| 摘要 |
A waste toner collecting apparatus includes a first cylindrical member for receiving a waste toner scraped off from a photosensitive member, and a screw conveyor housed by the first cylindrical member for conveying the waste toner. A first opening is formed at a downstream side of the screw conveyor of the first cylindrical member. A second cylindrical member is fitted onto an outer circumference of the first cylindrical member, and a second opening is formed thereon at a part corresponding to the first opening and an engaging portrusion is formed outside thereof. A waste toner container is mounted in a free engagement in such in way that a cylindrical portion thereof surrounds the second cylindrical member and a rib engageable with the engaging protrusion of the second cylindrical member is formed thereon. In the case where the protrusion of the second cylindrical member is engaged with the rib of the waste toner container, two openings formed in the cylindrical members are aligned and therefore the waste toner is able to be collected into the waste toner container. When the protrusion and the rib are disengaged from each other, the two openings are in different positions and therefore the first opening is closed or shut off by the second cylindrical member.
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