Waste toner transfer apparatus and electrophotographic printer adopting the same

An electrophotographic printer comprising a cleaning unit for removing waste toner remaining on an image holding body, a waste toner storage container, and a waste toner transfer apparatus for transferring the waste toner from the cleaning unit to the waste toner storage container, wherein the waste toner transfer apparatus comprises:

• a duct for connecting the cleaning unit and the waste toner storage container;
• a transfer unit installed in the duct to transfer the waste toner comprising a rotating conveying coil;
• a cam member having a cam profile is coupled to one end portion of the conveying coil;
• a guide portion disposed at an outlet of the duct and inclined downward to guide the waste toner toward the waste toner storage container;
• and
• an agitation member installed on the guide portion and moving to prevent the waste toner from accumulating on the guide portion.

A method of transferring waste toner from a cleaning unit of an image holding body to a waste toner storage container, the method comprising the steps of:

• cleaning waste toner from the image holding body;
• guiding the waste toner toward the waste toner storage container via a guide portion disposed at an outlet of a duct and inclined downward;
• and
• agitating the waste toner to prevent the waste toner from accumulating on a guide portion via an agitating member installed on the guide portion and rotating a conveying coil coupled at one end to a cam member having a cam profile.