Abstract: A recyclable toner container having a hollow cylindrical body, a toner outlet at one end of the container, and a removable cap fitted in the toner outlet. The cap have a plurality of circumferential protuberances on an outer periphery thereof and contacting the inner periphery of the toner outlet. The diameters of the plurality of protuberances are sequentially increased from a downstream side toward an upstream side in a direction in which the cap is inserted into the toner outlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which paper fed from a paper feeder is transported to image forming portions. A toner image is formed on the paper, and a pair of paper discharge rollers of a discharge unit are disposed at the rear end of a paper storing unit to discharge the paper into the paper storing unit. Preferably, the paper storing unit is disposed inside of the apparatus, with a lid or panel covering an access opening after the paper discharge operation has been completed, the paper storing unit is withdrawn from the apparatus; and/or feeds a stack of paper outside the apparatus upon opening of the panel. Therefore during the image forming operation, the leakage of noise made in the apparatus is prevented or reduced. Furthermore, since paper is discharged toward the front of the image forming apparatus, the width of the apparatus is minimized.

Abstract: A cartridge for replenishing a two-ingredient developer to an image forming apparatus, and a developer replenishing device using it are disclosed. The cartridge is made up of two containers each storing a content of particular kind. One of the containers has an annular portion and a bore formed at the center by the annular portion. The other container has a cylindrical configuration and coaxially mates with the above container to form a single unit. Coaxial openings are respectively formed in the containers. Spiral grooves inclined in opposite directions to each other are respectively formed on the inner peripheries of the containers.

Abstract: A developer recycling system is provided for replenishing a fresh developer to a developing device of an image forming apparatus and collecting it after use. A developer cartridge applicable to the system is also provided. When the fresh developer is replenished from the cartridge to the developing device, a developer existing in the developing device overflows in an amount corresponding to the replenished developer. The developer overflown the developing device is recirculated to the cartridge and reused.

Abstract: A recycling automatic document feeder for a copier which feeds a stack of documents loaded on a document table one by one to a predetermined exposing position, returning the document to the top of the stack after imagewise exposure, and refeeding such documents one by one to the exposing position. A discharge section is movable on and along the table in an intended direction of document feed. The document feeder is capable of returning documents of various sides easily to the top of the document stack which is located at a document feed position on the table.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for an image forming apparatus having a sheet feed unit which incorporates a pair of feed rollers for feeding paper sheets one by one out of at least one sheet cassette toward an image transfer station by nipping them. The sheet feed unit is automatically moved by a guide to a position where the feed rollers align with the intermediate between opposite widthwise edges of the paper sheets.

Abstract: A document recycling copier having, in a system configuration, a copier body, a recycling document handler which may be loaded with a stack of documents of different sizes, and a finisher for automatically arranging and binding a series of copied paper sheets. The copier is capable of copying the individual documents of different sizes on paper sheets the sizes of which are individually associated with the documents, or copying all of the documents of different sizes on paper sheets of the same size, as desired.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a toner storage area, from where the toner is supplied to a developing section, includes a holder for releasably holding a cartridge containing therein a quantity of toner, which may be located at a cartridge mounting and dismounting position and at a replenishing position, in which the cartridge is held substantially horizontally and driven to rotate thereby discharging the toner to a toner transporting path leading to the toner storage area. The cartridge is provided with a first mating member and the holder is provided with a second mating member corresponding in position and receiving the first mating member.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a toner storage area, from where the toner is supplied to a developing section, includes a holder for releasably holding a cartridge containing therein a quantity of toner, which may be located at a cartridge mounting and dismounting position and at a replenishing position, in which the cartridge is held substantially horizontally and driven to rotate thereby discharging the toner to a toner transporting path leading to the toner storage area. The cartridge is provided with a first mating member and the holder is provided with a second mating member corresponding in position to the first mating member. Thus, only the cartridge having the first mating member may be properly held by the holder for carrying out a toner replenishing operation.

Abstract: A developing unit is disclosed which utilizes a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member. The unit comprises a doctor for controlling the amount of developer supplied onto a developing sleeve, a flow plate for receiving a quantity of developer scraped off by the doctor and allowing it to flow therealong, at least one deflector plate disposed at an angle on the flow plate for causing the developer to be directed toward one side, and a screw assembly for conveying the developer which has been directed toward one side to the other side and returning it to the interior of a developer vessel.

Abstract: A sheet aligning device including a pair of side walls located parallel to each other and defining therebetween a space for stacking a plurality of sheets. At least one of the side walls is movable in reciprocatory movement widthwise of the sheets stacked between the side walls to force the sheets against the other side wall so as to align the sheets widthwise thereof which is perpendicular to the direction in which they are delivered. The sheet aligning device includes at least one sensor for sensing the magnitudes of displacements of the sheets widthwise thereof and producing an output for adjusting at least one of the frequency, speed and stroke of the reciprocatory movement of the at least one side wall in accordance with the magnitudes of the displacements.

