Patent Description:
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus attaches a toner to a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed or an intermediate transfer device, converts the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image, and then transfers the toner image onto paper to thereby output a predetermined image.

A non-transfer toner (hereinafter referred to as "waste toner") remains in a photosensitive medium when a toner image is transferred from the photoconductor or the intermediate transfer device onto paper. Such waste toner may need to be removed to properly output a next image. Accordingly, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a waste toner collecting device for collecting waste toner that has not yet been transferred, but remains. <CIT> discloses a collected toner container. <CIT> discloses a waste toner container.

The present invention provides a waste toner collecting device according to claim <NUM>.

The present disclosure is not limited to an example disclosed below and may be implemented in various forms and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples. In addition, all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims should be construed as being included within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the attached drawings are not drawn to scale to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, but the dimensions of some of the components may be exaggerated. In the following description, the generic use of the term "may" does not render corresponding technical features optional, in particular when the corresponding technical feature is recited in the independent claim.

Hereinafter, referring to <FIG>, an image forming apparatus <NUM> according to an example of the present disclosure will be briefly described, and then a waste toner collecting device <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an example of the present disclosure.

An image forming apparatus <NUM> may include a body <NUM>, a paper-feeding device <NUM>, a printing engine <NUM>, and a discharging device <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may be provided with a discharging tray 10a where paper with image formation completed is loaded on its upper part, and a paper-discharge hole 10b from which the paper with image formation completed is discharged and is disposed on one side of the discharging tray 10a.

The paper-feeding device <NUM> may be detachably and movably mounted on the body <NUM>, including a knock-up plate <NUM> disposed in the paper-feeding device <NUM> to load paper.

The paper-feeding device <NUM> may include a pick-up roller <NUM> which is disposed at an upper part of one side of the paper-feeding device <NUM> and picks up paper loaded in the knock-up plate <NUM> one-piece by one-piece, a forward roller <NUM> which receives the paper picked up by the pick-up roller <NUM> and moves the paper toward a transport roller <NUM>, a retard roller <NUM> which is disposed opposite to the forward roller <NUM> and prevents a plurality of pieces of paper from moving simultaneously, and a pair of transport rollers <NUM> which is disposed above the pick-up roller <NUM> and guides the paper picked up by the pick-up roller <NUM> to the printing engine <NUM>.

The printing engine <NUM> may form an image on paper P supplied from the paper-feeding device <NUM>. The printing engine <NUM> may form an image on the paper P by using an electro-photo method.

The printing engine <NUM> may include a developing device <NUM>, a developing cartridge <NUM>, a transfer device <NUM>, and a fusing device <NUM>.

The developing device <NUM> may form a predetermined image on the supplied paper P, and the fusing device <NUM> may fix a visible image onto the paper. The developing device <NUM> may include a photoconductor <NUM> which includes an image carrier for receiving a visible image by a toner, in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on its surface by an exposing device, a developing roller <NUM> which supplies a toner to the photoconductor <NUM> and allows the electrostatic latent image of the photoconductor <NUM> to be developed into a visible image by the toner, and a charging roller <NUM> which charges a surface of the photoconductor <NUM>.

The developing device <NUM> and the developing cartridge <NUM> may include a plurality of developing devices and a plurality of developing cartridges, respectively. The plurality of developing cartridges <NUM> may be connected to the plurality of developing devices <NUM>, respectively, and developers accommodated in the plurality of developing cartridges <NUM> may be respectively supplied to the plurality of developing devices <NUM>. The plurality of developing cartridges <NUM> and the plurality of developing devices <NUM> may be replaced individually.

The plurality of photoconductors <NUM> may form an electrostatic latent image, the developing cartridge <NUM> may attach a toner to each photoconductor <NUM> to form a visible image, and the transfer device <NUM> may transfer a visible image to paper.

The plurality of developing cartridges <NUM> may include a plurality of developer accommodation parts which respectively accommodate developers of C:cyan, M:magent, Y:yellow and K:black. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, but may further include the developing cartridges <NUM> and the developing devices <NUM> for accommodating and developing developers of various colors such as light magenta, white, etc..

Each of the plurality of developing cartridges <NUM> may store a toner of different color (e.g., yellow, magenta, cyan, and black), and attach a toner to the photoconductor <NUM> on which an electrostatic latent image is formed to form a visible image of different color.

