JP2912073B2 - Waste toner recovery device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image onto paper, and to a waste toner collecting apparatus for collecting waste toner generated in a plurality of waste toner collecting sections provided in the image forming apparatus. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional full-color copying machine provided with a waste toner collecting device, as shown in FIG. , A magenta developing tank 103, a cyan developing tank 104, and a black developing tank 105 are arranged adjacent to each other in this order. When color copying is performed, first, the optical system 106 scans an original (not shown) on the original platen glass 113 three times, and each time scanning, reflected light from the original is slit onto the photosensitive belt 101 through a color separation filter. Exposure is performed to form an electrostatic latent image having a complementary color relationship with the yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. Each time an electrostatic latent image is formed, the yellow developing tank 10
2. The yellow toner, the magenta toner, and the cyan toner are individually supplied in this order from the magenta developing tank 103 and the cyan developing tank 104, and the images are superimposed on the transfer belt 107 pressed against the photosensitive belt 101. Has become.

When the above-described image superposition is completed, copy paper (not shown) is transferred from the paper feed cassette 108 to the transfer roller 1.
09, where the toner image is transferred to copy paper. After completion of the transfer process, the copy sheet is heated and fixed by the fixing device 114, and then discharged outside the apparatus. At the time of black-and-white copying, only the black toner stored in the black developing tank 105 is used to form a toner image on the photoreceptor belt 101, and thereafter, the same steps as in the above-described color copying are performed.

In the copying machine having the above configuration, the photoreceptor belt 101, the transfer belt 107, and the transfer roller 109 to which the toner adheres are provided with cleaning units 110 to 112 for scraping off the remaining toner. These cleaning units 110 to 112 are provided with a waste toner receiver 110 a for storing waste toner generated by scraping.
To 112a to collect waste toner during maintenance.

[0005]

However, in the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional waste toner collecting apparatus, the waste toner is collected at the three positions of the photosensitive belt 101, the transfer belt 107, and the transfer roller 109 at the time of maintenance. It had to be done, which was very time-consuming. Further, the waste toner receivers 110a to 112a are provided on the front side of the copying machine so that the waste toner can be easily collected.
In particular, the waste toner receivers 110a and 111a having a large size interfere with each other, so that the front space is narrowed, and the workability of maintenance is deteriorated. Furthermore, when one of the three waste toner receivers 110a to 112a provided at the three waste toner receivers reaches the storage limit, the operation of the copier is stopped even if the other waste toner receivers have room. Therefore, there is also a disadvantage that the efficiency of collecting waste toner is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and enables the collection of waste toner to be concentrated at one place, thereby improving the workability of maintenance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a waste toner collecting device that can efficiently collect waste toner without causing toner clogging or the like even when it occurs.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner collecting apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image to a sheet. And a waste toner transport path disposed via the plurality of waste toner recovery sections, and a waste toner generated at each waste toner recovery section provided at an outlet of the waste toner transport path. A waste toner collection box that collectively stores the waste toner, and a waste toner collection unit that collects a larger amount of waste toner than other waste toner collection units is provided downstream of the other waste toner collection units. It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner collecting apparatus,
In order to solve the above problems, the waste toner collecting device having a plurality of waste toner collecting portion provided in the image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image on a sheet, the plurality of waste toner collecting
Waste toner transported to the rear side of the image forming apparatus after collection
Over a retrievable via all the waste toner collection unit, image
Conveying first waste toner disposed along the back of the image forming apparatus
And a waste toner collection box provided at the exit of the waste toner collection path and collectively storing the waste toner generated in each waste toner collection unit. Features.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for collecting waste toner.
In order to solve the above problems, the waste toner collecting device having a plurality of waste toner collecting portion provided in the image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image on a sheet, the plurality of waste toner collecting
Waste toner transported to the rear side of the image forming apparatus after collection
Over a retrievable via all the waste toner collection unit, image
Conveying first waste toner disposed along the back of the image forming apparatus
And a waste toner collection box provided at the exit of the waste toner collection path and collectively storing the waste toner generated in each waste toner collection section. An auger shaft in which a spiral blade is formed around a rotation shaft is provided inside the toner conveying path so as to be rotatable by a photoconductor drum driving device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner collecting apparatus,
In the configuration according to claim 2 or 3, the above-mentioned problem is solved.
Therefore, the waste toner collecting box is located in front of the image forming apparatus.
And the waste toner transport path is
The end is connected to the waste toner collection box and the first waste toner transport path.
A second waste toner conveying path connected to each other;
It is characterized by having.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF] According to the 4 claims 1 above, the waste toner collected by a plurality of waste toner recovery unit of the image forming apparatus, the waste toner conveyance path (first waste toner carrying path, a second
Through the waste toner conveying path) , the toner is collectively stored in a waste toner collecting box provided at the exit of the waste toner conveying path. Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the waste toner collecting unit that collects a large amount of waste toner is disposed near the waste toner collecting box, and the distance from the waste toner collecting unit that collects a large amount of waste to the waste toner collecting box. Is set to be shorter. Therefore, for example, toner clogging in the waste toner transport path, which is a problem when a large amount of waste toner is transported, is reduced.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 3, a copying machine (image forming apparatus) to which a waste toner collecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied is formed of hard transparent glass at the upper end of a copying machine main body 80. An original mounting table 81 is provided. A document (not shown) placed on the document table 81 is illuminated by the lamp unit 1, and reflected light from the document passes through the mirrors 2, 3, 4, the lens unit 5, and the mirrors 6, 7. The light is exposed on the photosensitive drum 8 rotatable in the direction of arrow B in FIG. The lamp unit 1, the mirror 2, and the like constitute a scanner 83.

