Abstract: A drum cleaner cleans a circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum. A toner pipe allows passage of toner that is recovered from the drum cleaner to a toner container. The toner pipe has a discharge port configured to discharge toner in the toner pipe. The toner container includes a toner discharge port, a toner reception port, and a toner conveyor. The toner discharge port discharges toner in the toner container. The toner reception port receives toner discharged from the discharge port of the toner pipe. The toner conveyor conveys toner from the toner reception port toward the toner discharge port. A development housing includes a development reception port and a development discharge port. The development reception port receives toner discharged from the toner discharge port. The development discharge port discharges, to the toner pipe, toner that is retuned from the development housing to the toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a housing, a drawer movable between an inner position accommodated within the housing and an outer position exposed to an outside of the housing, a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum and a drum frame, and a developing cartridge including a developing roller and a handle. The drum frame includes first side and second side, frames supporting first and second end portions of the photosensitive drum, respectively, and an upper frame connecting upper end portions of the first and second side frames to each other. In a state where the drum cartridge to which the developing cartridge has been attached is attached to the drawer, a portion of the handle is positioned above the upper frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drawer, a first drum cartridge having a first shutter, a second drum cartridge having a second shutter and a shutter driving member. In a state in which the shutter driving member is positioned at a first positon, the first shutter is positioned at a first closed position at which a first discharging outlet of the first drum cartridge is close and the second shutter is positioned at the second closed position at which a second discharging outlet of the second drum cartridge is close. In a state in which the shutter driving member is positioned at the second position, the first shutter is positioned at a first open position at which the first discharging outlet is open and the second shutter is positioned at a second open position at which the second discharging outlet is open.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a drum cleaner, a waste toner tube, and a flange. The waste toner tube includes a first end portion communicating with the drum cleaner and a second end portion connected to the flange. The developing device includes a protruding portion facing the flange. The cushion member is located between the flange and the protruding portion. The cushion member allows a cartridge mounting part of the developing device to move with respect to the flange in a case where the developing device moves with respect to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A powder collection device includes a collection container configured to store powder collected and a powder amount detector including a pair of electrodes. The powder amount detector detects an amount of powder in the collection container based on capacitance between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a process cartridge, a scanner unit, and a toner cartridge. The process cartridge is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body. The process cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about a rotational axis extending in a first direction; and a development unit configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum. The toner cartridge is configured to store toner. At least part of the photosensitive drum, at least part of the scanner unit, and at least part of the toner cartridge are aligned in a second direction in this order. The second direction is perpendicular to both the first direction and to a vertical direction. The at least part of the photosensitive drum, the at least part of the scanner unit, and the at least part of the toner cartridge overlap one another as viewed from the second direction.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which a movable member comes close to an opening to cover a part of the opening in the open state of an opening and closing member. In the course of change from the open state to the state in which an entering portion enters the inside of the housing, the movable member is pressed by the entering portion to move away from the opening and the opening and closing member moves toward the opening. In the closed state of the opening and closing member, the movable member is placed in a position further away from the opening than in the open state, and the opening and closing member is in the position in which the opening and closing member covers a part of the opening while forming a gap between the opening and closing member and the housing.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cover member including a substantially disc-shaped planar portion extending in a direction orthogonal to an axis of rotation of a photosensitive drum, a first projection portion projecting from the planar portion toward an outside in the direction of the axis of rotation, the first projection portion configured to abut on the positioning portion so that the first frame is positioned within an apparatus main body, a concave portion recessed from the planar portion toward an inner side in the direction of the axis of rotation, and a second projection portion provided in the concave portion, the second projection portion projecting from the concave portion toward an outside in the direction of the axis of rotation, the second projection portion configured to engage with one end of an urging member.

