Toner collecting device
First Claim
1. A toner collecting device for collecting toner which has been removed from an image retainer by means of a cleaning device, after a toner image formed upon said image retainer with toner has been transferred to a transfer material, comprising:
- a toner collecting container;
a conveyor device, for conveying said removed toner from said cleaning device to said toner collecting container, disposed within said toner collecting container and comprising a rotatable screw having a first proximal end portion for receiving said removed toner from said cleaning device and a second distal end portion for discharging said conveyed removed toner into an interior portion of said toner collecting container; and
a diffusion member mounted upon said second distal end portion of said rotatable screw for distributing and conveyed removed toner throughout said toner collecting container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toner collecting device for collecting residual toner removed from an image retainer by a cleaning device after a toner image formed on the image retainer has been transferred to a sheet of paper. The toner collecting device has therein a conveyor device for carrying the residual toner. The conveyor device has its leading end portion disposed at a central portion of the toner collecting device. The upper surface of the toner collecting device has functions to guide transfer paper and to support a transfer electrode, and the leading end portion of the conveyor device is provided with a toner distributing diffusion blade member.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A toner collecting device for collecting toner which has been removed from an image retainer by means of a cleaning device, after a toner image formed upon said image retainer with toner has been transferred to a transfer material, comprising:
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a toner collecting container; a conveyor device, for conveying said removed toner from said cleaning device to said toner collecting container, disposed within said toner collecting container and comprising a rotatable screw having a first proximal end portion for receiving said removed toner from said cleaning device and a second distal end portion for discharging said conveyed removed toner into an interior portion of said toner collecting container; and a diffusion member mounted upon said second distal end portion of said rotatable screw for distributing and conveyed removed toner throughout said toner collecting container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A toner collecting system for collecting toner which has been removed from an image retainer by means of a cleaning device, after a toner image formed upon said image retainer with toner has been transferred to a transfer material, comprising:
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a toner collecting container; conveyor means, for conveying said removed toner toward said toner collecting container from said cleaning device, having a first proximal end portion for receiving said removed toner from said cleaning device and a second distal end portion, disposed in fluidic communication with an interior portion of said toner collecting container, for discharging said conveyed removed toner into said interior portion of said toner collecting container; and a diffusion member mounted upon said second distal end portion of said conveyor means and disposed within said toner collecting container for distributing said conveyed removed toner throughout said toner collecting container. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification