Abstract: A first moving member is provided in conjunction with a toner container collecting toner not transferred on the recording medium and moves in accordance with the movement of a toner conveying unit. A second moving member is provided in conjunction with the toner container and moves in accordance with an amount of the toner accumulated in the toner container. The toner conveying unit conveys the toner toward the second moving member. A detecting unit outputs a detection signal that changes depending on the movements of the first moving member and the second moving member. A determining unit determines, based on the detection signal, whether or not at least one of the driving force supplying unit and the toner conveying unit is in an abnormal condition and whether or not the amount of the toner accumulated in the toner container has reached a predetermined accumulation level.

Abstract: A powder material recovery container includes: a container main body that accommodates a powder material; a conveying member that is arranged with a part existing at least in an intermediate position of a dropping movement of the powder material and rotates to convey it, the conveying member having a conveying part that conveys the powder material around a central line of rotation; and a moving passage surface arranged in a lower part of the part existing at least in the intermediate position, and opposed to one part of the conveying member and move it by a conveying force, wherein the moving passage surface has upper end parts of side surfaces opposed to each other with respect to the central line that are formed with relatively different heights, and the relatively lower upper end part is formed with height not higher than a height of the central line.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cleaning device of the image forming apparatus, the method includes: applying a liquid material to an area outside of an edge located at an end portion of a toner accommodating portion in the longitudinal direction of a toner removing member, wherein the liquid material is applied so as to seal the toner accommodating portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a waste particulate toner collection container system for an image forming apparatus that includes a waste particulate toner spreading device movably disposed within the container in a reciprocating manner generally along its length, the device including a spine member having on a first end a first plurality of spaced apart raking tine members and on a second end a second plurality of spaced apart raking tine members disposed substantially transversely of the length of the spine member, and a crank arm attached at the first end of the spine member. A post disposed on an inner wall of the container supports the device at a point along the length of the spine member between the first and second pluralities of raking tine members, and a drive mechanism is operatively connected to the crank arm for imparting reciprocating movement to the device.

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: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning device that collects a waste toner attached to the surface of the image carrier using a cleaning member, a waste container that is removable from an image forming apparatus body, a temporary storage unit that is provided in the image forming apparatus body to temporarily store a waste including the waste toner collected in the cleaning device before the waste is transported to the waste container, and a waste transport unit that transports the waste to the temporary storage unit, wherein a discharge speed of the waste from the temporary storage unit by the waste discharge unit is lower than a transport speed of the waste to the temporary storage unit by the waste transport unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste-toner container, a light sensor having a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, a light-blocking member for covering the light sensor to detect the attachment of the waste-toner container, and a control unit. When the waste-toner container is determined to be full based on the output voltage of the light sensor, a printing operation is stopped or is not started until it is determined that the waste-toner container is removed and then attached, and that the waste-toner container is not full. A method for detecting the fullness of a waste-toner container includes the steps of detecting the fullness of the waste-toner container, prohibiting printing, detecting whether or not the waste-toner container is attached, and permitting printing.

Abstract: A processing method of waste toner which is collected from an image forming device generated when an electrophotography image is formed, including: adding citrus oil to the waste toner.

Abstract: This is a waste cyclone toner dispense system with a controlled gate and a collection bag below the gate. The controlled gate prevents pressure from entering the bag thereby permitting the use of relatively inexpensive bags for collection of toner debris. The gate has rotating blades tightly pushed against a sealing wall, such as rubber or the like. The wall must prevent pressure from reaching the bag and remaining only above the bag. The rotating blades convey waste toner from an upper collection to the collection bag.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus, a control unit, upon detecting that an amount of waste toner reaches a predetermined amount by a waste-toner-amount detecting unit, calculates an amount of used toner after detection through a pixel calculating unit and a printed-sheet calculating unit to accumulate the amount of used toner in a storing unit, and outputs a waste-toner-full warning when it is determined that an accumulated amount of used toner reaches a residual filling amount before a full state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof, the control method including applying a minimum current to a light emitting element, and applying one or more higher currents, up to a maximum current, to the light emitting element, if a light receiving element fails to detect light emitted by the light emitting element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner box, a base, a detection sensor, a counter and a controller. The waste toner box collects toner not transferred to a sheet but remaining on a surface of a photoreceptor. The base is for placing the waste toner box thereon, and a position of the base changes with a weight of the waste toner box placed thereon. The detection sensor detects the position of the base to detect an amount of toner in the waste toner box placed on the base. The counter counts the number of sheets with images formed thereon. The controller determines whether or not to continue image formation on a sheet on a basis of a signal from the detection sensor and the counter.

