Drum unit provided with augers for conveying waste toner

• US 10,452,019 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2019
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tamura, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Aydin, Sevan A
• Application Number:
  US16/354,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20190212691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 221 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0194 primary transfer to the final recording medium G03G15/0184 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1869 Cartridge holders, e.g. intermediate frames for placing cartridge parts therein

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.

Claims

1. A drum unit comprising:

a photosensitive drum defining an axis extending in a first direction, the photosensitive drum being rotatable about the axis, 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;

an auger gear coaxially provided at the first auger and configured to rotate together with the first auger;

a follower gear configured to rotate to transmit the driving force to the second auger to rotate the second auger;

an idle gear configured to rotate to transmit the driving force from the auger gear to the follower gear;

a first bevel gear rotatable together with the follower gear; and

a second bevel gear coaxially provided at the second auger and rotatable with the second auger, the second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear.

2. The drum unit according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive drum further includes a drum gear provided at the one end portion of the photosensitive drum, and

wherein the first auger includes a gear meshing with the drum gear.

3. The drum unit according to claim 1, wherein the first bevel gear is integrally formed with the follower gear.