Prior to exposure, a charging charger 14 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 is provided in the rotation area of the photosensitive drum 8 so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the exposed portion. Has become. Further, on the downstream side of the charging charger 14, an inter-image eraser (not shown), a developing device 82,
Transfer belt 15, cleaning unit (waste toner collection unit) 1
9 and the static elimination lamp 13 are arranged in this order.
The developing device 82 includes a black developing tank 9, a yellow developing tank 10, a magenta developing tank 11, and a cyan developing tank 12, and the developing tanks 9 to 12 store toners of respective colors. I have. Transfer belt 15
Is formed in an endless belt shape, and is provided so as to be movable in the direction of arrow C in the figure.

The copying machine main body 80 is provided with a detachable paper feed cassette 18 for accommodating copy paper. Further, the copy paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 18 is supplied to the transfer belt 15 at a predetermined timing. Rollers 17 and 17 to send the copy paper to the transfer belt 1
And a transfer roller 16 for transferring a toner image by pressing against the transfer roller 5. On the paper output side, there are provided a fixing device 30 for heating and fixing the toner image on the copy paper, and paper output rollers 31 for discharging the copy paper after fixing outside the machine. Below the transfer belt 15, a transport belt 28 that transports the copy sheet on which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer roller 16 to the fixing device 30 is arranged.

The cleaning section 19 includes a cleaning blade 19a, a waste toner receiver 20, and an auger shaft 21 having a spiral blade formed around a rotation shaft. The cleaning blade 19a scrapes the scraped toner, the scraped waste toner is received by the waste toner receiver 20, and the accumulated waste toner is sent by the auger shaft 21 in the discharge direction.

Further, in addition to the cleaning section 19 provided in the rotation area of the photosensitive drum 8, a cleaning section (waste toner collecting section) 25 is provided in the moving area of the transfer belt 15, and a cleaning section is provided below the transfer roller 16. Sections (waste toner collecting section) 22 are provided, and the cleaning section 2
Reference numerals 2 and 25 have the same configuration as the cleaning unit 19. Specifically, the cleaning unit 22 (25)
A cleaning blade 22a (25a), a waste toner receiver 23 (26), and an auger shaft 24 (27);
The cleaning blade 22a (25a) scrapes off the toner remaining on the transfer roller 16 (transfer belt 15),
The scraped waste toner is received by the waste toner receiver 23 (26), and the accumulated toner is sent by the auger shaft 24 (27) in the discharge direction.

