Abstract: A powder pump includes a case, a diaphragm, a working chamber which is partitioned with the case and the diaphragm, a powder inlet formed on the case for flowing the powder into the working chamber, a powder outlet formed on the case for flowing the powder in the working chamber out of the powder outlet, an inlet valve which opens the powder inlet when pressure in the working chamber is decreased by an operation of the diaphragm so that the powder flows into the working chamber from the powder inlet and shuts the powder inlet when the pressure in the working chamber is raised by the operation of the diaphragm, and an outlet valve which opens an outlet when the pressure in the working chamber is raised by the operation of the diaphragm, so as to let the powder flow through the powder outlet outside of the working chamber and shuts the powder outlet when the pressure in the working chamber is lowered by the operation of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A developing device is provided with: a photosensitive body; a developing roller for performing an electro-photography on the photosensitive body at a predetermined developing position of the photosensitive body by using charged toners; a moving device for moving the developing roller and the photosensitive body such that the developing roller performs the electro-photography on the photosensitive body at the developing position and that, after the electro-photography is performed, the photosensitive body transports the toners, which have never been used for the electro-photography and remain on the photosensitive body, to the developing position where the transported toners adhere from the photosensitive body onto the developing roller so as to recover the transported toners from the photosensitive body onto the developing roller; and a collecting device opposed to the developing roller for collecting impurities mixed in the recovered toners on the developing roller by contacting with the developing roller.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for a liquid electrophotographic color printer including a plurality of circulation tanks connected to respective development units containing developer liquids, a plurality of jet portions disposed between the respective circulation tanks and the respective development units, for jetting the ink in the circulation tanks to development gaps in the respective development units, a plurality of ink cartridges having concentrated ink of different colors and detachably installed in a printer body, a plurality of concentrated ink supply paths through which the concentrated ink is supplied to the corresponding circulation tanks, a carrier tank containing a carrier and fixed in the printer body, a carrier supply path through which the carrier in the carrier tank is supplied to the respective circulation tanks, a waste ink disposal tank connected to the respective circulation tanks by an ink exhaust path, for collecting the waste ink in the circulation tanks, and a filtering mechanism installed

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recycle developing process which comprises developing an electrostatic image formed on a photosensitive material with a starting developer filled in a developing vessel, transferring the toner image to a predetermined paper, recovering the toner remaining on the photosensitive material by a cleaning means, and repeating the developing procedure while replenishing a virgin toner and the toner recovered by the cleaning means into the developing vessel; wherein the virgin toner to be replenished into the developing vessel is that which is fulfilled in a container wherein a rotating roller is provided in an opening portion at a lower portion has a flowability, shown as a fallen amount of the toner at a time of falling via the rotating roller for a certain fixed time, of 50 to 70% based on the toner in the starting developer.According to this process, an abrupt decrease in the properties of the developer due to the mixing of the recovered toner can be relaxed.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming device capable of preventing smudges on the background of an image due to excess toner replenishment caused by a failure in stirring developer and toner enough to charge the toner or scattering of replenished toner without being charged. A toner conveying member for conveying replenished toner from a toner replenishing portion through a toner replenishing port to a developer stirring and conveying member is constructed by a screw member unitarily formed with the developer stirring and conveying member. The screw member has a spiral conveying fin capable of conveying the replenished toner at relatively high speed. The replenished toner is delivered to a toner replenishing portion provided in the upstream of a developer receiving portion of the screw member.

Abstract: An image forming machine, including an image bearing member, a developing unit for developing a latent electrostatic image on the image bearing member into a toner image, a cleaning unit for removing remaining toner from the image bearing member after transfer of the toner image from the image bearing member onto a sheet member, and a toner supply unit for supplying toner to the developing unit. The toner supply unit includes a first toner acceptance region where fresh toner is introduced, a second toner acceptance region where recycled toner, that has been removed from the image bearing member by the cleaning unit, is introduced, a toner discharge region having a toner discharge opening communicating with the developing unit, a first toner conveying member for conveying fresh toner from the first toner acceptance region to the toner discharge region, and a second toner conveying member for conveying recycled toner from the second toner acceptance region to the toner discharge region.

