Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; first and second storage parts storing waste powder discarded from the image forming section; a transport path of the waste powder; first and second discharging parts provided on the transport path and discharging the waste powder to the first and second storage parts, respectively; a transporting section provided along the transport path between both discharging parts, and transporting the waste powder toward the second and first discharging parts in first and second operating states, respectively; a feeding section feeding the waste powder from the image forming section to the transport path between both discharging parts; and a controller making the transporting section operate in both operating states, and stopping the feeding section or reducing its output when switching a transporting direction of the waste powder by switching from the first to second operating state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section including first and second image forming parts each forming a toner image by using an image forming unit to be mounted, the first and the second image forming parts being inhibited from forming respective toner images if an image forming unit is not mounted to the first image forming part, the first image forming part being allowed to form a toner image if an image forming unit is mounted to the first image forming part while an image forming unit is not mounted to the second image forming part; and a transporting section including first and second receiving parts receiving waste powder discarded by the first and second image forming parts, respectively, and that transports the received waste powder. The second receiving part is provided downstream of the first receiving part in a transporting direction of the waste powder.

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: A processing method of waste toner which is collected from an image forming device generated when an electrophotography image is formed, including: adding citrus oil to the waste toner.

Abstract: A developer conveying member includes: a conveying member body; an end-portion supporting member; and a supported member including: a first radiation direction extending portion; and a second radiation direction extending portion, the end-portion supporting member including: a cylindrical portion, and the supporting portion defining: a through hole; and a groove.

Abstract: The present invention provides a waste particulate toner collection container system for an image forming apparatus that includes a waste particulate toner spreading device movably disposed within the container in a reciprocating manner generally along its length, the device including a spine member having on a first end a first plurality of spaced apart raking tine members and on a second end a second plurality of spaced apart raking tine members disposed substantially transversely of the length of the spine member, and a crank arm attached at the first end of the spine member. A post disposed on an inner wall of the container supports the device at a point along the length of the spine member between the first and second pluralities of raking tine members, and a drive mechanism is operatively connected to the crank arm for imparting reciprocating movement to the device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit to transfer a toner to a printing medium, and a waste toner recovery unit to convey a waste toner recovered from the transfer unit. A first driving source for driving the transfer unit is configured independently of a second driving source for driving the waste toner recovery unit, so that deterioration in the quality of image caused by the waste toner recovery unit can be minimized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing a space required to install a transfer unit to achieve a compact body size. The image forming apparatus can include a body, a frame installed in the body, a transfer unit installed inside the frame, and a waste toner recovery device to recover waste toner collected from the transfer unit. The waste toner recovery device can include a first delivery unit to deliver the waste toner in a first direction, and a second delivery unit to deliver the waste toner, delivered from the first delivery unit, in a second direction. The second delivery unit can be movably installed to the frame and can be coupled to or detached from the first delivery unit via movement thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt, a plurality of processing units, a cleaning unit, a waste toner retainer, and a waste toner conveying unit. The plurality of processing units is juxtaposed above the endless belt. The cleaning unit is disposed above the endless belt to collect a waste toner deposited on the endless belt. The waste toner retainer is provided in one processing unit in the plurality of processing units. At least one of another processing units in the plurality of processing units is interposed between the cleaning unit and the one processing unit. The waste toner conveying unit conveys the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit to the waste toner retainer, and extends from the cleaning unit to the waster toner retainer.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a device main body having a developer receiving port, and a developer discharge unit having a developer discharge port. When the developer discharge unit is attached to the device main body, the developer receiving port and the developer discharge port overlap each other. As the developer discharge unit is attached to the device main body, a shutter opens in a direction that is different from an attaching direction of the developer discharge unit. The developer discharge port of the developer discharge unit is opened accompanying an opening movement of the shutter, and an opening portion of the developer discharge port and an opening portion of the developer receiving port overlap each other at all times.

Abstract: A waste toner transfer device of an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner transfer unit which is disposed in proximity to a cleaning member to transfer waste toner removed from a photoconductive medium by the cleaning member, and includes a plurality of protrusions at one end, a driving unit which horizontally reciprocates the waste toner transfer unit, and a plurality of ribs which constrain the plurality of protrusions when the waste toner transfer unit moves, so that the waste toner transfer unit vibrates vertically.

