Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes a developing device and a toner storage container. The toner storage container is detachable and attachable with respect to an apparatus main body. The toner storage container includes a supply screw which conveys toner by rotating forward, and a first engagement unit coupled via a gear train to a rotation shaft of the supply screw. The apparatus main body includes a second engagement unit which engages with the first engagement unit to restrain detachment/attachment of the toner storage container by engaging with the first engagement unit. In a case where an amount of toner in the toner storage unit has become equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a control unit makes the supply screw rotate backward to thereby release engagement between the first and second engagement units.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a first conveyance portion, and a second conveyance portion. The container main body includes a plurality of reception ports, and stores the waste toner carried in from the reception ports. The first conveyance portion, by being rotated when an image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward one side in a rotation axis line direction. The second conveyance portion, by being rotated when the image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward another side that is opposite to the one side. The second conveyance portion does not have a conveyance force with regard to waste toner stored in a side-end storage portion, the side-end storage portion corresponding to a side-end reception port among the plurality of reception ports that is located closest to the one side in the rotation axis line direction.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a first conveyance portion, and a second conveyance portion. The container main body includes a plurality of reception ports, and stores the waste toner carried in from the reception ports. The first conveyance portion, by being rotated when an image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward one side in a rotation axis line direction. The second conveyance portion, by being rotated when the image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward another side that is opposite to the one side. The second conveyance portion does not have a conveyance force with regard to waste toner stored in a side-end storage portion, the side-end storage portion corresponding to a side-end reception port among the plurality of reception ports that is located closest to the one side in the rotation axis line direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage container, a detection portion, a determination portion, a first calculation portion, and a first notification processing portion. The storage container stores waste toner collected. The detection portion detects that an amount of waste toner stored in the storage container has reached a predetermined reference amount. The determination portion determines, after the detection portion detects that the amount of waste toner has reached the predetermined reference amount, whether the storage container is in a full state. The first calculation portion calculates a set time based on a waste toner increase speed at which the waste toner increases up to a point of time of the detection by the detection portion. The first notification processing portion, when the set time has elapsed since the point of time of the detection by the detection portion, makes a notification regarding a pre-full state.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a first conveyance portion, and a second conveyance portion. The container main body stores waste toner discharged from a plurality of image-carrying members provided in an image forming apparatus. The first conveyance portion is rotatably provided in the container main body and configured to, by being rotated, convey the waste toner toward one side in a direction along a rotation axis line. The second conveyance portion is rotatably provided below and parallel to the first conveyance portion in the container main body and configured to, by being rotated, convey the waste toner toward another side that is opposite to the one side.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a conveyance guide portion, a conveyance portion, a conversion portion, a moving member, and a restriction member. The container main body stores waste toner. The conveyance guide portion has an inclined guide surface that guides the waste toner diagonally downward from a reception port. The conveyance portion is rotatably provided in the inside of the container main body. The conversion portion converts a rotational motion of the rotation shaft to a reciprocating motion in conjunction. The moving member reciprocally moves in a direction along the inclined guide surface by a force of the reciprocating motion received from the conversion portion. The restriction member restricts the moving member from being displaced upward from the inclined guide surface by pressing the moving member toward the inclined guide surface.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a first conveyance portion, and a second conveyance portion. The container main body stores waste toner discharged from a plurality of image-carrying members provided in an image forming apparatus. The first conveyance portion is rotatably provided in the container main body and configured to, by being rotated, convey the waste toner toward one side in a direction along a rotation axis line. The second conveyance portion is rotatably provided below and parallel to the first conveyance portion in the container main body and configured to, by being rotated, convey the waste toner toward another side that is opposite to the one side.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a conveyance guide portion, a conveyance portion, a conversion portion, a moving member, and a restriction member. The container main body stores waste toner. The conveyance guide portion has an inclined guide surface that guides the waste toner diagonally downward from a reception port. The conveyance portion is rotatably provided in the inside of the container main body. The conversion portion converts a rotational motion of the rotation shaft to a reciprocating motion in conjunction. The moving member reciprocally moves in a direction along the inclined guide surface by a force of the reciprocating motion received from the conversion portion. The restriction member restricts the moving member from being displaced upward from the inclined guide surface by pressing the moving member toward the inclined guide surface.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a dust collecting unit is disposed in the front side of image forming units. The dust collecting unit includes a dust collecting box and a fan. The dust collecting box is communicated with developer cases. The fan sucks air in the dust collecting box and discharges the air. The fan sucks air that has passed through a filter in the dust collecting box and discharges the air to an exhaust duct. The exhaust duct is disposed between a toner container and a fixing device and forms an air passage that extends in a front-rear direction to reach an opening portion provided in the rear side. The air is discharged to an outside of the apparatus from the opening portion.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a dust collecting unit is disposed in the front side of image forming units. The dust collecting unit includes a dust collecting box and a fan. The dust collecting box is communicated with developer cases. The fan sucks air in the dust collecting box and discharges the air. The fan sucks air that has passed through a filter in the dust collecting box and discharges the air to an exhaust duct. The exhaust duct is disposed between a toner container and a fixing device and forms an air passage that extends in a front-rear direction to reach an opening portion provided in the rear side. The air is discharged to an outside of the apparatus from the opening portion.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus includes conveyance portion, discharge portion, opening/closing portion, and toner storing portion. Conveyance portion conveys toner along axis direction of image carrier. In discharge portion, discharge outlet is formed such that toner conveyed by conveyance portion is dropped from discharge outlet. Opening/closing portion is provided on discharge portion and moves in axis direction in such way as to open and close discharge outlet. Toner storing portion includes opening portion, restriction portion, and cover portion. Opening portion has insertion opening into which discharge portion is inserted in conveyance direction in which toner is conveyed. Restriction portion contacts part of opening/closing portion and restricts movement of opening/closing portion when discharge portion is inserted into insertion opening.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a common conveyance path, toner input paths and blades. A screw for conveying a toner is installed in the common conveyance path. The toner input paths extend in an up-down direction and have lower ends connected to the common conveyance path. The blades are installed so as to make contact with a shaft of the screw and are configured to scrape off a toner adhering to the shaft of the screw. The blades are arranged immediately below the toner input paths so as to make contact with the shaft of the screw. The blades are disposed at a pitch of an integer multiple of a pitch of the fin of the screw.