Abstract: A storage container for a developer, includes: a first storage unit; a second storage unit; a detection member; a full-state determining unit; and a conveyance member as defined herein, and one end side of the conveyance member is supported on other end side of the first storage unit in a cantilever state, and other end side of the conveyance member is disposed to have a gap with respect to a wall of one end side of the second storage unit.

Abstract: A storage container for a developer, includes: a first storage unit in which a collected developer is stored; a second storage unit which is disposed at an end of the first storage unit, in which the developer conveyed from the first storage unit is stored; a detection member which detects the developer stored in the second storage unit; a full-state determining unit which determines whether the first storage unit is a full state or not, based on a detected result of the detection member; and a conveyance member which is disposed in the first storage unit, and is rotated to convey the developer stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit, and the conveyance member has: a first region as defined herein; a second region as defined herein; and a third region as defined herein.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that holds counter information obtained by integrating a consumption of a consumable that depends on usage of service provided by the image forming apparatus. A log corresponding to the usage of the service is set in job log information with a synchronization flag set off. The log in the job log information, for which the synchronization flag is set off, is set on. The counter information and the job log information are output after the synchronization flag for the log having the synchronization flag set off has been set on.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an electrophotographic image-forming section, a receptacle, a detecting unit, a shielding member, a drive mechanism. The electrophotographic image-forming section transfers developer onto a recording sheet to form developer image thereon. The receptacle collects developer not transferred onto the recording sheet. The receptacle includes a detection portion. The detecting unit detects light passing through the detection portion. The shielding member is movably disposed in the detection portion to move between a first position blocking the light to be detected by the detecting unit and a second position allowing the light to pass through the detection portion. The drive mechanism moves the shielding member between the first position and the second position in a direction different from a vertical direction.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; an attachable and detachable storing container storing waste powder discarded and transported from the image forming section; a transport path for transporting the waste powder; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to an outside of the transport path; a second discharging part provided downstream of the first discharging part in a transporting direction and discharging the waste powder to the storing container; a powder storage part storing the waste powder when the storing container is removed; and a controller causing the shut first discharging part to be opened when the storing container is removed, and causing the waste powder to be discharged from the first discharging part. The powder storage part has capacity enough for storing the waste powder when the first discharging part is opened.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and corresponding method for maintaining a level of a marking material in a marking material waste sump of a printing apparatus to a desired level.

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: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; a storage container that is detachably and attachably provided and that stores waste powder having been discarded and transported from the image forming section; a first transporting section that transports, from the image forming section, the waste powder having been discarded in the image forming section; a transport path through which the waste powder having been transported by the first transporting section is caused to fall down and is transported; a second transporting section that transports, to the storage container, the waste powder having been transported through the transport path; and a controller that stops driving of the second transporting section if an operation set in advance is executed when the storage container is removed.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; first and second storing containers attachably and detachably provided and storing waste powder discarded from the image forming section; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to the first storing container; a second discharging part discharging the waste powder to the second storing container; a first transporting section transporting the waste powder to the first discharging part; a second transporting section transporting, toward the second discharging part, the waste powder transported to the first discharging part, when the first discharging part is shut off; and a controller shutting off the first discharging part and stopping the first transporting section or reducing an output of the first transporting section, when the first storing container is removed in a state where the first discharging part is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a storage container which horizontally stores a waste toner; a full detection sensor which detects whether the waste toner reaches a full position; a near detection sensor which detects whether the waste toner reaches a near position; and a conveyance portion which is provided inside the storage container, includes an axial rod, and rotates about the axial rod, wherein the conveyance portion includes: a first spiral protrusion which conveys the waste toner to the near position; a second spiral protrusion which conveys the waste toner from the near position to the full position; and a third range which is provided between the first spiral protrusion and the second spiral protrusion and through which the waste toner passes at a speed lower than the conveyance speed of the first spiral protrusion and the second spiral protrusion.

