Abstract: To provide an image forming device that can prompt a user to check whether a waste toner container is completely attached. The image forming device includes a housing, an access cover attached in an openable/closable manner to the housing, a waste toner container attachable to the housing with the access cover open, and a lock lever that locks the waste toner container and the housing. The access cover includes a protruding portion protruding toward an interior of the housing. The lock lever transitions between a locked state and a pressed state of being pressed by the waste toner container, and, when in the pressed state, moves to a preventing position at which the lock lever blocks the protruding portion and prevents the access cover from closing, and, when in the locked state, moves to a retracted position at which the lock lever does not block the protruding portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms, with a developer containing toner, a toner image on a recording material; a fixing unit that fixes a toner image formed at the image forming section to a recording material; a recovery unit that recovers waste powder containing toner discharged from the image forming section; and a gas circulation unit in which gas for cooling the vicinity of the image forming section or the vicinity of the fixing unit circulates and that has a portion disposed between the recovery unit and the fixing unit.

Abstract: A transporting member includes: a first transporting section that has flexibility and that has a first shaft and a blade existing helically on a surface of the first shaft and transporting a transport object; a second transporting section having a second shaft that extends from a first end of the first shaft and that has higher rigidity than the first shaft, and also having a coil that exists helically on a surface of the second shaft, is movable toward and away from the surface of the second shaft, and transports the transport object; and a drive section that is attached to an end of the second shaft opposite the first shaft or to a third shaft having higher rigidity than the first shaft by being connected to the end and that is driven by receiving a rotational force.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first body, an image forming portion, a first conveying passage provided inside of the first body and to convey toner discharged from the image forming portion, a second body detachably connected to the first body, and a second conveying passage to convey the toner received from the first conveying passage. The second conveying passage receives the toner from the first conveying passage in the first body. The second conveying passage is projected from the first body into the second body when the second body is connected to the first body, and is detachable from the first body while leaving the first conveying passage in the first body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drawer, a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The drawer is movable in a first direction between an inner position at which the drawer is located inside the main body housing and an outer position at which the drawer is located outside the main body housing. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drum cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drawer. The toner cartridge accommodates toner. When the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer and the drawer is at the inner position, the toner conveyor conveys toner from the toner cartridge to the drum cartridge.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer conveyer, a bearing, a flange, and a developer mover. The developer conveyer is rotatable and configured to convey a developer. The bearing rotatably supports a support shaft of the developer conveyer. The flange is disposed at an end portion of the developer conveyor to regulate a movement of the developer in an axial direction of the developer conveyer. The developer mover is disposed on a surface of the flange facing the bearing and configured to move the developer that enters between the flange and the bearing.

Abstract: A toner conveying device conveys toner supplied from outside. The toner conveying device includes a housing, a plurality of toner acceptors, a plurality of legs, a bracket, and a vibration generator. The housing has a toner conveyance path inside. The toner acceptors are provided on the housing to accept toner supplied from outside and guide the toner to the toner conveyance path. The legs are fixed near the toner acceptors on the housing, respectively, and protrude outward from a side surface of the housing. The bracket is supported by each of the legs. The vibration generator is attached to the bracket.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of being attached with a toner supply container. The toner supply container stores a toner that is to be supplied to a developing portion. An attachment location of the toner supply container is below a light scanning portion in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet and a sheet conveying unit for conveying the sheet along a conveying path extending in a substantially horizontal direction in a lower portion of the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes a recovery container which is provided in front of the image forming unit and above the conveying path, and accommodates the waste toner discharged from the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus includes a waste toner conveying pipe that conveys the waste toner discharged from the image forming unit to the recovery container, without passing through the rear portion and the side portion of the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit, a transfer section, and a calculator. The developing unit includes an image carrier carrying a developer image. The transfer section includes a transfer belt, a cleaning member, and a container, and transfers the developer image onto a print medium. The transfer belt is disposed in contact with the image carrier. The cleaning member removes a developer attached to the transfer belt. The container contains the developer removed by the cleaning member. The calculator calculates a collection amount on the basis of medium information of the print medium. The collection amount is an amount of the developer collected in the container.

Abstract: A drawer is moveable between an inner position and an outer position through an opening when a cover is located at an opening position. A waste toner conveying tube is movable in a second direction between a first connection position and a first disconnection position when a drum cartridge is attached to a drawer and the drawer is at the inner position. When the cover moves from a closing position toward the opening position, the waste toner conveying tube moves from the first connection position toward the first disconnection position in conjunction with the movement of the cover. The drawer is movable from the inner position toward to the outer position when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer, the drawer is at the inner position, and the waste toner conveying tube is at the first disconnection position.

