Abstract: A tandem type image forming apparatus drives an agitation paddle when the waste toner defecated from a plurality of image forming units and flowed and collected in a single waste toner containing member by way of the first collection port thereof gets to a predetermined level in order to level the height of the waste toner in the waste toner containing member. The quantity of waste toner flowed by way of the first collection port is estimated from the quantity of the toners supplied from the toner cartridges of the development apparatus.

Abstract: This is a waste cyclone toner dispense system with a controlled gate and a collection bag below the gate. The controlled gate is configured to be opened and closed at a predetermined time thereby permitting the use of relatively inexpensive bags for collection of toner debris. The gate is hinged to permit easy opening by a controller and motor. The controller turns off any pressure while the gate is open. The drop gate conveys when open waste toner from an upper waste collection funnel to the collection bag.

Abstract: This is a waste cyclone toner dispense system with a controlled gate and a collection bag below the gate. The controlled gate prevents pressure from entering the bag thereby permitting the use of relatively inexpensive bags for collection of toner debris. The gate has rotating blades tightly pushed against a sealing wall, such as rubber or the like. The wall must prevent pressure from reaching the bag and remaining only above the bag. The rotating blades convey waste toner from an upper collection to the collection bag.

Abstract: This is a novel xerographic marking system having a novel toner waste dispensing assembly. The assembly comprises a hermetically sealed outer box that houses a disposable waste toner container. The container is a biodegradable carton or bag that can be removed from the outer box when filled with waste toner. A feature of this invention is that the dispensing assembly can easily be retrofitted into existing marking systems. Also because the containers are inexpensive and biodegradable, the expensive prior art non-degradable waste containers and their adverse effect on the landfills can be avoided.

Abstract: A developer collection device includes: a collection unit including: a collection container that contains a developer to be collected; an upstream connection part that is formed with an inlet port through which the developer flows in; and a collection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the inlet port toward the collection container; and a connection unit including: an upstream connection port that is connected to an upstream conveying path; a connection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the upstream connection port in a developer conveying direction; and a connection outlet port that is formed at a downstream end in the developer conveying direction, wherein the connection unit is configured to be movable between an extracted position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image bearing member on which a latent image is formed; a developing unit that develops the latent image using a liquid developer; a transfer member onto which the image is transferred; a cleaning unit that cleans the latent image bearing member; a cleaning roller, to which a bias is applied, that cleans the transfer member by making contact with the transfer member; a blade that cleans the cleaning roller by making contact with the cleaning roller; a cleaning blade that cleans the transfer member cleaned by the cleaning roller by making contact with the transfer member; a holding unit that holds collected material scratched by the blade and the cleaning blade; an application unit that applies the collected material to the cleaning roller; and a transport channel that transports the collected material collected by the cleaning unit to the holding unit.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a pipe body (conveying pipe) having an inside diameter thereof that is modified in a pipe-axis direction and a screw member coaxially located in the pipe body for feeding the toner. The screw member includes a screw shaft that rotates about an axis and a spiral fin that is spirally formed around an outer circumferential surface of the screw shaft. The distance between an outer circumferential surface of the spiral fin and an inner circumferential surface of the pipe body is constant in the longitudinal direction of the pipe body.