Abstract: In a toner receiving device, an opening/closing member closes and opens the toner receiving port. The opening/closing member moves from a closing position to an opening position when attaching the toner case. The support mechanism includes a guide rail and a plurality of guide pieces and supports the opening/closing member. The guide rail includes a first rail portion and a second rail portion that are inserted between the plurality of guide pieces when the opening/closing member is at the closing position and the opening position, respectively. The first rail portion is thinner than the second rail portion so that a play in an up-down direction between the opening/closing member and the support mechanism is larger when the opening/closing member is at the closing position than when it is at the opening position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a printing portion, a waste toner collection portion that includes a conveyance member that is driven by a motor, and conveys waste toner, thereby to collect the waste toner in a waste toner container, a current detection portion for detecting a motor current value, a fan that discharges scattering toner, and a control portion. In driving the fan, the control portion detects a value of the motor current value and sets rotation speed of the fan so that the larger said detected value of the motor current value, the higher the rotation speed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a toner channel having an outlet port positioned on a housing that includes a flexible member that allows the housing and the outlet port to move within the image forming device. A shutter is positioned on the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. A replaceable unit includes a toner reservoir and an inlet port. The inlet port is formed on an extension from the replaceable unit. Upon insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device, the extension is closely and matably received by the housing and the outlet port aligns with the inlet port permitting toner transfer from the toner channel to the replaceable unit. Insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device causes the shutter to open and removal of the replaceable unit from the image forming device causes the shutter to close.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main controller unit provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus. The main controller includes a replacement component management memory to store lifespan information of a replacement component is provided in An authentication operation is performed with respect to the replacement component management memory, and the lifespan information of the replacement component is encrypted and stored in the replacement component management memory. Accordingly, the security of the main controller unit may be enhanced and illegal use of the replacement component may be prevented.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a charging power supply used in applying, to a charging unit, a charging voltage for the purpose of electrostatic latent image formation and a charging bias voltage during a cleaning operation; a developing power supply that is capable of outputting a developing bias voltage of positive polarity and negative polarity to a developing unit; a constant-voltage generating-holding unit that is used in generating and holding a constant potential difference between the charging unit and the developing unit; a developing power control unit that performs output control of a developing bias voltage with respect to the developing unit; and a charging power control unit that, when the developing power control unit performs control to output a developing bias voltage of reverse polarity to the charging unit, performs output control of the charging bias voltage of a predetermined level with respect to the charging power supply.

Abstract: A waste toner conveying device for conveying waste toner removed from an image carrier to a waste toner container includes a waste toner conveying path including at least a falling and conveying path for letting the waste toner fall under its own weight; a toner bridging prevention member configured to move in the falling and conveying path to prevent bridging of the waste toner; a drive source configured to drive the toner bridging prevention member; a drive transfer member configured to transfer a driving force from the drive source to the toner bridging prevention member; and a toner adhesion prevention member configured to prevent the waste toner from adhering to the drive transfer member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes first and second cleaning members and a moving member. The first cleaning member contacts a surface of a rotating member, which is in contact with an image carrier, to clean the rotating member by removing substances attached thereto. The moving member supports the first cleaning member in a movable manner. The second cleaning member is disposed downstream of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction in which the rotating member rotates and contacts the surface of the rotating member to clean the rotating member by removing the substances. The second cleaning member removes the substances that remain on the surface of the rotating member after the first cleaning member has been separated from the rotating member so that the substances are removed before a part of the surface of the rotating member on which the substances remain comes into contact with the image carrier.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main body having an opening; a developing cartridge, detachably installed in the main body through the opening in a first direction, which includes a photosensitive drum and a cleaning member for removing a toner remaining in the photosensitive drum; and a toner recycle unit, detachably installed in the developing cartridge through the opening in the first direction, which recovers the toner removed by the cleaning member, filters the recovered toner, and supplies the toner again to the developing cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a collection container for collecting toner discharged from an image forming station, the collection container being movable between a mount position in which the collection container is mounted in the apparatus and a removable position in which the collection container is removable from the apparatus; and a door provided on the apparatus to permit access into the apparatus; wherein a track of the collection container when collection container is moved from the mount position to the removable position overlaps a track of the openable member when the openable member is opened and closed, and wherein when the openable member is in the opening position, the collection container is incapable of removing from the main assembly, and when the openable member is in the closing position, the collection container is removable from the main assembly.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes a first transport tube through which powder falls under gravity; a second transport tube having a transport member that transports the powder in a substantially horizontal direction; and a joint section having a ceiling, opposed side walls, an upstream wall, and a downstream wall. The joint section defines a first drop region, defined by the downstream wall and the side walls, continuous with and positioned directly under the first transport tube, to drop the powder dropped from the first transport tube; and a second drop region, defined by the ceiling, the upstream wall, and the side walls, displaced relative to and continuous with the first drop region, positioned adjacent to the second transport tube, to drop the powder transported from the second transport tube upstream from the first drop region in the direction in which the powder is transported through the second transport tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge capable of recovering waste toner. The process cartridge comprises a toner hopper unit and a waste bin unit. The toner hopper unit comprises a waste toner recovering port and the waste bin unit comprises a waste toner discharging port. The waste toner discharging port and the waste toner recovering port are butted with each other hermetically. The waste bin unit is provided with a waste toner conveying component for conveying the waste toner within the waste bin unit to the waste toner discharging port. The entire process of recovering and reusing the waste toner is automatically carried out during normal operation of the process cartridge and thus manual operation is not needed.

