DRUM UNIT PROVIDED WITH AUGERS FOR CONVEYING WASTE TONER

• US 20170285557A1
• Filed: 03/23/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Tamura, Hikaru
• Granted Patent: US 10,274,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 therefrom;

a first auger extending in the first direction and rotatable upon receipt of a drive force from the photosensitive drum, the first auger being configured to convey the waste toner removed by the blade in the first direction; and

a second auger extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, the second auger being rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from the first auger and being configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by the first auger in the second direction.

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 an auger gear meshing with the drum gear.

3. The drum unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first pulley coaxially provided at the first auger and configured to rotate together with 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.

4. The drum unit according to claim 3, further comprising a contact member configured to make contact with the endless belt between the first pulley and the second pulley.

5. The drum unit according to claim 4, further comprising a support member supporting the another end portion of the photosensitive drum, the contact member being supported by the support member and being movable relative to the support member.

6. The drum unit according to claim 5, wherein the support member includes a boss protruding in the first direction, and

wherein the contact member comprises a rod having a base end portion and a distal end portion opposite to each other, the base end portion being fitted to the boss of the support member, the distal end portion being in contact with the endless belt.

7. The drum unit according to claim 6, wherein the contact member further comprises an urging member configured to urge the distal end portion of the rod toward the endless belt.

8. The drum unit according to claim 3, wherein the photosensitive drum includes a drum shaft extending in the first direction and defining the axis, the endless belt having an inner peripheral surface defining an inner space, the drum shaft being positioned in the inner space of the endless belt when viewed in the first direction.

9. The drum unit according to claim 3, wherein the photosensitive drum includes a drum shaft extending in the first direction and defining the axis, the drum shaft being in contact with the endless belt between the first pulley and the second pulley.

10. The drum unit according to claim 3, further comprising:

a first bevel gear rotatable with the second pulley, the first bevel gear being integral with the second pulley; and

a second bevel gear provided at one end of the second auger in the second direction and rotatable with the second auger, the second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear.

11. The drum unit according to claim 10, further comprising a bearing including a first support shaft and a second support shaft, the first support shaft rotatably supporting the first bevel gear, the second support shaft rotatably supporting the second bevel gear.

12. The drum unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

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

a first pulley provided with gear teeth meshing with the auger gear, the first pulley being configured to rotate upon receipt of the driving force from the first auger through the auger gear;

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.

13. 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 therefrom;

a first auger extending in the first direction, 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; and

a rotatable body in contact with the one end portion of the photosensitive drum, the rotatable body being rotatable upon receipt of a driving force from the photosensitive drum, the second auger being rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from the rotatable body.

14. The drum unit according to claim 13, wherein the photosensitive drum further includes a drum gear provided at the one end portion, and

wherein the rotatable body comprises a gear meshing with the drum gear.

15. The drum unit according to claim 14, wherein the first auger comprises an auger gear meshing with the drum gear, the first auger being rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from the photosensitive drum.

16. The drum unit according to claim 13, further comprising:

a first bevel gear configured to rotate upon receipt of the driving force from the rotatable body; and

a second bevel gear coaxial with the second auger and rotatable with the second auger, the second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear.

17. The drum unit according to claim 16, wherein the rotatable body comprises:

a gear in contact with the one end portion of the photosensitive drum and configured to receive the driving force from the photosensitive drum; and

a first pulley rotatable with the gear,

the drum unit further comprising;

a shaft extending in the first direction, the shaft having one end and another end opposite to each other in the first direction, the first bevel gear being provided at the another end of the shaft and rotatable with the shaft; and

a second pulley coaxially provided at the one end of the shaft and rotatable with the shaft; and

an endless belt mounted over the first pulley and the second pulley and configured to transmit the driving force from the rotatable body to the shaft, the second auger being rotatable upon receipt of the driving force from the shaft.