Abstract: A toner recovery device, capable of preventing toner from spilling out of the space between protruding sections and an inner wall of a toner-conveying pipe, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus having this device. Residual toner after transfer, which is carried into a carry-in section of the toner-conveying pipe, is held by the protruding sections of a toner-conveying belt and a bottom surface of the toner-conveying pipe, and conveyed to a carry-out section. Accordingly, the residual toner after transfer can be prevented from oscillating while being conveyed to the carry-out section. Therefore, the residual toner after transfer is prevented from spilling out of the space between the protruding sections and the inner wall of the toner-conveying pipe, and the amount of residual toner after transfer to be conveyed to the carry-out section can be prevented from being reduced.

Abstract: A used developer cleaning system is provided which removes used developer remaining on an image transmission medium after a developer image has been transferred, and an image forming apparatus having such a used developer cleaning system. The used developer cleaning system includes a cleaning section, a used developer collecting section, a first sludge filtering section, positioned in the used developer collecting section to divide the used developer collecting section into at least two spaces, and a used developer storage section for storing the used developer, from which sludge has been filtered through the first sludge filtering section. The used developer storage section communicates with the used developer collecting section.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a housing including a cooking chamber, a heating unit detachably mounted in the housing, and a power connection portion for connecting the heating unit to an external power source. The heating unit can heat food when the heating unit is located in the housing, and the heating unit can independently heat food when the heating unit is removed from the housing.

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 toner conveying device includes a toner hopper for containing unused toner, a waste-toner hopper for containing waste toner, and waste-toner conveying screws that convey waste toner in the waste-toner hopper. The waste-toner hopper is separated from the toner hopper by a flexible partition made of elastic material. The flexible partition is located near the conveying member, and includes a rigid body.

Abstract: A waste toner transporting apparatus which transfers waste toner removed from a photosensitive drum to a waste toner housing is provided. The waste toner transporting apparatus includes a toner transporting plate arranged substantially above a cleaning blade. A transporting member is installed at one end of the toner transporting plate and has a cam follower arranged on an opposite side of the toner transporting plate. A driving cam contacts the cam follower and converts rotational motion into linear reciprocating motion to enable the toner transporting plate to reciprocate on the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least an image bearer; a charger charging the image bearer; an irradiator irradiating the image bearer to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; an image developer developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer comprising a toner and a carrier to form a toner image on the image bearer; a developer feeder feeding a supplemental developer including the toner and the carrier into the image developer; and a developer collector collecting the developer in the image developer, wherein the developer feeder includes a cylindrical supplemental developer container containing the supplemental developer, including a spiral developer guide race on the inner circumferential surface thereof; and a sub-hopper configured to store the supplemental developer, and wherein the carrier includes a core material; and a layer coated on the core material, including a binder resin and non-black or a non-color inorganic particulate material.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus 1 includes: a multiple number of process printing units 20, each having an photoreceptor drum 21 for bearing a developer image formed with a toner corresponding to a different color of color-separated image information; a transfer belt 31 to which a multiple number of developer images are comprised in layers; and a transfer roller 36 for transferring the developer images that have been comprised in layers on transfer belt 31, all at once, to recording paper, wherein the multiple number of process printing units 20 are arranged along transfer belt 31, and is characterized in that among the developer images to be transferred from the photoreceptor drums 21 of multiple image forming units 20 onto transfer belt 31, the toner for the developer image of the color to be transferred first is specified to produce a base-layer of the color images of information.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus, includes a cleaning blade which comes into contact with a surface of a member to be cleaned incorporated in the image forming apparatus and removes a residual toner adhering to the surface, and a toner feeding unit which is disposed on the cleaning blade at a side where the residual toner adheres to the surface and re-adheres the residual toner having been removed from the surface to the surface.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes: process printing units each having a photoreceptor drum; a transfer belt to which toner images are transferred; a transfer roller for transferring, as a whole, the toner images on the transfer belt to recording paper; a cleaning unit for collecting the remaining developers that have been left over on the photoreceptor drums and the transfer belt, is constructed such that a positioning sub-frame which is set with a developer collecting container for storing the collected developers and positions the process printing units relative to the housing, on one side of the apparatus body is removably attached to the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments for a toner auger for use in an image forming device. The image forming device includes a channel through which toner is moved. The auger is positioned within the channel and has an axis of rotation and at least one offset section extending radially outward from the axis of rotation. The offset section forms a sweep envelope that extends outward from the axis of rotation. The auger may be positioned within the channel for the offset to contact the channel. Contact may cause a vibratory force that prevents the toner from clogging and bridging within the channel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is configured to form an image on a recording sheet by transferring toner onto the recording sheet. The image forming apparatus may include a container having an inlet configured to receive waste toner, the container defining a storage area having a horizontal dimension greater than a vertical dimension. Also, the image forming apparatus may include a first pump disposed adjacent to the inlet of the container on an inlet side, the first pump configured to feed waste toner from the inlet to an outlet side of the first pump, and a second pump disposed adjacent to the outlet side of the first pump, the second pump configured to feed the waste toner fed by the first pump to an outlet side of the second pump on a side opposite the inlet in the storage area.