The transfer device <NUM> may include an intermediate transfer belt <NUM> for overlapping a visible image formed in each photoconductor <NUM> and forming a color visible image, and a last transfer roller <NUM> for transferring the color visible image formed in the intermediate transfer belt <NUM> to paper. The visible image formed in each photoconductor <NUM> may be sequentially transferred and overlapped in the intermediate transfer belt <NUM>, and the visible image formed in each photoconductor <NUM> may be transferred to the immediate transfer belt <NUM>.

The visible image transferred to the paper P may be fused to a paper surface by receiving heat and pressure while passing through the fusing device <NUM>. The fusing device <NUM> may include a heating roller <NUM> which generates heat, and a pressure roller <NUM> which has an elastically deformable outer circumferential surface and presses paper against the outer circumferential surface of the heating roller <NUM>.

The paper P passing through the fusing device <NUM> may be discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus <NUM> by the discharging device <NUM>.

A waste toner may be inevitably generated in the developing device <NUM> when an image is developed on the paper P by a toner. Accordingly, although not shown, the developing device <NUM> may further include a cleaning device to remove the waste toner that remains in the photoconductor <NUM> after a transfer process.

The cleaning device may be disposed adjacent to the photoconductor <NUM> and remove a waste toner that has not yet been transferred, but remains in the photoconductor <NUM>.

A waste toner transport device <NUM> and a waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be mounted on one side of the body <NUM> to store the removed waste toner. The waste toner transport device <NUM> may guide waste toner separated from the photoconductor <NUM> to the waste toner collecting device <NUM>, and the waste toner collecting device <NUM> may store the waste toner collected from the waste toner transport device <NUM>.

The waste toner transport device <NUM> and the waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be detachably mounted on one side of the body <NUM>.

The waste toner may be generated in the intermediate transfer belt <NUM>. The toner which is transferred to the paper P and remains in the intermediate transfer belt <NUM> may be removed by a cleaning device (not shown) and accommodated in the waste toner transport device <NUM>. The waste toner may be also discharged to the waste toner collecting device <NUM>.

As described above, the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to an example has been described in detail. However, a developing method is not limited thereto, but various modifications and changes can be employed in the configuration of the image forming apparatus using the developing method.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view illustrating a waste toner transport device and a waste toner collecting device in an image forming apparatus according to an example of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a waste toner transport device <NUM> may be disposed to face the photoconductor <NUM>. Accordingly, the waste toner removed from the surface of the photoconductor <NUM> by the cleaning device (not shown) may flow into the waste toner transport device <NUM>.

The waste toner transport device <NUM> may include an inlet 91a for receiving waste toner which drops from the photoconductor <NUM>, and an outlet 91b which is disposed on one side under the inlet and allows the waste toner to be transported to the waste toner collecting device <NUM> under the outlet.

In addition, the waste toner removed from the surface of the immediate transfer belt <NUM> may flow into the waste toner transport device <NUM>.

The waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be disposed on one side under the waste toner transport device <NUM>. The waste toner discharged from the outlet 91b of the waste toner transport device <NUM> may be collected in the waste toner collecting device <NUM>.

A waste toner transport auger <NUM> which transports waste toner from the inlet 91a to the outlet 91b may be disposed in the waste toner transfer device <NUM>.

The waste toner transport auger <NUM> may be rotatably mounted in the waste toner transport device <NUM>. The waste toner transport auger <NUM> may transport waste toner flowing into the waste toner transport device <NUM> from the photoconductor <NUM> to the waste toner collecting device <NUM>. The waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be mounted on one end under the waste toner transport device <NUM> to be connected to the waste toner transport device <NUM>. A waste toner inlet <NUM> (referring to <FIG>) of the waste toner collecting device <NUM> may face the outlet 91b of the waste toner transport device <NUM>.

Waste toner may be transported to one side (toward outlet 90b) by rotation of the waste toner transport auger <NUM>, and the transported waste toner may be transported to the waste toner collecting device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an inside of a waste toner collecting device according to an example of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a waste toner collecting device <NUM> may include a waste toner container <NUM>, a detector <NUM>, and an auger <NUM>.