Abstract: In a toner collecting device of the present invention for conveying collected waste toner to a waste toner storing portion with a toner conveying device, the toner conveying device is positioned at a side opposite to a driveline included in an apparatus body to which the toner collecting device is mounted. A driveline for driving the toner conveying device is not arranged at the side opposite to the driveline of the apparatus body, but the toner conveying device is directly driven by the driveline of the apparatus body. With this configuration, the toner collecting device is capable of driving, e.g., a toner conveying belt or a toner conveying screw arranged at the counter drive side without sophisticating the configuration.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a high toner containing efficiency of a waste toner-collecting container is provided. Piled toner is broken by an vibrating imparting operation and at the same time, a toner feeding member such as a feeding screw disposed inside the toner-collecting container is rotated by changing a reciprocating operation by the vibrating impartment to a rotational operation in a direction. As a result, the piled toner which cannot be completely broken by the vibrating imparting operation is broken and fed, so that driving noise is reduced and the toner containing efficiency is improved.

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: An image forming unit includes an image bearing member. A transfer member transfers a toner image on the image bearing member to a record member. A cleaning member cleans toner adhered onto the transfer member. A toner container contains toner cleaned by the cleaning member. A toner sensor, which is positioned at a center area of said toner container in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the image bearing member and detects an amount of collected toner. A conveyance member conveys the collected toner and includes first screws to convey toner to a position corresponding to an area in which the first area is excluded from the second area in a direction toward the detection position, and second screws to convey toner to a position between said first screws and the detection position in a direction opposite to the direction toward the detection position.

Abstract: A conveyor device includes a conveyor belt and a driving unit that applies a driving force to the conveyor belt at different portions in a width direction of the conveyor belt to drive the conveyor belt. The driving unit includes a driving shaft having a projection corresponding to each of the portions. The belt includes a recess corresponding to the projection arranged on each side of the conveyor belt in the width direction.

Abstract: A developer collecting apparatus includes a positioning frame for determining a mounting position of a photoreceptor onto a casing; a waste developer container in which waste developer eliminated by cleaning section is stored; and a container mounting section for mounting the waste developer container so as to be removable from the positioning frame and holding the waste developer container so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame. Further, the container mounting section includes a container holding member that is disposed so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame, for holding the waste developer container; a cam member disposed so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the container holding member is angularly displaced; and an elastic member for biasing the cam member to the container holding member with an elastic force.

Abstract: A shutter is rotatably supported by a first powder guiding member. When the first powder guiding member and a second powder guiding member occupy powder guiding positions, the shutter takes an open position. At this moment, a rear end of an upper surface of an open/close plate of the shutter is positioned on an inner side of an upper opening of the second powder guiding member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the container. The toner distributing member may be driven by a shared speed-controlled motor that further drives an image forming process member. The waste toner system may detect the accumulation of waste toner by monitoring a drive control circuit while the toner distributing member is being driven. For example, a logic circuit may detect the accumulation of waste toner based on monitoring a predetermined frequency of interest of a frequency domain transform of a motor control signal, the frequency of interest associated with the shared motor driving the toner distributing member.

Abstract: A waste-toner collection system includes a waste toner container that accumulate waste toner from a transport section. A tray has an upward opening for replacing the waste toner container and can be movable between a retracted position where the tray has been pushed horizontally into the apparatus body from a first side of the apparatus body, and a drawn-out position where the tray has been drawn horizontally out of the apparatus body from the first side, while holding the waste toner container. The waste toner container can be set in a collection position corresponding to the retracted position of the tray for allowing the waste toner container to receive waste toner discharged from the transport section, and a replacement position corresponding to the drawn-out position of the holder tray for allowing replacement to be performed through the container-replacement opening from above the tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member to carry a toner image, a drive device to drive the image carrying member, a cleaning member to slide in contact with the image carrying member so as to remove toner remaining on the image carrying member after transferring the toner image onto a sheet from the image carrying member, and a controller, so as to perform a reverse rotation to rotate and stop the image carrying member in a reverse direction of a forward direction at time of image formation and then perform a forward operation to rotate and stop the image carrying member in the forward direction, to control the drive device on the basis of a use amount of the image carrying member.

