Patent Publication Number: US-11650534-B2

Title: Waste toner collecting device for increasing waste toner collecting efficiency

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     An image forming apparatus is an apparatus for developing a black-and-white image and a color image on a paper sheet according to an image signal. Representative examples of the apparatus include a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile, etc. 
     An image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type outputs a predetermined image by forming an electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image by attaching a toner to a photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and transferring the toner image onto paper sheet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an example; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating a waste toner transfer device and a waste toner collecting device of an image forming apparatus according to an example; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a dispersing member disposed in a waste toner container according to an example; and 
         FIG.  5    is a front view illustrating a waste toner collecting device according to an example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is not limited to the examples disclosed below and may be implemented in various forms and the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the following examples. In addition, all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included within the scope of the disclosure. In the following description, the configuration which is publicly known but irrelevant to the gist of the disclosure may be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are not drawn to scale to facilitate understanding of the disclosure, and the dimensions of some of the components may be exaggerated. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an image forming apparatus  1  according to according to an example is described, and then a waste toner collecting device  100  will be described in detail. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an example. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  may include a main body  10 , a paper feeding device  20 , a print engine  30 , and a discharge device  40 . 
     The main body  10  may form an external appearance of the outside of the image forming apparatus  1  and support various components mounted therein. 
     The paper feeding device  20  may include a paper feeding tray  21  on a lower part of the main body  10 , a pick-up roller  23  for picking up paper S loaded in the paper feeding tray  21  one piece by one piece, a registration roller  25  for providing a transfer force to the picked up paper S and aligning paper S to allow an image to be transferred onto a portion of the paper S, and a paper feeding roller  27  for loading the paper S between the photosensitive drum  31  and the transfer roller  35 . 
     The print engine  30  may form a predetermined image onto the paper S supplied from the paper feeding device  20 . The print engine  30  may include a photosensitive drum  31 , a charger  32 , an exposure device  33 , a developing device  34 , a transfer roller  35 , and a fixing device  38 . Although the print engine  30  and the paper feeding device  20  are illustrated as different configurations, but the paper feeding device  20  may be included in the print engine  30 . 
     The electrostatic latent image may be formed in the photosensitive drum  31 . The photosensitive drum  31  may form an image by operations of the charger  32  and the exposure device  33 . The photosensitive drum  31  may be referred to as an image forming medium, a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive belt, etc. according to its form. 
     For ease of explanation, the configuration of the print engine  30  corresponding to a single color will be described, but in the implementation, the print engine may include a plurality of photosensitive drums, a plurality of chargers, a plurality of exposure devices, and a plurality of developing devices, an intermediate transfer belt, etc. corresponding to a plurality of colors. 
     The charger  32  may charge the surface of the photosensitive drum  31  to a uniform potential. The charger  32  may be implemented in the form of a corona charger, a charging roller, a charging brush, or the like. 
     The exposure device  33  may form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum  31  by changing a surface potential of the photosensitive drum  31  according to image information to be printed. 
     The developing device  34  may include a developer therein and supply a developer to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible image. The developing device  34  may include a developing roller  37  which supplies the developer to the electrostatic latent image. 
     The transfer roller  35  may be mounted to face an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum  31 . The toner developed onto the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum  31  may be transferred to the paper S passing through between the transfer roller  35  and the photosensitive drum  31  by contact pressure force between a transfer bias or the photosensitive drum  31  and the transfer roller  35 . 
     The fixing device  38  may fix the toner to the paper S by applying heat and pressure to a visible image on print paper. 
     The discharge device  40  may include a paper discharge roller  41  for discharging the paper S passing through the fixing device  38  and having a predetermined image printed thereon to a paper discharge tray  42  outside the main body  10 . 
