Collection container, cleaning unit, and image forming apparatus capable of collecting waste toner efficiently

• US 20100080600A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Itoh, Fumihito, Nagashima, Hiroyuki, Shakuto, Masahiko, Arai, Yuji, Iwasaki, Takuma, Okamoto, Michiya, Ono, Hiroshi, Yoshino, Kaoru, Amemiya, Ken, Koike, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/71
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0888 Arrangements for detecting toner level or concentration in the developing device

Abstract

A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner includes a leveling member, a detector, and at least one inlet. The leveling member levels the waste toner contained in the collection container. The detector detects an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container. The leveling member levels the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet.

Claims

1. A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner, comprising:

a leveling member to level the waste toner contained in the collection container;

a detector to detect an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container; and

at least one inlet through which the waste toner is delivered to the collection container,

the leveling member leveling the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet.

2. The collection container according to claim 1,

wherein a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector is greater than a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

3. The collection container according to claim 1,

wherein the origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet from which the leveling member conveys the waste toner in the first direction and the second direction is located at a portion of the collection container substantially below an inlet farthest from the detector.

4. The collection container according to claim 1,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a screw diameter greater than a screw diameter of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

5. The collection container according to claim 1,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a conveyance area greater than a conveyance area of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

6. The collection container according to claim 1,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a screw pitch greater than a screw pitch of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

7. A cleaning unit comprising:

a cleaner to collect waste toner;

a collection container to collect and contain the waste toner collected by the cleaner; and

a conveyer to convey the waste toner collected by the cleaner to the collection container,

the collection container comprising;

a leveling member to level the waste toner contained in the collection container;

a detector to detect an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container; and

at least one inlet through which the waste toner conveyed by the conveyer is delivered to the collection container,

the leveling member leveling the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet.

8. The cleaning unit according to claim 7,

wherein a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector is greater than a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

9. The cleaning unit according to claim 7,

wherein the origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet from which the leveling member conveys the waste toner in the first direction and the second direction is located at a portion of the collection container substantially below an inlet farthest from the detector.

10. The cleaning unit according to claim 7,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a screw diameter greater than a screw diameter of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

11. The cleaning unit according to claim 7,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a conveyance area greater than a conveyance area of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

12. The cleaning unit according to claim 7,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a screw pitch greater than a screw pitch of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a collection container detachably attached to the image forming apparatus to collect and contain waste toner,

the collection container comprising;

a leveling member to level the waste toner contained in the collection container;

a detector to detect an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container; and

at least one inlet through which the waste toner is delivered to the collection container,

the leveling member leveling the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector is greater than a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet from which the leveling member conveys the waste toner in the first direction and the second direction is located at a portion of the collection container substantially below an inlet farthest from the detector.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a screw diameter greater than a screw diameter of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a conveyance area greater than a conveyance area of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein the leveling member comprises a screw having a spiral wing, and a first portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector has a screw pitch greater than a screw pitch of a second portion of the screw for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.