Then, the waste toner receiver 20, 23.2
The waste toner accumulated in the cartridge 6 is sequentially conveyed by waste toner collecting pipes (waste toner conveying paths) 70, 72, 74, and 76, respectively.
Is to be stored.

In the above configuration, color copying is performed according to the following operation procedure. When the charging charger 14 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 8, a first scan is performed by the scanner 83, and the reflected light from the document passes through a color separation filter (not shown) to the charging charger 14 and the inter-image eraser. Photoconductor drum 8 located between
The surface is subjected to slit exposure, and a blue electrostatic latent image is formed on the exposed portion. Next, the portion corresponding to the non-image area of the electrostatic latent image is erased by the inter-image eraser, and the yellow toner from the yellow developing tank 10 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image in the image area that is not erased, so that the same color toner image is formed. It is formed. Next, the toner image circulates in the direction of arrow C in the figure, and a part of the toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 15 pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 8. Thereafter, the charge removing lamp 13 removes the charge remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8.

Subsequently, the charger 14 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 again, and the reflected light from the original obtained by the second scan is slit-exposed.
A green electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8. Thereafter, similarly, the non-image area is erased by the inter-image eraser, and magenta toner is supplied from the magenta developing tank 11 to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image of the same color.
Next, the same processing as described above is performed to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive drum 8 to the transfer belt 15, and after image superposition is performed, the residual charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 is removed by the discharging lamp 13. Removed.

Subsequently, the charging charger 14 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 8, and the reflected light from the original obtained by the third scan is slit-exposed, so that a red electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8. An image is formed. Similarly, the non-image area is erased by the inter-image eraser, and cyan toner is supplied from the cyan developing tank 12 to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image of the same color. Then, this toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 15, and final image superposition is performed.

Thereafter, the toner image on the transfer belt 15 on which the image is superimposed is transferred to the sheet feeding cassette 1 at the position of the transfer roller 16.
8 is transferred to a copy sheet supplied via registration rollers 17. The copy sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fixing unit 30 by the transport belt 28,
After the toner image is heat-fixed by the fixing unit 30, the toner image is discharged out of the apparatus by discharge rollers 31.

The black-and-white copying is performed by supplying a black toner from a black developing tank 9 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 8 and transferring the toner image to copy paper via a transfer belt 15. Will be

On the other hand, during the black-and-white and color copying operations as described above, in order to remove the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 8, the transfer belt 15, and the transfer roller 16, each of the above-described cleaning units 19, 22,. 25, a waste toner collecting process is performed.

The transfer efficiency of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 8 to the transfer belt 15 is about 90 to 95%, and some toner not contributing to the transfer remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8. become. Such residual toner is removed from the cleaning blade 19 provided in the cleaning unit 19.
a and is collected in the waste toner receiver 20.

The transfer efficiency of the toner image from the transfer belt 15 to the copy paper is about 80 to 85%. On the transfer belt 15, in addition to the toner image corresponding to the original,
Because of the exposed area, a toner image of an unexposed portion in the front and rear areas of the document is formed, and these residual toners that are not directly transferred to the copy sheet remain on the transfer belt 15. These residual toners are removed from the cleaning blade 25 provided in the cleaning unit 25.
a and is collected by the waste toner receiver 26.

When the toner image on the transfer belt 15 is transferred onto the copy sheet by the transfer roller 16, the transfer roller 16 is pressed against the transfer belt 15 via the copy sheet. Depending on the size, there is a portion where the transfer belt 15 and the transfer roller 16 are in direct contact. Therefore, in this portion, the toner on the transfer belt 15 moves and adheres to the transfer roller 16. If the toner adhering to the transfer roller 16 is left unattended, it may cause stain on the back of the copy paper. Therefore, the residual toner adhering to the transfer roller 16 is removed by the cleaning blade 22a provided in the cleaning unit 22. The toner is scraped off and collected in the waste toner receiver 23.

