Electrophotographic printer having a gravity driven toner recycling unit

An electrophotographic printer comprising

• a photoconductor having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, said photoconductor having a printing width in a longitudinal direction thereof;
• a developing device for adhering a developer to said electrostatic latent image and developing said image;
• a transferring device for transferring the developed latent image to a recording medium;
• a cleaning device for collecting developer remaining on the surface of said photoconductor, said cleaning device comprising a brushing roller for removing developer from the surface of said photoconductor, a collecting roller for collecting developer deposited on said brushing roller, and a scraper contacting said collecting roller for removing developer collected thereon;
• a passageway connecting said cleaning device and said developing device, said passageway having a width extending in said longitudinal direction extending along the entire printing width of said photoconductor and a length extending in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, developer scraped from said collecting roller being transferred through said passageway entirely by gravity from said cleaning device to said developing device;
• an exposing light source positioned between said developing and cleaning devices and interposed between said photoconductor and said passageway, said exposing light source comprising an array of light emitting elements disposed in said longitudinal direction along the entire printing width of said photoconductor;
• and
• an electrifier interposed between said cleaning device and said exposing light source.