     A print process of the image forming apparatus  1  will be briefly described. The photosensitive drum  31  may be charged to a predetermined potential though the charger  32 , an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image to be printed on the outer circumferential surface may be formed in response to light scanned from the exposure device  33 . The toner in the developing device  34  may be supplied to the photosensitive drum  31  in which the electrostatic latent image is formed through the developing roller  37 , and a visible image may be developed on the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum  31 . 
     The paper S may move along a movement path A. The paper S loaded at the top of the paper feeding tray  21  may be picked up by the pick-up roller, and aligned and fed by the registration roller  25  and the paper feeding roller  27  to pass through between the photosensitive drum  31  and the transfer roller  35 . The toner image developed on the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum  31  may be transferred on the opposite surface to the photosensitive drum  31 . The toner image transferred onto the paper S may pass through the fixing device  38  to be fixed to the paper S by heat pressure, transferred by the paper discharge roller  41 , and loaded in the paper discharge tray  42 . 
     In the process of developing an image onto the paper S using the toner, waste toner may be inevitably generated by the print engine  30 . Therefore, the print engine  30  may include a cleaning member  50  for removing waste toner generated after a transfer process. 
     One side of the cleaning member  50  may contact a side surface of the photosensitive drum  31  along the length direction of the photosensitive drum  31  with a predetermined pressure, and remove waste toner that remains in the photosensitive drum  31  after a transfer process is completed. 
     The image forming apparatus  1  may include a waste toner transfer auger  60  for transferring waste toner generated by the print engine  30  to the waste toner collecting device  100 , and a waste toner collecting device  100  for collecting the transferred waste toner. 
     The waste toner transfer auger  60  may be mounted in the developing device  34  to rotate in a predetermined direction. The waste toner transfer auger  60  may transfer waste toner removed by the photosensitive drum  31  due to rotation to the waste toner collecting device  100  along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum  31 . 
     The waste toner collecting device  100  may be formed on one end portion of the main body  10  to store waste toner transferred by the waste toner transfer auger  60 . The waste toner collecting device  100  may be separably disposed on one side of the main body  10 . 
     As described above, the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an example has been described in detail, but a developing method is not limited thereto. The configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a developing method is subject to various modifications and changes. 
       FIG.  2    is a perspective view illustrating a waste toner transfer device and a waste toner collecting device of an image forming apparatus according to an example, and  FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of  FIG.  2   . 
     For ease of explanation,  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3    illustrate a waste toner collecting device  100  and a waste toner transfer auger  60  in a state where the waste toner collecting device  100  is mounted on the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , the waste toner transfer auger  60  mounted in the main body  10  and rotating in a predetermined direction may transfer waste toner removed by the photosensitive drum  31  to the waste toner collecting device  100  along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum  31 . One end of the waste toner transfer auger  60  may be coupled to the waste toner collecting device  100  to be disposed inside the waste toner collecting device  100 . 
     The waste toner collecting device  100  may include a waste toner container  110  for storing waste toner, a sensor  130  for detecting the amount of waste toner collected and accumulated in the waste toner container  110 , and a rotatable dispersing member  150  for moving part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container to the opposite side. 
     The waste toner container  110  may form a collecting space inside for collecting waste toner, and collect waste toner discharged from a waste toner inlet  171 . The waste toner container  110  may be detachably attached to one side of the main body  10 . When water toner is full in the waste toner container  110 , the waste toner container  110  may be detached from the main body  10 , and discharge waste toner to the outside through the waste toner output  105 . The empty waste toner container  110  may be mounted on the main body  10 . 
     The inside of the waste toner container  110  may be divided to a plurality of spaces by a collecting case  111 . The collecting case  111  may be divided into upper spaces  101  and  102  and a lower space  103 . The upper spaces  101  and  102  may be spaces where waste toner including impurities discharged through the waste toner inlet  171  is collected, and the lower space  103  may be a space where a waste developer discharged from a waste developer inlet  190  is collected. 
     The collecting case  111  may be integrally formed with the waste toner container  110 . 