A waste toner inlet <NUM> into which the waste toner transported by the waste toner transport device <NUM> flows may be formed on one side of an upper surface of the waste toner container <NUM>. Waste toner flowing through the waste toner inlet <NUM> may be stored in the waste toner container <NUM>.

The waste toner inlet <NUM> may be provided with a shutter <NUM> which selectively opens and closes the waste toner inlet <NUM>. The shutter <NUM> may open the waste toner inlet <NUM> when the waste toner collecting device <NUM> is combined with the waste toner transport device <NUM>, and close the waste toner inlet <NUM> when the waste toner collecting device <NUM> is detached from the image forming apparatus <NUM>.

The waste toner container <NUM> may be a consumable product which is replaced when a space for storing waste toner is full. The detector <NUM> may detect waste toner accumulated in the waste toner container <NUM> and determine whether the waste toner container <NUM> is full.

According to an example of the present disclosure, by improving the storage efficiency of a storage space of the waste toner container <NUM>, a replacement cycle of the waste toner container <NUM> may become longer, and thus the cost of consumables may be reduced.

The detector <NUM> may be provided in the waste toner container <NUM> to detect whether the waste toner container <NUM> is full.

The detector <NUM> may be disposed on the other side, which is opposite to the waste toner inlet <NUM>. The detector <NUM> may be disposed farthest from where waste toner flows and accommodate the large amount of waste toner in the waste toner container <NUM>.

The detector <NUM> may be disposed at a predetermined height of the waste toner container <NUM>. The detector <NUM> may be disposed above lowest points of blades <NUM> and <NUM> of the auger <NUM> in the waste toner container <NUM>.

The detector <NUM> according to an example of the present disclosure may be a light sensor including a light emitting part <NUM> and a light receiving part <NUM>. Light emitted from the light emitting part <NUM> may be incident on the light receiving part <NUM>. When waste toner accumulates above a predetermined height, light may be partly blocked by the waste toner, and the amount of light incident on the light receiving part <NUM> may be reduced. When the amount of light detected by the light receiving part <NUM> is smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference amount of light, it is determined that the waste toner container <NUM> is full. In this case, a user may be notified to replace the waste toner container <NUM>.

However, the waste toner capacity of the waste toner container <NUM> at a time when waste toner is detected by the detector <NUM> may not mean that the waste toner container <NUM> is full, after a predetermined time passes from a time when the detector <NUM> detects waste toner, a user may be notified that the waste toner container <NUM> is full, and thus efficiency may be increased.

The auger <NUM> for dispersing the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner container <NUM> may be mounted in the waste toner container <NUM>. The auger <NUM> may be disposed in a horizontal direction with respect to the waste toner container <NUM> to disperse the waste toner in a horizontal direction of the waste toner container <NUM>.

The auger <NUM> may be rotatably mounted in the waste toner container <NUM> to cause the waste toner collected in the waste toner container <NUM> to be flattened. The detailed structure of the auger <NUM> to disperse the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner container <NUM> will be described below.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the waste toner container <NUM> may be provided with the auger <NUM> which disperses the stored waste toner. The waste toner flowing into the waste toner container <NUM> through the waste toner inlet <NUM> may drop by its own weight and accumulate under the waste toner inlet <NUM>.

As such, the waste toner flowing into the waste toner container <NUM> may accumulate in a mountain-like shape. Waste toner has lower fluidity and higher cohesion than new toner since impurities such as fiber constituents of paper are included during a printing process.

Although the waste toner container is not full, when the upper part of the waste toner, which accumulates in a mountain-like shape, is detected by the detector <NUM>, although the waste toner container <NUM> has a capacity to accommodate waste toner, the waste toner container <NUM> may need to be replaced. Therefore, it may be disadvantageous to use the waste toner collecting device <NUM> longer, and waste toner collecting efficiency may be reduced.

The waste toner collecting device <NUM> according to an example of the present disclosure may include an auger <NUM> which disperses waste toner in the waste toner container <NUM>.

The auger <NUM> may include a rotational shaft <NUM> and spiral-shaped blades <NUM> and <NUM>. One end of the rotational shaft <NUM> may extend to the outside of the waste toner container <NUM>. A gear (not shown) may be provided at one end of the rotational shaft <NUM> as an example of a power driving mechanism. When the waste toner collecting device <NUM> is mounted on the image forming apparatus <NUM>, the gear may be connected to a driver of the image forming apparatus, and thus the auger <NUM> may be driven.

