Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing frame and a waste toner unit. The housing frame includes a support frame which supports the waste toner unit. The waste toner unit includes a waste toner bottle and a retention sheet metal which retains the waste toner bottle. The support frame includes a through-hole. The retention sheet metal includes a convex portion inserted into the through-hole, and a wedge member which protrudes from the convex portion. The wedge member latches the convex portion to an edge portion of the through-hole in the support frame.

Abstract: A toner conveying device (7a to 7d) includes a toner conveying path (26), a conveying screw (29), and a flicker (31). The conveying screw (29) includes a rotation shaft (29a) and a helical blade (29b) formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft (29a). The flicker (31) includes a plurality of first contact pieces (33) that press the conveying screw (29) in a first direction toward a bottom of the toner conveying path (26), and a plurality of second contact pieces (34) that contact the conveying screw (29) from a side opposite to the first contact pieces (33) and press the conveying screw (29) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A force with which the first contact pieces (33) press the conveying screw (29) is greater than a force with which the second contact pieces (34) press the conveying screw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer, a drum cartridge, an exposure device, a fixing device, and a toner cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member, a developing device, a waste toner conveying pipe, and a frame. The toner cartridge includes a toner container and a waste toner container. The cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in the state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position. The drum cartridge is capable of being mounted to the drawer. The toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container for storing toner to be supplied to an image forming apparatus. The container extends in a longitudinal direction and includes two walls at ends thereof in the longitudinal direction. One of the walls has a first outlet. The toner cartridge includes a paddle rotatable between the walls of the container to stir the toner and removable from the container through the first outlet. The toner cartridge includes a first lid for covering the first outlet. The first lid has a first bearing hole through which an end of the paddle is rotatably held.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a chassis having an opening, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, a primary-transfer member, a secondary-transfer roller, a cleaner device, an external-sheet inlet, a waste toner container, a connector, and a conveying roller, which is arranged within the feeding path to feed the recording sheet inserted through the external-sheet inlet in the feeding path. The conveying roller is mounted on the waste toner container and removable from the chassis along with the waste toner container.

Abstract: A powder collection container includes a container body, a conveying screw, a shaft portion, and a screw portion. The container body has a collection port from which powder is to flows into the container body. The conveying screw includes a shaft portion and a screw portion. The shaft portion extends in an axial direction of the conveying screw. The screw portion is wound around the shaft portion. The conveying screw rotates in a specified direction to convey the powder, which has flowed into the container body, toward an end of the conveying screw in the axial direction. The conveying screw includes a non-screw portion around which no screw portion is wound at least one position of the shaft portion between the collection port and the end of the conveying screw in the axial direction.

Abstract: A powder conveying device includes a drop conveyance passage, an intersecting conveyance passage, a conveying screw, and a floating member. Powder entering from an inflow port drops in the drop conveyance passage. The intersecting conveyance passage communicates with a lower end of the drop conveyance passage and extends in an intersecting direction that intersects the drop conveyance passage. The conveying screw is disposed in the intersecting conveyance passage and rotates in a specified direction to convey the powder in the intersecting direction. The floating member is movably installed in the drop conveyance passage and floats in the drop conveyance passage to move by contact with the conveying screw. The inflow port and the floating member interfere with each other to prevent the floating member from coming out of the inflow port of the drop conveyance passage.

Abstract: A developer container includes: a container body that stores developer; an agitating member that is rotatably disposed in the container body and rotates to agitate the developer; a first swing member that includes a first fixed end, a first free end, a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface, and that is swung by the agitating member coming into contact with the first surface when the agitating member rotates; and a projecting support that is disposed to face the second surface and project from a wall surface formed in the container body, and that abuts the second surface.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a housing formed with an opening, a cover configured to move between a closing position and an opening position, and a plurality of process cartridges including a first process cartridge and a second process cartridge. The first and second process cartridges respectively include first and second photosensitive drums configured to rotate about first and second drum axes both extending in a first direction. The first and second developing devices are configured to supply toner to the first and second photosensitive drums, respectively. The first and second supplying devices are formed with first and second supply ports through which the toner to be supplied to the first and second developing devices are provided, respectively. Both the first and second supplying ports are opened to outside the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first collecting container provided detachably and configured to collect residual toner discharged from an image forming portion, a second collecting container provided detachably and configured to collect the residual toner discharged from the image forming portion, and a feeding device to feed the residual toner, discharged from the image forming portion, toward the first collecting container and the second collecting container selectively. The first collecting container and the second collecting container are provided below an intermediary transfer belt and disposed side by side in a widthwise direction perpendicular to a rotational axis direction of an image bearing member, and at least a part of the first collecting container overlaps with the intermediary transfer belt as viewed in the vertical direction, and at least a part of the second collecting container overlaps with the intermediary transfer belt as viewed in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.