Abstract: A module installable in an electrostatographic printing apparatus includes a first housing suitable for retaining marking material, and extending substantially a width of a rotatable charge receptor. The first housing includes an input port and an output port. The module includes a second housing external to the first housing, the second housing forms a conduit between the output port and the input port. The second housing contains a quantity of marking material, the quantity being suitable as at least part of an initial fill of marking material for the first housing.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a housing; a conveying belt, and a retaining member. The retaining member retains image bearing members that juxtaposed with and spaced apart from one another. The retaining member is slidingly movable relative to the housing in a direction that the image bearing members are juxtaposed. The retaining member retains the image bearing members to confront the conveying belt. The image bearing members and the conveying belt are arranged in a reference direction. The retaining member includes a cleaning member that removes residual developing agent from the conveying belt, and a guide unit that guides the recording medium to the conveying belt. The guide unit is located on the image bearing member side and the cleaning member is located on the conveying belt side. At least part of the guide unit overlaps at least part of the cleaning member when projected in the reference direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 100 includes: a common voltage-applying unit 8 that applies a voltage to charging-assistant members 7Y, 7M, and 7C of a plurality of image forming portions PY, PM, and PC; and a control unit 110, at the start of applying a voltage to the charging-assistant members of the plurality of image forming portions by the voltage-applying unit 8, switches the absolute value of the applied voltage from a smaller first value to a larger second value when images are formed by the plurality of image forming portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming section having a intermediate transfer body to carry a toner image on a photoreceptor and transfer the toner image onto a sheet of paper; a cleaning section for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer body by bringing a cleaning blade into close contact with the intermediate transfer body; and a control section for controlling a rotation of the intermediate transfer body so as to carry out a return action of a blade configuration which stops or reverses the rotation of the intermediate transfer body, when a rotation amount reaches a predetermined value, wherein the control section carries out the return action when the rotation amount reaches a value smaller than the predetermined value, in a case where a plurality of previous printing jobs is determined to be intermittent printing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developer transport device including a recovery chamber where a developer is recovered, an accommodation chamber that accommodates the developer, a transport unit that transports the developer into the accommodation chamber by rotation, a hollow guiding path that guides the developer in the recovery chamber into the accommodation chamber, and a transport assisting member disposed inside the hollow guiding path and deformed and restored by rotation of the transport unit to assist transport of the developer. The transport assisting member includes a first part extending along an inner wall of the hollow guiding path from a discharge port of the recovery chamber to a position for contact with the transport unit, and a second part intersecting with a front surface of the first part and extending from an intermediate position of the first part to a position for contact with the transport unit.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein a developing unit forms a toner image on an image carrier by using a developer including a toner and a carrier, wherein a toner recovery unit recovers the toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image to a transfer receiving body and wherein the recovered toner is returned to the developing unit by a return transport mechanism, a recovered toner reservoir for storing the toner recovered by the toner recovery unit is disposed independently from the return transport mechanism.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes photosensitive drums arranged parallel to each other and extending in a first direction; developing units corresponding to the photosensitive drums; a belt in contact with the photosensitive drums and moving in a second direction crossing the first direction; a cleaner for cleaning waste toner on the belt; a first conveying unit extending in the first direction; a second conveying unit extending in the first direction separately from the first conveying unit in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions; and a connecting unit connecting the first and second conveying units. The toner is conveyed by the first conveying unit to pass through the connecting unit, and conveyed by the second conveying unit. One of the developing units includes a toner container. The connecting unit is positioned on one end side of the photosensitive drums and overlaps the container in the first direction.