Abstract: A waste-toner housing device that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus for housing waste toner includes a waste-toner container and a first conveying member and a second conveying member that convey the wasted toner. The first conveying member and the second conveying member are arranged inside the waste-toner container in such a manner that the second conveying member is located at an elevated level with respect to the first conveying member.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device capable of maintaining a sufficient cleaning effect by preventing creep deformation of a cleaning member. The cleaning device of the present invention for cleaning a transfer body in an image forming apparatus includes a first cleaning member whose top end is brought into pressure contact with the transfer body, and a second cleaning member which is placed downstream from the first cleaning member with respect to a moving direction of the transfer body and whose top end is brought into pressure contact with the transfer body, wherein the second cleaning member is provided rotatably with respect to the first cleaning member.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device comprising: a waste toner removing section that removes a toner which is adhered on a surface of a member to be cleaned, as waste toner; a waste toner storing section that stores the waste toner; and a waste toner transporting section that transports the waste toner to the waste toner storing section, wherein the waste toner transporting section includes a waste toner transporting path, a rotatable shaft arranged in the waste toner transporting path, a transport screw that is arranged at an outer periphery of the shaft in the waste toner transporting path and that has one end in a longitudinal direction coupled to the shaft, and a driving section that is coupled to the other end of the transport screw in the longitudinal direction so as to transmit a rotational force or that is coupled to the shaft so as to transmit a rotational force while rotatably supporting the other end of the transport screw.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a collecting container that collects a waste toner; a rotation member that rotates and spreads a waste toner inside the collecting container; a torque detection unit that detects torque applied to the rotation member by a waste toner inside the collecting container; and a rotation direction switching unit that switches a rotation direction of the rotation member. When a torque value detected by the torque detection unit is more than a first threshold, the rotation direction of the rotation member is switched by the rotation direction switching unit.

Abstract: A developer conveying apparatus includes a main body in which a developer is conveyed, a first conveying member including a first rotation shaft rotatably provided in the main body and a first conveying portion having a spiral shape and provided around the first rotation shaft, and a second conveying member including a second rotation shaft rotatably provided in the main body and a second conveying portion having a spiral shape and provided around the second rotation shaft. A developer retention portion is formed at a predetermined portion of the second conveying member.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a sliding plate that slides in contact with an inner wall of a disposed toner duct is oscillated by using rotation of a disposed toner collection auger. As the sliding plate is oscillated, disposed toner falling and fed through the disposed toner duct is oscillated. The disposed toner adhering to the inner wall of the disposed toner duct is removed by sliding of both lateral parts of the sliding plate in contact with the inner wall.

Abstract: A developer transporting apparatus includes: a drop path; a developer transporting path; a developer transporting member; and an aggregation preventing member including: a contact portion that is in contact with the developer transporting member, and that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the developer transporting member; and a developer scrub-off portion that is disposed between an inner wall surface of the developer transporting path and the developer transporting member, and that moves along the inner wall surface in conjunction with the movement of the contact portion, at least part of the aggregation preventing member being disposed at a connecting portion between the drop path and the developer transporting path to prevent the aggregation of the developer to the inner wall surface.

Abstract: This is a thumper assembly that is positioned in a developer station of a xerographic marking system. A waste container connected to a drop tube collects waste developer from this station. A magnet prevents magnetic developer from moving through the tube when the container is removed. Once a new container is installed, the magnet is moved away from the tube thereby allowing magnetic developer lodged therein to again move through the tube. A thumper is moved striking the tube to further dislodge developer and allow this developer to move through the tube into the waste container.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes: a removing unit that removes a toner on an image holder by coming into contact with the image holder that rotates; a transporting unit provided above the removing unit and adapted to cause the toner removed by the removing unit to be axially transported as the transporting unit rotates; and an accommodating container in which the transporting unit is provided and which accommodates the removed toner, and the transporting unit is movable in a direction in which the transporting unit moves away from the removing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. A developer develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the photoconductive drum. A transfer-fixer transfers the toner image from the photoconductive drum to a recording sheet and fixes the toner image on the recording sheet. A waste toner particle collector collects toner particles remaining in the developing section into a collection container. A toner amount detector detects the amount of toner particles collected in the collection container. A notifying portion notifies a user when the amount of toner detected reaches a predetermined observing amount. A collection amount setting portion enables a reduced collection amount to be set for the collection of waste toner particles in the developing section in accordance with an increase in the detected toner amount after the detected toner amount reaches the observing amount.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes: a tubular member provided with a toner inlet and a toner outlet; a roller that is provided upstream of the toner outlet in a toner transport direction inside the tubular member, that has a substantially horizontal rotation axis line, and that is elliptical in vertical section; a scraper that is provided on an inner wall of the tubular member on a downstream side of the toner outlet in a rotation direction of the roller, an edge of the scraper being in contact with the roller; and a waste toner collecting bag that is inflatable and is attached to the toner outlet of the tubular member.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes a removing unit, a conveying unit, a partitioning unit. The removing unit includes an edge portion and removes toner on an image carrier while the tip end contacts the image carrier. The conveying unit conveys, toward an axial direction of the conveying unit, the toner removed from the image carrier and moved above the removing unit, the conveying unit being disposed above the removing unit. The partitioning unit is inclined to a conveying direction of the conveying unit and is disposed above the removing unit through a space.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a developer collecting portion for collecting a developer, a developer conveying portion having a receiving portion and an exit portion. The image forming unit further includes a developer conveying unit that conveys the developer from the receiving portion to the exit portion. The developer conveying portion has a guide portion for guiding the developer conveying unit. One of the guide portion and the developer conveying portion has a contact portion that causes the guide portion and the developer conveying portion to partially contact each other in such a manner that a gap is partially formed therebetween.