Abstract: A drawer is moveable between an inner position and an outer position through an opening when a cover is located at an opening position. A waste toner conveying tube is movable in a second direction between a first connection position and a first disconnection position when a drum cartridge is attached to a drawer and the drawer is at the inner position. When the cover moves from a closing position toward the opening position, the waste toner conveying tube moves from the first connection position toward the first disconnection position in conjunction with the movement of the cover. The drawer is movable from the inner position toward to the outer position when the drum cartridge is attached to the drawer, the drawer is at the inner position, and the waste toner conveying tube is at the first disconnection position.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a toner conveying section and a toner conveyor. The toner conveying section includes a bent portion and an outlet port. The bent portion bends in a predetermined direction. The outlet port discharges toner. The toner conveyor is bendable and driven by a driving device to rotate to convey toner. The toner conveyor is disposed in the toner conveying section such that a first end of the toner conveyor is coupled to the driving device and a second end of the toner conveyor is a free end. The toner conveyor includes a reverse-flow conveying portion, between the outlet port and the free end, to convey the toner from the second end to the first end.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a conveying screw and a swinging member. The conveying screw includes a shaft portion and a screw portion spirally wound around the shaft portion. The swinging member has a substantially comb shape and swings between the shaft portion and the screw portion with rotation of the conveying screw, and includes a plurality of overhanging portions arranged side by side at intervals in an axial direction of the conveying screw and a plurality of tip portions, each one of which is bent at a predetermined angle from a free end side of a corresponding one of the plurality of overhanging portions in a direction away from the shaft portion. A width of each one of the plurality of tip portions gradually increases at least from a portion to contact the screw portion toward a free end side of each one of the plurality of tip portions.

Abstract: A toner conveyance device includes a vertical conveyance portion, a horizontal conveyance portion, a conveyance member, and a loosening member. The vertical conveyance portion conveys a toner or a developer containing the toner conveyed therein through an entry port connected to a main-body-side conveyance path by causing the toner or the developer to fall vertically. The horizontal conveyance portion is connected to a lower end of the vertical conveyance portion and conveys the toner or the developer in a horizontal direction by using the conveyance member arranged in the horizontal conveyance portion. The loosening member is arranged so as to be movable between a first position below a connection portion between the main-body-side conveyance path and the entry port and a second position protruding upward beyond the connection portion and reciprocates in a vertical direction at each of the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer, a drum cartridge, an exposure device, a developing cartridge, and a fixing device. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying pipe. The drum cartridge is mountable to the drawer. The developing cartridge includes a toner container and a waste toner container, and is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The toner container includes a developing roller. The cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in a state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position. The toner container is swingably coupled to the waste toner container, thereby being capable of moving relative to the photosensitive drum in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum cartridge.

Abstract: A toner collection device includes a toner collection container, a toner conveying passage, a side wall, a recessed sensing portion, and a detection sensor. The toner conveying passage includes a first inclined portion provided right under a toner collection port and inclined downward leftward in the left-right direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and a second inclined portion connected to a bottom end part of the first inclined portion and inclined downward frontward in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down and left-right directions, with an end part of the second inclined portion on the left side in contact with the inner wall face of the toner collection container on the left side. The recessed sensing portion has an opening between a top end part of the side wall and the inner wall face of the toner collection container.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a housing, a cleaning blade, a toner conveyance path, a conveyance screw, a first flicker, and a second flicker. The conveyance screw includes a rotary shaft and a helical vane. The first flicker includes a first base portion and a plurality of first contact pieces. The second flicker includes a second base portion and a plurality of second contact pieces. An inclination angle ?1 has a value between an inclination angle ?2 and an inclination angle ?3.

