Image recording apparatus

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 the spiral member rotates. The oscillatory motion of the second end portion of the agitator causes the vibration of the agitating strap, thereby shaking the toner off the first path.