Abstract: The waste toner flown into a waste toner box by way of a plurality of collection ports is leveled by means of a paddle. The waste toner collected in the waste toner box is supplied to a full condition sensing section arranged at a higher position so as to be piled up by means of an auxiliary paddle 42. A photodetector detects the waste toner that is accumulated higher at the position of the full condition sensing section than at the other area of the waste toner box to detect a full condition of the waste toner box.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a waste toner housing having an upper housing and a lower housing which face each other, at least one support unit to allow connection between the upper and lower housings, and to support facing surfaces of the upper and lower housings, and a toner housing which is disposed on a lower part of the waste toner housing and is spaced apart from the waste toner housing at a predetermined distance. Accordingly, the waste toner housing is prevented from being deformed by heat and pressure, and thus white lines on images, flowback of waste toner and insufficient cleaning, which are caused by interference with the light path due to deformation of the waste toner housing, can be reduced. Additionally, tolerance can be greatly reduced as a result of resolving the problem of deformation of the waste toner housing, so a developing unit having a smaller size can be provided.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a cleaning member, an ejection member, a delivering member, and a flicker. The cleaning member contacts an object to be cleaned moving in a given direction, and removes waste material from the object to be cleaned. The ejection member, disposed in an area distanced from the object to be cleaned, transports the waste material removed from the object to be cleaned to outside of the cleaning unit. The delivering member delivers the waste material to a transport-effective area of the ejection member. The delivering member includes a vane rotating device including a rotation axis and a vane attached on the rotation axis. The vane rotating device rotates to deliver the waste material to the ejection member. The flicker contacts a free end of the vane to cause a flicker movement to the vane at a position over the transport-effective area of the ejection member.

Abstract: A waste-toner conveying device includes a conveying unit that conveys foreign matter accumulated inside a container in a conveying path and that includes a coil unit, and a driving unit that drives the conveying unit to rotate. The coil unit includes a first coil on an upstream side and a second coil on a downstream side in a conveying direction, and the first coil and the second coil are connected in an eccentric manner.

Abstract: A cleaning device removes a toner attached to an image carrier of an electrophotographic-type image forming apparatus. The cleaning device includes a cleaning blade, a housing and a block member. The cleaning blade is in contact with a surface of the image carrier to removes the toner. The housing stores the toner removed by the cleaning blade. The block member causes the toner to temporarily remain the toner in a vicinity of a distal end of the cleaning blade. The block member is formed of a sheet-shaped elastic member. One side of the block member is fixed to the housing. A repulsive force against bending in an end portion of the block member in a longitudinal direction is substantially smaller than a repulsive force against bending in a center portion of the block member.