Abstract: An electrophotographic method and apparatus includes a frame having a used toner inlet, a new toner inlet and a combined toner outlet. Opposing sides of the frame are positioned at predetermined angles with respect to a horizontal line extending from a bottom of the frame. The used toner inlet is positioned in an upper portion of the frame next on one of the sides positioned at a predetermined angle, while the new toner inlet is also positioned in the upper portion of the frame, but next to the other side. The predetermined angle of the frame's side that is next to the used toner inlet is at a greater angle than the other side so as to compensate for any degradation in the flow characteristic of the used toner as a result of the recycling process. The frame is configured to interface with a new toner bottle having an opening that cooperates with the new toner inlet. Accordingly, when the new toner supply is exhausted, the new toner bottle may easily be replaced without having to remove any other components.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a toner circulating mechanism for recovering a residual toner scraped from a photosensitive drum to a developing device. The developing device includes a housing for defining a toner chamber, a developing roller rotatably mounted in the housing, an agitator rotatably mounted in the housing and provided in the toner chamber, and a partition member mounted to the housing to define a carrier chamber between the partition member and the developing roller. The toner circulating mechanism directly returns the residual toner scraped from the photosensitive drum to the toner chamber in the developing device. The toner chamber may contain a foreign matter removing device. The partition member may have various shapes.

Abstract: An image forming method has the steps of forming a toner image by developing through a developing means a latent image formed on a latent image bearing member; transferring the toner image formed, from the latent image bearing member to a transfer medium through a transfer means to which a bias is applied; cleaning the latent image bearing member from which the toner image has been transferred to the transfer medium, to recover and collect the toner remaining on the latent image bearing member; and feeding the toner recovered and collected, to the developing means for reuse in the developing step. The toner has a binder resin and at least one of a magnetic powder and a colorant. The toner has a weight average particle diameter (D.sub.4) of from 4 .mu.m to 11 .mu.m; a coefficient A of variation of number-base distribution, of not more than 40, which is a coefficient represented by the formula:A=S.sub.n /D.sub.1 .times.100wherein S.sub.n represents a standard deviation of number-base distribution, and D.sub.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus in which collected toner removed from a photoconductive medium by a cleaning device is conveyed to a developing device. The conveying device includes a powder pump having a rotor and a stator configured to convey the collected toner in an coaxial direction of said rotor. An air flow is supplied to the powder pump by way of an air pump, where the air is conveyed in a tube with the collected toner. The tube is connected to the developing device so that the collected toner is recycled. When the developing device is replenished with fresh toner from a toner bottle, the air pump stops supplying the air flow to the powder pump so as to prevent toner from scattering within the image forming apparatus from an opening of the developing device.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image carrying body, an electrifying unit for electrifying the image carrying body, a light irradiating unit to form an electrostatic latent image in accordance to image information, a developing unit for discharging toner to the image carrying body to develop the latent image, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image to a recording sheet, and a cleaner for removing residual toner on the image carrying body. The toner removed from the image carrying body is recirculated to the developer receiving box. An additional toner image is formed on a position other than a first position where the electrostatic latent image is formed in accordance with the image information. The toner is removed by the cleaner without being transferred to the recording sheet and recirculated from the image carrying body to the developer receiving box.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image carrying body, an electric charger for uniformly electrifying the carrying body, an optical exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the carrying body, a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the carrying body, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image from the carrying body onto a printing sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the toner image to the printing sheet, a cleaner for cleaning to remove residual toner from the carrying body and a toner returning mechanism for returning the residual toner removed by the cleaner to the developer. The developer includes a housing in which a toner chamber is defined, a developing roller rotatably mounted in the housing, an agitator rotatably mounted in the housing so as to be positioned in the toner chamber, a partitioning member provided in the housing for defining a carrier chamber adjacent to the developing roller.

