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

  • US 8,369,770 B2
  • Filed: 08/31/2009
  • Issued: 02/05/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner, comprising:

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

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

    a plurality of inlets through which waste toner is configured to be delivered to the collection container, the leveling member configured to level the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the plurality of inlets by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second direction being away from the detector, the first and second directions starting from an origination position below a first inlet of the plurality of inlets, the first inlet being configured to receive waste toner of a most frequently used toner, and a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the first direction toward the detector being greater than a conveyance capacity of the leveling member for conveying the waste toner in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

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