Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, first and second rotary shafts, a drive source to rotate at a predetermined low velocity and a predetermined high velocity, a first rotary transmitter connected between the drive force and the first rotary shaft, a second rotary transmitter connected between the drive force and the second rotary shaft, and a drive block member connected between the drive source and the second rotary shaft to block transmission of the drive force to the second rotary shaft when the drive source rotates at the predetermined high velocity. When the drive source rotates at the predetermined low velocity, the drive source drives the second rotary shaft using a difference in torque between an upper limit in high velocity rotation and an upper limit in low velocity rotation greater than the upper limit in high velocity rotation.

Abstract: A developer storage device and an image forming apparatus having the same include a developer storage part including a first storage part and a second storage part having widths different from each other, and a first developer conveying member to convey a developer stored in the first storage part to the second storage part in a diagonal direction. The first developer conveying member includes conveying elements extended slantingly with respect to a width direction of the developer storage part. An angle between the conveying elements and the width direction of the developer storage part is determined depending on relative positions of the first storage part and the second storage part. Accordingly, the developer storage device can effectively convey a developer by designing the developer conveying member adequately for an overall shape or structure of the developer storage device.

Abstract: A powder container includes a first container to contain powder falling from an opening located in an upper portion of the powder container, a second container that contains the powder and is located in the first container, on a route through which the powder that falls from the opening, a powder transport mechanism to transport the powder from the first container to the second container, and a detection mechanism to detect whether or not the first container is completely or nearly filled with the powder based on a load to the powder transport mechanism.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device comprising: a collecting container; a collecting opening; a conveying unit; a filter; a partition wall; and an air inlet.

Abstract: A developer collection container includes: a developer collection container main body that forms a developer collection chamber in which developer is collected; a first developer conveyance member, provided inside the developer collection container main body, that conveys the developer by rotating about a shaft; and a second developer conveyance member, provided below the first developer conveyance member with respect to a gravitational direction in the developer collection container main body, that conveys the developer by rotating about a shaft, the developer collection container main body having a collected developer introduction member that introduces the developer to the developer collection chamber being provided between the first developer conveyance member and the second developer conveyance member with respect to the gravitational direction.

Abstract: A powder recovery device includes a powder storage container and at least two powder conveying members. The powder storage container stores powder recovered from a recovery port. The at least two powder conveying members are disposed on upper and lower sides of the recovery port interposed therebetween in the powder storage container, and are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the powder storage container. The at least two powder conveying members are set so that the amount of powder conveyed to the recovery port is larger than the amount of powder conveyed to a back side which is on the opposite side of the recovery port in the longitudinal direction.

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 collection container includes: a first receiving unit that receives toner removed from a toner holder, via an aperture; a conveyance member that is provided in the first receiving unit to convey the received toner in a direction across a first direction in which the first receiving unit extends; a toner container that has a width extending in the first direction to receive and store the conveyed toner across the width; an elastic body that supports the toner container against a weight of the toner container so that at least one end of the toner container is movable within a range greater than that of another part of the toner container; and a moving member that moves in accordance with a movement of one end of the toner container, when the elastic body elastically deformed caused by an increase in an amount of toner stored.

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: A cleaner assembly within a printer cartridge is provided that moves waste toner from photoconductive drum and stores it in a waste toner storage container. The cleaner assembly includes an auger, a drive shaft, and the waste toner storage container that includes a tube with plurality of perforations. The tube has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to an inlet to receive the waste toner and the second end extends to a point vertically above the inlet. The auger extends into inside of the waste toner storage container through the inlet and follows passage formed by the tube inside the waste toner storage container. The perforations in the tube allow the waste toner to move from inside the tube to the waste toner storage container, thereby resulting in maximum utilization of the space inside the inside the waste toner storage container.

Abstract: A liquid developer collecting system. A collection section collects liquid developer from a photosensitive body. A storage section stores liquid developer collected by the collection section. A first feed unit feeds liquid developer from the storage section to a concentration control unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.

