Toner transporter for photocopier - has rotating spiral drive with offset coils in flexible tube

摘要

The toner transporter for recycling the toner after removal from the process drum has a rotating spiral inside a flexible tube bent back to the toner reservoir. The windings are in groups (7) with each group having an offset axis (7a,7b) to lie against opposite walls of the tube, and with the winding diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the tube. The bottom of the tube has a horizontal section (3) with an open slot under the collection point, with the windings uniform and filling the whole tube. The offset windings are in the rest of the tube, made from silicone rubber. The direction of rotation is such as to tighten the windings. The offset design moves the windings to scrape along the tube edges for an efficient drive.