Abstract: A powder transporting device includes a drop path that allows powder to drop, a first crushing member that is located in the drop path and crushes the powder cohesion in the drop path by reciprocating along the drop path, and a second crushing member that located in the drop path that crushes the powder cohesion in the drop path by reciprocating along the drop path, wherein when the first crushing member moves toward a downstream side in a dropping direction of the powder in the drop path, a tip of the first crushing member at the downstream side in a dropping direction is inclined to a side where the second crushing member is located, and comes in contact with the second crushing member.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a main unit case; a process unit; a belt unit; a belt; a belt cleaning unit; a storing unit; and a duct unit. The process unit is configured to be attached to and detached from the main unit case. The belt unit is configured to displace between an opposed position and an opened position. The belt unit in the opposed position is opposed to the process unit. The belt unit in the opened position allows the process unit to be exposed in the direction of removing the process unit from the main unit case. The belt is provided on the belt unit and is rotatingly driven. The belt cleaning unit is fixedly attached to the belt unit and removes material adhered to the belt. The storing unit is fixedly attached to the main unit case and stores therein the material removed from the belt by the belt cleaning unit. The duct unit has a conveying path in fluid communication with the belt cleaning unit and the storing unit.

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 waste toner conveying device includes a first conveying path configured to convey waste toner having paper powder at a low mixed ratio, which is stored in a first cleaning device, outside the first cleaning device, a second conveying path configured to convey second waste toner having a paper powder at a high mixed ration, which is stored in a second cleaning device, outside the second cleaning device, and at least one forwarding path configured to convey the first waste toner conveyed from the first cleaning device through the first conveying path and the second waste toner conveyed from the second cleaning device through the second conveying path are conveyed to a waste toner storage device. The at least one forwarding path is configured to convey the first waste toner conveyed from the first cleaning device through the first conveying path to the waste toner storage device via the second conveying path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes an image carrier and a cleaning device for cleaning a developer left on a surface of the image carrier. Further, the cleaning device includes: a casing having a rotational shaft; a pressurizing member for applying a force about the rotational shaft to the casing; a cleaning member fixed to the casing for cleaning the developer left on the surface of the image carrier by pressing against the surface by the force about the rotational shaft; a transporting mechanism for transporting the developer in the casing to a position outside of the casing; and a drive mechanism for providing a driving force to the transporting means, and a direction of the driving force is a direction from an application point of the driving force substantially toward a rotational support of the rotational shaft or a direction opposite thereto.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes image forming device for forming a toner image on a recording material, a residual toner collecting container detachably provided on a main body of said image forming apparatus and adapted to collect residual toner discharged from said image forming means, said residual toner collecting container being capable of collecting the residual toner through an opening at a side of said container, and regulation means for preventing said containing container from being attached onto or removed from the main body of said image forming apparatus until the opening of said collecting container is directed upwardly in a gravitational direction and an inclined angle of said collecting container exceeds a set angle. It can prevent from flowing out through the opening more positively.

Abstract: A waste-toner collecting device includes a cleaning unit that collects waste toner remaining on an image carrier; a conveying belt that conveys the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit in a first direction; and a conveying screw that conveys the waste toner conveyed by the conveying belt in a second direction. An end of the conveying screw on a side of the conveying belt is rotatably supported by an inner wall of a body of the waste-toner collecting device in a state where the end of the conveying screw is in contact with the inner wall.

Abstract: A collected developer conveying device includes: a conveying passage through which collected developer is conveyed; a conveying member that is disposed in the conveying passage, and conveys the developer in the conveying passage by rotation thereof; a developer carrying body that holds developer on a surface thereof, and that is relatable; and a ventilation passage through which air passes from a developing container including the developer carrying body, wherein the conveying passage includes an air flow region formed in a part thereof upper than a rotational center of the conveying member in a gravitational direction, in a side of the conveying passage in which the conveying member rotates from an upper part of the conveying passage to a lower part thereof in the gravitational direction.