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 apparatus including cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) developing units using a C developer, a M developer, a Y developer, and a K developer, respectively; at least one auxiliary developing unit using a developer other than the C, M, Y, and K developers; a plurality of photosensitive media formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively; a plurality of cleaning members formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to clean surfaces of the plurality of photosensitive media; and waste developer storage units formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to collect waste developer cleaned by the plurality of cleaning members.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device comprising: a collecting container; a collecting opening; a conveying unit; a filter; a partition wall; and an air inlet.

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: A developer includes a waste toner container having a cleaning member to clean a photoconductive drum, and a waste toner transporting member to transport waste toner from the photoconductive drum to a waste toner storage area. The waste toner transporting member is moved up, down, forward, and backward by a rotation member having an eccentricity unit. As the rotation member rotates, the waste toner transporting member, which is connected to the eccentricity unit, moves up, down, forward, and backward.

Abstract: A toner-leveling mechanism installed and operative in a housing chamber that houses toner, the toner-leveling mechanism being capable of leveling toner accumulated in the housing chamber and narrowing an operation space of the toner-leveling mechanism in accordance with an increase in an accumulated amount of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form image data on a printing medium, the apparatus includes a developing cartridge having a developer transfer body to transfer developer to an image receptor, a developer storing unit to separately store a transfer-regulated developer which has been transfer-regulated in the developer transfer body and a non-transferred developer which is not transferred to the developer transfer body, and a used developer storing unit to store a used developer separated from a surface of the photoreceptor; a printing information storing unit to store cartridge printing information of the developing cartridge; and a controller to calculate an average printing density on a basis of the cartridge printing information, and to control the developing cartridge so that an amount in which the transfer-regulated developer of the developer storing unit is transferred to the used developer storing unit can exceed a reference amount if the calculated average printing density is below a reference printing

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a cassette configured to accommodate printing sheets, a casing of the image forming apparatus, a belt member which circularly moves inside the casing, a cleaning device configured to remove particles adhering on the belt member, and a collection box in which the particles removed by the cleaning unit is collected. The casing has a cassette accommodating section for accommodating the cassette, a box accommodating section defined inside the casing and communicating with the cassette accommodating section and an opening formed on the casing and communicating with the cassette accommodating section. The cassette is removably installable into the cassette accommodating section through the opening, and the collection box is detached from or inserted in the box accommodating section through the opening.

Abstract: A toner collecting apparatus which transports collected toner through a discharge pipe to discharge the collected toner from a discharge port of the discharge pipe, the toner collecting apparatus including: a cover pipe having an open window and being rotatable around the discharge pipe in a substantially concentric fashion; a protective wall covering at least apart of the cover pipe; and a rotation member which rotates the cover pipe, wherein the cover pipe is rotated by the rotation member between an open position in which the open window is aligned with the discharge port and a closed position in which the open window is shifted from the discharge port so that at least the open window is covered with the protective wall.

Abstract: A powder conveying unit conveys powder input from a powder inlet of a powder containing chamber into the powder containing chamber. A powder detecting unit detects a full state of the powder conveyed by the powder conveying unit in the powder containing chamber. A sensor chamber is provided outside the powder containing chamber connected with each other. The powder detecting unit is provided in the sensor chamber, a bottom surface of the sensor chamber is at higher level than a bottom surface of the powder containing chamber, and the bottom surface of the sensor chamber is inclined downward toward the powder containing chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member; an image forming section to form a toner image on the image carrying member; a transferring section to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrying member to a sheet; a fixing section to fix the toner image onto the sheet; a sheet feeding section to feed a sheet to the transferring section; a sheet tray to store sheets to be fed by the sheet feeding section; a dehumidifying heater arranged to the sheet tray and to perform dehumidification for sheets; a waste toner box arranged to adjoin the sheet tray and to accommodate waste toner; and a partition member arranged between the sheet tray and the waste toner box and between the dehumidifying heater and the waste toner box.