The auger <NUM> according to an example of the present disclosure may delay a time at which the detector <NUM> detects whether the waste toner container is full.

The auger <NUM> may include the rotational shaft <NUM>, the first blade <NUM> and the second blade <NUM> spirally protruding from the rotational shaft <NUM>. The first and second blades <NUM> and <NUM> may be spiral-shaped blades disposed in a line to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on the rotational shaft <NUM>.

The first blade <NUM> may transport waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet <NUM> toward a first direction P1. The first direction P1 may be a direction from the waste toner inlet <NUM> toward the detector <NUM>. The second blade <NUM> may transport the waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet <NUM> toward a second direction P2. The second direction P2 may be a direction from the detector <NUM> toward the waste toner inlet <NUM>, which is opposite to the first direction P1.

The first blade <NUM> and the second blade <NUM> may be disposed on the same rotational shaft <NUM>. While the rotational shaft <NUM> rotates, waste toner may be transported in the first direction P1 by the first blade <NUM>, and in the second direction P2 by the second blade <NUM>.

The first blade <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the waste toner inlet <NUM>, and the second blade <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the detector <NUM>. The first blade <NUM> may be disposed closer to the second direction P2 than the second blade <NUM> and transport waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet <NUM> in a length direction of the waste toner container <NUM>.

The second blade <NUM> may include a first blade section 155a having a waste toner transport rate greater than a waste toner transport rate of the first blade <NUM>.

The second blade <NUM> may include a first blade section 155a and a second blade section 155b. The first blade section 155a may be disposed closest to the detector <NUM> among all blade sections of the second blade <NUM>.

The first blade section 155a may be disposed in the first direction P1 than the second blade section 155b to delay a transport speed of the waste toner transported in the first direction P1.

The transport speed of the waste toner transported to the detector <NUM> may be reduced by the first blade section 155a. Accordingly, it is possible to delay a time at which the detector <NUM> detects whether the waste toner container is full.

A diameter D1 of the first blade section 155a may be greater than a diameter of the first blade <NUM> and a diameter D2 of the second blade section 155b. When the diameter D1 of the first blade section 155a is greater, the amount of waste toner transported in the second direction P2 by rotation of the rotational shaft <NUM> may be greater than the amount of waste toner transported in other blade sections. Accordingly, a transport speed of the waste toner transported to the detector <NUM> may be slowed.

A transport speed of the waste toner transported to the detector <NUM> by the first blade section 155a may be controlled.

For example, when the diameter D1 of the first blade section 155a is greater than the diameter of the first blade <NUM> and the diameter D2 the second blade section 155b, the amount of waste toner which remains near the first blade section 155a may be increasingly transported in the second direction P2, and the speed of the waste toner transported toward the detector <NUM> may be reduced. Accordingly, it can be prevented that the waste toner collecting device <NUM> is replaced before the waste toner container <NUM> is full, and thus the waste tonner collecting device <NUM> may be used longer.

<FIG> illustrates that the diameter D1 of the first blade section 155a is greater than the diameter of the first blade <NUM> and the diameter D2 of the second blade section 155b. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a waste toner transport rate of the first blade section 155a may be greater than waste toner transport rates of other blade sections.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a waste toner collecting device to which an auger is applied according to another example of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, an auger <NUM> according to another example of the present disclosure may include a rotational shaft <NUM> and blades <NUM> and <NUM> for spirally winding the rotational shaft <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the blades <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first blade <NUM> and a second blade <NUM>. The first blade <NUM> is the same configuration as that of an example described in <FIG>, and thus the first blade section 165a of the second blade <NUM> will be described in detail to explain difference.

For example, a pitch S1 of the first blade section 165a may be greater than a pitch S2 of the first blade <NUM> and the second blade section 165b of the second blade. The pitch may refer to an arrangement spacing of blades in an axial direction of the rotational shaft <NUM>. When the pitch S1 of the first blade section 165a is greater, the amount of waste toner transported from the first blade section 165a toward the second direction P2 by the rotation of the rotational shaft <NUM> may be greater than the amount of waste toner transported from other blade sections. Accordingly, the transport speed of the waste toner transported to the detector <NUM> may be reduced.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, at least one of the diameter D1 or the pitch S1 of the first blade sections 155a and 165a may be greater than at least one of the diameter D1 or the pitch S1 of the first blade <NUM> and second blade sections 155b and 165b.