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 used toner collecting device for an image forming apparatus includes a used toner receiver for receiving used toner remaining on a surface of a photoconductive medium, a used toner conveying member for conveying the used toner received in the used toner receiver, and a used toner receptacle for storing the used toner conveyed by the used toner conveying member. The used toner conveying member includes a used toner conveying auger mounted in the used toner receiver along a lengthwise direction of the used toner receiver, a casing disposed between the used toner receiver and the used toner receptacle, and a used toner conveying belt running in the casing. The used toner conveying belt has projecting wings arranged at intervals on an outer surface of the belt. At least one of the projecting wings comprises a projecting rib.

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: In an image forming unit or an image forming apparatus, there is an image carrying body, then, a cleaning member is furnished along the image carrying body to remove developer remaining on the surface of the image carrying body after transferring; a first conveying member conveys the developer removed by the cleaning member to a conveying section formed on one end of the image forming unit, as waste developer; and a second conveying member conveys the waste developer conveyed from the conveying section to a waste developer collecting section. Further, the first conveying member has a developer pushing section which changes a conveyance direction in the conveying section and conveys the waste developer toward the second conveying member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a developer collecting device which collects developer removed from an image bearing member and an intermediate transfer body by a cleaning section. The developer collecting device comprises a positioning frame for determining a mounting position of the image bearing member onto an image forming apparatus main body; a waste developer container detachably mounted on the positioning frame 4, for accommodating waste developer collected by the cleaning section; and an integrated container detection section for detecting whether or not the waste developer container is mounted on the positioning frame and whether or not the waste developer container is filled up with the waste developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism configured to contain a developer and to form an image with the developer and a developer supplier configured to supply the developer to the image forming mechanism. The developer supplier includes a developer container, a conveyer, a sensor, an agitator, and a driver. The developer container contains the developer. The conveyer conveys the developer from the developer container to the image forming mechanism. The sensor is disposed at a predefined position on an interior wall of the developer container and detects the developer at the predefined position in the developer container. The agitator rotates to agitate the developer and includes a paddle formed in a plate-like shape and including an opening through which a part of the developer slips and avoids being paddled by the paddle. The driver drives the conveyer and the agitator at a variable speed.

Abstract: In a toner collecting device of the cyclone separator type that collects toner separated from air, exhaust of the air including unseparated toner to outside the cyclone separator, which is caused by an unstable sucking operation of a cyclone blower, can be prevented. The toner collecting device includes a blocking unit that blocks airflow generated by the suction of the cyclone blower while the sucking operation of the cyclone blower is not in a steady state.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus 30 is provided with a cleaning roller 33 that is a rotating member, a scraper 35, a partition wall 36, opening/closing members 37, and a discharge screw 38 that is a discharging member. The scraper 35 supported by the partition wall 36 scrapes toner by bringing the tip thereof into contact with the cleaning roller 33. The partition wall 36 has a plurality of openings 36a, and partitions between a space S1 formed on an upstream side of the cleaning roller 33 in a rotation direction of a drum and a space S2 in which the discharge screw 38 is provided. The opening/closing members 37 are individually provided for the openings 36a so as to permit toner to move through the openings 36a only in a direction from the space S1 to the space S2. With this structure, it is possible to make toner present in the vicinity of the cleaning roller 33 smoothly move toward the discharge screw 38.

Abstract: A waste-toner transferring device that transfers a waste toner to a waste-toner collecting unit have a first auger transfer unit arranged vertically and a second auger transfer unit that supplies the waste toner to the first auger transfer unit, wherein the first and second auger transfer units respectively have casings provided with inlets and outlets for the waste toner and augers rotatable around shafts arranged along a transfer direction in the casings, and auger vanes are not provided in a predetermined range of the auger arranged in a portion of the outlet of the second auger transfer unit, the predetermined range being narrower than the width of the inlet of the first auger transfer unit.

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: A process cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus is provided with a lock mechanism in a shutter member of opening and closing a toner discharge port, and once the process cartridge is mounted onto an image forming apparatus, the lock mechanism is configured to be unlocked so as to enable the shutter member to open and close subject to unlocking of a lock.

