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: 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: 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: A waste toner collecting device includes: a waste toner collecting bag being stretchable; a toner conveyance part fitted with the waste toner collecting bag, and conveying a waste toner and also discharging the waste toner toward the waste toner collecting bag; and a holding member for the waste toner collecting bag, which holding member is attached to a terminal end part of the waste toner collecting bag, is capable of being fitted to the toner conveyance part by holding the waste toner collecting bag between the holding member and the toner conveyance part while folding the waste toner collecting bag more compactly than in a used state, and is attachable to and removable from the toner conveyance part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, an exposure unit to irradiate light onto the photosensitive medium, a developing device to apply toner to the photosensitive medium having the electrostatic latent image formed thereon, a cleaning device to remove waste toner remaining in the photosensitive medium, and a waste toner collecting device to store the waste toner removed from the photosensitive medium. The waste toner collecting device is provided with a supporting rail to support the developing device. The waste toner collecting device includes the supporting rail that supports the developing device, so that additional components to support the developing device are not needed, and the whole size of the image forming apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: In a developer-storing container of the present invention, an agitation blade used in a toner-storing section and an agitation blade used in a waste-toner-storing section are coupled by a rotor. The rotor is interdigitated to a bearing mounted on a partition wall. The partition wall is made to be a fixed wall so that precision of interdigitation of the agitation blade of the toner-storing section, the rotor, and the agitation blade of the waste-toner-storing section is improved. Consequently, a developer-storing container that is easy to assemble and in which precision of interdigitation is high is realized.

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: The toner cartridge is provided with: a toner storing container of a rectangular shape having a toner feeding opening in an angular portion of the toner storing container; a stirring conveying member that is disposed so as to rotate in a predetermined rotation direction in the toner storing container and stirs and conveys toner in the toner storing container toward the toner feeding opening; a waste toner storing container that stores reclaimed toner; and a partition member that is held by the toner storing container, partitions between the toner storing container and the waste toner storing containers and has a bearing portion axially supporting a rotating shaft of the stirring conveying member and extending into inside of the waste toner storing container. The toner stored in the toner storing container has an average value of a shape factor (SF1) of about 130 or less.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a toner collection apparatus having a waste toner accommodation chamber that temporarily accommodates waste toner removed from a photosensitive medium. A screw to transfer the waste toner is installed in the chamber. A collection path connects the waste toner accommodation chamber to a developing chamber that holds new toner to be supplied to the photosensitive medium. Waste toner is delivered through the collection path to the developing chamber. An agitator that agitates the waste toner to prevent the collection path from being clogged is provided. The agitator includes a pivoting body installed in the collection path. One end of the pivoting body selectively contacts the screw. The other end of the pivoting body is connected to an agitating body that is arranged in a lengthwise direction of the collection path. As the screw rotates, the pivoting body pivots, thereby moving the agitating body so that it agitates waste toner in the collection path.

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

Abstract: A 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 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 waste toner collecting device and an image forming apparatus having the same include a photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing unit which supplies a toner to the photosensitive body to form a visible image, a transfer unit which transfers the visible image formed on the photosensitive body onto a printing medium, and a waste toner collecting device which collects waste toners removed from the photosensitive body and not being transferred onto the printing medium. The waste toner collecting device includes a housing which has a collecting space to accommodate the waste toners, a waste toner distribution plate which is shakably mounted in the collecting space to receive the waste toners introduced into the collecting space and evenly disperse the waste toners in the collecting space, and a shaking device which shakes the waste toner distribution plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a compact waste toner storage device in which waste toner can be evenly stored. The image forming apparatus includes a waste toner tank to store the waste toner that is collected from a cleaning member to remove the residual waste toner on an image carrying body, and a vibration unit provided inside the waste toner tank to prevent the waste toner from accumulating unevenly. Because the vibration unit is provided inside the waste toner tank, the apparatus can be manufactured compactly. Also, because a coil spring and a stopper are used in the vibration unit, the vibration unit does not take up much space in the waste toner tank. Further, much more waste toner can be stored in the waste toner tank, despite having a same size as a conventional waste toner tank.

Abstract: A developer collecting apparatus for collecting waste developer which is generated by cleaning residual developer remained on a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer body, includes: a waste developer container for accommodating the waste developer; a stirring member rotatably provided in the waste developer container, for stirring the waste developer; and a driving section for giving a rotary driving force to the stirring member. The driving section of the stirring member has: a driving source; a first driving force transmitting path and a second driving force transmitting path which are coupled on the driving source, for transmitting the rotary driving force to the stirring member, and when a rotational load on the first driving force transmitting path reaches a predetermined level or more, a switch-over of transmitting path can be performed from the first driving force transmitting path to the second driving force transmitting path.

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: An image forming apparatus has an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image using a toner to form a toner image, and a cleaning unit that removes the toner remaining on the image carrier after transferring the toner image to a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising an image carrier to carry toner image formed based on image data, a cleaning blade to remove residual toner on the image carrier by being in contact with the image carrier and a toner storage portion structured to store the residual toner removed by the cleaning blade and so that the image carrier can rub on the residual toner, wherein the toner storage portion is located on an upstream side of a contacting point between the cleaning blade and the image carrier in a moving direction of the image carrier and in a position where the toner storage portion is not in contact with the cleaning blade.

