Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming section and a residual toner amount detection unit. The image forming section includes a photosensitive member, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a toner storage unit. The residual toner amount detection unit detects an amount of toner remaining in the developing unit. The residual toner amount detection unit includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. After the toner is deposited on the photosensitive member to form a toner image until electric charge is given onto a photosensitive layer of the photosensitive member by the charging unit again, the light-emitting element removes electric charge remaining on the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: In a toner collecting device of the present invention for conveying collected waste toner to a waste toner storing portion with a toner conveying device, the toner conveying device is positioned at a side opposite to a driveline included in an apparatus body to which the toner collecting device is mounted. A driveline for driving the toner conveying device is not arranged at the side opposite to the driveline of the apparatus body, but the toner conveying device is directly driven by the driveline of the apparatus body. With this configuration, the toner collecting device is capable of driving, e.g., a toner conveying belt or a toner conveying screw arranged at the counter drive side without sophisticating the configuration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming section and a residual toner amount detection unit. The image forming section includes a photosensitive member, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a toner storage unit. The residual toner amount detection unit detects an amount of toner remaining in the developing unit. The residual toner amount detection unit includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. After the toner is deposited on the photosensitive member to form a toner image until electric charge is given onto a photosensitive layer of the photosensitive member by the charging unit again, the light-emitting element removes electric charge remaining on the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A developing device is provided with a developer accommodating vessel accommodating developer having as primary components a nonmagnetic toner and magnetic particles referred to as a carrier. The carrier is composed of a magnetic material as a core material that is uniformly covered with an insulating synthetic resin. The toner is mixed with the carrier at a weight ratio to the overall weight of the developer of 3-10%. The carrier has an average particle size of 65 ?m or less and a saturation magnetization of at least 70 emu/g. The developing device includes a developing roller and a sleeve roller that rotates about the developing roller. The surface of the sleeve roller is processed with metal shot to achieve a surface roughness of 0.45-1.08 times the average particle size of the carrier, or more specifically a roughness Rz of about 30 ?m.

Abstract: A cleaning device is disposed substantially vertical above a photosensitive drum for the purpose of constructing a compact electrophotographic printer. The cleaning device includes a housing that accommodates an auxiliary toner conveying part and a sheet-like resilient member. A cleaning brush is also disposed in the housing so that a gap of 1-3 mm is formed between the cleaning brush and the auxiliary toner conveying part and resilient member. During an image forming operation, toner accumulates between the cleaning blade and the cleaning brush and is conveyed upward through the gap between the cleaning brush and the auxiliary toner conveying part and resilient member. The toner drops onto the cleaning brush near the top thereof and is conveyed by the cleaning brush to a screw. The screw discharges the toner from the cleaning device.