Abstract:
Embodiments for a toner auger for use in an image forming device. The image forming device includes a channel through which toner is moved. The auger is positioned within the channel and has an axis of rotation and at least one offset section extending radially outward from the axis of rotation. The offset section forms a sweep envelope that extends outward from the axis of rotation. The auger may be positioned within the channel for the offset to contact the channel. Contact may cause a vibratory force that prevents the toner from clogging and bridging within the channel.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     During the image forming process, inefficiencies from the photoconductive member to the media create waste toner. This may include toner that has been applied to a photoconductive member but not transferred to a media sheet or belt, or toner that is applied to a belt but not transferred to the media sheet. This waste toner should be removed and transported away to prevent print quality problems. The waste toner may be stored at a variety of locations. Previous devices have stored the waste toner in an area adjacent to image formation area. Other designs transport the waste toner from the image formation area to a remote area within the device.  
         [0002]     Regardless of the location of the waste toner reservoir, the waste toner is conveyed from the location where the waste toner is removed from the photoconductive member or belt to the waste toner reservoir. The path for moving the waste toner is usually an enclosed conduit having a reduced cross-sectional size. The cross-sectional size of the path is often kept as small as possible in an attempt to keep the overall size of the image forming device to a minimum. The physical properties of the waste toner and the pathway have caused issues in the ability to move the waste toner to the waste toner reservoir. In one instance, the waste toner accumulates within the pathway and forms a bridge that blocks additional toner from being transported through the pathway. Instead of passing through the pathway, the waste toner backs up and may ultimately leak into the image formation area.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to embodiments for a waste toner auger for use in an image forming device. The auger is positioned within a channel to move toner within the image forming device. The auger has an axis of rotation and at least one offset section. The offset section forms a sweep envelope that extends outward from the axis of rotation. The auger may be positioned within the channel for the offset to contact the channel. Contact may cause a vibratory force that prevents the toner from clogging and bridging within the channel. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an image forming device according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view illustrating elements of the waste toner system according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a partial cut-away perspective view illustrating a section of the waste toner system according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a waste toner auger according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an auger within a housing according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating a waste toner auger according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating a waste toner auger according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is a partial cut-away perspective view illustrating a section of the waste toner system according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an auger within a housing according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     For purposes of explanation of the basics of image formation,  FIG. 1  illustrates the general elements of one embodiment of an image forming device  10 . The representative image forming device  10  comprises a main body  12  with one or more image forming units  100 . Color image forming devices typically include four image forming units  100  for printing with cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner to produce a four-color image on the media sheet. In this embodiment, each image forming unit  100  comprises a developer section  40  and a photoconductive section  50 . Toner is originally stored within the developer section  40  and is ultimately moved to a photoconductive member  51  within the photoconductive section  50 . The toner image on the photoconductive member  51  is then transferred to a media sheet moving along a transport belt  20 .  
         [0014]     Following the image forming process, residual waste toner is moved from the photoconductive section  50  through a waste toner system as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The waste toner system comprises a toner chute  60  and a waste toner reservoir  83 . For simplicity,  FIG. 2  illustrates a single image forming unit  100  attached to the toner chute  60 . For a color image forming device, three additional image forming units  100  may also be attached to the toner chute  60 . The waste toner from the photoconductive section  50  is moved into the toner chute  60  and ultimately deposited within the reservoir  83 . Each of the photoconductive sections  50  and toner chute  60  include waste toner pathways that may experience toner bridging and clogging during toner movement. This bridging and clogging may prevent the waste toner from ultimately reaching the waste toner reservoir  83 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates an interior portion of the photoconductive section  50 . A cleaner blade  53  removes residual toner from the photoconductive drum (not shown) and deposits the residual toner into an interior channel  61  of a cleaner housing  62 . An auger  54  is positioned within the interior channel  61  to move the waste toner along the interior channel  61  and through a port  64  into the toner chute  60 . The auger  54  may be affixed at one end to a drive gear  66 . The drive gear  66  is driven by a motor within the main body  12  to rotate the auger  54  and moves the waste toner towards the port  64  and into the toner chute  60 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of an auger  54  used for moving the waste toner. The auger  54  has an elongated length with a helical configuration. In this embodiment, the auger  54  has a curved shape that is offset from a centerline C of an axis of rotation. The offset O varies along the length from no offset at the ends  58 ,  59 , to a maximum offset at a central area. The amount of offset may be measured from the centerline C to a variety of locations on the auger (e.g., center, outer edge, inner edge). During rotation, the auger  54  has a sweep envelope that varies along the axial length of the auger as a function of the amount of offset O. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the sweep envelope is two times the amount of offset O. In one embodiment, the centerline C of the auger  54  and the channel are both substantially linear.  
