Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively collecting waste toner

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• image carrying means for rotating and carrying a toner image thereon;
• transfer means for transferring the toner image to a recording medium;
• first cleaning means for collecting toner remaining on the image carrying means as waste toner after a primary transfer operation of the toner image from the image carrying means to the transfer means;
• second cleaning means for collecting toner remaining in the transfer means as waste toner after a secondary transfer operation of the toner image from the transfer device to the recording medium;
• and
• waste toner collecting means for storing and collecting the waste toner, comprising:
• storing means for storing the waste toner collected by and conveyed from the first and second cleaning means;
• conveying means, provided in the storing means, for horizontally conveying the waste toner in the storing means, and for pressing and up-thrusting the waste toner after an amount of the waste toner reaches a predetermined value;
• and
• detection means, provided above a position where the waste toner is pressed and up-thrust by the conveying means, for being pressed and displaced by the pressed and up-thrust waste toner and detected by a sensor.

An image forming method comprising:

• rotating an image carrying member configured to carry a toner image thereon;
• transferring a toner image from an image carrying member to a transfer device;
• transfering the toner image from a transfer device to a recording medium;
• collecting, with a first cleaning device, toner remaining on the image carrying member as waste toner after transferring the toner image from the image carrying member to the transfer device;
• collecting, with a second cleaning device, toner remaining in the transfer device as waste toner after transfer of the toner image from the transfer device to the recording medium;
• storing the waste toner conveyed from the first and second cleaning devices in a container having a detection unit;
• conveying the waste toner horizontally in the container with a conveying device to provide
• pressing and up-thrusting of the waste toner after an amount of the waste toner reaches a predetermined value,
• displacing the detection unit;
• and
• detecting the displacement of the detection unit.

A waste toner collecting unit comprising:

• a container configured to store waste toner collected by and conveyed from at least two different external cleaning devices;
• a conveying device provided in the container and configured to horizontally convey the waste toner in the container and to press and up-thrust the waste toner after an amount of the waste toner reaches a predetermined value;
• and
• a detection unit provided above a position where the waste toner is pressed and up-thrust by the conveying device and configured to be pressed and displaced by the pressed and up-thrust waste toner and to be detected by an external sensor.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image carrying member configured to rotate and carry a toner image thereon;
• a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image to a recording medium;
• a first cleaning device configured to collect toner remaining on the image carrying member as waste toner after a primary transfer operation of the toner image from the image carrying member to the transfer device;
• a second cleaning device configured to collect toner remaining in the transfer device as waste toner after a secondary transfer operation of the toner image from the transfer device to the recording medium;
• means for storing the waste toner conveyed from the first and second cleaning devices;
• means for conveying the waste toner in the means for storing;
• means for pressing the waste toner after an amount of the waste toner reaches a predetermined value;
• and means for detecting the pressing.