Image formation apparatus utilizing density of waste toner to detect amount thereof

• US 20080317484A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Ryoichi, Tanimoto, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/35
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers

Abstract

An image formation apparatus has a waste toner accommodation unit including a toner transporting rotation member covered with a fixed pipe. As the member rotates, waste toner in the pipe is transported downstream A fin involved in detecting an amount of toner moves upward and downward with a predetermined amplitude as the member rotates. The pipe has a projection secured by an elastic member to a bottom of the waste toner accommodation unit, and when waste toner reaches the level of the pipe, the waste toner is compressed in the pipe downstream and thus increases in density, and together with the waste toner the pipe starts to rotate. As a result, the projection rotates to a position allowing it to interfere with the fin, and the fin decreases in amplitude. Such variation in amplitude is detected by a sensor and a state full of toner is thus detected.

Claims

1. An image formation apparatus comprising:

a waste toner accommodation unit accommodating waste toner recovered;

a rotation unit having opposite ends rotatably connected to two internal opposite surfaces, respectively, of said waste toner accommodation unit, said rotation unit transporting said waste toner as said rotation unit rotates;

a segmentation unit segmenting an interior of said waste toner accommodation unit into a first region covering a portion of said rotation unit and containing said rotation unit, and a second region excluding said first region, said segmentation unit having a plurality of holes in a direction along said rotation unit to allow said waste toner to communicate between said first and second regions;

a plate involved in detecting an amount of toner, said plate obstructing a detection area of a photo sensor with a predetermined amplitude as said rotation unit rotates; and

a mechanism detecting said amount of said toner, detecting that said waste toner in said waste toner accommodation unit has reached a predetermined amount when said photo sensor detects that said plate varies in amplitude.

2. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a toner compression fin moving upward and downward with a predetermined amplitude as said rotation unit rotates, to compress waste toner accommodated in said waste toner accommodation unit; and

a holding unit holding said segmentation unit rotatably relative to said waste toner accommodation unit, said segmentation unit having an external surface with a projection; and

an elastic element securing said projection in a direction toward a lower portion of said waste toner accommodation unit.

3. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when said segmentation unit rotates in accordance with a relationship between a force of rotation corresponding to a density of waste toner in said first region that is generated at said segmentation unit as said rotation unit rotates and a force of said elastic element securing said projection, said projection interferes with said toner compression fin to vary an amplitude of said toner compression fin moving upward and downward and hence that of said plate moving upward and downward.

4. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said detection area of said photo sensor is located external to said waste toner accommodation unit.

5. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an indication unit indicating that said waste toner in said waste toner accommodation unit has reached said predetermined amount.