Abstract: A toner supply device for supplying a developing unit of an electrophotographic copier with a toner developer which is stored in a cylindrical cartridge. The cartridge is fixed in a horizontal position in the vicinity of the developing unit of the copier while occupying a minimum of space. The toner supply device is desirably applicable to a small-size electrophotographic copier.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a toner storage area, from where the toner is supplied to a developing section, includes a holder for releasably holding a cartridge containing therein a quantity of toner, which may be located at a cartridge mounting and dismounting position and at a replenishing position, in which the cartridge is held substantially horizontally and driven to rotate thereby discharging the toner to a toner transporting path leading to the toner storage area. The cartridge is provided with a first mating member and the holder is provided with a second mating member corresponding in position to the first mating member. Thus, only the cartridge having the first mating member may be properly held by the holder for carrying out a toner replenishing operation.

Abstract: In a dry process developing apparatus, a toner recirculating and agitating device includes a regulator member located between a magnet brush forming member and a doctor blade to face the periphery of a developing sleeve at a predetermined spacing therefrom. This spacing is progressively reduced toward the doctor blade to increase the force which tends to recirculate the toner through a predetermined path.

Abstract: A dry type development apparatus comprising (1) a developer container disposed near a latent-electrostatic-image-bearing photoconductor, a development roller, disposed within the developer container, comprising a rotatable non-magnetic sleeve and inner magnets, for supplying the toner to the photoconductor for development of the latent images, a rotatable bucket wheel for supplying the toner to the development roller, a doctor blade for forming on the development roller a toner layer with a predetermined thickness by scraping the excess toner off the toner layer; and (6) a separator which extends over the bucket wheel and guides the toner scraped off by the doctor blade onto the bucket wheel or to the developer container, includes the improvement wherein the development roller and the bucket wheel are rotated in the same direction, and the toner flows from the lower portion of the developer roller to the bucket wheel, then towards the upper portion of the development roller, and, of the toner transferred from

Abstract: The vertical and horizontal lengths of an original document (28) are automatically sensed and compared with the vertical and horizontal lengths of a copy sheet (38) and the reduction ratio of a variable magnification optical system (33) is automatically adjusted in accordance therewith so that the maximum length of the image of the document (28) is equal to the corresponding vertical or horizontal length of the copy sheet (38). The image may be selectively parallel to the vertical length or the horizontal length of the copy sheet (38) regardless of whether the image is parallel to the vertical or horizontal length of the document (28). In one form (21) of the invention the document (28) is placed on a platen (27) so that the image is parallel to the vertical length of the platen (27) regardless of whether the image is parallel to the vertical or horizontal length of the document (28).

Abstract: An image of an original document (16) is sensed to determine if the document (16) is a printed document (the image consists of characters and symbols) or a photographic document. The exposure illumination intensity, developing bias voltage and/or other variable operating parameters are controlled in accordance with the determination.

Abstract: A scraper blade or roller engages the surface of a photoconductive drum and causes residual toner substance to pile up. The pile of residual toner is then released and carried by the drum to a position where it is removed therefrom by gravity, another scraper blade or a magnetic brush which bifunctions as a developing means. A groove may be formed in the drum surface into which the piled-up residual toner substance drops to be carried away for removal. A bias electrode or electromagnet which attracts the toner substance may replace the groove.

Abstract: A scraper blade removes residual toner substance from a photoconductive drum subsequent to a copying operation. A resilient guide member which lightly engages with the drum below the scraper blade guides the removed toner substance onto a roller which carries the same to a container. The guide member engages the drum so lightly as not to remove toner substance therefrom. The portion of the guide member engaging with the drum may be resiliently constructed in such a manner as to be moved to a position to catch toner substance falling from between the edge of the scraper blade and the drum when the drum is removed for replacement. The guide member is preferably pivotally mounted so that it is urged into engagement with the photoconductive member by gravity. The guide member is further pivoted by gravity upon removal of the photoconductive member so that a portion of the member is always oriented below the scraper blade to receive falling toner from the blade.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a projection optical system and a copying system. The projection optical system can project an image of an original either onto a screen or to an exposing position of the copying system by switching between two positions. The copying system comprises a plurality of chargers providing different charging conditions in accordance with the types and sizes of copy sheets, by utilizing a change-over switch. A plurality of switches adapted for use with copy sheets of different lengths are arranged along the path of movement of a sheet of paper and, when the switch corresponding to the particular length of copy sheet desired is actuated, the movement of the sheet of paper is stopped, so that the central portion of the copy sheet can be brought into alignment with the optical axis for exposing at all times regardless of the difference in the length of copy sheets.