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

Abstract: Non-magnetic toner in an electrostatic imaging system, such as the MIDAX.RTM. electronic imaging system, is dynamically recycled. Wayward airborne toner particles in the imaging system are vacuum collected to provide an air stream with entrained toner particles, and a centrifugal separator separates the particles from the entraining air. The separated particles are then dynamically returned to the imaging system. At least one airlock, which may comprise at least first and second fluid actuated or mechanically actuated valves which are spaced from each other, is provided between the separator and a reservoir for toner particles to be supplied to a fluidized bed of toner particles in the imaging system. A distribution device for distributing the toner particles in at least two different horizontal paths, to return to the reservoir.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus which prevents occurrence of a toner-filming phenomenon on a development roller thereof by performing a toner freshening operation. When the image forming apparatus performs the toner freshening operation, an amount of the toner remaining unused on the development roller can totally be transferred onto a photoconductive drum at a predetermined timing for a predetermined time period at a predetermined rate of frequency so as to effectively prevent occurrence of the toner-filming phenomenon. The amount of toner used for the toner-freshening operation can be kept clean and returned to the development roller in a form without agglomerating by an unused toner returning mechanism mounted in an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a dust free configuration, and may further include an air fan including an electrostatic filter and a front loading type paper cassette.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a toner container installed inside a photoconductive drum to provide toner to a developing unit. Toner that is removed and collected by a cleaning unit can be reused, thus reducing toner cost. Also, since the toner container is installed inside the photoconductive drum, the image forming device can be made compact, and an installation space is not restricted when the developing unit is installed within the image forming device. Further, since the used toner is re-used, the interior portions of the image forming device are not contaminated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of collecting a toner remaining on an image carrier after image transfer and conveying the collected toner to a developing unit to reuse it. A toner supplement roller and a toner conveyor are so controlled as to maintain the supplement of a fresh toner from a hopper to the developing unit and the supplement of the collected toner from the toner conveyor to the developing unit in a ratio lying in a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes an image bearing member, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member, a toner container for containing non-used toner to be used in development by the developing device, a transfer device for transferring a toner image formed on the image bearing member by the developing device onto the recording medium, a cleaning device for removing residual matter adhered to the image bearing member after the toner image was transferred by the transfer device, a separating device for separating foreign matter from toner removed from the image bearing member by the cleaning device, and a toner from which the foreign matter is removed by the separating device with the non-used toner from the toner container to the developing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering contaminants from marking particles is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit and a mover for moving the marking particles within the conduit. The apparatus also includes a screen positioned adjacent the conduit so that substantially all the marking particles discharged from the conduit pass through the screen.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus contains a first and second unit. The first unit, which is a self-contained first module, contains a photo-sensitive body and structure for removing residue toner from the photo sensitive body. The second unit, which is a self-contained developer module, provides toner to the first unit and receives the residue toner from the first unit. The modules are detachably mounted in the apparatus. The second module cannot be mounted in the apparatus until the first module is mounted.

Abstract: An electrophotographing apparatus with a reusable toner system includes a photosensitive member capable of bearing toner thereon, a latent image forming unit for forming a latent image on the photosensitive member, a developing unit for developing the latent image with toner as a toner image, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive member onto a transfer material at a transfer position, and a collection unit for collecting the toner from a surface of the photosensitive member after the surface passes through the transfer position. The collection unit includes a rotary member rotated while contacting the surface of the photosensitive member at a contact position.

Abstract: A magnetic toner conveying apparatus for conveying magnetic toner, which may be used with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprises a non-magnetic convey path member constituting a convey path for conveying the magnetic toner, a non-magnetic convey member arranged in the convey path member and adapted to convey the magnetic toner, and a magnetic force generating member provided on or in the convey path member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner collection mode is executed when a series of image formation modes ends and when the image formation mode is continuously repeated a preselected number of times. A toner image sensing mode for sensing a reflection density from a reference toner image is executed every time the image formation mode is repeated a preselected number of times. The apparatus is capable of surely and efficiently removing toner left on an image carrier after image transfer, and collecting the reference toner image with a developing unit. The reference toner image is prevented from contaminating an image transferring unit and a cleaning unit.

Abstract: Accumulated toner and other particulate contaminants are removed from rollers, such as charging and transferring rollers, and conveyed to a collection receptacle positioned about the rotating path of an image bearing member, such as a photoconductive drum. In one embodiment, accumulated toner removed from a charging roller is recycled for development.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of collecting a toner remaining on an image carrier after image transfer and conveying the collected toner to a developing unit to reuse it. A toner supplement roller and a toner conveyor are so controlled as to maintain the supplement of a fresh toner from a hopper to the developing unit and the supplement of the collected toner from the toner conveyor to the developing unit in a ratio lying in a predetermined range.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a latent image is electrostatically formed on a photoconductive element and then developed by a developing unit. The developing unit is formed with a used toner inlet for receiving used toner. A cleaning unit removes toner remaining on the photoconductive element after image transfer and thereby collects it as the used toner. A conveying device conveys the used toner from the cleaning unit to the used toner inlet of the developing unit. A toner end sensor is disposed in the developing unit and adjoins the used toner inlet. On determining that the amount of toner existing in the developing unit is less than a predetermined amount, the sensor causes fresh toner to be replenished into the unit.