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: A transfer device includes a cleaning device, a waste toner bottle, a connecting unit, and a regulating unit. The cleaning device removes waste toner remaining on an intermediate transfer belt. The waste toner bottle has an intake opening for collecting the waste toner therein. The connecting unit conveys the waste toner from the cleaning device to the waste toner bottle, and has a discharge opening that is configured to engage the intake opening to discharge the waste toner into the waste toner bottle through the intake opening. The regulating unit regulates the position of the waste toner bottle in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the waste toner bottle before the discharge opening comes in contact with the intake opening.

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 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 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: The invention provides an image forming apparatus that, even when a dynamic friction coefficient of a latent image carrier has a value more than a predetermined value, can prevent a toner in the cleaning device from excessively charging and an air gap from occurring while efficiently recovering a residual toner while efficiently recovering a residual toner, and thereby can effectively prevent the black spots due to the leakage current from the cleaning device from occurring; and an image forming method therewith. There are provided an image forming apparatus that includes a cleaning device provided with a rotation member for cleaning a surface of a latent image carrier with a titanium oxide contained in a toner and an image forming method therewith, wherein a dynamic friction coefficient of the latent image carrier is set to a value in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 and a specific resistance of the titanium oxide is set to a value in the range of 1×100 to 1×102 ?·cm.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention can include an image forming apparatus having an image forming portion configured to form an image using developer, a recovery portion configured to recover the developer, a accommodating portion having a first chamber for accommodating developer recovered by the recovery portion, a second chamber which is connected to the first chamber and has a groove, a partition member positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber and which is movable by a pressure of the developer deposited in the first chamber, and a sensing portion having two positions for sensing developer deposited in the groove.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same. The cleaning apparatus includes: a developing unit to supply toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive body, a cleaning blade installed above the photosensitive body and the developing unit to contact a circumference of the photosensitive body along a lengthwise direction thereof with a predetermined force, to remove waste toner remaining on the photosensitive body, and having a surface along which the removed waste toner is transported, and a waste toner reservoir unit to store the waste toner transported along the surface after being removed by the cleaning blade, wherein the surface slopes upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The cleaning apparatus efficiently utilizes space in the image forming apparatus and can protect the photosensitive body and the developing unit from being deformed by external impact.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting container which is used in a color image forming apparatus and can be removed from the machine and stores waste toner particles which have not been transferred to recording paper and have been collected, is constructed such that an air sealing member is disposed at the coupling between the waste toner collecting container and a conveying member for conveying the collected waste toner into the waste toner collecting container to prevent the waste toner from seeping out at the coupling when the waste toner is conveyed and to seal the collecting port so that no waste toner will spill out from the waste toner collecting container which has been removed for replacement after the waste toner collected and conveyed therein has reached the predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaner, and a toner container. The image carrier carries a toner image to be transferred onto a sheet. The cleaner collects toner remaining on a surface of the image carrier after the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred onto the sheet. The toner container stores the toner collected by the cleaner. In the toner container, the rotating member is provided in the container containing the toner. A rotating shaft of the rotating member penetrates a wall of the container and extends to an outside of the container. The contact portion is provided in the wall of the container, and is slidably contacted by the rotating shaft. The seal member is provided on an outer surface of the wall of the container, and seals the contact portion.

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: 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: 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 apparatus and method for the transport and/or storage of developing agent in an image forming apparatus. A cartridge may be employed having a reservoir for developing agent and a component, such as a drum, which may include an interior region capable of storing developing agent. A transport device may be included that is capable of transporting developing agent between the reservoir and a location in the image forming apparatus such as the drum interior.

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 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 device includes an image forming unit that includes an image carrier which carries an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit which forms a developing nip by contacting with the image carrier and develops the latent image by using toner, a transfer unit which forms a transferring nip by contacting with the image carrier and transfers a toner image onto a recording paper, and a first driving unit which rotates the image carrier, the developing unit and the transfer unit. The image forming device also includes a laser scanner unit that includes a polygon mirror and a second driving unit which rotates the polygon mirror.

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 collecting apparatus of the present invention reliably prevents waste toner from spilling when replacing the waste toner box by opening the front cover of an image forming apparatus as the first through fifth shutters close the respective waste toner conveyance end sections. The first through fifth shutters are locked when no waste toner box is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first through fifth shutters are unlocked when a waste toner box is mounted in the image forming apparatus. It can reliably prevent an operation error of operating the image forming section with the waste toner conveyance end sections left in an open state as the stay of the cover presses the first through fifth shutters when a waste toner box is not mounted.

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: 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: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is operable with a waste toner bottle removably mounted thereto for collecting residual toner left on an image carrier after image formation. The image forming apparatus includes a handle to be held by an operator for holding the waste toner bottle, and a locking mechanism included in the handle for preventing the waste toner bottle from coming off the apparatus.

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: 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 forming apparatus that transfers a toner image on a photosensitive element to a recording medium includes a transfer unit that includes a transfer member in a form of an endless belt pressed against an outer surface of the photosensitive element, and that is detachable from a main unit of the image forming apparatus; a first cleaning unit that cleans residual toner on the transfer member; and a waste toner receptacle that collects the residual toner cleaned by the first cleaning unit. The waste toner receptacle is arranged in an inner circumference of the transfer member. The waste toner receptacle is held inside the main unit, so that the transfer unit is detachable from the main unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in the removal or waste or excess ink and a method for disposal of ink from electrophotographic printers comprises providing electrophotographic ink from a source, combining the ink with an absorbable material in a container to form a solid within the container, and closing the container so that the container with the solid inside may be disposed of without ink flowing from the container.

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 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 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.