Image forming apparatus having recycling of residual toner
US6112046A · kind A · utility
83Cited by
9References
67Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 19, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/00734
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus capable of collecting toner left on an image carrier after image transfer during an electrophotographic process, and returning the toner to a developing unit for reuse in the form of an air-toner mixture is disclosed. A toner conveying device includes a screw pump and a hopper portion positioned upstream of the screw pump in the intended direction of toner conveyance. When the collected toner accumulating in the hopper portion reaches a preselected amount, the toner conveying device is caused to start and stop operating at a specific timing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.