The second blades <NUM> and <NUM> with the first blade sections 155a and 165a may be disposed closer to the first direction P1 than the first blades <NUM> and <NUM>, and reversely transport waste toner transported toward detector <NUM> to thereby slow down the speed at which the waste toner is detected by the detector <NUM>.

The first blades <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second blades <NUM> and <NUM>. The augers <NUM> and <NUM> may have four sections. The first section A may include the first blades <NUM> and <NUM> formed in the first direction P1, the second section B may be a direction conversion section B formed between the first blades <NUM> and <NUM> and the second blades <NUM> and <NUM>, the third section C may include second blade sections 155b and 165b formed in the second direction P2, and the fourth section D may include the first blade sections 155a and 165a.

The second section B may be a section where the first blades <NUM> and <NUM> are spaced apart from the second blades <NUM> and <NUM>. The augers <NUM> and <NUM> may includes a plurality of blades of which waste toner transport directions are opposite to each other to include at least one direction conversion section.

Since the second section B, which is a direction conversion section, is provided in the middle part of the augers <NUM> and <NUM>, the collected waste toner may be transported and accumulated based on the second section B. The waste toner flowing through the waste toner inlet <NUM> may be accumulated in the first section A, transported to the second section B by the first blades <NUM> and <NUM>, and accumulated in the second section B by the second blades 155b and 165b. When the waste toner is accumulated up to the upper end of the waste toner container <NUM>, the accumulated waste toner may spread out to the first section A and the third section C on the basis of the second section B.

Hereinafter, a process of dispersing waste toner will be described in detail.

<FIG> and <FIG> are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of dispersing waste toner collected and accumulated in a waste toner collecting device according to an example of the present disclosure. <FIG> and <FIG> are time-series diagram illustrating a process of collecting waste toner in the waste toner collecting device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet <NUM> into the waste toner container <NUM> may drop by its own weight to be accumulated under the waste toner inlet <NUM>. The waste toner may be accumulated in a mountain-like shape under the waste toner inlet <NUM>, and the upper part of the waste toner in the mountain-like shape may be transported in the first direction P1 by the first blade <NUM> of the auger <NUM>.

The waste toner transported from the first section A toward the first direction may be transported to the direction conversion section B by the second blade <NUM> which transports waste toner in the second direction P2 and accumulated in the direction conversion section B. When the waste toner accumulated in the direction conversion section B becomes equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and the waste toner accumulates up to the upper end of the waste toner container <NUM> in the direction conversion section B, the waste toner may push each other, spread out in the first direction P1 and the second direction P2 based on the direction conversion section B to be transported to the first section A and the third section C.

The waste toner may rise in a mountain-like shape by being pressed against each other when accumulated in the direction conversion section B, but there may be no blade in the direction conversion section B, so that toner may not be agglomerated in the auger <NUM>. Accordingly, the torque rise of or damage to the auger <NUM> may be prevented.

Referring to <FIG>, the waste toner spreading out from the direction conversion section B toward the first direction P1, which is the first section A, may have a lower speed than the waste toner spreading out toward the second direction P2.

Since a waste toner transport rate of the fourth section D including the first blade section 155a is greater than waste toner transport rates of the first section A and the third section C, the amount of waste toner transported from the first blade section 155A, which is the fourth section D1, toward the second direction P2 may be increased. As the waste toner transport rate of the first blade section 155a increases, the speed of the waste toner transported toward the detector <NUM> may be reduced, so that a time for detecting waste toner by the detector <NUM> may be delayed.

Accordingly, the capacity of waste toner container <NUM> may be used at most, so that the waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be used longer.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a waste toner collecting device according to another example of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a waste toner collecting device to which an auger is applied according to another example of the present disclosure.

Referring to 6A, a waste toner collecting device <NUM> according to another example of the present disclosure may include a waste toner container <NUM>, a detector <NUM>, and an auger <NUM>.

