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.

Abstract: A foreign substance prevention unit use with an electro-photographic printer is installed over a waste toner injection hole such that it closes the waste toner injection hole when a photosensitive medium is separated from a main body of the electro-photographic printer, and opens the waste toner injection hole when the photosensitive medium is installed in the main body of the electro-photographic printer. The foreign substance prevention unit is formed of an elastic material.

Abstract: In order to collect sufficiently the toner in the toner collecting section so as to prevent the toner from overflowing from the toner collecting section, a toner collection apparatus is provided. The toner collection apparatus comprises a removing member for removing the toner in the toner carrier; a toner collecting section which is used for collecting the toner and has displacement section displaced corresponding to the piled amount of the toner; and the detecting section for detecting the displacement of the displacement section.

Abstract: A developer reservoir is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus and holds developer discharged from a developer discharging section of the image forming apparatus. The developer reservoir includes a developer inlet, a developer chamber, and a transport mechanism. The developer inlet receives the developer discharged from the developer discharging section. The developer chamber holds the developer delivered through the developer inlet. The transport mechanism takes the form of a screw conveyor that transports the developer from the developer inlet into the developer chamber. The developer-transporting member serves as a partition that divides the waste toner reservoir into the toner inlet and the toner chamber so that the developer is prevented from moving straight from the developer inlet into the developer chamber.

Abstract: A waste toner transfer apparatus in an electrophotographic printer to transfer waste toner removed by a cleaning unit and transferred to a waste toner storage container. The waste toner transfer apparatus includes a duct connecting the cleaning unit and the waste toner storage container, a conveying coil having a spiral shape which is installed in the duct and rotates, and an insertion member inserted in the conveying coil.

Abstract: A waste toner transfer apparatus in an electrophotographic printer for transferring 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 apparatus includes a duct for connecting the cleaning unit and the waste toner storage container, a transfer unit installed in the duct to transfer the waste toner, a guide portion provided at an outlet of the duct to be inclined downward to guide the waste toner toward the waste toner storage container, and an agitation member installed on the guide portion and moving to prevent the waste toner from accumulating on the guide portion.

Abstract: A device for the electrophotographic production of image patterns has at least one printing unit to which toner is supplied and has an arrangement for transferring used toner from a cleaning station of the printing unit to a used toner container. The arrangement for transferring can be interrupted to enable changing the used toner container without interrupting the printing operation of the device.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting apparatus using a disposable OPC drum utilizes an inside space of the disposable OPC drum as a waste toner container to collect waste toner. The waste toner collecting apparatus comprises a waste toner removing unit contacting one side of the OPC drum to remove the waste toner from the OPC drum, first transport unit transporting the waste toner, which is removed by the waste toner removing unit from the OPC drum, in one direction, a second transport unit transporting waste toner, which is transported by the first transport unit, to one side of a storage unit, and a screw member moving the waste toner, which is moved to one side of the storage unit, to the other side of the storage unit to store the waste toner within the storage unit from the one side to the other side without leaving an unused hollow space. A user can conveniently remove the waste toner by replacing only the OPC drum instead of individually replacing the OPC drum and the waste toner container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dampening annoying resonance noise in auger systems. The dampening effect is accomplished by an insert placed within an inner bore of an auger. The insert itself may be continuous or in segments and be comprised of material capable of absorbing vibrational energy. One embodiment of an insert is a tube that is purposefully cut longer than the auger itself in order to induce bending of the tube and contact with the sides of the auger bore.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device of an electrophotographic printer is provided. The device includes a housing to temporarily hold waste toner removed from an image holding body, an exhaust guide member including an exhaust hole through which the waste toner is exhausted, an opening and closing unit to open and close the exhaust hole, an inlet guide member having an inlet path to connect the exhaust hole to an inlet of a waste toner collection tank, and an elastic member which elastically supports the inlet guide member so that a gap between the exhaust hole and an inlet side of the inlet path is closely maintained when the exhaust guide member ascends and descends.

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: Provided are a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the process cartridge. The process cartridge is constituted as one of at least two types of cartridges, a first cartridge and a second cartridge, and used selectively by being made detachably attachable to a main body of an identical image forming apparatus. The first cartridge includes: a cleaning unit which removes toner remaining on a surface of a medium; a cleaning frame which receives toner recovered by the cleaning unit and has an opening; and a waste toner carrying unit which is provided in the opening and carries the toner in the cleaning frame. The second cartridge includes: a cleaning unit which removes toner remaining on a surface of a medium; a cleaning frame which receives toner recovered by the cleaning unit and has an opening; and a sealing member which seals the opening without the waste toner carrying unit being provided in the opening.