Abstract: Provided is a waste developer container to be fixed to an image forming device including a developing device and a waste developer amount detection unit for obtaining information on an amount of accumulated waste developer discharged from the developing device, wherein the developing device uses toner image carrier holding a toner image and two-component developer to form a toner image, the waste developer amount detection unit obtains the information on the accumulated amount by emission and reception of light, and the waste developer container includes: a container space for containing waste developer discharged; a detection window for passing light that is emitted from the waste developer amount detection unit, passes the container space, and is incident again to the waste developer amount detection unit; and a magnet provided to a position where a magnetic force is applied to the detection window and light passing the detection window is not shut.

Abstract: A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the third frame plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, an external-sheet inlet, a waste toner container, a connector, and a conveying roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet inserted through the external-sheet inlet in the feeding path. The conveying roller is mounted on the waste toner container and removable from the chassis along with the waste toner container.

Abstract: Provided is a toner transport mechanism including: a first movable member which is displaced in accordance with an amount of toner in a transport path for transporting toner; a second movable member which is displaced in accordance with a rotation of a transporting member provided in the transport path; and a flag member which is displaced to an acting position where the flag member acts on a sensor and a non-acting position where the flag member does not act on the sensor, in accordance with the displacement of the first movable member and the displacement of the second movable member, the sensor being arranged outside of a duct and detecting an anomaly of the toner transport mechanism.

Abstract: A developing roller and a photosensitive drum are aligned in a second direction different from a first direction. A toner storage portion stores toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum by the developing roller. A waste-toner storage portion stores toner conveyed through a conveyance pipe. The waste-toner storage portion has a main portion and a protruding portion protruding from the main portion in the first direction. A drum cartridge has a guide portion configured to guide the protruding portion of the waste-toner storage portion when a developing cartridge is being mounted on the drum cartridge. The guide portion includes first and second guides. The first guide extends in a third direction different from the first and second directions. The second guide continues from the first guide and is located closer to the photosensitive drum than the first guide is. The second guide extends in the second direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.

Abstract: A third contact portion contacts a first contact portion when a drum cartridge moves from first to second guide position. A fourth contact portion contacts a second contact portion when the drum cartridge moves from second to third guide position. When the drum cartridge moves from the first guide position to the second guide position, due to contact of the first contact portion with the third contact portion, the first cover located at the first position rotationally moves in a same rotational direction as the particular rotational direction to be located at the second position. When the drum cartridge moves from the second guide position to the third guide position, due to contact of the second contact portion with the fourth contact portion, the drum cartridge moves from the second guide position to the third guide position in a state where the first cover is kept at the second position.

Abstract: In a toner conveying device, a conveyance path of toner is formed in the casing. A conveyance screw is supported by two support portions of the casing so as to be rotated in the conveyance path and convey the toner along the conveyance path. A low friction portion is provided on an inner side surface of the casing facing the conveyance screw, in a middle of the two support portions. The low friction portion has a lower friction coefficient with the conveyance screw than the other portions of the inner side surface. In a region along a longitudinal direction of the conveyance screw including the low friction portion, a space between the low friction portion and the conveyance screw is narrower than a space between the conveyance screw and portions of the inner side surface other than the portion on which the low friction portion is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a high voltage generating circuit, a voltage controller, a current detector, and a recovery process controller. If two inflection points (O and P) exist, which exist on a characteristic curve indicating a relationship between the voltage value and the current value when the frequency of the AC voltage is set as a first frequency or when a photosensitive drum is rotated at a first linear speed, the recovery process is performed if a potential difference between a first inter-inflection-point voltage (OP) between inflection points and a second inter-inflection-point voltage (OP?) between inflection points (O? and P?) when setting a second frequency different from the first frequency, or a potential difference between the first voltage and a third inter-inflection-point voltage (OP?) between inflection points (O? and P?) when setting a second linear speed different from the first linear speed becomes a predetermined value or less.

Abstract: A container for accommodating a developer collected from an image forming apparatus includes a container body for accommodating the collected developer; a closing member, dividingly separable from the container body, for closing the container body; a rotatable feeding member for feeding the developer accommodated in the container body; and a holding portion, provided on the closing member, for holding the feeding member so that when the closing member and the container body are dividingly separated, the closing member and the feeding member are integrally separable from the container body.

