Image recording apparatus
US6266511A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S222/01
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus has a waste toner transporting path that includes a substantially vertical first path and a second path. The waste toner falls due to its weight through the first into the second path. A spiral member is in the form of, for example, a coil spring or screw conveyor, and axially extends in the second path and rotates to transport the waste toner along the second path. A resilient agitator is mounted on an inner wall of the first path. The agitator is generally in the shape of a rectangle and has a resilient main body with a first end portion, a second end portion, and an agitating strap that resiliently extends away from the main body. The first end portion is fixedly attached to the inner wall of the first path. When the spiral member rotates, the spiral member slidingly engages the second end portion to cause the second end to move along the second path so that the second end portion finally snaps out of engagement with the spiral member. After the second end portion snaps out of engagement with the spiral member, the second end portion resiliently returns to its original position so that the spiral member again slidingly engages the second end portion as…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.