Abstract: The developer delivering device includes a first delivering path, a second delivering path, a helical delivering blade disposed in the second delivering path, and a developer breaking member disposed in a connecting portion of the first delivering path and the second delivering path. The developer breaking member includes a breaking portion disposed opposite to a side wall of the second delivering path in a developer delivering direction of the second delivering path, a contact portion that is in contact with the helical delivering blade and extended in the developer delivering direction between the breaking portion and a center of the rotation of the helical delivering blade, and a coupling portion. The breaking portion has a first breaking portion and a second breaking portion. The contact portion has a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The coupling portion couples the first contact portion to the second contact portion.

Abstract: A developer collection device includes: a collection unit including: a collection container that contains a developer to be collected; an upstream connection part that is formed with an inlet port through which the developer flows in; and a collection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the inlet port toward the collection container; and a connection unit including: an upstream connection port that is connected to an upstream conveying path; a connection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the upstream connection port in a developer conveying direction; and a connection outlet port that is formed at a downstream end in the developer conveying direction, wherein the connection unit is configured to be movable between an extracted position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image forming sections respectively including developing portions and first removing portions as defined herein; a plurality discharging pipes as defined herein; and a delivery pipe as defined herein, the delivery pipe includes a changing portion in which a direction of delivering the coloring materials is changed to an upper side, and, among the discharging pipes, a discharging pipe that is downward extended from one of the first removing portions that is placed on a most downstream side in the oblique direction is disposed downstream from the changing portion of the delivery pipe in the delivering direction, and has a length shorter than lengths of the other discharging pipes.

Abstract: An embodiment of a toner conveying mechanism may include a housing, a conveying member, and a protrusion. In some embodiments, the housing configured to hold toner. An embodiment of a conveying member may be disposed in the housing and may be configured to convey the toner by rotation. In some embodiments, a protrusion may be disposed on the surface of the inner wall of the housing. An embodiment of the protrusion may protrude toward the conveying member. In some embodiments, the protrusion may intermittently contact the conveying member during rotation of the conveying member.

Abstract: A developer-conveying apparatus is provided, the developer-conveying apparatus including: a conveying member that has a rotational axis rotatably set in a container and a blade formed around the rotational axis, the conveying member conveying a developer along the rotational axis by rotation; and a static eliminating member set in the container and eliminating static electricity of the developer in the container by being brought into contact with the developer.

Abstract: In a method to remove toner deposits on a surface of a cleaning element, electrically charged toner particles are transferred from a carrier surface to an intermediate carrier. On the cleaning element, untransferred, electrically charged toner particles as residual toner from the carrier surface are received. Electrically charged toner particles on the cleaning element are directed past an electrode arrangement arranged at a distance from the surface of the cleaning element. An alternating electrical field is generated which acts on the toner particles to loosen them. The toner particles remaining on the surface of the cleaning element are brought into contact with a mixture of carrier particles and toner particles during further transport along a transport direction of the cleaning element.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning unit configured to remove toner on an image bearing member, a container adapted to contain the removed toner that is recovered, a screw configured to convey the removed toner toward the container, a spherical moving member configured to be moved by the rotation of the screw in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw, and a driving unit configured to rotate the screw in a first direction for conveying the moving member toward the container and in a second direction opposite from the first direction for conveying the moving member.

Abstract: A cleansing apparatus includes a blade, a gathering tank and a residual material transportation module for cleansing a photoconductor drum. The blade contacts the photoconductor drum, and scrapes off residual materials adhered to a surface of the photoconductor drum. The gathering tank gathers the residual materials. The residual material transportation module includes a transportation component, a cleansing component, and a path, for cleansing the photoconductor drum and transporting the residual materials to the gathering tank. The transportation component is disposed at an upstream position towards the blade on a rotating direction of the photoconductor drum. The cleansing component is disposed on the transportation component and in contact with the photoconductor drum, for cleansing the photoconductor drum. The path is formed by the transportation component and the cleansing component.