Abstract: To provide a technique to reduce force required for opening or closing a cover disposed in an image forming apparatus, the present invention provides a storage container that is attached to an open-close door in a state where the open-close door is open to expose inside of the image forming apparatus, and that is disposed in a predetermined attaching position in the image forming apparatus by closing of the open-close door. The storage container has an inlet for toner to enter, and a storage portion to store the toner. The inlet is opened in synchronization with operation of attaching the storage container to the open-close door, and the inlet is closed in synchronization with operation of detaching the storage container from the open-close door.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit movable between an inside position inside a main body casing and an outside position outside the main body casing. The drum unit includes a photoconductive drum extending in an axial direction intersecting a moving direction of the drum unit from the outside position toward the inside position, and a transporter transporting toner removed by a cleaner toward a waste toner container. The transporter includes a transportation member transporting the toner along the moving direction, a transportation tube accommodating the transportation member and having an outlet, and a shutter movable between a closed position to close the outlet and an open position to open the outlet. The shutter includes a protruding section protruding along the axial direction from a shutter main body when the shutter is in the closed position, the protruding section being upstream of the photoconductive drum in the moving direction.

Abstract: A cartridge unit to discharge toner via a toner outlet and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge unit includes a shutter unit movable between an opening position in which the toner outlet is opened and a closing position in which the toner outlet is closed in a first direction, and a lever unit movable in a second direction across the first direction, and connected to the shutter unit such that the shutter unit moves in the first direction when the lever unit moves in the second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with: an apparatus body; a photosensitive member; a developing cartridge configured to have a developer supporting body; a cleaner configured to collect developer remaining on the photosensitive member; and a waste developer container configured to contain developer collected by the cleaner. The apparatus body is configured to have an installment passage, through which the developing cartridge passes when the developing cartridge is installed into and removed from the apparatus body. The waste developer container is configured to be movable between a first position at which at least a part of the waste developer container is located within the installment passage and a second position at which the waste developer container is located away from the installment passage.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for forming a latent image; a charging member, press-contacted to the image bearing member at a predetermined urging force, for electrically charging the image bearing member by being supplied with a charging bias; a developing device for developing the latent image by supplying a polymerized toner to the image bearing member; and a cleaning blade for removing the polymerized toner deposited on the image bearing member in contact with the image bearing member. The charging member includes: an electroconductive support; one or more elastic layer formed around the electroconductive support; and projected portions and recessed portions provided on a surface of the charging member. The projected portions are elastically deformable in contact with the image bearing member, leaving electrically dischargeable gaps between the recessed portions of the charging member and the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveying unit conveying a paper, an image forming unit forming an image on an image carrier and printing the image on the paper being conveyed by the conveying unit, and a control unit controlling the image forming apparatus, and when a progress state of the image forming apparatus reaches a first reference according to the progress state, the control unit can perform maintenance operation of performing maintenance by forming an image for maintenance on the image carrier, after interrupting printing based on a job if the job is being executed, and when a job using continuous paper is to be executed, the control unit determines whether the progress state exceeds a second reference before the job is completed prior to the maintenance operation, and if the progress state exceeds the second reference, issues an alarm regarding the interruption.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a first accommodating chamber, a first conveyer, a cleaner, and a developing agent conveyer. The accommodating chamber is configured to accommodate therein developing agent. The accommodating chamber has one end portion and another end portion. The first conveyer is configured to convey the developing agent from the one end portion toward the another end portion. The cleaner is configured to collect developing agent from a belt in contact with a photosensitive member. The developing agent conveyer has a collection opening through which developing agent collected from a component other than the belt. The developing agent conveyer is configured to convey the developing agent from the collection opening toward the first accommodating chamber. The cleaner and the developing agent conveyer are positioned at the one end portion.

Abstract: A cartridge unit to discharge toner via a toner outlet and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge unit includes a shutter unit movable between an opening position in which the toner outlet is opened and a closing position in which the toner outlet is closed in a first direction, and a lever unit movable in a second direction across the first direction, and connected to the shutter unit such that the shutter unit moves in the first direction when the lever unit moves in the second direction.

