Disposed Toner Collecting Device of Image Forming Apparatus

• US 20090067873A1
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: GUNBE, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/99
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the invention, a sliding plate that slides in contact with an inner wall of a disposed toner duct is oscillated by using rotation of a disposed toner collection auger. As the sliding plate is oscillated, disposed toner falling and fed through the disposed toner duct is oscillated. The disposed toner adhering to the inner wall of the disposed toner duct is removed by sliding of both lateral parts of the sliding plate in contact with the inner wall.

Claims

1. A disposed toner collecting device comprising:

a guide that causes disposed toner discharged from a disposed toner discharge unit of an image forming unit to fall to be fed;

a feeding assistance unit configured to provide oscillation to the disposed toner in the guide;

a cam driven by driving of the image forming unit;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the driving of the cam to the feeding assistance unit; and

a collecting unit connected to a lower end of the guide and configured to collect the disposed toner.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding assistance unit has a sliding member capable of fluctuating in the guide, and a first energizing member that energizes the sliding member in a predetermined direction, and the transmitting unit energizes the sliding member in a direction of resisting the energizing force of the first energizing member in accordance with a shape of the cam.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the collecting unit has a feeding unit connected to the guide and configured to feed the disposed toner falling from the guide, into a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

4. The device according to claim 3, comprising an elastic first seal member that seals a connection part between the guide and the feeding unit.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein plural units of the guide are provided, and the plural guides cause disposed toner discharged from plural disposed toner discharge units of the image forming unit, to fall and be fed, respectively.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the collecting unit has a feeding unit connected to the plural guides and configured to feed the disposed toner falling from the plural guides, into a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding assistance unit has a fluctuating part provided in the guide, and a second energizing member that energizes the guide upward, and the transmitting unit energizes the fluctuating part in a direction of resisting the energizing force of the second energizing member in accordance with a shape of the cam.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the collecting unit has a feeding unit connected to the guide and configured to feed the disposed toner falling from the guide, into a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

9. The device according to claim 8, comprising an elastic first seal member that seals a connection part between the guide and the feeding unit, and an elastic second seal member that seals a connection part between the guide and the disposed toner discharge unit.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein plural units of the guide are provided, and the plural guides cause disposed toner discharged from plural disposed toner discharge units of the image forming unit, to fall and be fed in a predetermined direction, respectively.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the collecting unit has a feeding unit connected to the plural guides and configured to feed the disposed toner falling from the plural guides, into a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming unit having an image carrier, and a cleaning unit configured to remove toner from the image carrier and to feed the removed disposed toner to a disposed toner discharge unit;

a guide that causes the disposed toner discharged from the disposed toner discharge unit, to fall in a predetermined direction;

a feeding assistance unit configured to provide oscillation to the disposed toner in the guide;

a cam driven by driving of the cleaning unit;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the driving of the cam to the feeding assistance unit; and

a collecting unit connected to a lower end of the guide and configured to collect the disposed toner.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cleaning unit has a disposed toner feeding auger that feeds the disposed toner to the disposed toner discharge unit, and the cam is coaxially driven with a shaft of the disposed toner feeding auger.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the feeding assistance unit has a sliding member capable of fluctuating in the guide, and a first energizing member that energizes the sliding member in a predetermined direction, and the transmitting unit energizes the sliding member in a direction of resisting the energizing force of the first energizing member in accordance with a shape of the cam.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the image forming unit has plural image carriers and plural cleaning units for the plural image carriers, respectively, and plural units of the guide are provided so that disposed toner discharged from disposed toner discharge units of the plural cleaning units are caused to fall in a predetermined direction, respectively.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the collecting unit has a feeding unit connected to the plural guides and configured to feed the disposed toner falling from the plural guides, into a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the feeding assistance unit has a fluctuating part provided in the guide, and a second energizing member that energizes the guide upward, and the transmitting unit energizes the fluctuating part in a direction of resisting the energizing force of the second energizing member in accordance with a shape of the cam.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image forming unit has plural image carriers and plural cleaning units for the plural image carriers, respectively, and plural units of the guide are provided so that disposed toner discharged from disposed toner discharge units of the plural cleaning units are caused to fall in a predetermined direction, respectively.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the collecting unit has a feeding unit connected to the plural guides and configured to feed the disposed toner falling from the plural guides, into a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

20. A disposed toner collecting method comprising:

receiving disposed toner discharged from a disposed toner discharge unit of an image forming unit, with a guide, and causing the disposed toner to fall down;

oscillating the disposed toner in the guide; and

collecting the disposed toner falling in the guide, below the guide.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein a sliding member is fluctuated in the guide, thus oscillating the disposed toner.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the guide is fluctuated, thus oscillating the disposed toner.