Abstract: An imaging cartridge includes an image carrier, a developing device, a cleaning device, a waste toner box, a communication section and transporter means. A communication section formed by positioning a first joint section of the cleaning device and a second joint section of the waste toner box in overlapping positions. Opposed faces of the first joint section and the second joint section are formed such that the first extended regions are gradually extended toward the image carrier and the second extended regions are gradually extended toward the opposed side of the image carrier.

Abstract: A developer recovery device is provided with a recovery container that receives and accommodates a developer recovered from an image carrier, an agitator member that agitates the developer inside the recovery container, two shafts to which mutually engageable cams are respectively provided and that transmit rotational force to the agitator member, a spring that biases and causes to move one of the cams such that the two cams mutually engage and that causes a shaft connection between the two shafts to be joined, a torque limiter that carries out joining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to mutually engage to join the shaft connection, and disjoining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to move apart to disjoin the shaft connection, and a full-state determination portion that detects a disjoined state of the shaft connection and, based on the detected disjoined state, determines that the recovery container has become full of developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a weight detection sensor and a CPU (notification control section, weight calculation section and full-capacity amount correction section). The CPU calculates weight of toner in a waste toner container based on image formation history information including the number of image-forming sheets. When weight of toner in the waste toner container detected by the weight detection sensor reaches a semi full-capacity amount, the CPU makes a comparison of a detection value detected by the weight detection sensor with a calculation value calculated by the CPU and corrects a weight value in a full-capacity state with a correction value set based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning portion for collecting waste toner from various locations within the image forming apparatus. Waste toner collected by the cleaning portion is routed to a waste toner collecting container. The waste toner collecting container includes a waste toner receptacle for storing the waste toner, a waste toner collector for leading the waste toner collected by the cleaning portion into the waste toner receptacle, and a flexible joint that couples the waste toner collector and the waste toner receptacle. The waste toner collecting container is removably mounted to the image forming apparatus. The flexible joint has the function of extending and contracting itself to enable the waste toner receptacle to move relative to the waste toner collector. A detector may be provided to detect an amount of waste toner collected in the container.

Abstract: A process unit including a first housing detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, an image carrier to carry an image on a surface thereof, a charger to charge the surface of the image carrier, a developing device to form the image on the surface of the image carrier, a cleaning device to remove toner from the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant to be supplied to the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant container to contain the lubricant, and a waste toner container to store the toner removed from the surface of the image carrier. The first housing includes the image carrier and at least one of the charger, the developing device, and the cleaning device. The lubricant, the lubricant container, and the waste toner container together are detachably attachable to the first housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a device that can include a waste collector, a system that transports waste stream of particle matter from a housing, a system that transports a waste stream of effluent and particle matter from the housing, and a separator that receives the waste streams and collects the particle matter into the waste collector.

Abstract: This image forming apparatus includes: a waste toner recovery bottle that recovers waste toner; a detection member that is flexible and is loaded in the waste toner recovery bottle, and that bulges upwards in accordance with the recovered amount of waste toner collected in the waste toner recovery bottle; and a recovered amount detection unit that detects the recovered amount using the bulging of the detection member. The recovered amount detection unit detects that the waste toner recovery bottle is full before the bulging of the detection member protrudes beyond a plane that includes an outer wall surface of the waste toner recovery bottle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a replaceable constituent element; an information storage unit that holds information indicating a type of the constituent element received by a user interface; and a life calculation controller that, when at least one piece of the information stored in the information storage unit indicates a particular type, performs control to suppress calculation of a life of the constituent element.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) developing units using a C developer, a M developer, a Y developer, and a K developer, respectively; at least one auxiliary developing unit using a developer other than the C, M, Y, and K developers; a plurality of photosensitive media formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively; a plurality of cleaning members formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to clean surfaces of the plurality of photosensitive media; and waste developer storage units formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to collect waste developer cleaned by the plurality of cleaning members.