Abstract: A waste toner container includes a waste toner container body and a dust collector. The waste toner container body has a first end and stores waste toner discharged from an apparatus body. The dust collector is disposed on a first end side of the waste toner container body, allows passage therethrough of air to be exhausted from the apparatus body, and traps dust that enters the dust collector together with an airflow.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for an image forming apparatus, including a drum unit provided with a waste toner conveyor which conveys waste toner collected from a surface of a photosensitive drum to one side; a developing unit connected with the drum unit, configured to receive the waste toner collected from the drum unit, and having a developer discharger to discharge a developer therein to an outside; and a developer collecting unit integrally formed with the drum unit at one side of the drum unit, and configured to collect the developer discharged by the developer discharger of the developing unit, wherein the drum unit includes a toner injector which connects the waste toner conveyor, a new toner supply unit and the developing unit so that the waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveyor and new toner supplied from the new toner supply unit are injected together into the developing unit.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting structure of an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner collector to be removably installed in a main body of an image forming apparatus to collect waste toner that is exhausted through exhaust holes of at least one waste toner exhaust parts installed in the main body a negative pressure generator to form negative pressure around shutters of the waste toner exhaust parts that open and close the exhaust holes, to form an intake air current into the waste toner collector and a waste toner separator to be connected to the waste toner collector to separate some of the waste toner, which flows into the waste toner collector and then moves toward the negative pressure generator, from air in order to collect the waste toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, an external-sheet inlet, a waste toner container, a connector, and a conveying roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet inserted through the external-sheet inlet in the feeding path. The conveying roller is mounted on the waste toner container and removable from the chassis along with the waste toner container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a collecting container; connecting portions; shutters; first urging members for urging the shutters; a movable member which is accommodated toward the collecting container by contact with the main assembly when the collecting container is mounted in a mounting portion and which is projected outwardly from a side portion of the collecting container when the collecting container is dismounted from the mounting position; and a second urging member for urging the movable member. When the collecting container is mounted in the main assembly, the first urging members and the second urging member are provided so that a sum of rotation moment acting on the collecting container by the first urging members and rotation moment acting on the collecting container by the second urging member are directed opposite to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a cleaning unit configured to remove waste toner on the image bearer; a waste toner container configured to be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and to store the waste toner removed by the cleaning device; and a support member configured to support the waste toner container. The support member is provided with a guide unit thereon that guides the waste toner container in attachment and detachment directions, the guide unit includes a side guide plate that guides each of sides of the waste toner container in the attachment and detachment directions, a guide plate arranged on entrance side of the side guide plate in the attachment direction of the waste toner container, and the guide plate includes an inclined guide surface that guides the waste toner container onto the support member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a waste toner collecting container used in an image forming device for collecting waste toner and a process unit having the waste toner collecting container. An assembly of a development unit and the photoreceptor unit is fixedly connected to the waste toner collecting container. The development unit is configured to supply toner to a photoreceptor in the photoreceptor unit. The photoreceptor unit is configured to form a toner image on an outer surface of the photoreceptor, and to have a cleaning component used for removing the waste toner remaining on the outer surface of the photoreceptor after the toner image is transferred to a recording medium. A waste toner discharging outlet is disposed on a top wall of the waste toner collecting container, far away from the photoreceptor, and is disposed at an end of the top wall along an axial direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner conveying device including a primary conveyor to convey waste toner discharged from a plurality of primary cleaners and a secondary conveyor to convey waste toner discharged from a secondary cleaner. A relay conveyor conveys the waste toner discharged from the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor. A waste toner container receives the waste toner discharged from the relay conveyor. The primary conveyor, the secondary conveyor, and the relay conveyor are disposed at one end of the image forming apparatus in a front-to-rear direction thereof. A secondary conveyor outlet of the secondary conveyor is disposed below a primary conveyor outlet of the primary conveyor and above an inlet of the waste toner container.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a main body; a photosensitive body; a retaining member; an endless belt; a first cleaning member; a belt side conveying unit; a retaining member side conveying unit; and a receptacle. The retaining member retains the photosensitive body and is movable between an internal position and an external position. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive body when the retaining member is in the internal position and separates from the photosensitive body when the retaining member is in the external position. The first cleaning member is fixedly positioned and removes deposited matter on the endless belt. The belt side conveying unit is provided in the main body and conveys the deposited matter removed by the first cleaning member. The retaining member side conveying unit is provided in the retaining member and conveys the deposited matter conveyed by the belt side conveying unit to the receptacle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first feeding path configured to feed the toner collected from an image forming station; a collection container detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus and configured to accommodate the collected toner fed through the first feeding path; and a shutter unit including a second feeding path movably connected with the first feeding path and capable of connecting with the collection container, and a shutter configured to open and close a connecting portion between the second feeding path and the collection container by slide in a direction crossing with the second feeding path in response to mounting and demounting of the collection container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a collecting container, provided detachably mountable to a casing of the image forming apparatus, capable of collecting a developer; a locked portion provided on the collecting container; a locking portion, provided on the casing, for locking the collecting container to prevent the collecting container from moving in a demounting direction by being locked with the locked portion when the collecting container is mounted in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in an empty state; and a supporting portion for supporting the collecting container, the supporting portion being provided so as to be displaceable, by a weight of the developer collected by the collecting container, in a direction such that locking with the locking portion is released.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having a first opening on a first side, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt arranged to have a surface thereof facing the photosensitive members, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is removably installed in the chassis through the first opening and settled in a position opposite from the photosensitive members across the intermediate transfer belt, a connector, a first feeding path extending in a range between the first feed roller and the secondary-transfer roller, and a second feeding path being formed in clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the waste toner container to convey a recording sheet being inserted through a sheet inlet and merging into the first feeding path in the vicinity of the first feed roller.