Abstract: An element, or elements, of a collection chamber which may remove excess deposition of particulate matter without interrupting or otherwise disturbing the normal operation of the device are provided. These elements may oscillate within a collection chamber and substantially remove any particulate matter which may be deposited, and accumulate, within the collection chamber over time. Such an oscillation and removal of undesirably deposited particulate matter may be performed without substantially interfering with the ability of particulate matter to travel through the chamber or space. The element or elements may comprises but are not limited to, one or more plastic wiping elements, or one or more spring-like wire form structures. Additionally, one or more post processing systems and methods, for final disposal, transformation, or processing of the particulate matter which travels through the collection chamber may be provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrier unit including an intermediate transfer member, a detachable waste toner container, and a recording-medium directing member provided to the carrier unit. The recording-medium directing member guides a recording medium, and also prevents the waste toner container from contacting the intermediate transfer member when the waste toner container is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A waste toner solidification apparatus for a printing device includes a nozzle configured to receive waste toner from a hopper. A heater is configured to heat the waste toner in a manner sufficient to liquefy the waste toner within the nozzle. Substantially when exiting the nozzle, the liquefied waste toner solidifies and forms a plurality of solid waste toner pellets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image having a predetermined polarity on the image carrier, an intermediate transfer body facing the image carrier, a primary transfer member configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer body, a secondary transfer member configured to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and a contacting member in contact with the image carrier and configured to remove residual toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred by the primary transfer member onto the intermediate transfer body and to pass the removed residual toner to the intermediate transfer body. A bias voltage with the same polarity as the predetermined polarity of the toner image is applied to the contacting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reservoir base section with a recess that receives liquid developer scraped off of a developing roller by a cleaning blade. The recess is substantially U-shaped with an opened top side and an arc angle of not less than 180°. A conveying base station is continuous with the reservoir base section and has a conveying port formed thereon. A conveying member arranged in the reservoir and conveying base sections conveys liquid developer through a hollow path from the recess to the conveying port by rotating about its axis. The radius r1 of the outer periphery of the conveying member, the radius r2 of the conveying port and the radius r3 of curvature of the recess have the relationship r1<r2<r3.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a pipe body (conveying pipe) having an inside diameter thereof that is modified in a pipe-axis direction and a screw member coaxially located in the pipe body for feeding the toner. The screw member includes a screw shaft that rotates about an axis and a spiral fin that is spirally formed around an outer circumferential surface of the screw shaft. The distance between an outer circumferential surface of the spiral fin and an inner circumferential surface of the pipe body is constant in the longitudinal direction of the pipe body.

Abstract: A cleaning device may include a polishing roller, an ejection member, and a conveying member. In some embodiments, the polishing roller may be configured to remove and collect a residual substance adhering to a surface of an image bearing member while rotating in contact with the image bearing member. In an embodiment, the ejection member may be configured to eject the substance collected by the polishing roller to the outside of the cleaning device. An embodiment may include a conveying member configured to follow the rotation of the polishing roller by being in contact with the polishing roller and to convey toner in the cleaning device on a surface of the polishing roller in an axial direction of the polishing roller.

Abstract: A recovery port, through which waste powder is recovered, is formed at one end of a waste powder recovery container. A conveying member for conveying the waste powder, which has been recovered through the recovery port, from one end to the other end is disposed inside the waste powder recovery container. The conveying member includes a first conveying portion positioned on a side of the recovery port, for conveying the waste powder to the other end, and a second conveying portion for dispersing in a widthwise direction the waste powder conveyed by the first conveying portion.

Abstract: In a toner conveyance device, a first agitator contacts a helical outer circumferential surface of a blade of a conveyance member for conveying toner, and swings in coordination with rotation of the conveyance member to agitate the toner. The first agitator includes a body for bending and swinging in a bending direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the conveyance member, and a protrusion for protruding from the body in a protrusion direction opposite the bending direction of the body. The protrusion includes a basal portion adjacent to the body, a convex portion protruding from the basal portion, and a protrusion front edge surface having a distance from the body changing in a toner conveyance direction, and contacts the helical outer circumferential surface of the helical blade of the conveyance member.

