Toner collecting device, image forming unit and image forming apparatus

• US 7,634,213 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimizu, Yoshiyuki, Tatsumi, Kenzo, Ooyoshi, Hirobumi, Yoshida, Tomofumi, Yamada, Shintaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Brase; Sandra L
• Application Number:
  US11/554,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20070104523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 399/120, 399/358, 399/359, 399/360
• US Class Current: 399/120
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste

Abstract

In a toner collecting device of the present invention for conveying collected waste toner to a waste toner storing portion with a toner conveying device, the toner conveying device is positioned at a side opposite to a driveline included in an apparatus body to which the toner collecting device is mounted. A driveline for driving the toner conveying device is not arranged at the side opposite to the driveline of the apparatus body, but the toner conveying device is directly driven by the driveline of the apparatus body. With this configuration, the toner collecting device is capable of driving, e.g., a toner conveying belt or a toner conveying screw arranged at the counter drive side without sophisticating the configuration.

Claims

1. A toner collecting device for conveying collected waste toner to a waste toner storing portion, comprising:

a toner conveying means, said toner conveying means is positioned at a side opposite to a driveline included in an apparatus body to which said toner collecting device is mounted, said toner conveying means being directly driven by said driveline of said apparatus body;

a first waste toner scattering means configured to scatter the waste toner in said toner storing portion, the waste toner being conveyed to said waste toner storing portion by said toner conveying means; and

a second waste toner scattering means configured to scatter the waste toner in a direction opposite to said first waste toner scattering means, and said second waste toner scattering means is configured as a drive shaft for driving said toner conveying means,

wherein a driveline for driving said toner conveying means is not arranged at said side opposite to said driveline of said apparatus body.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner conveying means comprises a conveying belt.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said first and second waste toner scattering means includes a toner conveying screw.

4. An image forming unit comprising:

an image carrier;

a cleaning device configured to remove toner left on said image carrier;

a toner collecting device configured to convey waste toner removed from said image carrier by said cleaning device to a waste toner storing portion with a toner conveying means for thereby collecting said waste toner;

a first waste toner scattering means configured to scatter the waste toner in said toner storing portion, the waste toner being conveyed to said waste toner storing portion by said toner conveying means; and

a second waste toner scattering means configured to scatter the waste toner in a direction opposite to said first waste toner scattering means, and said second waste toner scattering means is configured as a drive shaft for driving said toner conveying means,

wherein said toner conveying means is positioned at a side opposite to a driveline included in an apparatus body to which said toner collecting device is mounted, the toner conveying means being directly driven by said driveline of said apparatus body,

and wherein a driveline for driving said toner conveying means is not arranged at said side opposite to said driveline of said apparatus body.

5. The unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said waste toner storing portion is disposed in said developing device.

6. The unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said waste toner storing portion is separated from a fresh toner storing space by a deformable partition member.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming unit including an image carrier and a cleaning device configured to remove toner left on said image carrier;

a toner collecting device configured to convey waste toner removed from said image carrier by said cleaning device to a waste toner storing portion with a toner conveying means for thereby collecting said waste toner;

a first waste toner scattering means configured to scatter the waste toner in said toner storing portion, the waste toner being conveyed to said waste toner storing portion by said toner conveying means; and

a second waste toner scattering means configured to scatter the waste toner in a direction opposite to said first waste toner scattering means, and said second waste toner scattering means is configured as a drive shaft for driving said toner conveying means,

wherein said toner conveying means is positioned at a side opposite to a driveline included in an apparatus body to which said toner collecting device is mounted, the toner conveying means being directly driven by said driveline of said apparatus body,

and wherein a driveline for driving said toner conveying means is not arranged at said side opposite to said driveline of said apparatus body.