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 electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge and a developer cartridge are independently attachable. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a first developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer used by the roller, a developer receiving port for receiving the developer from the developer cartridge into the first developer accommodating portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the apparatus, a cleaning member for removing the developer from the drum, first and second removed developer accommodating portions for accommodating the developer removed from the drum by the cleaning member, and a developer feeder device for feeding the developer from the first to the second portions. When the process and developer cartridges are mounted to each other, the developer cartridge is disposed above the first developer accommodating portion and at a side of the second removed developer accommodating portion.

Abstract: A toner conveyer device for use in an image forming apparatus includes a toner conveyer belt that conveys waste toner, a screw member that receives the waste toner from the toner conveyer belt and conveys the waste toner to a housing unit, and a scraping member that scraps waste toner that adheres to the screw member.

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 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: Disclosed is a developer collecting apparatus capable of preventing a developer collected from a photoconductive medium from clotting while being supplied to a developing unit. The developer collecting apparatus includes a developer collecting container including an inlet for inflow of a developer removed from a photoconductive medium by a cleaning member, and an outlet for discharge of the developer. The developer collecting apparatus also includes a developer storing container connected to the developer collecting container through a transport pipe and a vibration unit for preventing the developer from clotting and accumulating at the outlet of the developer collecting container and in the transport pipe.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes: a developer chamber that contains developer supplied to a developing unit; a waste developer chamber that contains collected waste developer; and a developer supply part that supplies the developer contained in the developer chamber to the developing unit while stirring the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention has a developer recycle apparatus. The developer recycle apparatus reuses a developer, which has been used once for a developer image formed on a surface of an image carrier and is recovered when the image carrier is subjected to cleaning. The developer recycle apparatus has a structure in which a toner dropping position is not vertically aligned with an axis of rotation of a carrying member which receives the dropped recycle toner, in a dropping/connecting portion in a carrying path for the recycle toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner collecting unit, a moving device, a sheet conveying roller, a driving unit, and a drive force transmitting unit. The waste toner collecting unit receives waste toner. The moving device moves the waste toner in the waste toner collecting unit. The sheet conveying roller transports a transfer sheet. The driving unit drives the sheet conveying roller. The drive force transmitting unit interlinks the moving device to the sheet conveying roller, and transmits a drive force of the driving unit to the moving device via a shaft of the sheet conveying roller.

Abstract: A waste-sludge discharging unit is provided to discharge waste sludge being removed by a cleaning blade from an image carrier. The waste-sludge discharging unit has a waste-sludge receiver to receive waste sludge gravitating from the image carrier. The waste-sludge receiver has an outlet on one side of a bottom thereof. A blade pushes the waste sludge accumulated on the bottom of the waste-sludge receiver toward the outlet. A blade mover operates the blade. The blade operates in contact with the bottom of the waste-sludge receiver only when being moved toward the outlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a cleaning device, and a toner transporting device. The photoconductor has a toner image formed thereon. The cleaning device removes toner remaining on the photoconductor. The toner transporting device transports the toner removed by the cleaning device. The toner transporting device includes a first toner transport path forming member, a first toner transporting member, and a length control member. The first toner transporting member is partly provided in the first toner transport path forming member, expands and contracts in a length direction thereof, and transports the toner through the first toner transport path forming member. The length control member is provided at a downstream end of the first toner transport path forming member, and is pressed against the first toner transporting member to keep a constant length of the first toner transporting member. An image forming method is also described.

