"Transmission of documents via telephone wires is possible in principle, but the apparatus required is so expensive that it will never become a practical proposition."
Dennis Gabor, British physicist
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8116644 | Image forming apparatus and waste powder transporting method An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; a storage container that is detachably and attachably provided and that stores waste powder having been discarded and transported from the image forming section;... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8116645 | Image forming apparatus with multiple waste powder storing containers The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; first and second storing containers attachably and detachably provided and storing waste powder discarded from the image forming section; a first discharging part ... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8068750 | Image forming apparatus with waste toner collecting device An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning portion for collecting waste toner from various locations within the image forming apparatus. Waste toner collected by the cleaning portion is routed to a waste toner collecting container. The waste toner collecting con... | 11/29/2011 |
| 7991308 | Waste toner amount detecting apparatus and method, and image forming apparatus employing the same Disclosed are a waste toner amount detecting apparatus and method which can detect whether a waste toner bottle is full of a waste toner using a change in a current of a motor which drives an auger, and an image forming apparatus employing the same. The waste toner ... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7970297 | Powder container and image forming apparatus A powder conveying unit conveys powder input from a powder inlet of a powder containing chamber into the powder containing chamber. A powder detecting unit detects a full state of the powder conveyed by the powder conveying unit in the powder containing chamber. A s... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7899345 | Waste toner collecting device and image forming apparatus A waste toner collecting device includes a box that stores a waste toner unnecessary in image formation, a collection port that is provided in an upper part of a main body of the box, receives the waste toner, and drops the waste toner into the box, a triangular obs... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7894730 | Image forming apparatus having containing unit containing waste An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a containing unit; two detecting units; a counting unit; and a determining unit. The image forming unit is configured to form a toner image. The containing unit is configured to contain waste that is genera... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7881626 | Image formation apparatus utilizing density of waste toner to detect amount thereof An image formation apparatus has a waste toner accommodation unit including a toner transporting rotation member covered with a fixed pipe. As the member rotates, waste toner in the pipe is transported downstream A fin involved in detecting an amount of toner moves ... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7865092 | Waste toner collecting device and image forming apparatus incorporating the same A waste toner collecting device includes: a tubular member provided with a toner inlet and a toner outlet; a roller that is provided upstream of the toner outlet in a toner transport direction inside the tubular member, that has a substantially horizontal rotation a... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7848667 | Waste toner collection apparatus and image forming apparatus The waste toner flown into a waste toner box by way of a plurality of collection ports is leveled by means of a paddle. The waste toner collected in the waste toner box is supplied to a full condition sensing section arranged at a higher position so as to be piled u... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7817927 | Image forming apparatus with developer collection One aspect of the present invention can include an image forming apparatus having an image forming portion configured to form an image using developer, a recovery portion configured to recover the developer, a accommodating portion having a first chamber for accommo... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7702248 | Powder container, toner container, and image forming apparatus A powder container is configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used. A powder inlet is provided, through which a powder enters into the powder container. A powder detecting unit includes a powde... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7660541 | Image formation apparatus utilizing density of waste toner to detect amount thereof An image formation apparatus has a waste toner accommodation unit including a toner transporting rotation member covered with a fixed pipe. As the member rotates, waste toner in the pipe is transported downstream. The toner transporting rotation member has an upstre... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7646995 | Waste toner transfer device, waste toner cleaning device having the waste toner transfer device, developing unit having the waste toner cleaning device, and image forming apparatus A waste toner transfer device of an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner transfer unit which is disposed in proximity to a cleaning member to transfer waste toner removed from a photoconductive medium by the cleaning member, and includes a plurality of pro... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7613407 | Method and apparatus to detect loads associated with one of a plurality of components driven by a shared motor in an image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the ... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7599633 | Image forming apparatus dust container including dust conveyance members A dust container includes a container body, an inlet, a dust detector, and a dust-conveying unit. The dust-conveying unit conveys the dust from the inlet to the interior of the container body. The dust-conveying unit includes a plurality of conveying members that ar... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7555231 | Capacitive toner level sensor and methods of use A capacitive sensor to detect toner volume levels in a toner container within an image forming device includes opposed electrodes disposed within the interior of the toner container. The opposed electrodes form a capacitor characterized by an inherent capacitance th... | 06/30/2009 |
| 7551863 | Image forming apparatus having a cleaning unit for collecting waste toner An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning unit that collects a waste toner that remains on the image carrier, a toner container that stores the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit, a determination unit that determines whether the waste ... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7526217 | Image forming apparatus and waste toner warning method An image forming apparatus for executing image forming process on a page by page basis including: a toner image forming section for producing a visible image formed of toner as a toner image on an image carrier; a transfer section which performs a transfer process f... | 04/28/2009 |
| 7463839 | Image forming apparatus including a toner waste container near-end condition detection feature and a full condition judgment feature In an image forming apparatus includes a containing device for containing waste toner which is recovered, and a near-end position detecting device that detects that the waste toner is at a near-end position in the containing device, and a judgment feature that the w... | 12/09/2008 |
