Drum unit provided with augers for conveying waste toner
First Claim
1. A drum unit comprising:
- a photosensitive drum defining an axis extending in a first direction, the photosensitive drum being rotatable about the axis, and the photosensitive drum having one end portion and another end portion opposite the one end portion in the first direction;
a blade contacting a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum and configured to remove waste toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum;
a first auger extending in the first direction and rotatable upon receipt of a driving force from the photosensitive drum, the first auger being configured to convey the waste toner removed by the blade in the first direction;
a second auger extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, the second auger being configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by the first auger in the second direction;
a first pulley configured to rotate upon receipt of the driving force from the first auger;
a second pulley disposed to be spaced way from the first pulley; and
an endless belt mounted over the first pulley and the second pulley and configured to transmit the driving force from the first pulley to the second pulley, the second auger being rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from the second pulley.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drum unit includes: a photosensitive drum; a blade contacting a surface of the photosensitive drum and configured to remove waste toner therefrom; a first auger; and a second auger. The photosensitive drum defines an axis extending in a first direction and is rotatable about the axis. The first auger extends in the first direction. The first auger is rotatable upon receipt of a drive force from the photosensitive drum to convey the waste toner removed by the blade in the first direction. The second auger extends in a second direction crossing the first direction. The second auger is rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from the first auger to convey the waste toner conveyed by the first auger in the second direction.
7 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A drum unit comprising:
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a photosensitive drum defining an axis extending in a first direction, the photosensitive drum being rotatable about the axis, and the photosensitive drum having one end portion and another end portion opposite the one end portion in the first direction; a blade contacting a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum and configured to remove waste toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum; a first auger extending in the first direction and rotatable upon receipt of a driving force from the photosensitive drum, the first auger being configured to convey the waste toner removed by the blade in the first direction; a second auger extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, the second auger being configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by the first auger in the second direction; a first pulley configured to rotate upon receipt of the driving force from the first auger; a second pulley disposed to be spaced way from the first pulley; and an endless belt mounted over the first pulley and the second pulley and configured to transmit the driving force from the first pulley to the second pulley, the second auger being rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from the second pulley. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A drum unit comprising:
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a plurality of photosensitive drums each defining an axis extending in a first direction and rotatable about the axis, each of the photosensitive drums having one end portion and another end portion opposite the one end portion in the first direction; a plurality of blades each contacting a peripheral surface of a corresponding one of the photosensitive drums and configured to remove waste toner on the peripheral surface of the corresponding one of the photosensitive drums; a plurality of first augers, each of the first augers extending in the first direction and rotatable upon receipt of a driving force from a corresponding one of the photosensitive drums, and each of the first augers being configured to convey the waste toner removed by the corresponding one of the blades in the first direction; and a second auger extending in a second direction crossing the first direction and configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by each of the first augers in the second direction, the second auger being rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from one of the first augers that is positioned most downstream in the second direction among the plurality of first augers.
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Specification