Abstract: A powder replenishing device includes a replaceable powder container and a reciprocating mechanism. The replaceable powder container is made of a material which allows a change in volume for containing powder replenished to the apparatus. The powder container has a powder discharge port for discharging the powder on one side wall near one end thereof. The reciprocating mechanism is configured to reciprocate the powder container such that the powder moves toward the discharge port.

Abstract: A powder replenishing device includes a powder container that contains powder. The powder container includes a powder discharging outlet at one end portion of one side wall of the powder container. The powder replenishing device further includes a reciprocating motion device that reciprocates the powder container between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the powder discharging outlet so as to move the powder in the powder container toward the powder discharging outlet in a state that the powder discharging outlet is directed downward in substantially a vertical direction.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes a main body and a toner container setting part configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually therein. Each toner container contains a toner of a different color, and the setting part includes a receiving member configured to receive the plurality of toner containers inserted therein. The plurality of toner containers, inserted in the receiving member, are partially exposed.

Abstract: A toner container for an image forming apparatus is made up of a deformable, hermetic bag packed with toner and a box accommodating the bag. A mouth member is affixed to the bag. A powder pump sucks the toner out of the bag and replenishes it to a developing device included in the image forming apparatus. After the toner container has run out of toner, it can be transported or otherwise dealt with at an extremely low cost. In addition, the toner preserves its property despite the delivery to the developing device.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.

Abstract: A developer replenishing device included in an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developer to a developing unit is disclosed and includes a developer container filled with the developer. An air pump feeds compressed air into the developer container to thereby fluidize the developer. A powder pump discharge the fluidized toner from the developer container by suction and delivers it to the developing unit. When the toner container is set on the body of the apparatus, an air feed portion penetrates into the container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of collecting toner left on an image carrier after image transfer during an electrophotographic process, and returning the toner to a developing unit for reuse in the form of an air-toner mixture is disclosed. A toner conveying device includes a screw pump and a hopper portion positioned upstream of the screw pump in the intended direction of toner conveyance. When the collected toner accumulating in the hopper portion reaches a preselected amount, the toner conveying device is caused to start and stop operating at a specific timing.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a toner recycling mechanism, a collected toner conveying device is free from troubles particular to a conventional device using a screw pump and an air pump and conveying toner and air mixture via an elastic tubing, i.e., the wear of a stator due to aging and a decrease in the delivery pressure of the pump ascribable to the wear. A control device controls, based on the cumulative operation time, an operation of the screw pump and an operation of the air pump. This provides the toner conveying device with durability, reliability and simple construction while insuring toner conveyance and reducing cost.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cleaning device removes toner remaining after image formation. A toner storing section stores the toner collected by the cleaning device. A toner transferring device transfers the toner from the cleaning device and implemented by a powder pump. The powder pump includes a screw pump rotatable to move the toner in its axial direction, and an air feeding arrangement for causing the toner being moved by the screw pump to flow in a dispersed state. The toner transferring device and toner storing section are communicated by a path constituted by a flexible material.

Abstract: A screw pump for use in an image forming apparatus for conveying toner has a female screw type stator formed with a double pitch spiral groove in its inner periphery, and a male screw type rotor rotatably received in the stator. Assuming that the rotor has a sectional diameter of RA, and that the stator has a minimum inside diameter of S.MIN, the rotor and stator bite into each other such that a dimensional ratio of RA/S.MIN satisfies a relation of RA/S.MIN.ltoreq.1.04. A toner conveying device using such a screw pump and a toner filling system are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a developing device storing a two-ingredient type or a one-ingredient type developer, a cleaning unit removes toner remaining on a photoconductive element after image formation. A toner conveying device conveys the toner collected by the cleaning unit to one or both of the developing unit and toner storing means. A powder pump includes a rotor and causes the rotor to rotate in order to move the collected toner in the axial direction of the rotor.

Abstract: An image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses is disclosed. The image forming apparatuses is of the type electrostatically forming a latent image representative of a document on an image carrier, developing it with a developing device, and transferring the resulting image to a recording medium. A single developer source is included in the system and delivers a developer to all the image forming apparatuses. The shared developer source reduces the space to be occupied by the individual image forming apparatus and insures high operation efficiency and maintenance efficiency.

Abstract: A developing unit using a bicomponent developer and capable of collecting only carrier included in the developer and deteriorated due to aging while recycling toner, and a method of collecting the developer from the developing unit. The developing unit separate the developer into toner and carrier before the collection of the developer.