Abstract: A developing apparatus having a developing container for containing developer including toner and carrier, and developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, includes a carrying member for carrying the developer in the developing container, and a discharge port provided in the developing container for discharging any excess developer resulting from the supply of the developer. The developer carrying capability of the carrying member is greater in an area near the discharge port than in an area downstream of the discharge port in the carrying direction of the developer.

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: The color image forming apparatus comprises a transfer belt device which feeds a transfer member such as a paper and a plurality of image forming units. The image forming units are disposed facing towards the transfer belt device. The transfer belt device, at least in a portion in which the image forming units have been disposed, is arranged such that it is inclined with respect to the ground. Each of the image forming unit forms a desired image and sequentially transfers the formed image on the transfer member fed by the transfer belt device.

Abstract: A waste toner agitator for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a plurality of protrusions protrusively formed on a top surface of a cassette and, an actuator that is pivotably installed on sidewalls of the waste toner container. The actuator has a shaft that is installed inside of the waste toner container and provides a plurality of agitating wings for agitating the waste toner, and also includes a pivoting part that is installed outside of the waste toner container, is connected to the shaft, and contacts each of the protrusions. The waste toner container further includes a plurality of elastic members that are installed opposite to the pivoting part and are placed between a plurality of supporting parts provided outside of the waste toner container, and return the actuator to its original position after the actuator contacts the protrusion and is pivoted away from its original position.

Abstract: A collection vessel 124 has intermediate transfer body collection ports 134 and developing machine collection ports 136. Collected developer occurrence sections placed in intermediate transfer bodies and developing machines are connected to the collection ports 134 and 136. At least two of the collection ports 134 and 136 are formed so that they are arranged in a vertical direction. Collection spaces 148a to 148f to which the collection ports 134 and 136 are connected are separated by partition walls 146, and the collection capacities of the collection spaces 148a to 148f are set according to the heights and shapes of the partition walls 146.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes a container detachably set in an image forming apparatus and a waster toner transport device to transport waste toner in the container. The container has a shape as to fit into a free space of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus also includes an image bearing member, and a cleaning device configured to collect a residual toner remaining on the image bearing member.

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: A toner cartridge has a first chamber that holds fresh, toner and a waste toner chamber that holds waste toner. The toner cartridge includes a partition that divides an inner space of the toner cartridge into the fresh toner chamber and the waste toner chamber. The partition is such that the fresh toner chamber and the waste toner chamber extend substantially in parallel with each other and are partially adjacent to each other horizontally. The partition operates in such a way that the fresh toner chamber decreases in volume and the waste toner chamber increases in volume with increasing amount of the waste toner in the waste toner chamber. The movable portion may be a deformable bag-shaped member. The fresh toner chamber may have a resilient flap therein to agitate the fresh toner.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of the present invention is, for example, a digital color copying machine arranged to include two image processing units (first and second image processing units) each having a photosensitive body. The first image processing unit forms a monochrome image and the second image processing unit forms a particular pattern or a trace pattern. According to this arrangement, the particular pattern or trace pattern can be added to a monochrome image while maintaining a printing rate as fast as a monochrome image printing rate. Consequently, an additional information of a color other than black can be combined with a monochrome image at the same printing rate as the monochrome image printing rate, thereby making it possible to provide a compact and inexpensive apparatus.

Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus includes a waste developing agent container in which a developing agent removed by the cleaning blade from a photosensitive body is stored. The waste developing agent container is provided in a developing container.

Abstract: A wasted toner storing apparatus and a dry type electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same. The wasted toner storing apparatus includes a wasted toner container accommodating wasted toner generated during a printing process, and a dispersing member inside the wasted toner container, dispersing the wasted toner inside the wasted toner container by rotation of the dispersing member.

Abstract: A collection vessel 124 is formed with a plurality of collection spaces 148a to 148f separated by partition walls 146, and collection ports 134 and 136 are connected to the collection spaces 148a to 148f. The collection spaces 148a to 148f are made to communicate with each other through a communication part 152. A developer intake section 154 implementing a full condition detector is placed below the communication part 152. A detection vessel is placed in the developer intake section 154 for detecting a full condition based on the developer overflowing the collection spaces 148a to 148f.

Abstract: A toner cartridge assembly corresponding to a photosensitive drum cartridge disposed at a printing apparatus body. The toner cartridge assembly develops toner on the photosensitive drum and collects used toner and includes a toner cartridge corresponding to the photosensitive drum cartridge at the body, the toner cartridge having a developing roller to develop the stored toner on the photosensitive drum; and a used toner chamber movably connected with one side of the toner cartridge to store used toner collected from the photosensitive drum cartridge. The used toner chamber is fixed at a predetermined position on the printing apparatus body, and the toner cartridge adjusts a developing nip between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller by being connected with the used toner chamber in a way that the toner cartridge can reciprocate and rotate in a direction of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: When a sensor in an image forming device detects fog on the photosensitive belt, the CPU of the image forming device controls the shutter in each toner hopper unit to open and drives a discharging auger to rotate, causing degraded toner to be discharged from the developing chamber into a waste toner accommodating chamber. After this discharging operation is completed, the CPU closes the shutter and begins driving a supply auger to rotate in order to supply new toner from the accommodating chamber into the developing chamber, thereby replacing most of the old toner in the developing chamber with new toner.