Abstract: A toner supplying method for supplying toner from a toner container to a developing part that causes toner to adhere to a latent image formed on a latent image carrying member and develops the latent image, includes detecting a toner amount in the developing part as being equal to or less than a predetermined toner amount value; forming a fog detecting image in a case where the toner amount in the developing part is equal to or less than the predetermined toner amount value, and detecting fog; and determining based on the detected fog whether to execute a toner ejecting process of ejecting the toner remaining in the developing part toward the latent image carrying member before supplying the toner to the developing part from the toner container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developer transport device including a recovery chamber where a developer is recovered, an accommodation chamber that accommodates the developer, a transport unit that transports the developer into the accommodation chamber by rotation, a hollow guiding path that guides the developer in the recovery chamber into the accommodation chamber, and a transport assisting member disposed inside the hollow guiding path and deformed and restored by rotation of the transport unit to assist transport of the developer. The transport assisting member includes a first part extending along an inner wall of the hollow guiding path from a discharge port of the recovery chamber to a position for contact with the transport unit, and a second part intersecting with a front surface of the first part and extending from an intermediate position of the first part to a position for contact with the transport unit.

Abstract: An image forming unit including a toner supplier that comprises a cylindrical conveying passage member and a toner conveying rotational body that is inserted into the cylindrical conveying passage member, includes first/second spiral blades formed on different areas of a rotational axis in an axis direction, wound in directions opposite to each other and is rotated so that the first/second spiral blades convey toner in convergent directions. The rotational axis is inclined such that the second spiral blade is higher than the first spiral blade, and the cylindrical conveying passage member comprises a fresh toner receiving opening that receives fresh toner, a collected toner receiving opening that receives collected toner, and a toner supplier opening disposed at a position where the fresh toner conveyed by the first spiral blade and the collected toner conveyed by the second spiral blade meet, so as to supply the toner to the developer.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a plurality of developing units, an endless belt, and a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member and a conveying unit. The cleaning member contacts the endless belt to clean toner remaining on the endless belt. The conveying unit includes a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a first relaying member. The first relaying member relays the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit, and has a relay-axis. The cleaning member pivots about the relay axis to move between a contacting position for contacting the endless belt and a separating position for separating from the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier transferring the developer image to a material at a transfer position; plural developing units supplying developer of corresponding colors; a cleaner disposed downstream of the transfer position in the rotating direction of the image carrier with respect to the image carrier; a recycle developer storage unit storing the developer; a recycle developer developing unit supplying the developer to the image carrier; and a control unit controlling a recycle developer adjustment by supplying the developer from at least one of the plural developing units to the image carrier, forming a developer image on the image carrier, allowing the developer image to pass through the transfer position without being transferred onto the material, and allowing the developer of the developer image to be recovered in the cleaner to supply the developer to the recycle developer storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming unit including a toner supplier that comprises a cylindrical conveying passage member and a toner conveying rotational body that is inserted into the cylindrical conveying passage member, includes first/second spiral blades formed on different areas of a rotational axis in an axis direction, wound in directions opposite to each other and is rotated so that the first/second spiral blades convey toner in convergent directions. The rotational axis is inclined such that the second spiral blade is higher than the first spiral blade, and the cylindrical conveying passage member comprises a fresh toner receiving opening that receives fresh toner, a collected toner receiving opening that receives collected toner, and a toner supplier opening disposed at a position where the fresh toner conveyed by the first spiral blade and the collected toner conveyed by the second spiral blade meet, so as to supply the toner to the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device that uses a developer carrier to advance to an image carrier a developer including a toner and a carrier and supplies the toner to the image carrier by applying a developing bias between the developer carrier and the image carrier. In the image forming apparatus, the following operation is performed before the developer in the developing device is taken out. The toner is supplied to the image carrier by applying the developing bias between the developer carrier and the image carrier, the developing bias increased in a direction to supply the toner to the image carrier. The toner supplied onto the image carrier is not transferred to a transfer receiving material but is advanced into a toner recovery device for recovery. The recovered toner is prevented from being returned to the developing device.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a developer collecting portion for collecting a developer, a developer conveying portion having a receiving portion and an exit portion. The image forming unit further includes a developer conveying unit that conveys the developer from the receiving portion to the exit portion. The developer conveying portion has a guide portion for guiding the developer conveying unit. One of the guide portion and the developer conveying portion has a contact portion that causes the guide portion and the developer conveying portion to partially contact each other in such a manner that a gap is partially formed therebetween.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a collecting container that collects a waste toner; a rotation member that rotates and spreads a waste toner inside the collecting container; a torque detection unit that detects torque applied to the rotation member by a waste toner inside the collecting container; and a rotation direction switching unit that switches a rotation direction of the rotation member. When a torque value detected by the torque detection unit is more than a first threshold, the rotation direction of the rotation member is switched by the rotation direction switching unit.