Abstract: A transport member includes a shaft and plural blades that extend around the shaft so as to transport a target object that is to be transported and that is present around the plural blades in a direction in which the shaft extends by rotating with the shaft, the plural blades extending in at least a region of the transport member in the direction in which the shaft extends in such a manner that the plural blades are sequentially out of phase with one another in a direction in which the plural blades rotate. The at least a portion in the direction in which the shaft extends has flexibility.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a housing, a cleaning blade, a toner conveyance path, a conveyance screw, and a first flicker. The conveyance screw includes a rotary shaft and a helical vane. The first flicker includes a first base portion and a plurality of first contact pieces and uses the first contact pieces to press the conveyance screw in a first direction away from a bottom part of the toner conveyance path. The first base portion includes a secured portion and a blade opposed portion. The first contact pieces are connected to an upper end part of the blade opposed portion. An elastic member is disposed between the cleaning blade and the blade opposed portion.

Abstract: A developing device may include an auger or an agitator that is capable of supplying toner in a toner accommodation chamber to a developing chamber and is rotatable about an auger axis extending in an axial direction, a transporting gear that is rotatable together with the auger or the agitator, and a moving gear that is in mesh with a coupling gear and is rotatable both counterclockwise and clockwise. The moving gear is movable while being in mesh with the coupling gear between a first position where the moving gear is in mesh with the transporting gear and a second position where the moving gear is out of mesh with the transporting gear. The moving gear moves to the first position when the coupling gear rotates counterclockwise and to the second position when the coupling gear rotates clockwise.

Abstract: An example image forming apparatus includes a printing unit to print an image on a print medium using toner, a container having a hollow portion to accommodate waste toner discharged from the printing unit, a heater to apply heat to the container such that the waste toner becomes a waste toner viscous body, and a piston inserted in the hollow portion of the container movable between a first position blocking a first end portion of the hollow portion, a second position exposing the waste toner viscous body to a second end portion of the hollow portion to cool the waste toner viscous body to become a waste toner pellet, and a third position beyond the second position to separate the waste toner pellet from the second end portion of the hollow portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding device to feed residual toner, discharged from an image forming portion, toward a first collecting container and a second collecting container selectively. The feeding device includes an aggregate feeding passage to aggregate the residual toner discharged from a first or second image forming portion and feed the residual toner in an aggregate feeding direction traversing an up down direction. A vertical conveyance passage is provided along the up down direction and connected to the aggregate feeding passage, and a lateral feeding passage is connected to the vertical conveyance passage and capable of feeding the residual toner in a lateral feeding direction traversing the up-down direction. The feeding device feeds the residual toner in the lateral feeding passage toward the first collecting container and the second collecting container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediary transfer belt provided at a position overlapping with an image forming portion as viewed in a vertical direction, a first mounting portion having a mountable first collecting container for collecting residual toner discharged from the image forming portion, and a second mounting portion having a mountable second collecting container for collecting the residual toner. The first and second mounting portions are provided below the intermediary transfer belt and disposed side by side perpendicular to a rotational axis direction of the image bearing member, and wherein as viewed in the vertical direction, the first mounting portion is provided at a position where at least a part of the first mounting portion overlaps with the intermediary transfer belt, and the second mounting portion is provided at a position where at least a part of the second mounting portion overlaps with the intermediary transfer belt.

Abstract: A developer container includes a casing having a developer accommodating chamber and a waste-developer accommodating chamber, conveying member, a conveying-member accommodating unit, and a supporting member. The conveying member conveys waste developer in a longitudinal direction of the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The conveying-member accommodating unit accommodates the conveying member therein and has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is provided in an upstream end portion and allows the waste developer to move from outside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit. The second opening allows the waste-developer to move from the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The supporting member is provided on the casing.