     A guide wall  112  may be provided on the upper side of the collecting case  111 . The guide wall  112  may be upwardly inclined in one direction of the waste toner container  110 . The guide wall  112  may be upwardly inclined in a direction where a sensor  130  is disposed. One side of the guide wall  112  may be disposed on the lower side of the waste toner inlet  171 . 
     The upper spaces  101  and  102  of the guide wall  112  may include a first area  101  formed on the right side of the guide wall  112 , and a second area  102  formed on the left side of the guide wall  112 . The first area  101  may be an area where the sensor  130  is disposed, and the second area  102  may be an area where the sensor  130  is not disposed. 
     The waste toner outlet  105  for discharging waste toner collected in the waste toner container  110  to the outside may be disposed on the other side opposite to one side of the waste toner container  110  where the sensor  130  is disposed. The waste toner outlet  105  may be disposed in the second area  102 . 
     The first area  101  and the second area  102  may be connected to each other, and divided based on the guide wall  112 , but are not limited thereto. The first area  101  may be an area where the sensor  130  is disposed, and the second area  102  may be an area where the sensor  130  is not disposed. 
     The dispersing member  150  may move the waste toner to the second area  102  where the sensor  130  is not disposed, so that usability of the waste toner container  110  of the waste toner collecting device  100  increases and the replacement cycle of the waste toner collecting device  100  increases, thereby enhancing the convenience of a user. 
     The guide wall  112  may guide the waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet  171  to the second area  102 . Therefore, the guide wall  112  may guide the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container  110  to the second area  102  where the sensor  130  is not disposed to improve the storage efficiency of the waste toner container  110 . 
     The sensor  130  may be disposed in the waste toner container  110 . The sensor  130  may waste toner accumulated up to a mounting height. The sensor  130  may be disposed in the upper spaces  101  and  102  to sensor whether the upper spaces  101  and  102  are fully filled. 
     The sensor  130  may be disposed in the first area  101  of the upper spaces  101  and  102 . The sensor  130  may be disposed at a height lower than the waste toner inlet  171 . The sensor  130  may detect the amount of waste toner collected and accumulated at a predetermined height of the waste toner container  110  and prevent the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner container  110  from being flowing into the waste toner inlet  171  again. The sensor  130  may be disposed at a height similar to as same as the waste developer inlet  190  in the lower space  103  of the waste toner container  110 . 
     The waste toner inlet  171  may be provided above the upper spaces  101  and  102 . The waste toner flowing through the waste toner inlet  171  may be dispersed and accumulated in the first area  101  and the second area  102 . If the waste toner accumulates at a height equal to or more than that of the sensor  130  in the first area  101 , the processor (not shown) of the image forming apparatus  1  may determine that the upper spaces  101  and  102  are full. 
     For example, the sensor may be an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. If the waste toner accumulates at a height more than that of the sensor  130  in the first area  101 , part of light may be blocked by waste toner, and the amount of light incident on the light receiving unit may be reduced. If the amount of light detected by the light receiving unit is equal or less than a reference amount, it may be determined that the upper spaces  101  and  102  are full. In this case, the processor (not shown) of the image forming apparatus  1  may determine that the upper spaces  101  and  102  are full, and inform the user of this, so that the user may replace the waste toner container  110 . 
     An insert hole  115  into which a waste toner transfer auger  60  is inserted may be formed one side of the waste toner container  110 . When the waste toner container  110  is mounted on the main body  10 , one end of the waste toner transfer auger  60  may be disposed inside the waste toner container  110  through the insert hole  115 . The waste toner transfer auger  60  may allow the waste toner to flow into the waste toner container  110  while being inserted into the insert hole  115 . 
     The waste toner container  110  may include the waste toner inlet  171 . The waste toner inlet  171  may be provided on the upper end of the waste toner container  110 . The waste toner inlet  171  may be formed on one end of the waste toner transfer auger  60  to be opened and closed by a shutter  170   
     The waste toner inlet  171  may be formed in a portion of the waste toner transfer auger  60  flowing into the inside of the waste toner container  110 . The waste toner inlet  171  may be formed to be opened downwardly such that the waste toner drops toward a bottom of the waste toner container  110 . 