         [0017]     The auger  54  rotates within the interior channel  61  to move toner along the length of the photoconductive section  50 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view cut along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3  illustrating the interior channel  61  and auger  54 . The interior channel  61  is formed by sidewalls  62  and may include an opening  69  to receive the waste toner that is removed from the photoconductive member  51 . In this embodiment, the auger  54  is positioned for the offset to contact the interior channel  61  at two locations. The other axial sections of the auger  54  have smaller sweep envelopes and therefore do not contact the interior channel  61 .  
         [0018]     The position of the auger  54  and the offset O brings the central area of the auger  54  into contact against the sidewalls  62  during rotation. This contact may, even if only momentarily, interrupt the rotation of the waste toner auger  54 . During this interruption, drive gear  66  may continue to apply a rotational force to the auger  54 . The applied rotational force may build a mechanical force within the waste toner auger  54 . This force may be released when the built force overcomes any friction between the waste toner auger  54  and the interior channel  61 . Upon release of the built force, the auger  54  may rotationally accelerate, and then may resume normal rotation speed. This vibratory force, in conjunction with the rotating auger  54 , causes the accumulated waste toner to continually break apart, preventing bridging and clogging of the waste toner as it is transported along the waste toner conveyance path.  
         [0019]     During a single revolution of the waste toner auger  54  there may be numerous contact, force build and force release cycles along an axial section of the interior channel  61 . The embodiment of  FIG. 5  includes two points of contact (i.e., the left and lower sidewalls  62  as viewed in  FIG. 5 ). Further, the auger  54  may be shaped for one or more axial contact points along the length. The embodiment of  FIG. 5  illustrates one axial contact, although more points may be used depending upon the application.  
         [0020]     The auger  54  may have a variety of different shapes.  FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment having a stepped configuration with an offset O from the centerline C that increases towards a central area.  FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment having a variety of axial sections that are offset from the centerline C. Axial sections  53 ,  54 , and  55  are each sized to contact the interior channel  61 . Offset sections  53 , and  55  are offset a greater amount than offset section  54 . Sections  53 ,  55  create a greater amount of vibration during rotation than section  54  that causes a smaller amount of vibration. In other embodiments, each of the offsets may be the same, or each may be different depending upon the desired results. The shapes of the offsets may also vary as necessary. Offsets having an elongated surface, such as sections  53  and  55 , may impart a greater vibratory force during rotation than a smaller offset surface such as section  54 . The ends  58 ,  59  of the auger  54  may both be positioned on the centerline C of the axis of rotation as illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , or one or both ends may be offset from the centerline C as illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0021]     The interior channel  61  may have a variety of shapes. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the interior channel  61  has a substantially rectangular shape. In another embodiment, the interior channel  61  has an oval or circular shape. In one embodiment the interior channels  61 ,  63  are elongated with nearly parallel sides. In one embodiment the interior channels  61 ,  63  may be constructed with various cross-sectional shapes, including square, flat, tapered, and other shapes known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates another application for placing the auger  54  within the toner chute  60 . In this embodiment, the auger  54  is vertically positioned within the chute  60  and uses gravity for further assistance to move the waste toner. However, testing has indicated that the waste toner may clog and bridge within the vertical chute  60 . The auger  54  of the present invention is necessary to reduce or eliminate this problem.  
         [0023]     The auger  54  may be constructed in various shapes and sizes of wire or solid shafts having a non-linear shape. In one embodiment the waste toner auger  54  may be formed from a helically-curved wire. In one embodiment the waste toner auger  54  may be a solid shaft helical screw having pitched blades or fins. In one embodiment the waste toner auger  54  may be constructed with various cross-sectional shapes including square, flat, tapered, etc. The auger  54  may be constructed of a deformable material. This causes the cross-sectional shape of the offset to deform during contact with the interior channel  61 . The shape then returns towards the normal shape after the offset moves beyond the contact.  
         [0024]     The auger  54  may be positioned at a variety of locations within the interior channels  61 ,  63 . In one embodiment, the auger  54  is centered within the channels. In another embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the auger  54  is positioned away from a center of the channel.  
         [0025]     The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.