Abstract: A process unit has an image carrying unit having an image carrying member configured to be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, and a developing agent removing member, a developing unit having a developing agent carrying member configured to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a waste developing agent collecting unit configured to collect the developing agent removed by the removing member from the image carrying member. The waste developing agent collecting unit is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the developing unit such that the waste developing agent collecting unit faces the developing unit, and the developing unit is connected to the waste developing agent collecting unit such that the developing unit being movable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the waste developing agent collecting unit.

Abstract: A waste toner storage case includes a case main body, a waste toner path, a conveyance portion, a conversion portion, and a moving member. The waste toner path is provided in the case main body. The conversion portion converts a rotary motion into a reciprocating motion in conjunction with a rotation of the rotation shaft. The moving member is coupled with the conversion portion, reciprocatingly moves in a direction along the inclined guide surface in accordance with the reciprocating motion from the conversion portion, and includes: a first extending portion extending from the coupling portion to the reception port; and a second extending portion extending from the coupling portion to the reception port to make a predetermined angle with respect to the first extending portion in a first direction separating from the inclined guide surface.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided with: a cleaning component that cleans waste toner from an image holder, the image holder holding, on a surface thereof, a toner image formed by an image forming component and moving in a circulating manner; and a waste toner conveying component that conveys the waste toner toward a waste toner storage unit. The cleaning device has a receiving opening through which waste powder recovered from the image forming component is received, and the waste powder received through the receiving opening is conveyed to the waste toner storage unit by being passed through inside the cleaning device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor unit, a first terminal, a stage, a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a slider, and an exposure device. The stage moves from a first position closer to the photoreceptor to a second position farther from the photoreceptor in a second direction than the first position so that the second terminal is fitted to the first terminal. The slider includes a first position regulation portion and a second position regulation portion at positions separated from each other in the third direction. A thickness of the first position regulation portion in the first direction is thinner than a thickness of the second position regulation portion in the first direction. The slider slides with the first protrusion between a base portion and the second protrusion and includes a guide portion. The exposure device is supported by the stage.

Abstract: A powder collection device includes a transport path, plural collection containers, and an opening and closing body. The transport path is configured to receive powder discharged from an image forming unit and transport the powder to discharge ports. The collection containers are arranged on the same straight line along the transport path. The collection containers is configured to accommodate the powder transported by the transport path. The opening and closing body has plural openings. The opening and closing body is configured to slide in the transport path so as to cause the transport path and the collection containers to sequentially communicate with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer, a drum cartridge, an exposure device, a fixing device, and a toner cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning member, a developing device, a waste toner conveying pipe, and a frame. The toner cartridge includes a toner container and a waste toner container. The cleaning member is located between the photosensitive drum and the fixing device in a vertical direction in the state where the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer and the drawer is located at an inner position. The drum cartridge is capable of being mounted to the drawer. The toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes an image forming unit, a waste toner collection container, a paddle motor, a memory unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms a toner image on a sheet using a toner replenished from a toner cartridge containing the toner. The waste toner collection container contains a waste toner generated in the image forming unit. The paddle motor rotates a stirring paddle provided in the waste toner collection container. The memory unit stores a coefficient for each type of toner. The control unit acquires a count value, which is a value related to a replenishment amount, corrects the count value with the coefficient corresponding to the type of toner, updates a cumulative count value with the corrected count value, and drives the paddle motor according to the updated cumulative count value.

Abstract: Provided are a cleaning member that removes a developer from the surface of an image bearing member that is attached to an opening of a frame; a transport member that transports developer removed from the surface of the photosensitive member drum by the cleaning member, from an opening side of the frame towards an opposing deep side; and a driving unit for driving the transport member such that the transport member moves relatively to the cleaning member. The transport member is driven by the driving unit such that an absolute value of maximum acceleration at the time of movement of the transport member in a direction from the opening side of the frame towards the deep side is smaller than an absolute value of maximum acceleration at the time of movement in a direction from the deep side towards the opening side.

