is new. The first position is a position where the first lever is not detected by the sensor of the image forming apparatus.
The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second position is a position where the first lever can be detected by the sensor. The first lever is
A shaft that can rotate about the first axis and
A first lever protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and is rotatable together with the shaft, and when the slide member is in the new position, it comes into contact with the slide member to move the first lever to the first position. It is characterized by having a first lever protrusion that stops the first lever at the first position by stopping the rotation by the developer when a predetermined amount or more of the developer is contained in the housing. 21. The cleaning unit according to claim 21. 22. The cleaning unit according to claim 22, wherein the auger can convey the developer in the housing toward the first lever protrusion. A second axis that extends in the axial direction with the rotation of the auger can rotate between a fourth position and a fifth position that cannot be detected by the sensor through a third position that can be detected by the sensor. Equipped with 2 levers
The first lever is a first detected portion exposed to the outside of the housing, and has a first detected portion that can be detected by the sensor.
The second lever is a second detected portion exposed to the outside of the housing, and has a second detected portion that can be detected by the sensor.
When the slide member is in the old product position, the second lever rotates from the fourth position to the fifth position, so that the second detected portion comes into contact with the first detected portion. 22 or 23. The cleaning unit according to claim 22, wherein the first lever is rotated from the first position to the second position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, comprising the sensor capable of detecting the first detected portion and the second detected portion, and a control device, and the cleaning unit according to claim 24 can be attached and detached.
The control device is
After the sensor detects the displacement of the second detected portion due to the rotation of the second lever between the fourth position and the fifth position,
When the sensor detects the displacement of the first detected portion due to the rotation between the first position and the second position of the first lever.
An image forming apparatus for determining that the cleaning unit is new.

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