Abstract: Disclosed are a waste toner amount detecting apparatus and method which can detect whether a waste toner bottle is full of a waste toner using a change in a current of a motor which drives an auger, and an image forming apparatus employing the same. The waste toner amount detecting apparatus is in an image forming apparatus which includes a motor current detector to detect a drive current of a motor which rotates an auger for leveling the waste toner contained in the waste toner bottle; and a controller which includes a determining unit to determine whether the waste toner bottle is full of the waste toner, using a difference between a first current value corresponding to a minimum drive current of the motor and a second current value corresponding to a current drive current of the motor.

Abstract: A powder conveying unit conveys powder input from a powder inlet of a powder containing chamber into the powder containing chamber. A powder detecting unit detects a full state of the powder conveyed by the powder conveying unit in the powder containing chamber. A sensor chamber is provided outside the powder containing chamber connected with each other. The powder detecting unit is provided in the sensor chamber, a bottom surface of the sensor chamber is at higher level than a bottom surface of the powder containing chamber, and the bottom surface of the sensor chamber is inclined downward toward the powder containing chamber.

Abstract: A developer recovery container includes a first room that stores a recovered developer; a plurality of linearly obliquely arranged recovery ports facing the first room, a developer removed by a cleaning unit for an intermediate transfer unit and a developer removed by a cleaning unit for a black-image bearing member being dropped in the first room respectively through top one and bottom one of the recovery ports; a second room formed below an area between one of the recovery ports located next to the top recovery port and another recovery port located next to the one recovery port, the developer flowing from the first room to the second room; a conveying unit that conveys the developer in the first room to the second room by a quantity of the developer exceeding a storage limit of the first room; and a sensor that detects the developer in the second room.

Abstract: A waste toner container that collects waste toner that is not used to form an image in an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus, and includes a waste toner collection opening to receive the waste toner output from the image forming unit, a toner amount detector to detect toner amount in the waste toner container, and a waste toner conveyance member disposed inside the waste toner container to convey the waste toner in the waste toner container. The waste toner conveyance member defines a waste toner conveyance direction exchange point, which is a boundary between two different toner conveyance direction regions in which the waste toner is conveyed in opposite directions, and the waste toner conveyance direction exchange point is disposed closer to the toner amount detector than is the waste toner collection opening.

Abstract: A tandem type image forming apparatus drives an agitation paddle when the waste toner defecated from a plurality of image forming units and flowed and collected in a single waste toner containing member by way of the first collection port thereof gets to a predetermined level in order to level the height of the waste toner in the waste toner containing member. The quantity of waste toner flowed by way of the first collection port is estimated from the quantity of the toners supplied from the toner cartridges of the development apparatus.