Abstract: A collection vessel 124 has a shutter 138 for opening and closing collection ports 136. A rotation shaft 140 of the shutter 138 is provided with an opening/closing piece 144. The opening/closing piece 144 abuts a protrusion on an image formation apparatus main unit and opens the shutter 138 largely so that a discharge section inserted into the collection port 136 does not abut. The collection port 136 is made a long hole so as to allow the discharge section to move. Further, the shutter 138 is formed integrally with a plurality of door parts 142 so as to open or close the collection ports 136 by one operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a recycle toner conveying device for returning toner collected in a cleaning step to a developing device as recycled toner. A waste toner conveying device conveys the collected toner to a waste toner container as waste toner. A switching device selects either one of the recycle toner conveying device and waste toner conveying device. Toner can therefore be efficiently recycled in accordance with the degree of color mixture of the collected toner. In addition, It is possible to estimate the amount of toner to enter due to reverse transfer and therefore to increase the proportion of toner recycling while reducing the influence of color mixture on the toner to be recycled.

Abstract: A waste toner agitator for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of protrusions protrusively formed on a top surface of a cassette, an actuator that is pivotably installed on sidewalls of the waste toner container. The actuator has a shaft that is installed inside of the waste toner container and provides a plurality of agitating wings for agitating the waste toner, and also includes a pivoting part that is installed outside of the waste toner container, is connected to the shaft, and contacts each of the protrusions. The waste toner container further comprises a plurality of elastic members that are installed opposite to the pivoting part and are placed between a plurality of supporting parts provided outside of the waste toner container, and return the actuator to its original position after the actuator contacts the protrusion and is pivoted away from its original position.

Abstract: A wasted toner storing apparatus and a dry type electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same. The wasted toner storing apparatus includes a wasted toner container accommodating wasted toner generated during a printing process, and a dispersing member inside the wasted toner container, dispersing the wasted toner inside the wasted toner container by rotation of the dispersing member.

Abstract: A toner level detector assembly includes an electrically conductive container body that defines a container cavity and an orifice. A sensor assembly includes a holder and a probe. The holder is sealingly associated with the orifice. The probe is disposed within the holder. The holder electrically isolates the probe from the container body. The probe senses a level of material within the container cavity.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting apparatus of an electrophotographic image forming device includes a photoreceptive drum having a first slit formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof in a lengthwise direction, through which waste toner removed from the outer circumferential surface of the photoreceptive drum by a cleaning blade contacting the outer circumferential surface thereof passes to be contained therein, and a slit opening/shutting unit which selectively opens and shuts the first silt. Thus, the image forming device can be made compact, and generation of dust can be prevented.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting device including: a container which is detachably set in an image forming apparatus and contains therein waste toner produced in the image forming apparatus and which has such a shape as to fit into a free space of the image forming apparatus; and a waste toner transport device which transports the waste toner in the container. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member; a cleaning device configured to collect a residual toner remaining on the image bearing member; and the waste toner collecting device.

Abstract: In order to collect sufficiently the toner in the toner collecting section so as to prevent the toner from overflowing from the toner collecting section, a toner collection apparatus is provided. The toner collection apparatus comprises a removing member for removing the toner in the toner carrier; a toner collecting section which is used for collecting the toner and has displacement section displaced corresponding to the piled amount of the toner; and the detecting section for detecting the displacement of the displacement section.

Abstract: A liquid image forming apparatus includes a waste developing agent container in which a developing agent removed by the cleaning blade from a photosensitive body is stored. The waste developing agent container is provided in a developing container.

Abstract: A component for an electrophotographic device having an intermediate transfer device includes a hopper configured for association with a toner cartridge. The hopper is configured to store residual toner collected from the intermediate transfer device. The hopper includes an opening configured to receive the residual toner.

Abstract: A collection vessel 124 has a shutter 138 for opening and closing collection ports 136. A rotation shaft 140 of the shutter 138 is provided with an opening/closing piece 144. The opening/closing piece 144 abuts a protrusion on an image formation apparatus main unit and opens the shutter 138 largely so that a discharge section inserted into the collection port 136 does not abut. The collection port 136 is made a long hole so as to allow the discharge section to move. Further, the shutter 138 is formed integrally with a plurality of door parts 142 so as to open or close the collection ports 136 by one operation.

