IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20150139712A1
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koga, Yutaka, Sadamitsu, Yushi
• Granted Patent: US 9,354,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/358
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a first feeding path configured to feed the toner collected from an image forming station; a collection container detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus and configured to accommodate the collected toner fed through the first feeding path; and a shutter unit including a second feeding path movably connected with the first feeding path and capable of connecting with the collection container, and a shutter configured to open and close a connecting portion between the second feeding path and the collection container by slide in a direction crossing with the second feeding path in response to mounting and demounting of the collection container.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a first feeding path configured to feed the toner collected from an image forming station;

a collection container detachably mountable to said image forming apparatus and configured to accommodate the collected toner fed through said first feeding path; and

a shutter unit including a second feeding path movably connected with said first feeding path and capable of connecting with said collection container, and a shutter configured to open and close a connecting portion between said second feeding path and said collection container by slide in a direction crossing with said second feeding path in response to mounting and demounting of said collection container.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an movable guiding portion for guiding said collection container between a mounting position where said collection container is mounted and a position where said collection container is capable of being taken out to an outside of said apparatus, wherein said shutter is capable of being opened by being contacted by said collection container advancing toward the mounting position while being guided by said guiding portion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shutter is movable in a vertical line direction to be closely contacted to an upper surface of said collection container placed in the mounting position, in response to mounting and demounting of said collection container.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a detecting portion configured to detect opening and closing of said shutter, wherein said detecting portion contacts an arm which is rotatable in a plane including a guiding direction of said guiding portion, to said shutter, so that the movement of said shutter is detected, and wherein said arm stand by with a first rotation angle as measured from a direction perpendicular to the guiding direction in the plane, and when rotates to a second rotation angle by the contact to the shutter, the opening of said shutter is detected, and wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said collection container is made of resin material and is made using blow molding.

6. A shutter unit for opening and closing a connecting portion between a collection container detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus and the main assembly A, the main assembly including a first feeding path, said shutter unit comprising:

a second feeding path movable relative to the first feeding path and the movable relative to said collection container; and

a shutter configured to open and close a connecting portion between said second feeding path and said collection container by sliding in a direction crossing with said second feeding path in response to mounting and demounting of said collection container.