However, the waste toner container <NUM> and the detector <NUM> are same as those of the waste toner collecting device <NUM> according to an example of the present disclosure as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the repeated description will be omitted. Hereinafter, the auger <NUM> according to another example of the present disclosure will be described for explaining difference.

The auger <NUM> may include a rotational shaft <NUM> and spiral-shaped blades <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The rotational shaft <NUM> may be the same as the rotational shaft <NUM> described in <FIG> and <FIG>, and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The blades <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> spirally protruding from the rotational shaft <NUM> may include a plurality of blades <NUM> and <NUM> which transport waste toner in the first direction P1 and a plurality of blades <NUM> and <NUM> which transport waste toner in the second direction P2.

The first direction P1 may be a direction from the waste toner inlet <NUM> toward the detector <NUM>, and the second direction P2 may be a direction from the detector <NUM> toward the waste toner inlet <NUM>, which is opposite to the first direction P1.

The auger <NUM> may include the blades <NUM> and <NUM> which transport waste toner in the first direction P1, and the blades <NUM> and <NUM> which transport waste toner in the second direction P2, which are alternately arranged on the rotational shaft <NUM>.

At least one of the blades <NUM> and <NUM> which transport waste toner in the first direction P1 may be disposed adjacent to the waste toner inlet <NUM> on the rotational shaft <NUM>. Since the blades <NUM> and <NUM> which transport waste toner in the first direction P1 are arranged adjacent to the waste toner inlet <NUM>, the waste toner flowing into the waste toner inlet <NUM> and dropping may be transported in a length direction of the waste toner contained <NUM> to be dispersed.

At least one of the blades <NUM> and <NUM> which transport waste toner in the second direction P2 may be disposed adjacent to the detector <NUM> on the rotational shaft <NUM>. Since the blades <NUM> and <NUM> that transport waste toner in the second direction P2 are disposed adjacent to the detector <NUM>, a transport speed of the waste toner which is transported toward the detector <NUM> may be reduced, and thus the collecting space of the waste toner container <NUM> may be efficiently used.

The first, second, third and fourth blades <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of the auger <NUM> may include the first blade <NUM> and the second blade <NUM>, and the third blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM> disposed between the first blade <NUM> and the second blade <NUM>.

The third blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM> disposed between the first blade <NUM> and the second blade <NUM> may be provided in plural, and the third and fourth blades may be alternately disposed in pairs on a rotational shaft.

The first blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM> may transport waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet <NUM> toward the first direction P1. The second blade <NUM> and the third blade <NUM> may transport waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet <NUM> toward the second direction P2.

The first, second, third and fourth blades <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed on the same rotational shaft <NUM>. The first, second, third and fourth blades <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be sequentially disposed on the rotational shaft <NUM> in a direction from the waste toner inlet <NUM> toward the detector <NUM>. When the rotational shaft <NUM> rotates, waste toner may be transported in the first direction P1 by the first blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM>, and transported in the second direction P2 by the second blade <NUM>, and the third blade <NUM>.

The second blade <NUM> may be a blade section having a waste toner transport rate greater than a waste toner transport rate of the first blade <NUM>. The second blade <NUM> may be disposed closer to the first direction P1 than the first blade <NUM>, and reversely transport the waste toner transported toward the detector <NUM> to thereby reduce a speed at which the waste toner is detected by the detector <NUM>.

For example, when a diameter of the second blade <NUM> is greater than diameters of the first blade <NUM>, the third blade <NUM>, and the fourth blade <NUM>, the amount of waste toner that remains near the second blade <NUM> may increase, so that the speed at which waste toner is transported toward the detector <NUM> may be reduced. Accordingly, it can be prevented that the waste toner container <NUM> is not filled, and the waste toner container <NUM> is replaced with a new one, so that the waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be used longer.

A transport speed of the waste toner transported to the detector <NUM> may be reduced by the second blade <NUM>. Accordingly, a time for detecting whether the waste toner container is full by the detector <NUM> may be delayed.

<FIG> illustrates that the diameter D1 of the second blade <NUM> is greater than diameters of the other blades <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The second blade <NUM> may be formed to have a waste toner transport rate greater than waste toner transport rates of other blade sections.

