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US 5,184,184 AGranted
Image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsKeisuke Hayashi, Kouji Ishigaki, Kazuyuki Nakahara, Masato Yanagida, Fumio Kishi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A copier, facsimile transceiver, printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses a toner cartridge whose volume decreases when released a toner. A cartridge collecting section for collecting toner cartridges is lower in height than the cartridge when the cartridge is filled with a toner. The cartridge has top plate, a bottom plate and sides which are implemented by an elastic member or a film-like member. The cartridge collecting section, a waste toner tank and a photoconductive element storing section are constructed into a unit which is removable from the apparatus body.
Claims20
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- an image carrier;
- developing means for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on said image carrier by a developer;
- cleaning means for collecting the developer remaining on said image carrier after image transfer;
- waste developer storing means for storing the developer collected by said cleaning means;
- developer storing means for storing a fresh supplementary toner;
- a loading section to be loaded with said developer storing means;
- a developer supply section to be supplied with the supplementary developer from said developer storing means;
- first transporting means for transporting said developer storing means from said loading section to said developer supply section;
- collecting means for collecting empty developer storing means which has supplied the developer to said developer supply section;
- and
- second transporting means for transporting said empty developer storing means from said developer supply section to said collecting means;
- at least one of said collecting means and said waste developer storing means being removably mounted on said body.
10 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- an image carrier;
- developing means for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on said image carrier by a developer;
- cleaning means for collecting the developer remaining on said image carrier after image transfer;
- first transporting means for transporting the developer collected by said cleaning means to said developing means;
- second transporting means for transporting a cleaning agent from said developing means to said cleaning means;
- developer storing means for storing a fresh supplementary developer;
- a loading section to be loaded with said developer storing means;
- a developer supply section to be supplied with the supplementary developer from said developer storing means;
- third transporting means for transporting said developer storing means from said loading section to said developer supply section;
- collecting means removably supported by said body for collecting empty developer storing means which has supplied the developer at said developer supply section;
- fourth transporting means for transporting said empty developer storing means from said developer supply section to said collecting means;
- and
- cleaning agent collecting section for collecting the cleaning agent used by said cleaning means.
11 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- an image carrier;
- developing means for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on said image carrier by a toner;
- cleaning means for collecting the developer remaining on said image carrier after image transfer;
- waste developer storing means for storing the developer collected by said cleaning means;
- developer storing means for storing a fresh supplementary toner;
- loading section to be loaded with said developer storing means;
- developer supply section to be supplied with the supplementary developer from said developer storing means;
- first transporting means for transporting said developer storing means from said loading section to said developer supply section;
- collecting means for collecting empty developer storing means which has supplied the developer to said developer supply section;
- and
- second transporting means for transporting said empty developer storing means from said developer supply section to said collecting section means;
- said collecting means and said waste developer storing means being constructed integrally with each other and removably supported by said body.
10 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- developing means for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on said image carrier by a developer;
- image carrier replacing means for replacing said image carrier;
- image carrier storing means for storing said image carrier;
- a loading section to be loaded with said developer storing means;
- a developer supply section to be supplied with the developer from said developer storing means;
- first transporting means for transporting said developer storing means from said loading section to said developer supply section;
- collecting means for collecting empty developer storing means which has supplied the developer at said developer supply section;
- and
- second transporting means for transporting said empty developer supply means from said developer supply section to said collecting means;
- said collecting means and said image carrier storing means being constructed integrally with each other and removably supported by said body.
8 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a body;
- an image carrier;
- developing means for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on said image carrier by a developer;
- image carrier replacing means for replacing said image carrier;
- image carrier storing means for storing said image carrier;
- cleaning means for collecting the developer remaining on said image carrier after image transfer;
- waste developer storing means for storing the developer collected by said cleaning means;
- developer storing means for storing a fresh supplementary developer;
- a loading section to be loaded with said developer storing means;
- a developer supply section to be supplied with the developer from said developer storing means;
- first transporting means for transporting said developer storing means from said loading section to said developer supply section;
- collecting means for collecting empty developer storing means which has supplied the developer at said developer supply section;
- and
- second transporting means for transporting said empty developer storing means from said developer supply section to said collecting means;
- said collecting means, said waste developer storing means and said image carrier storing means being constructed integrally with each other and removably supported by said body.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.