In this manner, each cleaning unit 19
In steps 22 and 25, the waste toner is collected. However, the transfer unit 15 collects the waste toner which is not directly related to the toner image formed on the original. Is the largest.

Further, the waste toner receivers 20, 23, 26
As shown in FIG. 1, the waste toner receiver 2 is disposed inside the copying machine main body 80 in parallel with the photosensitive drum 8.
The waste toner accumulated in the 0.23.
Waste pipe 70/72 disposed on the back side of the inside
Via the waste toner collecting pipe 76 disposed in parallel with the photosensitive drum 8 in the direction of the arrow, that is, to the waste toner collecting box 34 provided on the front side inside the copying machine. ing.

One end (outlet side) of the most downstream waste toner collecting pipe 76 is connected to the waste toner collecting box 34, and the other end is connected to one end of a waste toner collecting pipe 70. The waste toner collecting pipe 70 is provided with the other end disposed below the waste toner receiver 26, and the upward portion 70 a branched from the middle near the other end is connected to the waste toner receiver 2.
6. One end of a waste toner collecting pipe 72 is connected to the upward portion 70a, and one end of another waste toner collecting pipe 74 is connected to the middle of the waste toner collecting pipe 72. The waste toner collecting pipe 74 has the other end located below the waste toner receiver 20 and an upward portion 7 branched off from the middle near the other end.
4a is connected to the waste toner receiver 20.

That is, the waste toner receiver 26 provided in the cleaning unit 25 having the largest amount of waste toner collected is located downstream of the other waste toner receivers 20 and 24, and the waste toner collection box 34 is It is provided at a position closest to the waste toner receiver 26 as compared with the waste toner receivers 20 and 24.

Next, the internal structure of the waste toner collecting pipe 70 and the like will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a description will be given of the waste toner collecting pipe 70 one upstream from the lowermost stream. An auger shaft 71 is rotatably disposed inside the waste toner collecting pipe 70. The auger shaft 71 supplies power from the drive motor 35 provided in the cleaning unit 25 of the transfer belt 15 via a timing belt 44, a gear mechanism including gears 45 to 48, and a gear 66 coaxial with the gear 48. Then, the transmission is transmitted to the gear 65 at the upper end of the auger shaft 71 to be rotationally driven. Thereby, the waste toner collecting pipe 7
The waste toner within 0 is sent in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

An auger shaft 73 is rotatably disposed inside the waste toner collecting pipe 72 one upstream of the waste toner collecting pipe 70. The auger shaft 73 is similarly rotationally driven by transmitting the power from the drive motor 35 to the gear 42 at the upper end of the auger shaft 73 via a gear mechanism including gears 36 to 40. Thereby, the waste toner in the waste toner collection pipe 72 is sent in the direction of the arrow. Subsequently, the rotation of the auger shaft 73 is controlled by the gear 4
The power is transmitted to the auger shaft 27 that is coaxial with the gear 41 via the gear 41 that meshes with the gear 41. Thereby, the auger shaft 2
7 is driven, and the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit 25 is sent to the waste toner collection pipe 70.

As for the auger shaft 24 near the other end of the waste toner collecting pipe 72, power from a driving motor 64 of a driving device (not shown) for feeding, suction, and fixing is transmitted from gears 58 to 63. Gear 58 through the gear mechanism
It is driven by being transmitted to an auger shaft 24 on the same axis. Thus, the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit 22 is sent to the waste toner collection pipe 72.

An auger shaft 75 is rotatably disposed inside the most upstream waste toner collecting pipe 74. The auger shaft 75 receives the driving force from the driving gears 51 and 52 constituting the driving device (not shown) of the photosensitive drum 8 via the gears 53 and 55 and the auger shaft 2 coaxial with the gear 55.
1 and the gear 56, and further transmitted to the gear 57 at the upper end of the auger shaft 75 meshing with the gear 56. Thus, the waste toner in the waste toner collection pipe 74 is sent in the direction of the arrow. The waste toner collected by the cleaning unit 19 by the force transmitted to the auger shaft 21 is sent to a waste toner collection pipe 74.