The first blade <NUM> to the fourth blade <NUM> may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. For example, the auger <NUM> may include a plurality of sections. For example, the auger <NUM> may include <NUM> (six) sections. The first section A may include the first blade <NUM> formed in the first direction P1, the second section C may include the third blade <NUM> formed in the second direction P2, the third section D may include the fourth blade <NUM> formed in the first direction P1, and the fourth direction F may include the second blade <NUM> formed in the second direction P2.

The first direction conversion section B may be formed between the first section A and the second section C, and the second direction conversion section E may be formed between the third section D and the fourth section F.

The first direction conversion section B may be a section in which the first blade <NUM> and the third blade <NUM> are spaced apart from each other, and the second direction conversion section E may be a section in which the fourth blade <NUM> and the second blade <NUM> are spaced apart from each other.

When waste toner is centrally transported and collected based on the first and second direction conversion sections B and E, and the waste toner container <NUM> is filled up to its the upper end, the waste toner may press against each other and spread out toward the first direction P1 and the second direction P2 based on the first and second direction conversion sections B and E.

The auger <NUM> may have a plurality of direction conversion sections B and E. Accordingly, by reducing a length where the waste toner pushes against each other in both directions in the first and second direction conversion sections B and E, it is possible to prevent a torque of the auger <NUM> from being increased. Since a length where waste toner pushes against each other from a single direction conversion section toward the first and second directions P1 and P2 is smaller than a length where waste toner pushes against each other from a plurality of direction conversion sections B and E toward the first and second directions P1 and P2, the auger <NUM> may operate with a lower driving torque. As the driving torque of the auger <NUM> is reduced, a large amount of waste toner may be stacked, thereby maximizing the collecting capacity of the waste toner collecting device <NUM>.

The diameter D1 of the second blade <NUM> disposed closest to the detector <NUM> may be greater than the diameter D2 of the fourth blade <NUM>. The second blade <NUM> may increase the amount of waste toner transported in the second direction P2 and collect the waste toner in the waste toner container <NUM> as much as possible until when the waste toner is transported to the detector <NUM>.

The diameter D2 of the first blade <NUM>, the diameter D3 of the third blade <NUM>, and the diameter D2 of the fourth blade <NUM> may be smaller than or the same as the diameter D1 of the second blade <NUM>.

The diameter D3 of the third blade <NUM> which is disposed in the middle part of the auger <NUM> and transports the waste toner in the second direction P2 may be smaller than or the same as the diameter D2 of the first blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM> which transports the waste toner in the first direction P1. Since the diameter D3 of the third blade <NUM> is smaller than the diameters of the first blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM>, waste toner may be smoothly transported in the central part of the auger <NUM>, and thus the waste toner may be prevented from reversely flowing into the waste toner inlet <NUM>.

The second blade <NUM> and the third blade <NUM> which transport waste toner in the second direction P2 may have the same length.

Referring to <FIG>, an auger <NUM> according to another example of the present disclosure may include a rotational shaft <NUM>, and blades <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> for spirally winding the rotational shaft <NUM>.

The first, second, third and fourth blades <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> which are different from the configurations of an example described in <FIG> will be described in detail.

For example, referring to <FIG>, a pitch S1 of the second blade <NUM> may be greater than pitches S2 and S3 of the first blade <NUM>, the third blade <NUM>, and the fourth blade <NUM>. The pitch may refer to an arrangement spacing of blades in an axial direction of the rotational shaft <NUM>. When the pitch of the second blade <NUM> is greater, the amount of waste toner transported from the second blade <NUM> toward the second direction P2 by rotation of the rotational shaft <NUM> may be greater than the amount of waste toner transported from other blade sections. The transport speed of the waste toner transported to the detector <NUM> may be reduced.

In addition, the pitch S3 of the third blade <NUM> which is provided in the middle of the auger <NUM> and transports waste toner in the second direction P2 may be smaller than or the same as the pitch S2 of the first blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM> which transports waste toner in the first direction P1. Since the pitch S3 of the third blade <NUM> is smaller than the diameters of the first blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM>, waste toner may be smoothly transported in the central part of the auger <NUM>, and thus waste toner may be prevented from reversely flowing into the waste toner inlet <NUM>.

In other words, at least one of the diameter D1 or the pitch S1 of the second blade <NUM> may be greater than at least one of diameters or pitches of the third blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM>.

