Abstract: A developer collecting apparatus includes a positioning frame for determining a mounting position of a photoreceptor onto a casing; a waste developer container in which waste developer eliminated by cleaning section is stored; and a container mounting section for mounting the waste developer container so as to be removable from the positioning frame and holding the waste developer container so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame. Further, the container mounting section includes a container holding member that is disposed so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame, for holding the waste developer container; a cam member disposed so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the container holding member is angularly displaced; and an elastic member for biasing the cam member to the container holding member with an elastic force.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cleaning portion for collecting waste toner, which is the toner that was supplied to form a toner image on a toner image bearer but has not transferred to the recording medium and remains on the toner image bearer after the transfer stage; a waste toner discharger for discharging the waste toner collected by the cleaning portion; a waste toner collecting container; and a detector. The waste toner collecting container includes: a waste toner receptacle for storing the waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharger; a waste toner collector for leading the waste toner collected by the cleaning portion into the waste toner receptacle; and a joint for coupling the waste toner collector and the waste toner receptacle. The waste toner collecting container is removably mounted to the image forming apparatus. The joint has the function of extending and contracting itself to enable the waste toner receptacle to move relative to the waste toner collector.

Abstract: A photoreceptor 3 is positioned by a photoreceptor positioning member 152 arranged on a backside frame 151 of the main apparatus body and by a photoreceptor drum positioning member 160 on the front side of the main apparatus body. Photoreceptor positioning member 160 formed of metal is united with resinous covers 171 and 172 as duct parts. Each of covers 171 and 172 has an enclosing wall that is bent vertically with respect to its bottom along the outline, so that the enclosing wall of cover 171 and the enclosing wall of cover 172 fit each other, forming a duct 180 therein. Duct 180 is arranged to communicate with a charger 5 via an opening 161 formed in photoreceptor positioning member 160 and cover 171.

Abstract: A grid electrode is attached to a case and a serrated electrode holder by engaging an opening of the grid electrode with a pair of engaging claws formed in the case and engaging another opening of the grid electrode with an engaging claw of the serrated electrode holder. Then, in the condition where the grid electrode has been attached to the case and serrated electrode holder, the grid electrode and the serrated electrode holder are fixed to the case by rotating them until engaging projections of the serrated electrode holder engage the engaging holes of the case.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a developer collecting device which collects developer removed from an image bearing member and an intermediate transfer body by a cleaning section. The developer collecting device comprises a positioning frame for determining a mounting position of the image bearing member onto an image forming apparatus main body; a waste developer container detachably mounted on the positioning frame 4, for accommodating waste developer collected by the cleaning section; and an integrated container detection section for detecting whether or not the waste developer container is mounted on the positioning frame and whether or not the waste developer container is filled up with the waste developer.

Abstract: A developer collecting apparatus for collecting waste developer which is generated by cleaning residual developer remained on a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer body, includes: a waste developer container for accommodating the waste developer; a stirring member rotatably provided in the waste developer container, for stirring the waste developer; and a driving section for giving a rotary driving force to the stirring member. The driving section of the stirring member has: a driving source; a first driving force transmitting path and a second driving force transmitting path which are coupled on the driving source, for transmitting the rotary driving force to the stirring member, and when a rotational load on the first driving force transmitting path reaches a predetermined level or more, a switch-over of transmitting path can be performed from the first driving force transmitting path to the second driving force transmitting path.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes: process printing units each having a photoreceptor drum; a transfer belt to which toner images are transferred; a transfer roller for transferring, as a whole, the toner images on the transfer belt to recording paper; a cleaning unit for collecting the remaining developers that have been left over on the photoreceptor drums and the transfer belt, is constructed such that a positioning sub-frame which is set with a developer collecting container for storing the collected developers and positions the process printing units relative to the housing, on one side of the apparatus body is removably attached to the housing.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting container which is used in a color image forming apparatus and can be removed from the machine and stores waste toner particles which have not been transferred to recording paper and have been collected, is constructed such that an air sealing member is disposed at the coupling between the waste toner collecting container and a conveying member for conveying the collected waste toner into the waste toner collecting container to prevent the waste toner from seeping out at the coupling when the waste toner is conveyed and to seal the collecting port so that no waste toner will spill out from the waste toner collecting container which has been removed for replacement after the waste toner collected and conveyed therein has reached the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A developer storage device includes a storage container which supplies developer to a developing unit when rotated, and a collecting container for storing developer collected from an image forming section. The developer storage device further includes a first attaching and detaching portion allowing the storage container to be attached to and detached from a developer storage device body, and a second attaching and detaching portion allowing the collecting container to be attached to and detached from the developer storage device body.

Abstract: A developer collecting apparatus includes a positioning frame for determining a mounting position of a photoreceptor onto a casing; a waste developer container in which waste developer eliminated by cleaning section is stored; and a container mounting section for mounting the waste developer container so as to be removable from the positioning frame and holding the waste developer container so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame. Further, the container mounting section includes a container holding member that is disposed so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame, for holding the waste developer container; a cam member disposed so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the container holding member is angularly displaced; and an elastic member for biasing the cam member to the container holding member with an elastic force.