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: A cleaning device includes a cleaning member, a collection member, an electrical field generator, and a separation member. The cleaning member has a surface capable of moving while contacting a surface of a cleaning target to remove toner on the surface of the cleaning target. The collection member has a surface capable of moving while contacting the surface of the cleaning member to collect the toner on the surface of the cleaning member. The electrical field generator generates an electrical field to move the toner from the cleaning member to the collection member. The separation member contacts the surface of the collection member to separate the toner on the surface of the collection member. The collection member has a centerline average surface roughness of not more than 0.1 ?m and shows a surface hardness rank of B or higher in a steel-wool scratch test.

Abstract: A toner delivery mechanism is arranged between a cleaning device and a toner collection receptacle, and includes a collection pipe for delivering toner from the cleaning device to the toner collection receptacle, and a collection spiral that extends into the collection pipe and rotates. The collection spiral is formed to reciprocate in the toner delivery direction in conjunction with the rotational drive thereof.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a pair of transfer frames, a belt member, a pair of transfer roller levers which are respectively arranged on inner sides of the transfer frames pivotably, a transfer roller which is provided between first ends of the transfer roller levers rotatably, a pair of first urging members, which are respectively provided on second ends of the transfer roller levers to energize the transfer roller toward the belt member, and a pair of transfer pressure controlling members which are respectively provided on the transfer frames movably to control urging power of the first urging members.

Abstract: A method for cleaning waste toner from an image forming apparatus is provided wherein the toner can be cleaned externally, repackaged and returned to the image forming apparatus like new. The toner is removed from the image forming device by means of normal waste containers. In a separate location apart from the image forming apparatus, the toner waste is removed by vacuum and passed through various cleaning stages to remove non toner products. The toner is passed directly to a toner filling device which is used to repackage the toner into original toner containers. This method reduces total cost of toner supplies since waste toner can be reclaimed. Also the method allows for a cleaner environment since the toner and packaging waste is not sent to landfills.

Abstract: A toner-collecting device includes a toner-collecting unit, a shaft member, and a guide member. The toner-collecting unit is configured to be detachably attachable. The shaft member is rotatably arranged in the toner-collecting unit. The guide member includes a sliding portion that allows the shaft member to slide while the shaft member is being inserted from one end to an opposite end of the toner-collecting unit.

Abstract: A developer conveying member includes: a conveying member body; an end-portion supporting member; and a supported member including: a first radiation direction extending portion; and a second radiation direction extending portion, the end-portion supporting member including: a cylindrical portion, and the supporting portion defining: a through hole; and a groove.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus include a cleaning member to remove a waste toner remaining in a photoconductive medium and a housing to support the cleaning member, including a waste toner admission portion to provide a transfer path of the waste toner removed by the cleaning member, and a waste toner collecting portion to store the waste toner. The housing has a first thickness corresponding to the waste toner admission portion and a second thickness corresponding to the waste toner collecting portion so that the first thickness is smaller than the second thickness.

Abstract: A waste toner transfer device of an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner transfer unit which is disposed in proximity to a cleaning member to transfer waste toner removed from a photoconductive medium by the cleaning member, and includes a plurality of protrusions at one end, a driving unit which horizontally reciprocates the waste toner transfer unit, and a plurality of ribs which constrain the plurality of protrusions when the waste toner transfer unit moves, so that the waste toner transfer unit vibrates vertically.

Abstract: A toner-collecting apparatus collects waste toner therein. A toner collecting chamber holds the waste toner therein. The toner is directed into the toner collecting chamber through an inlet of the toner collecting chamber. A toner transporting member is located in the toner collecting chamber. The toner transporting member transports the toner received through the inlet into the toner collecting chamber. The toner transporting member includes a plurality of toner transporting sections. A first one of the plurality of toner transporting sections has a toner-transporting ability that changes in accordance with a condition of the toner held in the toner collecting chamber. The ability of the toner transporting member to transport the toner decreases with increasing a load exerted on the toner transporting member by the toner. The toner transporting member includes a shaft that extends toner collecting chamber and rotates about a longitudinal axis.