Abstract: A toner collecting unit includes a housing, an inlet, a first fan, a lower duct, a first filter, and an oscillation motor. The inlet is provided in the housing. Toner flows into the inlet together with an air flow. The first fan is arranged in the interior of the housing and is configured to suck the air flow flowing from the inlet and to exhaust the air outside the housing. The lower duct guides the air flow upward from below. The first filter is arranged in an upper part of the lower duct so that its approach surface, which the air flow enters, faces downward.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus includes conveyance portion, discharge portion, opening/closing portion, and toner storing portion. Conveyance portion conveys toner along axis direction of image carrier. In discharge portion, discharge outlet is formed such that toner conveyed by conveyance portion is dropped from discharge outlet. Opening/closing portion is provided on discharge portion and moves in axis direction in such way as to open and close discharge outlet. Toner storing portion includes opening portion, restriction portion, and cover portion. Opening portion has insertion opening into which discharge portion is inserted in conveyance direction in which toner is conveyed. Restriction portion contacts part of opening/closing portion and restricts movement of opening/closing portion when discharge portion is inserted into insertion opening.

Abstract: A toner collector includes a housing, an inlet port, a fan, a discharge port, a first upstream side filter, and a downstream side filter. The inlet port is opened in the housing. The fan is disposed in the housing, and intakes and discharges the airflow having flowed in through the inlet port. The discharge port is provided to the fan. The first upstream side filter is disposed on an upstream side of the fan in a direction of the airflow, and captures the toner and allows passage of the airflow. The downstream side filter is disposed on a downstream side of the discharge port in the direction of the airflow, and allows passage of the airflow discharged from the discharge port and captures the toner. The downstream side filter has a larger cross-sectional area of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the airflow than the discharge port.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a common conveyance path, toner input paths and blades. A screw for conveying a toner is installed in the common conveyance path. The toner input paths extend in an up-down direction and have lower ends connected to the common conveyance path. The blades are installed so as to make contact with a shaft of the screw and are configured to scrape off a toner adhering to the shaft of the screw. The blades are arranged immediately below the toner input paths so as to make contact with the shaft of the screw. The blades are disposed at a pitch of an integer multiple of a pitch of the fin of the screw.

Abstract: A toner collecting unit includes a housing, an inlet, a first fan, a lower duct, a first filter, and an oscillation motor. The inlet is provided in the housing. Toner flows into the inlet together with an air flow. The first fan is arranged in the interior of the housing and is configured to suck the air flow flowing from the inlet and to exhaust the air outside the housing. The lower duct guides the air flow upward from below. The first filter is arranged in an upper part of the lower duct so that its approach surface, which the air flow enters, faces downward.

Abstract: A toner collector includes a housing, an inlet port, a fan, a discharge port, a first upstream side filter, and a downstream side filter. The inlet port is opened in the housing. The fan is disposed in the housing, and intakes and discharges the airflow having flowed in through the inlet port. The discharge port is provided to the fan. The first upstream side filter is disposed on an upstream side of the fan in a direction of the airflow, and captures the toner and allows passage of the airflow. The downstream side filter is disposed on a downstream side of the discharge port in the direction of the airflow, and allows passage of the airflow discharged from the discharge port and captures the toner. The downstream side filter has a larger cross-sectional area of a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the airflow than the discharge port.

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: A toner case includes a main body that contains toner, a discharge port located in the main body through which toner is discharged, an agitating unit rotatably positioned in the main body for agitating the toner, a transportation unit rotatably positioned in the main body for transporting the toner toward the discharge port, and a driving unit that drives the transportation unit and the agitating unit. The driving unit is rotatable forward and backward. When the driving unit rotates in one rotation direction, the agitating unit and the transportation unit rotate. When the driving unit rotates in the other rotation direction, the transportation unit does not rotate and the agitating unit rotates in the same direction as a direction in which the agitating unit rotates when the driving unit rotates in the one rotation direction.