     The waste toner transfer auger  60  may include the shutter  170  for opening and closing the waste toner inlet  171 . 
     When the waste toner collecting device  100  is mounted on the main body  10 , the shutter  170  may be pushed in a direction of the main body  10  by a push groove  116  formed on an outer wall surface of the waste toner container  110  to open the waste toner inlet  171 . In this case, the rear end of the shutter  170  may be elastically supported by the elastic member  173 . 
     When the waste toner collecting device  100  is separated from the main body  10 , a pressing force in the direction of the main body  10  by the push groove  116  may be removed, and the shutter may move in the direction of the waste toner collecting device  100  by the elastic member  173  to close the waste toner inlet  171 . 
     A dispersing member  150  to move part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container  110  to the opposite side to the sensor  130  may be provided inside the waste toner container  110 . 
     The dispersing member  150  may include a coupling member  151  coupled to one end of the waste toner transfer auger  60 , and a plurality of blades  153  extending from the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member  151  across the waste toner inlet  171 . 
     The dispersing member  150  may be rotationally disposed in the waste toner inlet  171 . The dispersing member  150  may be mounted on one side of the waste toner transfer auger  60 , and rotate together with the waste toner transfer auger  60  by the rotation of the waste toner transfer auger  60 . 
     The dispersing member  150  may rotate in a direction to move part of the waste toner flowing through the waste toner inlet  171  to the second area  102  opposite to the sensor  130 . The rotational direction of the dispersing member  150  may be determined according to the location of the sensor  130 . 
     For example, referring to  FIG.  2   , when the sensor  130  is mounted on the right side of the waste toner inlet  171 , the dispersing member  150  may be disposed to rotate in a clockwise direction to move the waste toner to the left side. When the sensor  130  is mounted on the left side of the waste toner inlet  171 , the dispersing member  150  may be disposed to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to move the waste toner to the right opposite to the sensor. 
     The dispersing member  150  may disperse the waste toner by moving part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container  110  by rotation to one side. For example, the dispersing member  150  may move the waste toner to the second area  102  opposite to the sensor  130 . 
     The dispersing member  150  may disperse waste toner by moving the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner container  110  to one side. 
     Part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container  110  through the waste toner inlet  171  may drop by its weight and accumulate right under the waste toner inlet  171 . In the case of waste toner, impurities such as fabric components, etc. of paper may be included in a print process. Therefore, it may have lower fluidity than a new toner, and a high coherence. In such a manner, the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container  110  may accumulate in a mountain-like shape. 
     The dispersing member  150  may directly hit the upper portion of the waste toner which accumulates in a mountain-like shape to move it to the second area  102 . Therefore, the waste toner accumulated in a mountain-like shape under the waste toner inlet  171  may flow into the main body  10  through the waste toner inlet  171 , so that the image forming apparatus  1  may be prevented from being contaminated by the waste toner. 
     The dispersing member  150  may prevent the waste toner accumulating under the waste toner inlet  171  in a vertical direction, so that the waste toner may be uniformly loaded in the waste toner container  110 . 
     The detailed shape and structure of the dispersing member  150  will be described below. 
       FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a dispersing member disposed in a waste toner container according to an example. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the dispersing member  150  may include a coupling member  151  coupled to one end of the waste toner transfer auger  60 , and a plurality of blades  153  extending from the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member  151  across the waste toner inlet  171 . 
     The coupling member  151  may be coupled to one end of the waste toner transfer auger  60 . The coupling member  151  may be disposed lower than the waste toner inlet  171 , but at a distal end of the waste toner transfer auger  60 . 
     The coupling member  151  may be coupled to the waste toner transfer auger  60  by at least one gear  160 . The gear connecting between the coupling member  151  and the waste toner transfer auger  60  may be determined according to the rotational direction of the dispersing member  150 . 