Abstract: A powder container includes a collection port to receive and collect powder from outside; a driven unit that is disposed on one end side in a width direction of the powder container and to which drive is transmitted from outside; a first rotary shaft that rotates by the drive transmitted to the driven unit; a first gear disposed on other end side of the powder container and rotating with the first rotary shaft; a second rotary shaft that is disposed on the other end side, that includes a second gear to which drive is transmitted from the first gear, and that rotates with the second gear; and a driving gear that is disposed on the second rotary shaft in a position between the second gear and a central portion in the width direction of the powder container, and that rotates with the second rotary shaft to transmit drive to outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating line (1) cleaning apparatus (20) and a method for cleaning at least a selected part of a coating line.

Abstract: Provided are a cleaning member that scrapes developer from a photosensitive drum attached to an opening of a cleaning frame, and a transport member that transports scraped developer from an opening side of the frame towards an opposing deep side. The transport member is driven such that an absolute value of maximum acceleration at the time of movement of the transport sheet in a direction from the opening side towards the deep side is smaller than an absolute value of maximum acceleration at the time of movement in a reverse direction of the former direction. In the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, the width of the transport member is smaller than an abutting width of an abutting portion of the cleaning member with the photosensitive drum, and ends of the transport member in the longitudinal direction are positioned inward of ends of the abutting portion.

Abstract: A powder container includes a discharge port configured to discharge powder stored in the powder container, a container shutter configured to open and close the discharge port, a first rotation portion configured to be engageable with an engagement portion of a removable component, an operation device configured to rotate the first rotation portion in conjunction with an operation of the operation device, and a contact portion included in the first rotation portion. The engagement portion opens and closes a cartridge shutter to open and close an inlet port of the removable component. A restriction member of the removable component is configured to restrict the rotation of the engagement portion. The contact portion contacts the restriction member to cancel the restriction member from restricting rotation of the engagement portion in conjunction with attachment of the powder container to the removable component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner conveyance device and a controller. The toner conveyance device includes a casing, a screw and a film. The casing has a toner conveyance path. The screw rotates in a first rotational direction to convey a toner stored in the toner conveyance path in a predetermined conveyance direction. The film is attached to the screw and rotating together with the screw while coming into contact with an inner face of the toner conveyance path to be elastically deformed. The controller executes a toner conveyance control to rotate the screw and the film in a first rotational direction and a reverse rotation control to rotate the screw and the film in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer belt located at a lower position with respect to the photosensitive drum to contact the photosensitive drum, a secondary transfer roller contacting the intermediate transfer belt, a first sheet tray located at a lower position with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to store a sheet, and a sheet guide to guide the sheet stored in the first sheet tray to a position between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller, is provided. The sheet guide is located between the intermediate transfer belt and the first sheet tray with regard to a vertical direction and has a curved section. A contact area between the secondary transfer roller and the intermediate transfer belt is located at a lower position with respect to an upper end portion of the curved section.

Abstract: A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A toner conveyance device includes a conveying screw including a screw portion helically wound around an axis of rotation of the conveying screw in an axial direction of the conveying screw and a wall having an opening. The wall surrounds the conveying screw with a clearance relative to the conveying screw in a radial direction of the conveying screw. The toner conveyance device further includes a film attached to the wall at a predetermined distance away from an edge of the opening in the axial direction of the conveying screw.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner cartridge having a first opening; a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a second opening; a positioning part; a transfer unit; and an urging member. The toner cartridge and process cartridge are attachable to and detachable from the main body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. The positioning part and transfer unit are positioned above the process cartridge attached to the main body. The positioning part fixes the attached process cartridge in position relative to the main body. The urging member urges the attached process cartridge toward the positioning part and urges the process cartridge such that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge through the first opening and the second opening when the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the main body.

Abstract: A powder collection device includes a powder collection container, a first transport member, at least one second transport member, and an entrance suppressing member. The powder collection container is removably mounted in an apparatus. The first transport member is disposed in the powder collection container, extends in a first transport direction, and is to transport the powder to a downstream side in the first transport direction. The at least one second transport member extends in a second transport direction. The at least one second transport member transports the powder in the second transport direction so as to pass the powder to the first transport member. The entrance suppressing member suppresses entrance of the powder into a gap between the first transport member and an end portion of the at least one second transport member.