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: A toner bottle for use in a marking device with a feed mechanism. The toner bottle includes first and second compartments for holding fresh and waste toner, respectively. The feed mechanism allows fresh toner to be delivered to the marking engine from the bottle and waste toner to be returned to the bottle from the marking engine.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes a cleaner. The cleaner includes: a support member; a toner scraping member; and a toner storing mechanism. The toner storing mechanism includes: a toner catching member provided in a vicinity of a leading end of the toner scraping member so as to catch the toner scraped off; and a swingably supporting mechanism which supports swingably the toner catching member with a middle portion of the toner catching member as a swing fulcrum. A free end portion of the toner catching member protruding from the toner scraping member in the moving direction is a storage moving portion which moves based on an amount of the stored toner, and a portion opposite to the free end portion with respect to the swing fulcrum is a press portion which presses the toner scraping member toward the cleaned member based on a moving amount of the storage moving portion.

Abstract: A developer recovery container includes a first room that stores a recovered developer; a plurality of linearly obliquely arranged recovery ports facing the first room, a developer removed by a cleaning unit for an intermediate transfer unit and a developer removed by a cleaning unit for a black-image bearing member being dropped in the first room respectively through top one and bottom one of the recovery ports; a second room formed below an area between one of the recovery ports located next to the top recovery port and another recovery port located next to the one recovery port, the developer flowing from the first room to the second room; a conveying unit that conveys the developer in the first room to the second room by a quantity of the developer exceeding a storage limit of the first room; and a sensor that detects the developer in the second room.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member, on which an electrostatic image is formed; a development unit which is provided with a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying a developer, so as to develop the electrostatic image; a storage place which can store therein the developer spattering from the development unit; a shielding member which is disposed in a region outside of a development region in the storage place; and a foreign material collecting member which is disposed in a region farther outside of the shielding member in the storage place.

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: An image forming apparatus using electrophotography includes a waste toner container and an accommodation unit. The waste toner container collects developer used for forming images and ejected from an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus as waste toner. The accommodation unit detachably accommodates the waste toner container in the image forming apparatus. The accommodation unit includes a reduction device to reduce a force required for withdrawing the waste toner container from an interior to an exterior of the image forming apparatus. The reduction device contacts a bottom face of the waste toner container when the waste toner container is partially withdrawn from a fully mounted position of the waste toner container in the accommodation unit to the exterior of the image forming apparatus.

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 reclaimed material container includes a container body that is removably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, and that accommodates a reclaimed material existing after forming an image, a receiving portion that is provided at a bottom portion of the container body, and that is supported by a support of the mounting portion from therebelow, and a mounting member that mounts the container body to the mounting portion as a result of rotation of the container body with the receiving portion as a fulcrum while the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow. In the container, the container body has a first recess that provides a field of view for the support when the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow.

Abstract: A developer storage apparatus includes a developer receiving opening for receiving a developer, a developer conveying unit disposed below the developer receiving opening and having a first conveying member that conveys the developer in a conveying direction, a developer detection unit for detecting the developer, and a wall surface portion provided on a downstream side of the developer detection unit in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A powder recovery container includes a reservoir chamber that stores a recovered powder; a recovery port that faces the reservoir chamber, a powder conveying unit that conveys and recovers the powder through the recovery port being removably inserted into the recovery port; a pair of door panels having rotating shafts arranged at two positions with the recovery port arranged therebetween, the door panels being rotated toward the reservoir chamber around the rotating shafts to open and close the recovery port; sealing members attached to the door panels, the sealing members overlapping one another between distal ends of the door panels to seal a gap between the distal ends of the door panels when the door panels are located at positions, at which the recovery port is closed; and urging members that urge the door panels in a direction, in which the recovery port is closed.

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 container that collects waste toner that is not used to form an image in an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus, and includes a waste toner collection opening to receive the waste toner output from the image forming unit, a toner amount detector to detect toner amount in the waste toner container, and a waste toner conveyance member disposed inside the waste toner container to convey the waste toner in the waste toner container. The waste toner conveyance member defines a waste toner conveyance direction exchange point, which is a boundary between two different toner conveyance direction regions in which the waste toner is conveyed in opposite directions, and the waste toner conveyance direction exchange point is disposed closer to the toner amount detector than is the waste toner collection opening.