Finally, the auger shaft 33 is rotatably disposed inside the waste toner collecting pipe 76 provided at the most downstream side. The auger shaft 33 is driven via a gear 49 that meshes with a gear 48 used for driving the above-described auger shaft 71. That is, in this embodiment,
There is no dedicated drive for every auger shaft.

Therefore, with the above configuration, the toner accumulated in the waste toner receiver 20 is sent downstream via the waste toner collecting pipe 74 as shown in FIG. Further, the waste toner accumulated in the waste toner receiver 23 is sent to the downstream side via the waste toner collecting pipe 72 while being merged with the waste toner from the waste toner collecting pipe 74 on the way. The waste toner collected in the waste toner receiver 26 is sent downstream via the waste toner collection pipes 70 and 76 while being merged with the waste toner from the waste toner collection pipe 72 on the way. Will be stored.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the waste toner generated on the photosensitive drum 8, the transfer belt 15, and the transfer roller 16 is removed from the cleaning units 19, 22, and 25, respectively.
And waste toner collecting pipe 70 ・ 7
The toner is collectively stored in the waste toner collecting box 34 through 2.74.76. Therefore, at the time of maintenance, only the waste toner collecting box 34 needs to collect the waste toner, and the internal space, particularly the front side, is widened, so that the maintenance workability can be improved.

The cleaning unit 25 having the largest amount of waste toner collected is disposed downstream of the other cleaning units 19 and 22, that is, near the waste toner collection box 34, so that the collected amount is large. With respect to the waste toner discharged from the cleaning unit 25, the conveyance distance to the waste toner collection box 34 can be shortened, and the waste toner collection pipe 7 that tends to be a problem when a large amount of waste toner is conveyed.
It is possible to reduce toner clogging within 0.72, 74, and 76. Further, the auger shafts 21 and 23 of the cleaning units 19 and 22 that collect a small amount of waste toner and the waste toner collection pipe 72 that does not have a large amount of waste toner transport.
Since the auger shafts 73 and 75 can be lightly loaded, the auger shafts 21 and 23 can be easily driven by using the driving force from another drive source.
There is no need to provide a separate drive source to drive the 75. As a result, it is possible to provide a waste toner collecting device capable of efficiently collecting a large amount of waste toner.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a full-color copying machine equipped with a photosensitive drum has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to general image forming apparatuses equipped with a photosensitive belt.

[0042]

As described above, the waste toner collecting device according to the first aspect of the present invention has a waste toner conveying path provided via a plurality of waste toner collecting sections and an outlet of the waste toner conveying path. And a waste toner collection box that collectively stores the waste toner generated in each waste toner collection unit, and a waste toner collection unit that collects a larger amount of waste toner than other waste toner collection units. This is a configuration provided downstream of the other waste toner collecting unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner collecting apparatus according to the present invention.
As mentioned above, after multiple waste toner collection units
The waste toner conveyed to the rear side of the image forming apparatus can be collected.
A waste toner transport path provided along the first waste toner transport path, and a waste toner transport section provided at an outlet of the waste toner transport path and collectively storing waste toner generated in each waste toner collecting section. And a waste toner collection box.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner collecting apparatus,
As mentioned above, after multiple waste toner collection units
The waste toner conveyed to the back side of the forming device retrievable via all the <br/> waste toner collecting portion, the back of the image forming apparatus
A waste toner transport path provided along the first waste toner transport path, and a waste toner transport section provided at an outlet of the waste toner transport path and collectively storing waste toner generated in each waste toner collecting section. A waste toner collection box is provided, and an auger shaft having a spiral blade formed around a rotation shaft is disposed inside the waste toner transport path so as to be rotatable by a photoconductor drum driving device. Configuration.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste toner collecting apparatus,
In the configuration of claim 2 or 3, as described above,
The waste toner collection box is provided on the front side of the image forming apparatus.
At the same time, both ends of the waste toner conveying path
-Communicate with the collection box and the first waste toner transport path
A second waste toner conveying path connected thereto.
You.