Abstract: A toner conveyance device includes a toner conveyance path to convey toner from a lower position to an upper position, a lower holding member and an upper holding member provided in the toner conveyance path, a toner conveyance belt extended among the upper holding member and the lower holding member, running obliquely upward at a lower-side region, running obliquely downward at an upper-side region, and including engagement grooves communicating an inner side and outer side of the conveyance belt formed at predetermined intervals in a running direction of the conveyance belt so as to transfer a drive force, and a guide member provided inside a circulating loop of the conveyance belt to prevent the conveyance belt from entering inside. The lowest portion of the guide member at the upper-side region is placed on a substantially vertical line drawn from a belt delivery part of the lower holding member.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a plurality of developing units, an endless belt, and a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member and a conveying unit. The cleaning member contacts the endless belt to clean toner remaining on the endless belt. The conveying unit includes a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a first relaying member. The first relaying member relays the remaining toner conveyed by the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit, and has a relay-axis. The cleaning member pivots about the relay axis to move between a contacting position for contacting the endless belt and a separating position for separating from the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to check an amount of waste toner stored in a waste toner container in stages. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a waste toner container which is installed in the main body to store waste toner, a light emitting part which emits light to detect an amount of the waste toner stored in the waste toner container, a plurality of light receiving parts which receive the light emitted from the light emitting part, and a light distribution member which distributes the light emitted from the light emitting part to the plurality of light receiving parts. Waste toner detecting regions are respectively defined on light paths between the light distribution member and the plurality of light receiving parts. The waste toner detecting regions are located at different positions along an accumulated direction of the waste toner in the waste toner container.

Abstract: A used toner conveyance device includes a lateral conveyance member for conveying used toner substantially in the horizontal direction, and a vertical conveyance member for upwardly conveying the used toner transferred from the lateral conveyance member. The vertical conveyance member transfers the used toner to either a collection space or a next conveyance path. The vertical conveyance member stops its operation when a prescribed delay time has elapsed after the lateral conveyance member stops conveyance operation.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus has an electrostatic latent image bearing members, developing devices each including developer and capable of developing corresponding electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic latent image bearing members into visualized developer images, a transfer device capable of transferring the developer images to a sheet, first collecting devices each capable of collecting untransferred developer from the electrostatic latent image bearing members, developer supply devices each capable of supplying the developer to the corresponding developing devices, accommodating sections each combined with the corresponding developer supply devices and capable of accommodating the untransferred developer, a collecting and distributing device capable of collecting the untransferred developer collected by the first collecting devices and distributing the collected untransferred developer to the accommodating sections, and a housing capable of retaining the developer supply device

Abstract: A toner conveyer device for use din an image forming apparatus includes a toner conveyer belt conveys waste toner, a screw member that receives the waste toner from the toner conveyer belt and conveys the waste toner to a housing unit, and a scraping member that scrapes waste toner that adheres to the screw member.

Abstract: The toner transporting section is provided with a plurality of toner discharge portions, selectively discharges a waste toner from any one of the plurality of toner discharge portions, and stores the waste toner in a waste toner container to which the waste toner discharged from the selected toner discharge portion is to be stored. Accordingly, it is possible to exchange the waste toner container corresponding to the toner discharge portion not used for discharging the waste toner. Therefore, it is possible to exchange the waste toner containers without stopping an image forming operation in an image forming apparatus provided with a cleaning device.