Abstract: A waste toner cartridge includes a housing and a plug. The housing has a recessed bottom wall and a periphery wall integrally connected with the bottom wall to define an accommodation recess therebetween and provided with a flange having an arc section and two restricting portions respectively extending from two ends of the arc section. The plug has a body portion received in the accommodation recess, and an anchor portion extending axially from the body portion. The body portion of the plug has an outer diameter larger than a distance between the restricting sections of the flange, and the anchor portion of the plug has a radius larger than a radius of curvature of the arc section of the flange such that the plug can be firmly retained in the accommodation recess of the housing when the plug is not in use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a waste toner container for collecting waste toner removed from an image bearing member. The waste toner container includes a receiving section adapted to introduce the waste toner from an inlet port provided in an upper region thereof, and receive therein the waste toner dropped down through the inlet port, an accumulation section arranged to extend from the receiving section in a lateral direction approximately perpendicular to a dropping direction of the waste toner and rotatably coupled to the receiving section, and a rotary member adapted to allow for rotation of the accumulation section.

Abstract: A powder collecting container includes: a first chamber that is configured to store collected powder; a conveying unit that has a rotary shaft, and a powder conveying blade formed to be wound around the rotary shaft, the conveying unit being arranged along an upper-limit zone for accommodating powder in the first chamber and configured to convey powder which is contained in the first chamber and located at a position exceeding the upper-limit zone. A hollow member has an opening portion formed in a peripheral wall so that a powder conveying end of the conveying unit is located in the opening portion, and that the conveying unit passes through the hollow member. A second chamber has an inlet provided to face the opening portion so that powder conveyed by the conveying unit enters the second chamber from the inlet.

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: A waste collecting device includes a first box including a top surface having a first opening, a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, and side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface and having a second opening, wherein the top surface, the bottom surface, and the side surfaces define a space allowing waste to be accommodated therein; a second box including a top surface, a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, and side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface and having a third opening, the third opening being in communication with the second opening; and a sending unit disposed in the first box and configured to send the waste in a direction away from the second box.

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: 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 waste toner collecting device includes a box that stores a waste toner unnecessary in image formation, a collection port that is provided in an upper part of a main body of the box, receives the waste toner, and drops the waste toner into the box, a triangular obstacle provided in a position opposed to a falling port for the waste toner and near a bottom surface in the box, and a sensor that is provided in a position lower than the collection port and higher than the obstacle and detects that an amount of the waste toner stored in the box reaches a predetermined amount.

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 apparatus includes a horizontal carrying mechanism that collects a waste developer in the horizontal direction, relay carrying mechanisms that carry the waste developer collected by the horizontal carrying mechanism to a desired position, a vertical carrying mechanism that carries the waste developer, which is carried by the relay carrying mechanisms, in the vertical upward direction, and a relay carrying mechanism that feeds the waste developer carried by the vertical carrying mechanism into a storage case. A waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a post stage is equal to or larger than a waste developer flow rate of a waste-developer carrying mechanism at a pre-stage thereof.

Abstract: A technique is provided which allows an agitation paddle, which flattens waste toner in a waste toner container, to rotate at a sufficiently low rotation speed and contributing to a decrease in cost with the saving of space and a simple configuration. A waste toner recovering mechanism includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, a linking member, and a one-way clutch which is disposed between an agitation paddle and the second rotating member and which transmits only a rotational driving force from the second rotating member rotating in a first rotation direction to the agitation paddle. Here, the support positions of the linking member relative to the first and second rotating members and the length of the linking member are set so that a rotation angle range of the second rotating member while the first rotating member rotates in one turn is narrower than 180°.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer cartridge containing developer and a developing cartridge with a developing cartridge body comprising a mounting portion and a cover member. The mounting portion accepts the developer cartridge for replenishing developer consumed by the developing cartridge. The cover member closes an opening of the mounting portion when the developer cartridge is not inserted into the mounting portion. When a developing unit is initially constructed, printing is performed using developer contained in the developing unit. A developer cartridge containing developer can be inserted into the developing unit, allowing the supply of developer in the developing unit to be replenished.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder; a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image holder with developing material; a developing material cartridge that has a supply developing material container to contain developing material; and a developing material conveyance unit, having a connection portion connected to the developing device, that conveys the developing material from the supply developing material container to the developing device. The developing material cartridge is provided in a direction approximately orthogonal to the developing device. At least a part of the connection portion is provided within a heightwise directional width of the developing material cartridge.