Image forming apparatus
US9367021B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 14, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0194
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a controller and multiple image forming units each of which includes an image bearer, a toner image forming device to form a toner image on the image bearer, a transfer device to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a transfer medium, a cleaning device to remove toner from a surface of the image bearer, a waste-toner tube through which toner removed by the cleaning device is transported, and a toner conveying member to transport toner by rotation and disposed inside the waste-toner tube. The controller changes a rotation speed of the toner conveying member for each of the multiple image forming units according to toner type including a first toner and a second toner having poorer flow properties than the first toner, and at least one image forming units uses the second toner and the rest use the first toner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.