Abstract: A toner recovery device includes a toner recovery container that recovers toner; and a toner conveying shaft member that is provided inside the toner recovery container and conveys toner in a axial direction of the toner conveying shaft member by the rotation around a rotational axis of the toner conveying shaft member and that has a spiral groove formed around the rotational axis and an outer peripheral surface whose distance from the rotational axis is variable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt including a first plane and a second plane, a waste toner container, a first feeding path extending between a first feed roller and a secondary-transfer roller, a second feeding path being a path for a recording sheet inserted through a sheet inlet, a second feed roller arranged in an overlapping position to at least partially overlap with the waste toner container when viewed along a horizontal plane and in a position out of a course of the waste toner container being installed in and removed from the chassis. The second plane of the intermediate transfer belt extends downwardly in an inclined angle with respect to the first plane. The waste toner container is movable along the second plane of the intermediate transfer belt to be settled in the chassis.

Abstract: A powder collecting device for conveying toner, a developer, waste toner and/or a waste developer in a conveyance pipe in one direction and for dropping it into a container through an opening made at an end of the conveyance pipe. The container is mountable in a body of an image forming apparatus such that the end of the conveyance pipe is inserted into the container, and is dismountable therefrom. An elastic sealing member, which has a larger area than a cross-sectional area of the end of the conveyance pipe, is attached to a portion of the container through which the end of the conveyance pipe is inserted into the container. A plurality of cuts are made in the sealing member such that the sealing member has at least an upper flap having a longer elastically deformable portion and a lower flap having a shorter elastically deformable portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a collecting container; connecting portions; the shutters; first urging members for urging the shutters; a movable member which is accommodated toward the collecting container by contact with the main assembly when the collecting container is mounted in a mounting portion and which is projected outwardly than a side portion of the collecting container when the collecting container is dismounted from the mounting position; and a second urging member for urging the movable member. When the collecting container is mounted in the main assembly, the first urging members and the second urging member are provided so that a sum of rotation moment acting on the collecting container by the first urging members, and rotation moment acting on the collecting container by the second urging member are directed opposite to each other.

Abstract: A toner conveying unit includes a first toner conveying passage, a second toner conveying passage, a conveying member, a crank, and a vertical slide member. The first toner conveying passage includes a receiving port and allows toner to fall down from the receiving port. The second toner conveying passage joins a lower portion of the first toner conveying passage. The conveying member is provided in the second toner conveying passage and conveys the toner in a predetermined direction while rotating. The crank is provided in the second toner conveying passage below the first toner conveying passage and is connected to the conveying member. The vertical slide member is connected to the crank, is inserted into the first toner conveying passage, and is formed so as to come into slide contact with an inner wall of the first toner conveying passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having a first opening on a first side, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt arranged to have a surface thereof facing the photosensitive members, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is removably installed in the chassis through the first opening and settled in a position opposite from the photosensitive members across the intermediate transfer belt, a connector, a first feeding path extending in a range between the first feed roller and the secondary-transfer roller, and a second feeding path being formed in clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the waste toner container to convey a recording sheet being inserted through a sheet inlet and merging into the first feeding path in the vicinity of the first feed roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along a predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through the opening and stores residual toner, a connector, and a feed roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet in the feeding path. The feed roller is arranged in a position to at least partially fall within a vertical range of the waste toner container and to be aligned with the waste toner container along an axial direction of the second feed roller.

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.