Abstract: A developer recovering unit is provided with a recovery vessel that contains a developer to be recovered, a transporting device that includes a transporting member that transports the developer through a tubular transport path connecting a portion where the developer is generated to the recovery vessel, and a detecting device that detects an amount of the developer contained in the recovery vessel, wherein the transporting member is formed as a conductive member and is grounded at least in a most downstream section of the transport path connected to the recovery vessel.

Abstract: A storage container includes: a container body that is detachably disposed on a predetermined container receiver, wherein powder to be supplied or recovered powder is stored in the container body; and a powder driving transmitting mechanism that is disposed in the container body, and that transmits a transportable driving force to the powder to be supplied or recovered powder, and, when the container body is mounted on the container receiver, the powder driving transmitting mechanism couples a powder conveying mechanism that is disposed on a side of the container receiver, and that, outside the container body, conveys the powder to be supplied or recovered powder, with a driving mechanism that is disposed on a side of the container receiver, and that drives the powder conveying mechanism.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing toner for use in electrophotographic imaging members, such as photoreceptor structures. More particularly, embodiments pertain to an apparatus and process for separating toner from toner/carrier mixtures, such as reclaiming toner from waste toner, much more efficiently and with improved yields.

Abstract: An image forming member includes: an electrostatic latent image holding member that holds an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit that develops a toner image formed by a toner on a surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member; a toner removing member that removes a residual toner remaining on a surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member; a conveying path including a conveying member that is internally provided in the conveying path and that returns the residual toner removed from the surface of the electrostatic latent image holding member to the developing unit; and a trapping portion that traps a foreign matter conveyed by the conveying member, the electrostatic latent image holding member, the developing unit, the toner removing member, the conveying path, and the trapping portion of the image forming member being integrally and detachably attached to an image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent image-forming unit for forming a latent image on the image carrier; a cleaning unit including a residue removal member a residue transport member; a residue collecting unit having an receiving port adapted to be able to connect to and be away from the ejecting port and to receive the residue ejected from the ejection port; a shield member capable of shifting between an ejection position and a shield position; and an approach and separation mechanism that moves the latent image-forming unit between an approach position where the latent image-forming unit approaches the image carrier and a separate position where the latent image-forming unit is separated from the image carrier, the approach and separation mechanism allowing the latent image-forming unit to move to the separation position as the shield member shifts to the shield position.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; an attachable and detachable storing container storing waste powder discarded and transported from the image forming section; a transport path for transporting the waste powder; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to an outside of the transport path; a second discharging part provided downstream of the first discharging part in a transporting direction and discharging the waste powder to the storing container; a powder storage part storing the waste powder when the storing container is removed; and a controller causing the shut first discharging part to be opened when the storing container is removed, and causing the waste powder to be discharged from the first discharging part. The powder storage part has capacity enough for storing the waste powder when the first discharging part is opened.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; first and second storing containers attachably and detachably provided and storing waste powder discarded from the image forming section; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to the first storing container; a second discharging part discharging the waste powder to the second storing container; a first transporting section transporting the waste powder to the first discharging part; a second transporting section transporting, toward the second discharging part, the waste powder transported to the first discharging part, when the first discharging part is shut off; and a controller shutting off the first discharging part and stopping the first transporting section or reducing an output of the first transporting section, when the first storing container is removed in a state where the first discharging part is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; a storage container that is detachably and attachably provided and that stores waste powder having been discarded and transported from the image forming section; a first transporting section that transports, from the image forming section, the waste powder having been discarded in the image forming section; a transport path through which the waste powder having been transported by the first transporting section is caused to fall down and is transported; a second transporting section that transports, to the storage container, the waste powder having been transported through the transport path; and a controller that stops driving of the second transporting section if an operation set in advance is executed when the storage container is removed.