     For example, when the rotation direction of the dispersing member  150  and the rotational direction of the waste toner transfer auger  60  are opposite to each other such as the waste toner transfer auger  60  may rotate in a first direction, and the dispersing member  150  rotates in a second direction, which is a reverse direction of the first direction, the dispersing member  150  and the waste toner transfer auger  60  may be connected by a planetary gear  163 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the coupling member  151  and an inside gear  161  may be disposed in a concentric structure with a plurality of planetary gears  163  interposed therebetween. 
     The inside gear  161  may rotate in a direction together with the waste toner transfer auger  60 , the plurality of planetary gears  163  engaged with the inside gear  161  may rotate in a second direction, which is a reverse direction of the first direction, and the coupling member  151  disposed on the outer circumferential surface to be engaged with the planetary gear  163  may rotate in a second direction. If the coupling member  151  rotates, the plurality of blades  153  formed on the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member  151  may rotate in the second direction. 
     The planetary gear  163  may transmit the rotational force of the inside gear  161  to the coupling member  151 , and the planetary gear  163  may include a plurality of planetary gears between the inside gear  161  and the coupling member  151 . Threads respectively corresponding to the inside gear  161 , the coupling member  151  and the planetary gear  163  may be formed to effectively transmit the rotational force. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates that the dispersing member  150  and the waste toner transfer auger  60  rotate oppositely, but is not limited thereto. When the dispersing member  150  and the waste toner transfer auger  60  rotate in the same direction such as the dispersing member  150  rotates in the first direction, and the waste toner transfer auger  60  rotates in the first direction, the dispersing member  150  and the waste toner transfer auger  60  may be connected by an internal gear. 
     In this case, an internal gear may be mounted outside the waste toner transfer auger  60 , and when the internal gear rotates together with the waste toner transfer auger  60 , the internal surface of the coupling member  151  may be formed to be coupled to the outer surface of the internal gear so that the dispersing member  150  and the waste toner transfer auger  60  rotate in a same direction. 
     A plurality of blades  153  may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member  151 . The plurality of blades  153  may be disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member  151  at a predetermined interval. 
     The blade  153  may be formed to pass through the lower portion of the waste toner inlet  171  into which the waster toner flows by the rotation of the dispersing member  150 . Each of the plurality of blades  153  may extend across the waste toner inlet  171 . Each of the plurality of blades  153  may extend in a direction from the coupling member  151  coupled to one side of the waste toner transfer auger  60  to the waste toner inlet  171 . 
     Each of the plurality of blades  153  may be disposed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the waste toner transfer auger  60 . The blade  153  may be disposed in parallel to the waste toner transfer auger  60 . 
     The blade  153  may be disposed from the outer circumferential surface of the waste toner transfer auger  60  at a predetermined interval. The blade  153  may be disposed to be spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the shutter  170 . 
     The blade  153  may pass through the lower portion of the waste toner inlet  171  by the rotation of the dispersing member  150 . The blade  153  may move from the first area  101  to the second area  102  based on the waste toner inlet  171  and pass through the lower portion of the waste toner inlet  171 . 
     Accordingly, the blade  153  may pass through the lower portion of the waste toner inlet  171  and move part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inlet  171  in the second area, which is a rotational direction. The blade  153  may move the part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inlet  171  to the opposite side of the sensor  130 . 
     One surface of the blade  153  may be a dispersion surface on which part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inlet  171  drops. The part of the waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet  171  and vertically dropping may drop onto the dispersion surface of the blade  153  rotating at the waste toner inlet  171  for a predetermined period of time and move to the second area  102 . 
     The blade  153  may be radially disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member  151  and move the part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inlet  171  in the rotational direction of the dispersing member  150 .  FIG.  4    illustrates that the blade  153  is radially formed, but is not limited thereto. The blade  153  may be formed in various shapes. For example, the blade  153  may be formed in a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the waste toner transfer auger  60 , and be formed to further include a surface perpendicular to the blade  153  which is radially formed. 