Therefore, in the waste toner collecting apparatus according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the waste toner generated in the plurality of waste toner collecting sections is transferred to the waste toner transport path (the first waste toner transport path, the second waste toner transport path).
(Conveyance path) , the waste toner is collected and concentrated in the waste toner collection box by the sending means, so that the waste toner can be collected in one place at the time of maintenance, and the internal space, particularly, the space on the front side is wide. Therefore, there is an effect that the workability of maintenance can be improved.

Further, in the waste toner collecting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the waste toner collecting section having a large amount of collected waste toner is disposed downstream of the other waste toner collecting sections to thereby collect the waste toner. The transport distance from the waste toner collecting unit having a large amount to the waste toner collecting box is shortened.For example, it is possible to reduce toner clogging in the waste toner transport path which becomes a problem when a large amount of waste toner is transported, In addition, there is an effect that a waste toner collecting device capable of efficiently collecting a large amount of waste toner can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of a copying machine having a waste toner collecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of the waste toner collecting device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the structure of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a structure of a copying machine provided with a conventional waste toner collecting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 Photoreceptor Drum 19 Cleaning Unit (Waste Toner Collection Unit) 22 Cleaning Unit (Waste Toner Collection Unit) 25 Cleaning Unit (Waste Toner Collection Unit) 34 Waste Toner Collection Box 70 Waste Toner Collection Pipe (Waste Toner Transport Path , First Waste)
Toner transport path 72 Waste toner recovery pipe (waste toner transport path , first waste)
Toner transport path 74 Waste toner recovery pipe (waste toner transport path , first waste)
Toner transport path 75 Auger shaft 76 Waste toner recovery pipe (waste toner transport path , second waste)
Toner conveying path ) 80 Copier body (image forming apparatus)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Koichi Moriyama 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (56) References JP-A-1-302375 (JP, A) JP-A-1- 144088 (JP, A) JP-A-60-49370 (JP, A) JP-A-2-119281 (JP, U) JP-A-60-128370 (JP, U) JP-A-60-82645 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 21/10-21/12 G03G 15/01 G03G 21/16-21/18

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A waste toner collecting device having a plurality of waste toner collecting units provided in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image to a sheet, wherein the waste toner disposed via the plurality of waste toner collecting units is provided. A conveyance path, and a waste toner collection box provided at an exit of the waste toner conveyance path and collectively storing waste toner generated in each waste toner collection section. A waste toner collecting device, wherein a waste toner collecting unit having a large amount of collected toner is provided downstream of other waste toner collecting units. 2. A waste toner collecting apparatus having a plurality of waste toner collecting sections provided in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image to a sheet, wherein the plurality of waste toner collecting sections have a back of the image forming apparatus after being collected.
Possible collecting waste toner conveyed to the side, the waste toner collecting portion via all to have the waste toner conveying comprises a first waste toner carrying path which is disposed along the rear surface of the image forming apparatus A waste toner collecting device provided at an exit of the waste toner conveying path and collectively storing waste toner generated in each waste toner collecting unit. 3. A waste toner collecting apparatus having a plurality of waste toner collecting sections provided in an image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image onto a sheet, wherein the plurality of waste toner collecting sections have a back of the image forming apparatus after being collected.
Possible collecting waste toner conveyed to the side, the waste toner collecting portion via all to have the waste toner conveying comprises a first waste toner carrying path which is disposed along the rear surface of the image forming apparatus And a waste toner collecting box provided at an outlet of the waste toner conveying path and collectively storing the waste toner generated in each waste toner collecting section, and a rotating shaft is provided inside the waste toner conveying path. An auger shaft having spiral blades formed around the periphery thereof so as to be rotatably driven by a driving device of the photosensitive drum. 4. The waste toner collecting box is disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus, and both ends of the waste toner conveying path are respectively connected to the waste toner collecting box and the first waste toner conveying path. Communicating and connected second
4. The waste toner collecting device according to claim 2, further comprising a waste toner conveying path.