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 waste toner collecting device includes a box that stores a waste toner unnecessary in image formation, a collection port that is provided in an upper part of a main body of the box, receives the waste toner, and drops the waste toner into the box, a triangular obstacle provided in a position opposed to a falling port for the waste toner and near a bottom surface in the box, and a sensor that is provided in a position lower than the collection port and higher than the obstacle and detects that an amount of the waste toner stored in the box reaches a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a containing unit; two detecting units; a counting unit; and a determining unit. The image forming unit is configured to form a toner image. The containing unit is configured to contain waste that is generated when the image forming unit forms a toner image. The two detecting units that are configured to detect the waste accumulated in the containing unit. The counting unit starts, when at least one of the two detecting units detects waste, counting up a count value based on the toner image forming operation executed by the image forming unit. The determining unit determines that waste accumulated in the containing unit has reached a maximum amount if the count value of the counting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value and both of the two detecting units detects waste.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus having a collected toner container in which residual toner is accumulated is controlled by: obtaining a supplied toner amount, obtaining a total number of printed sheets, calculating an average number of printed sheets per image forming job, calculating an average printing ratio based on the supplied toner amount, the total number of printed sheets, and the average number of printed sheets per image forming job, calculating a collected toner amount based on the average number of printed sheets per image forming job and the average printing ratio, and comparing the collected toner amount with a threshold value to generate a comparison result.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a waste toner accommodation unit including a toner transporting rotation member covered with a fixed pipe. As the member rotates, waste toner in the pipe is transported downstream A fin involved in detecting an amount of toner moves upward and downward with a predetermined amplitude as the member rotates. The pipe has a projection secured by an elastic member to a bottom of the waste toner accommodation unit, and when waste toner reaches the level of the pipe, the waste toner is compressed in the pipe downstream and thus increases in density, and together with the waste toner the pipe starts to rotate. As a result, the projection rotates to a position allowing it to interfere with the fin, and the fin decreases in amplitude. Such variation in amplitude is detected by a sensor and a state full of toner is thus detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. A developer develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the photoconductive drum. A transfer-fixer transfers the toner image from the photoconductive drum to a recording sheet and fixes the toner image on the recording sheet. A waste toner particle collector collects toner particles remaining in the developing section into a collection container. A toner amount detector detects the amount of toner particles collected in the collection container. A notifying portion notifies a user when the amount of toner detected reaches a predetermined observing amount. A collection amount setting portion enables a reduced collection amount to be set for the collection of waste toner particles in the developing section in accordance with an increase in the detected toner amount after the detected toner amount reaches the observing amount.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes: a tubular member provided with a toner inlet and a toner outlet; a roller that is provided upstream of the toner outlet in a toner transport direction inside the tubular member, that has a substantially horizontal rotation axis line, and that is elliptical in vertical section; a scraper that is provided on an inner wall of the tubular member on a downstream side of the toner outlet in a rotation direction of the roller, an edge of the scraper being in contact with the roller; and a waste toner collecting bag that is inflatable and is attached to the toner outlet of the tubular member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus and corresponding methods.

Abstract: The waste toner flown into a waste toner box by way of a plurality of collection ports is leveled by means of a paddle. The waste toner collected in the waste toner box is supplied to a full condition sensing section arranged at a higher position so as to be piled up by means of an auxiliary paddle 42. A photodetector detects the waste toner that is accumulated higher at the position of the full condition sensing section than at the other area of the waste toner box to detect a full condition of the waste toner box.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor for sensing amount of waste toner in a waste toner box of an imaging apparatus includes a capacitor that has a pair of separated plates disposed within the interior of the waste toner box. The capacitance of the capacitor changes with the amount of toner in between the plates of the capacitor. A sensor circuitry is connected to the plates of the waste toner box that measure the capacitance of the capacitor as a voltage value. This voltage value is provided to a controller that determines a relative change in the capacitance value by determining a change in capacitance of the capacitor with respect to a number of pages printed by the imaging apparatus. The controller then determines the state of the waste toner box based on this relative change in capacitance.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention can include an image forming apparatus having an image forming portion configured to form an image using developer, a recovery portion configured to recover the developer, a accommodating portion having a first chamber for accommodating developer recovered by the recovery portion, a second chamber which is connected to the first chamber and has a groove, a partition member positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber and which is movable by a pressure of the developer deposited in the first chamber, and a sensing portion having two positions for sensing developer deposited in the groove.

Abstract: A first moving member is provided in conjunction with a toner container collecting toner not transferred on the recording medium and moves in accordance with the movement of a toner conveying unit. A second moving member is provided in conjunction with the toner container and moves in accordance with an amount of the toner accumulated in the toner container. The toner conveying unit conveys the toner toward the second moving member. A detecting unit outputs a detection signal that changes depending on the movements of the first moving member and the second moving member. A determining unit determines, based on the detection signal, whether or not at least one of the driving force supplying unit and the toner conveying unit is in an abnormal condition and whether or not the amount of the toner accumulated in the toner container has reached a predetermined accumulation level.

Abstract: A waste toner solidification apparatus for a printing device includes a nozzle configured to receive waste toner from a hopper. A heater is configured to heat the waste toner in a manner sufficient to liquefy the waste toner within the nozzle. Substantially when exiting the nozzle, the liquefied waste toner solidifies and forms a plurality of solid waste toner pellets.