Abstract: A protecting cover and a pickup device, each having a hooking portion, are rotatably provided at the flank of an image forming apparatus. The rotational centers of the protecting cover and the pickup device and the hooking portions are arranged in such geometry that the hooking portions become engaged with each other only in the range from a predetermined trace intersection to the flank of the image forming apparatus when the protecting cover is rotated from its usage position toward its retracted position at the flank of the image forming apparatus. The pickup device is stopped at the starting position of engagement where the hooking portions are positioned at the trace intersection when sheet feed is not made, and is moved to the operating position when sheet feed is to be made. The protecting cover is constructed so as to rotate in linkage with the rotation of a paper feed tray which is rotatably provided at the flank of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developer collecting apparatus for collecting waste developer which is generated by cleaning residual developer remained on a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer body, includes: a waste developer container for accommodating the waste developer; a stirring member rotatably provided in the waste developer container, for stirring the waste developer; and a driving section for giving a rotary driving force to the stirring member. The driving section of the stirring member has: a driving source; a first driving force transmitting path and a second driving force transmitting path which are coupled on the driving source, for transmitting the rotary driving force to the stirring member, and when a rotational load on the first driving force transmitting path reaches a predetermined level or more, a switch-over of transmitting path can be performed from the first driving force transmitting path to the second driving force transmitting path.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a developer collecting device which collects developer removed from an image bearing member and an intermediate transfer body by a cleaning section. The developer collecting device comprises a positioning frame for determining a mounting position of the image bearing member onto an image forming apparatus main body; a waste developer container detachably mounted on the positioning frame 4, for accommodating waste developer collected by the cleaning section; and an integrated container detection section for detecting whether or not the waste developer container is mounted on the positioning frame and whether or not the waste developer container is filled up with the waste developer.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes: process printing units each having a photoreceptor drum; a transfer belt to which toner images are transferred; a transfer roller for transferring, as a whole, the toner images on the transfer belt to recording paper; a cleaning unit for collecting the remaining developers that have been left over on the photoreceptor drums and the transfer belt, is constructed such that a positioning sub-frame which is set with a developer collecting container for storing the collected developers and positions the process printing units relative to the housing, on one side of the apparatus body is removably attached to the housing.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting container which is used in a color image forming apparatus and can be removed from the machine and stores waste toner particles which have not been transferred to recording paper and have been collected, is constructed such that an air sealing member is disposed at the coupling between the waste toner collecting container and a conveying member for conveying the collected waste toner into the waste toner collecting container to prevent the waste toner from seeping out at the coupling when the waste toner is conveyed and to seal the collecting port so that no waste toner will spill out from the waste toner collecting container which has been removed for replacement after the waste toner collected and conveyed therein has reached the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A protecting cover and a pickup device, each having a hooking portion, are rotatably provided at the flank of an image forming apparatus. The rotational centers of the protecting cover and the pickup device and the hooking portions are arranged in such geometry that the hooking portions become engaged with each other only in the range from a predetermined trace intersection to the flank of the image forming apparatus when the protecting cover is rotated from its usage position toward its retracted position at the flank of the image forming apparatus. The pickup device is stopped at the starting position of engagement where the hooking portions are positioned at the trace intersection when sheet feed is not made, and is moved to the operating position when sheet feed is to be made. The protecting cover is constructed so as to rotate in linkage with the rotation of a paper feed tray which is rotatably provided at the flank of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developer storage device includes a storage container which supplies developer to a developing unit when rotated, and a collecting container for storing developer collected from an image forming section. The developer storage device further includes a first attaching and detaching portion allowing the storage container to be attached to and detached from a developer storage device body, and a second attaching and detaching portion allowing the collecting container to be attached to and detached from the developer storage device body.

Abstract: An optical electric charge removal device mountable on an image formation apparatus of an electrophotographic system for removing residual charges on a photosensitive member by light irradiation is provided. The optical electric charge removal device includes a point light source provided in the image formation apparatus; and an optical conductor, mountable on a process cartridge which is detachable from the image formation apparatus, for guiding light incident from the point light source to the photosensitive member.

Abstract: In an image forming device of the present invention, which is a tandem type, electrophotographic image forming device, a first separating/contacting mechanism mechanically lowers/raises the whole of a transfer frame holding the transfer and transport belt unit in association with the opening/closing of a front door, a second separating/contacting mechanism mechanically lowers/raises the right side of the transfer frame in association with the opening/closing of a right side door, and a third separating/contacting mechanism mechanically lowers/raises the left side of the transfer frame in association with the opening/closing of a left side door. Therefore, the handling of a paper jam can be carried out even when power supply is cut off, and the transfer frame can be separated from the photoconductor drums just by opening a door from a plurality of access directions, on a side opened.

Abstract: An optical electric charge removal device mountable on an image formation apparatus of an electrophotographic system for removing residual charges on a photosensitive member by light irradiation is provided. The optical electric charge removal device includes a point light source provided in the image formation apparatus; and an optical conductor, mountable on a process cartridge which is detachable from the image formation apparatus, for guiding light incident from the point light source to the photosensitive member.