Abstract: A development device includes a plurality of development units and a waste substance container or containers storing the waste substance removed by the cleaning member. Each of the plural development units includes an image carrier carrying a developer image formed by developer and a cleaning member cleaning the image carrier by removing a waste substance. A number of the waste substance containers disposed is smaller than a number of development units disposed, and the number of the waste substance containers is greater than or equal to one.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: at least one retaining member configured to temporarily retain remaining developer remaining on a photosensitive member; a belt arranged opposite to a plurality of photosensitive members; a cleaning device collecting developer on the belt; a remaining developer collecting unit configured to cause the remaining developer retained by the retaining member to be transferred onto the belt via the photosensitive member and thereafter collected by the cleaning device; a circulation mechanism configured to circulate developer between the development chamber and the developer storage chamber; a detector detecting the amount of developer in the developer storage chamber; a determination unit configured to determine if the amount of developer in the developer storage chamber is less than a predetermined amount; and a notifying unit notifying to replace a developer receptacle when the amount of developer stored in the developer storage chamber becomes less than the predetermined amoun

Abstract: A powder conveyance unit, providable to an image forming apparatus, includes a path forming member configured to form a powder conveyance path including an inner wall to convey powder therethrough and connect first and second powder containers, and a substantially planar plate-like powder remover configured to remove powder adhering to the inner wall of the powder conveyance path. The plate-like powder remover is disposed in the powder conveyance path with both lateral edges thereof in a width direction perpendicular to a powder conveyance direction in the powder conveyance path contacting or nearly contacting the inner wall of the powder conveyance path. Opposed flat surfaces of the plate-like powder remover moves reciprocally between opposed surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path to remove powder adhering to the surfaces of the inner wall of the powder conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image supporting body, a developing device, a cleaning device, an input device, a recycling mechanism, and a controller. The image supporting body is for having a latent image based on image data formed on a surface thereof. The developing device applies a developer to the image supporting body to develop the latent image. The cleaning device eliminates developer remaining on the surface of the image supporting body, after a developer image formed by the developing has been transferred to paper. The input device receives a setting input related to a type of paper for use in image forming. The recycling mechanism transports the developer eliminated by the cleaning device to the developing device as recycled developer. The controller is configured to selectively operate the recycling mechanism based on the type of paper set by the input device.

Abstract: A development apparatus includes a first developer chamber configured to store and supply the developer, a first developer bearer configured to convey the developer supplied from the first developer chamber to a first development domain, defined by a portion of the first developer bearer facing a latent image bearer, to develop the latent image, a second developer bearer configured to convey the developer passed through the first development domain to a second development domain, defined by a portion of the second developer bearer facing the latent image bearer, to develop the latent image, a second developer chamber configured to recover the developer passing through the second development domain and store the recovered developer, and a transfer prevention member provided between the second developer chamber and the second developer bearer to reduce a transfer of the developer from the second developer chamber to the second developer bearer.

Abstract: A liquid developer collecting system. A collection section collects liquid developer from a photosensitive body. A storage section stores liquid developer collected by the collection section. A first feed unit feeds liquid developer from the storage section to a concentration control unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cleaner-less mechanism is provided only in a black image forming unit, and a cleaning apparatus is provided in a color image forming unit. Otherwise, when an image adjustment function is executed, the number of operations of forming an image adjustment pattern corresponding only to a black developing agent is reduced.

Abstract: A diagnostic system that provides a service technician with service information during servicing of an image processing apparatus includes at least one counter that is incremented during operation of the image processing apparatus, a pressure detecting unit that detects a pressure at a point in an air flow path on the condition that the at least one counter is reset to zero after initial servicing of the image processing apparatus, a determining unit that determines whether a difference between the detected pressure and a fault threshold pressure is less than a predetermined margin, and a display unit that displays a fault code indicating additional servicing of the image processing apparatus is recommended on the condition that the determining unit determines that the difference between the detected pressure and the predetermined threshold pressure is less than the predetermined margin.