Abstract: A collection vessel 124 has intermediate transfer body collection ports 134 and developing machine collection ports 136. Collected developer occurrence sections placed in intermediate transfer bodies and developing machines are connected to the collection ports 134 and 136. At least two of the collection ports 134 and 136 are formed so that they are arranged in a longitudinal direction. Collection spaces 148a to 148f to which the collection ports 134 and 136 are connected are separated by partition walls 146, and the collection capacities of the collection spaces 148a to 148f are set according to the heights and shapes of the partition walls 146.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning an image carrier by removing toner and other residues left thereon of the present invention includes a brush having tips, which contact the surface of the image carrier, provided with a loop configuration and a contact pressure of 50 g/cm2. A toner collecting space is located at a position adjacent to the brush and at which the tips of the brush contacted the surface of the image carrier arrive in accordance with the movement of the brush.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting apparatus of an electrophotographic image forming device includes a photoreceptive drum having a first slit formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof in a lengthwise direction, through which waste toner removed from the outer circumferential surface of the photoreceptive drum by a cleaning blade contacting the outer circumferential surface thereof passes to be contained therein, and a slit opening/shutting unit which selectively opens and shuts the first silt. Thus, the image forming device can be made compact, and generation of dust can be prevented.

Abstract: When a discharged toner box 3 is detached, discharged toner is prevented from being scattered. A discharged toner collecting apparatus 1 includes a discharged toner box 3 for storing discharged toner, a discharged toner nozzle 4 for injecting discharged toner into the interior of the discharged toner box 3, and a connecting portion 5 to which the nozzle 4 is connected. At the position where the nozzle 4 and the connecting portion 5 are connected, a washing fluid feeding unit 6 for feeding washing water to wash the inner surface of the nozzle 4 is provided. The washing fluid feeding unit 6 is constituted by a washing fluid tank 14 for storing washing water, a washing fluid nozzle 15 for ejecting the washing water to an inner surface of the nozzle 4, and the washing fluid feeding unit 16 for feeding the washing water to the nozzle 15.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a recycle toner conveying device for returning toner collected in a cleaning step to a developing device as recycled toner. A waste toner conveying device conveys the collected toner to a waste toner container as waste toner. A switching device selects either one of the recycle toner conveying device and waste toner conveying device. Toner can therefore be efficiently recycled in accordance with the degree of color mixture of the collected toner. In addition, It is possible to estimate the amount of toner to enter due to reverse transfer and therefore to increase the proportion of toner recycling while reducing the influence of color mixture on the toner to be recycled.

Abstract: System and methods for sensing a condition of a printer cartridge waste volume. In one embodiment the system provides notification when a printer cartridge needs to be replaced. The system includes a printer, a printer cartridge for the printer having a waste volume, and a sensor operably coupled with the printer cartridge for sensing the waste volume in the printer cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming unit is detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and includes a first unit including an image bearing member, and a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which is transferred a toner image on the image bearing member. The toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and at least either of the first and second units is detachable from and attachable to the image forming unit.

Abstract: System and methods for sensing a condition of a printer cartridge waste volume. In one embodiment the system provides notification when a printer cartridge needs to be replaced. The system comprises a printer, a printer cartridge for the printer having a waste volume, and a sensor operably coupled with the printer cartridge for sensing the waste volume in the printer cartridge.

Abstract: A waste toner removal device for transporting toner from a photoconductive drum within an image-forming apparatus. The invention includes a waste toner reservoir having outer walls forming an interior chamber for housing toner removed from the photoconductive drum. An opening is positioned within the outer walls into the interior chamber forming an upper chamber section extending above the opening and a lower chamber section extending below the opening. An auger extends along the photoconductive drum and unobstructed into the opening of the waste toner reservoir. The auger includes helical blades extending outward for moving the toner from the photoconductive drum into the waste toner reservoir. A pumping cylinder having a generally cylindrical shape extends around the auger adjacent to the waste toner reservoir.

Abstract: A cleaning device comprises a device case having a toner collecting space, a blade holder swingably supported in directions in which the blade holder approaches and leaves from the photosensitive drum, an elastic seal member attached to one of a wall of the toner collecting space and the blade holder, between an outer face of the wall forming the toner collecting space and the blade holder, in order to be forcibly brought into contact with one of the wall forming the toner collecting space and the blade holder, wherein the blade holder or the wall forming the toner collecting space has a protrusion that is at least partly welded into the elastic seal member, and is forcibly brought into contact with the elastic seal member.

Abstract: The invention relates to cleaning systems for electrographic processes and, in particular, to detecting leaks in such processes. A process and apparatus for sensing leaks is provided in an electrographic process cleaning system of the type configured to have a particle collection container. According to an aspect of the invention, a pressure is sensed that is indicative of pressure inside the particle collection container.

Abstract: A waste toner container and auger therefor. Auger flights have a continuously decreasing flight pitch from the front of the auger to the back of the auger. The auger includes a flightless portion near the back wall of the container.