Disposed toner collecting device of image forming apparatus

• US 7,894,760 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Sophia S
• Application Number:
  US12/207,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20090067873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 399/358, 399/360, 399/258, 399/261, 399/99
• US Class Current: 399/358
• 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 and to be fed;

a feeding assistance unit configured to provide oscillation to the disposed toner in the guide, the feeding assistance unit including a sliding plate to turn the guide and a spring that turns the sliding plate in a first direction;

a cam driven by a driving unit in the image forming unit;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit a driving force of the cam to the feeding assistance unit to turn the sliding plate in a direction opposing the first direction in accordance with a shape of the cam; 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 collecting unit has a feeding unit connected to the guide and configured to feed the disposed toner falling from the guide in a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising an elastic first seal member that seals a connection part between the guide and the feeding unit.

4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising an elastic second seal member that seals a connection part between the guide and the disposed toner discharge unit.

5. The device according to claim 1, 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 in 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 sliding plate turns about an attachment part with the guide serving as a fulcrum of the turn, and the attachment part is integrated with the transmitting unit.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding plate includes two lateral parts that slide in contact with inner walls of the guide.

9. 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, the feeding assistance unit including a sliding plate to turn the guide and a spring that turns the sliding plate in a first direction;

a cam driven by a driving unit in the cleaning unit;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit a driving force of the cam to the feeding assistance unit to turn the sliding plate in a direction opposing the first direction in accordance with a shape of the cam; and

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

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, 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.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, 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.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, 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 in a predetermined direction, and a collection container that houses the disposed toner fed by the feeding unit.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the sliding plate turns about an attachment part with the guide serving as a fulcrum of the turn, and the attachment part is integrated with the transmitting unit.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the sliding plate includes two lateral parts that slide in contact with inner walls of the guide.

15. 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 by turning a sliding plate in a first direction by a spring force and turning the sliding plate in a direction opposite the first direction by a pressing force; and

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

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the sliding plate turns about an attachment part with the guide serving as a fulcrum of the turn.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the sliding plate slides two lateral parts in contact with the inner walls of the guide.