At least one of the diameter D3 or the pitch S3 of the third blade <NUM> may be smaller than at least one of diameters or pitches of the first blade <NUM>, the second blade <NUM>, and the fourth blade <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are views illustrating a process of dispersing waste toner collected and accumulated in a waste toner collecting device according to another example of the present disclosure. <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> illustrate a process of collecting waste toner in a waste toner collecting device according to an example of the present disclosure in a time series.

Referring to <FIG>, waste toner flowing from the waste toner inlet <NUM> into the waste toner container <NUM> may drop by its own weight and accumulate under the waste toner inlet <NUM>. Waste toner may accumulate in a mountain-like shape under the waste toner inlet <NUM>, and the upper part of the waste toner accumulated in a mountain-like shape may be transported in the first direction P1 by the first blade <NUM> of the auger <NUM>.

The waste toner transported in the first direction P1 may be transported to the first direction conversion section B by the third blade <NUM> which transports waste toner in the second direction P2 and accumulated in the first direction conversion section B. When the waste toner accumulated in the first direction conversion section B accumulates in equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and the waste toner accumulates up to the upper end of the waste toner container <NUM> in the first direction conversion section B, the waste toner may push against each other and spread out toward the first direction P1 and the second direction P2 based on the first direction conversion section B.

The waste toner may rise in a mountain-like shape by being pressed against each other when accumulated in the first direction convention section B, but since there is no blade in the first direction conversion section B, the waste toner may not be agglomerated in the auger <NUM>. Accordingly, the torque rise of or damage to the auger <NUM> may be prevented.

Referring to <FIG>, the waste toner transported from the first direction conversion section B toward the first direction P1 by the fourth blade <NUM> may be transported to the second direction conversion section E by the second blade <NUM> and accumulated in the second direction conversion section E. When the waste toner accumulated in the second direction conversion section E is in equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the waste toner may push against each other in the second direction conversion section E, and spread out toward the first direction P1 and the second direction P2 based on the second direction conversion section E.

A waste toner unit rate of the second blade <NUM> may be greater than a waste toner unit rate of the fourth blade <NUM>, so that a speed of the waste toner transported from the second direction conversion section E toward the first direction P1 may be reduced.

When at least one of a diameter or a pitch of the second blade <NUM> is greater than at least one of diameters and pitches of other blades <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, the amount of waste toner transported from the detector <NUM> toward the second direction P2 may be increased. As the second blade <NUM> increases the amount of waste toner transported in the second direction P2, a time for detecting waste toner by the detector <NUM> may be reduced. Accordingly, the space of the waste toner container <NUM> may be used as large as possible, so that the waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be used longer.

The waste toner may be evenly flattened over the entire area of the waste toner container <NUM> by the auger <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, since the amount of waste toner transported from the second direction conversion section E toward the first direction P1 is smaller than the amount of waste toner transported from the second direction conversion section E toward the second direction P2, a time for detecting waste toner by the detector <NUM> may be delayed.

A space U where waste toner is filled the latest may be formed between the third blade <NUM> and the fourth blade <NUM> by the waste toner transported from the second direction conversion section E toward the second direction P2 and the waste toner transported from the first direction conversion section B toward the first direction P1.

A driving torque applied to the auger <NUM> may be reduced when the space U is formed. As the driving torque of the auger <NUM> is reduced, the large amount of waste toner may be stacked and the collecting capacity of the waste toner collecting device <NUM> may be maximized.

Claim 1:
A waste toner collecting device (<NUM>, <NUM>), including:
a waste toner container (<NUM>) to collect waste toner;
a detector (<NUM>) to detect an amount of waste toner collected and accumulated in the waste toner container; and
an auger (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to disperse the waste toner in the waste toner container,
wherein the auger includes:
a first blade (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to transport the waste toner in a first direction (P1) toward the detector in the waste toner container; and
a second blade (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to transport the waste toner in a second direction (P2) opposite to the first direction in the waste toner container,
wherein the second blade includes a first blade section (155a, 165a, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a waste toner transport rate greater than a waste toner transport rate of the first blade,
wherein the second blade includes a second blade section (155b), whereby a diameter (D1) of the first blade section is greater than a diameter (D2) of the second blade section; and
wherein the first blade section of the second blade is disposed closest to the detector among all blade sections of the second blade.