     The dispersing member  150  may disperse waste toner accumulated in the waste toner container  110  to the second area  102  and delay a time for the sensor  130  provided in the first area  101  to detect the saturation state of the waste toner container  110 . 
     The amount of waste toner accumulated in the second area  102  may increase by the dispersing member  150  including the blade  153  for moving the waste toner in a direction opposite to the sensor  130 , and therefore the storage efficiency of the storage space of the waste toner container  110  may be enhanced. 
     The process in which the waste toner collected in the waste toner collecting device  100  is dispersed by the dispersing member  150  will be described below. 
       FIG.  5    is a front view illustrating a waste toner collecting device according to an example. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inlet  171  may move to the second area  102  by the dispersing member  150  rotating in a clockwise direction at the waste toner inlet  171   
     The blade  153  under the waste toner inlet  171  may move from the first area  101  to the second area  102  and transfer waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet  171  to the second area  102 . Part of the waste toner may be pushed in the rotational direction of the blade  153  by one surface of the blade  153  and move to the second area  102 . 
     In addition, air may flow from the first area  10  toward the second area in the lower part of the waste toner inlet  171  according to the rotation of the dispersing member  150 , and the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container  110  in a scattered state by the rotation of the dispersing member  150  may move to the second area  102  alongside with air flow. 
     The waste toner transferred to the second area  102  by the blade  153  may arrive at the guide wall  112 , and move to the second area  102  by the guide wall  112  downwardly inclined toward the second area  102 . 
     Part of the remainder of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inlet  171  may accumulate in a mountain-like shape right under the waste toner inlet  171 , and the upper part of the waste toner in the mountain-like shape may be conveyed in the second direction by the dispersing member  150  rotating in a clockwise direction. 
     The blade  153  under the waste toner inlet  171  may move from the first area  101  to the second area  102  and hit the upper part of the waste toner in the mountain-like shape in a rotational direction to move the waste toner to the second area  102 . 
     The waste toner may be accumulated in the mountain-like shape under the waste toner inlet  171 , but the blade  153  rotationally moving to the second area  102  in the lower part of the waste toner inlet  171  may prevent the waste toner from accumulating in the mountain-like shape. Accordingly, torque rise or damage of the waste toner transfer auger  60  that can occur when waste toner flows into the waste toner transfer auger  60  may be prevented. 
     A waste developer discharged from the waste developer inlet  190  may be collected in the lower space  103 . The dispersing member  150  may be additionally disposed in the waste developer inlet  190 . 
     The dispersing member  150  according to an example of the disclosure may move part of the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container  110  to the opposite side to the sensor  130 , and delay a time for the sensor  130  to detect the saturation state of the waste toner container  110 . Accordingly, the capacity of the waste toner container  110  may be used at the maximum level, which results in using the waste toner collecting device  100  lasting longer, and extending the replacement cycle of the waste toner container  110 . Therefore, user convenience may be improved. 
     The waste toner may be flattened because the waste toner can be evenly dispersed across the entire area of the waste toner container  110  through the dispersing member  150 . 
     Further, the dispersing member  150  may be driven by the rotational force of the waste toner transfer auger  60 , not a dedicated or separate source, which means it is driven by a driving force of an existing driving source, and it reduces manufacturing costs. 
     In addition, the dispersing member  150  may be disposed at the waste toner inlet  171  into which waste toner flows, and it does not interfere with a collecting device in which waste toner accumulates. Therefore, reducing a collecting space by providing a dispersing member may be avoided, and the minimization of the waste toner collecting device  100  may be achieved. 
     As described above, the disclosure has been described in view of various examples. The terms used herein are for explanation, not limitation. According to the various examples disclosed herein, various modifications and changes to the disclosure could be made. Therefore, unless otherwise additionally mentioned, the disclosure can be implemented in the scope of claims.