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 cleaning apparatus is used for cleaning the surface of a photoconductive body. Residual toner on a rotating photoconductive body is collected after transferring a toner image from the photoconductive body onto a print medium, the apparatus includes a first cleaning member, a second cleaning member, and a toner transporting member. The first cleaning member engages the photoconductive body to brush away the residual toner. The second cleaning member is disposed downstream of the first cleaning member with respect to rotation of the photoconductive body. The second cleaning member scrapes the residual toner off the photoconductive body. The toner transporting member is disposed between the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member along a circumferential surface of the photoconductive body. The toner transporting member is positioned with a gap between the photoconductive body and the toner transporting member and transporting the residual toner removed from the photoconductive body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of color toner development devices, a recycled toner development device, at least one cleaning device, a toner collecting and supplying device, and an image pattern generation device. The plurality of color toner development devices store separate color toners, and the recycled toner development device stores recycled toner. The at least one cleaning device removes toner remaining on at least one image carrying member after a transfer operation. The toner collecting and supplying device stores and supplies the removed toner to the recycled toner development device. The image pattern generation device generates image patterns developed by the plurality of color toner development devices and the recycled toner development device based on a characteristic of developer and a color of the recycled toner stored in the recycled toner development device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a toner cartridge to store toner; a developer to develop an image on a printing medium using the toner from the toner cartridge; and a waste toner container to store waste toner removed from the developer, wherein the waste toner container includes: a first transporting unit provided near a waste toner inlet; and a second transporting unit provided at a point where the waste toner transported by the first transporting unit falls to transport the waste toner to a farthest point from the waste toner inlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one process cartridge removably mounted on an apparatus body and including at least an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed and a cleaning device configured to remove toner left after image transfer with a cleaning blade. A hole for passing a light beam emitted from an optical writing unit toward the image carrier therethrough is formed in part of a case bottom wall of the process cartridge higher in level than part of the case bottom wall below the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame body, a frame cover supported by the frame body so as to be capable of opening and closing, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier, a cleaning unit that removes and collects residual toner from the image carrier, and a toner container for accumulating the toner collected by the cleaning unit. The toner container is supported by the frame cover.

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: The invention is to improve a toner diffusing efficiency in a toner container, thereby increasing a toner containing capacity. The toner container includes plural screws which diffuse the toner in plural directions and diffuse the toner in different positions. A toner filling efficiency in the collecting container is improved by providing plural toner diffusing points within the toner container.

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 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, the system may detect excess accumulation by comparing the monitored values of a frequency control signal with one or more reference values corresponding to nominal accumulation conditions. An extension may be employed whereby movement of the toner distributing member creates interference between the toner distributing member and the container when the toner distributing member reaches a predetermined position. The interference may be detectable from the drive control circuit as an indication of a full condition.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a cleaning member for cleaning an image carrier after a toner image on the image carrier has been transferred; a toner recycling device for conveying toner removed by the cleaning member to a developing device; a collection section where the toner removed by the cleaning member is collected; a branch conveyance path, branched from the toner recycling device, for conveying the toner to the collection section; and an air pump, provided on the branch conveyance path, for sucking air with the toner; wherein, whether the toner is conveyed from the cleaning member to the collection section or to the developing device is switched corresponding to whether the air pump operates or does not operate.

Abstract: A waste toner pulverizing apparatus and a toner cartridge with the same prevents waste toner removed from a surface of a photosensitive drum by a cleaning blade from accumulating at a front end of the cleaning blade. The waste toner pulverizing apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a waste pulverizing member that is spaced apart from a front end of a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum in a longitudinal direction, the waste pulverizing member not contacting the surface of the photosensitive drum, and a pulverizing member driving unit that makes the waste toner pulverizing member reciprocate in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A helical auger member for transporting toner in an image forming apparatus. The auger member may be implemented as part of a waste toner removal system for removing toner from a photoconductive member of a toner cartridge. Toner that is removed by a cleaner member is transported through a cleaner housing with a helical member, such as a coil wire, having a pitch to outer diameter ratio from about 1.5 to 2.5.

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: The image forming unit including a bearing member and a toner detection sensor for detecting the amount of toner collects protocol from the toner detection sensor to provide an amount of toner in the cleaning unit. It prevents from compelling a user to perform excess maintenance or a leakage of toner caused by the incorrect information regarding the amount of toner because the toner on the image bearing member is biased in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of a device to move waste toner within an image forming device. In one embodiment, waste toner is formed during the image formation process. The waste toner is captured and moved through a first conduit. The conduit includes an outlet for passing the waste toner to a second conduit. The door is positionable between an open orientation to allow the waste toner to discharge into the second conduit, and a closed orientation. The second conduit includes an inlet for receiving the waste toner. The interface between the first and second conduits allows for the door to move between the open and closed orientations. The interface also greatly reduces or prevents the waste toner from leaking as it passes from the first conduit into the second conduit.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting apparatus separates waste toner remaining on an outer circumferential surface of a photosensitive medium when a visible image is transferred thereon and stores the separated waste toner. An electrophotographic image forming device includes the waste toner collecting apparatus. The waste toner collecting apparatus includes a cleaning blade that separates the waste toner from a photosensitive medium by scratching the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive medium. A waste toner container stores the waste toner. The waste toner separated from the photosensitive medium is transported to the waste toner container through a waste toner passage. An agitating plate reciprocates inside the waste toner passage to prevent accumulation of the waste toner.

Abstract: A used toner collecting apparatus of a laser printer includes a collecting container disposed at the body of the laser printer and having a used toner inlet through which the used toner transferred from the cleaner comes. A shattering member is disposed inside the collecting container and having a breaking blade to break the used toner that comes and drops through the used toner inlet.