| 7454148 | Image forming apparatus There is provided an image-forming apparatus having a transmitting and receiving device for transmitting and receiving system information to a host computer by way of a data communication line; a detection device for detecting the amount of toner deposited on the ph... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7376365 | Method and device for preventing unwanted transfer of toner with a cleaning station and a cleaning device in a transfer printing station of an electrographic printing machine In a method and system for operation of a transfer printing station of an electrographic printing device, a transfer printing station is provided comprising a light-sensitive medium onto which toner images are provided by electrostatic forces affected via a toner im... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7373092 | Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively collecting waste toner An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a transfer device, cleaning devices, and a waste toner collecting unit. The cleaning devices collect toner remaining on the image carrying member and toner remaining in the transfer device as waste toner ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7356269 | Apparatus and method for sensing waste toner in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus An electrophotographic forming apparatus includes a light-emitting portion, a light-receiving portion, a waste toner sensing unit which is pivotably installed in a main body where the waste toner container is attachably and detachably mounted between the light-emitt... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7336190 | Early detection and advanced warning “waste is backing up” apparatus and method A device for the early detection and advanced warning that waste is backing up in a waste pipe line comprising: a tubular body member having an open lower portion, a central hollow core extending axially there through, and a closed upper portion. The open lower port... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7324780 | Image forming apparatus, waste toner tank, and a method of moving waste toner An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner collecting unit, a moving device, a sheet conveying roller, a driving unit, and a drive force transmitting unit. The waste toner collecting unit receives waste toner. The moving device moves the waste toner in the wa... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7280776 | Method and apparatus to control waste toner collection in an image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7224914 | Image forming apparatus having a movable toner container There is described an image forming apparatus comprising a toner container installation section for mounting a toner container which stores the toner, a developing device which develops an electrostatic images formed on an image carrier based on an image information... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7221880 | Waste toner transfer apparatus and electrophotographic printer using the same A waste toner transfer apparatus in an electrophotographic printer transfers waste toner removed by a cleaning unit from an image holding body where a toner image is temporarily held to a waste toner storage container. The waste toner transfer apparatus includes a d... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7149467 | Waste toner system for an image forming device A waste toner removal system for an image forming device. The invention includes a mechanism for removing the waste toner from the cartridge and transporting it through a toner chute to a waste toner tank. One or more actuators within the device allow for the connec... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7120366 | Image forming apparatus and control method thereof An image forming apparatus which conveys waste toner includes a buffer portion 101 capable of temporarily containing the waste toner and a waste toner container 102 capable of containing the waste toner and a waste toner container 102 capable of... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7102489 | Image forming apparatus and control method thereof An image forming apparatus has a first detector for detecting that a consumption article has reached its life, a second detector for detecting that the consumption article has reached a certain timing before its life, a third detector for detecting an application of... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7099617 | Waste toner transfer apparatus and electrophotographic printer adopting the same A waste toner transfer apparatus in an electrophotographic printer to transfer waste toner removed by a cleaning unit and transferred to a waste toner storage container. The waste toner transfer apparatus includes a duct connecting the cleaning unit and the waste to... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7085507 | Method and apparatus to control waste toner collection in an image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a motor-driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner withi... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7020416 | Image forming apparatus with arrangement for controlling assembly order The process frame body has the guide portion, and the development device has the to-be-guided shaft. When the process frame body is unattached to the apparatus main body, the guide portion of the development device is absent, thus preventing proper attachment and po... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6944408 | Control device and method for monitoring wear parts for printers and copiers A control device and a method for monitoring wear parts for printers and copiers is provided. The control device includes a counter device with which the replacement intervals or, respectively, the maintenance intervals for individual wear parts are monitored. The r... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6937838 | Waste toner collecting device, and image forming apparatus including the waste toner collecting device A waste toner collecting device includes a container detachably set in an image forming apparatus and a waster toner transport device to transport waste toner in the container. The container has a shape as to fit into a free space of the image forming apparatus. The... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6882821 | Apparatus for discharging waste toner An apparatus for discharging waste toner, including a housing temporarily storing waste toner separated from a surface of a photosensitive medium; a waste toner discharge port formed at a bottom of the housing; a shutter rotatably disposed at a side of the housing t... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6819885 | Developer collection vessel and image formation apparatus A collection vessel 124 is formed with a plurality of collection spaces 148a to 148f separated by partition walls 146, and collection ports 134 and 136 are connected to the collection spaces 148a ... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6795668 | Degraded toner discharging and new toner replenishing mechanism operable when fog is detected When a sensor in an image forming device detects fog on the photosensitive belt, the CPU of the image forming device controls the shutter in each toner hopper unit to open and drives a discharging auger to rotate, causing degraded toner to be discharged from the dev... | 09/21/2004 |