Collection container, cleaning unit, and image forming apparatus capable of collecting waste toner efficiently
First Claim
Patent Images
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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Abstract
A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner includes a leveling member, a detector, and at least one inlet. The leveling member levels the waste toner contained in the collection container. The detector detects an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container. The leveling member levels the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A cleaning unit comprising:
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a cleaner configured to collect waste toner; a collection container configured to collect and contain the waste toner collected by the cleaner; and a conveyer configured to convey the waste toner collected by the cleaner to the collection container, the collection container including; 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 conveyed by the conveyer 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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a collection container detachably attached to the image forming apparatus to collect and contain waste toner, the collection container 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- a collection container detachably attached to the image forming apparatus to collect and contain waste toner, the collection container comprising;
Specification