Abstract: An embodiment of a screw conveyor includes a rotating shaft and a conveying blade helically formed around and loosely coupled with the rotating shaft. One or both of two edges of the conveying blade is/are only fixed to the rotating shaft, and a gap is provided between the rotating shaft and the conveying blade. Thereby, the conveying blade can be vibrated in a center axis direction of the rotating shaft by rotation of the rotating shaft and conveyed waste developer.

Abstract: A waste toner transfer apparatus in an electrophotographic printer transfers waste toner removed by a cleaning unit from an image holding body where a toner image is temporarily held to a waste toner storage container. The waste toner transfer apparatus includes a duct connecting the cleaning unit and the storage container, a transfer unit installed in the duct and transferring the waste toner to the storage container, and an agitation member installed in the duct to move therein and guide the waste toner from the cleaning unit to the transfer unit.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a cleaning device capable of coming into and out of contact with the front surface of a toner image carrier which rotates with toner images adhering on its front surface, and for removing toners adherent on the front surface of the toner image carrier during the contact. A toner reception portion is disposed on a downstream side than the contact position between the cleaning device and the toner image carrier as viewed in the moving direction of the front surface of the toner image carrier, and it is partitioned into a plurality of chambers by a partition plate which extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the front surface of the toner image carrier.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an image forming apparatus capable of conducting charge adjustment of post-transfer residual toner appropriately by securing a contact area of a temporarily-collecting member and an electrode, without applying excessive deformation load to the temporarily-collecting member. There are arranged a brush roller for temporarily collecting post-transfer residual toner, and an electrode of which inwardly-curved face being in contact with the brush roller in a toner charge apparatus. Thereby, charged-in-opposite-polarity toner, out of post-transfer residual toner, is collected by the brush roller, polarity of the toner is reversed to original polarity, and then, returned to a photosensitive drum. The inner face of the electrode, i.e., a contact face of the electrode and the brush roller is formed in an inwardly-curved face. Thereby, a large contact area and light pushing force of the electrode to the brush roller can go together.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame body, a frame cover supported by the frame body so as to be capable of opening and closing, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier, a cleaning unit that removes and collects residual toner from the image carrier, and a toner container for accumulating the toner collected by the cleaning unit. The toner container is supported by the frame cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a toner accumulating member disposed nearer to the housing than the cleaning blade and the lower seal are, wherein the toner accumulating member accumulates the toner at a tip of the cleaning blade, the toner accumulating member has at least one opening, and the following condition is satisfied: 0%<S(O)/S(C)?50%, wherein S(O) is a total opening area obtained by summing areas of all openings, and S(C) is an area of a rectangle defined by two sides having the same length as a length of the cleaning blade in its longitudinal direction and two sides having the same length as a distance between the lower end of the toner accumulating member and a position at the same height on the toner accumulating member as the lower end of the cleaning blade.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism for moving waste toner within an interior of a waste toner reservoir. The conveyor mechanism has a first end positioned in proximity to an inlet into the waste toner reservoir, and a second end positioned vertically above the first end. The conveyor mechanism operates to move the toner from a lower position within the waste toner reservoir to the vertically elevated position. The conveyor device may allow for the capacity of the waste toner reservoir to be more fully utilized. In use, the conveyor device is activated and waste toner is moved into the upper reaches of the waste toner reservoir.

Abstract: A toner draining mechanism has a hollow member and a conveying member which is arranged in the hollow member and conveys toner. A toner draining port for draining the conveyed toner is formed in the hollow member. The toner draining port is formed above a bottom surface of the hollow member. Therefore, when a toner cartridge is exchanged, the toner near the toner draining port does not drop into an image forming apparatus. Thus, it is possible to prevent the toner from dirtying the inside of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A waste toner removal system for an image forming device. The invention includes a mechanism for removing the waste toner from the cartridge and transporting it through a toner chute to a waste toner tank. One or more actuators within the device allow for the connection between the various elements to seal the waste toner path and prevent toner leakage. Methods of moving waste toner are also disclosed that include moving the waste toner through the cartridge and into a waste toner chute. The waste toner is moved through the chute and into a waste toner tank where it may be removed from the device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which conveys waste toner includes a buffer portion 101 capable of temporarily containing the waste toner and a waste toner container 102 capable of containing the waste toner and a waste toner container 102 capable of containing the waste toner. The waste toner is dominantly contained in the waste toner container 102 compared with the buffer portion 101. When the waste toner container 102 is filled with the waste toner, the waste toner can be contained in the buffer portion 101. An engine controller 120 detects whether the buffer portion 101 is filled with the waste toner 112 or not through a buffer portion waste toner full state detection sensor 105. When the buffer portion 101 is filled with the waste toner 112, the engine controller controls so that a conveyance operation by a first waste toner pipe 103 and an image forming operation are stopped.