| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To effectively store a waste toner in a waste toner box and to surely detect the full state by the deformation of a diaphragm which protrudes outward according as a recovered toner is pressed and compressed. CONSTITUTION:The toner remaining on the surface of a photosensitive drum functioning as an image carrier is removed by a cleaning device 6 and is recovered by a waste toner box 26. When the quantity of the waste toner reaches a certain value in the box 26, it is compressed by a waste toner compressing plate 28 which is elastically deformed while being pressed in accordance with turning of a scraping plate 24. A diaphragm 29 provided on a part of the rear face of the box 26 is expanded by the compressed waste toner and is gradually protruded outward and is deformed. A microswitch 31 is fixed preliminarily set length apart from the box 26; and when the extent of protrusion of the diaphragm 29 reaches a prescribed value, this switch 31 is operated to detect that the box 26 is filled up, and the detection signal is outputted. |