Abstract: A developer transporting device includes a first transport passage through which a developer is transported in a first direction along a direction oriented downwardly in a direction of gravity, and a second transport passage which communicates with the first transport passage on a downstream side of the first transport passage and through which the developer is transported in a second direction along a direction oriented upwardly. The first transport passage is provided with a first transport force generating member which generates a transport force for transporting the developer in the first direction, and the second transport passage is provided with a second transport force generating member which generates a transport force for transporting the developer in the second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a cartridge removably attached thereto. The image forming unit includes: a toner image forming unit; and a toner storing portion including a first toner storing portion that stores a first toner, a waste toner storing portion that stores a waste toner, and a movable partition that separates the storing portions. The cartridge includes a second toner storing portion that stores a second toner. The image forming unit includes: a first portion for supplying the first toner in the first toner storing portion to the toner image forming unit; a second portion for supplying the second toner in the second toner storing portion to the toner image forming unit; and a conveying member that conveys the first toner supplied through the first portion and the second toner supplied through the second portion, to the toner image forming unit.

Abstract: A waste toner container provided for use in an image forming apparatus includes: a body receiving, through an inlet, waste toner discharged from the image forming apparatus, and contains the waste toner; a conveyance member conveying the waste toner, which has been received through the inlet; a waste toner deposition chamber disposed downstream of the inlet in a waste toner conveyance direction such that the waste toner that has been conveyed is increasingly deposited therein, the chamber having a light-transmissive window through which amount of the deposited waste toner is optically monitorable from outside of the body; a conductive member disposed on an inner surface of the body so as to come into contact with the waste toner being conveyed; and a connection unit disposed between the conductive member and an earth member provided in the image forming apparatus to electrically connect between the conductive member and the earth member.

Abstract: A powder container includes a powder storage configured to store powder and having side walls with through-holes; a hollow member including a hollow part; held parts disposed at both ends of the hollow member in an axial direction of the hollow member; a coil configured to be held by the hollow member; holders configured to hold the held parts of the hollow member; and a piercing shaft configured to be inserted into the hollow part of the hollow member from outside of the powder container through one of the through-holes.

Abstract: A waste toner system includes a rotatable photoconductive drum and a cleaner member. A first toner sump extends along a length of the photoconductive drum for receiving waste toner removed from the outer surface of the photoconductive drum by the cleaner member. A first rotatable auger extends along the first toner sump. A pass-through opening extends from the first toner sump to a second toner sump. A second rotatable auger extends along the second toner sump. The first auger is positioned to move waste toner in the first toner sump to the pass-through opening upon rotation of the first auger in an operative rotational direction of the first auger and the second auger is positioned to distribute waste toner received through the pass-through opening into the second toner sump upon rotation of the second auger in an operative rotational direction of the second auger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning unit removing toner remaining on an image bearing member after a toner image is transferred to an intermediate transfer member; a first storage unit which collects removed toner; a conveying unit which is driven by transmission of rotation of the image bearing member to convey toner in the first storage unit to a second storage unit; and a control unit which performs conveyance control, by driving the image bearing member to rotate during a non-image forming period, in which the conveying unit is caused to convey toner from the first storage unit to the second storage unit, wherein when an amount of toner in the first storage unit is equal to or larger than a threshold during an image forming period, the control unit executes the conveyance control during the non-image forming period to reduce the toner in the first storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body, a belt unit configured to accommodate a belt, a belt cleaning member and an accommodating unit. The belt cleaning unit is configured to remove waste toner adhered on the belt. The accommodating unit is configured to accommodate the toner removed by the belt cleaning unit. The apparatus further includes a drum unit having a drum cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying mechanism configured to convey the waste toner to the collecting unit. The conveying mechanism has a drum-side conveying unit configured to be connected with the drum cleaning member. Communication between the drum-side conveying unit and the collecting unit is enabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the outside position to the inside position, and disabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the inside position to the outside position.