Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Takeshi Iijima

Shuji Hirai

Katsuaki Miyawaki

Hideki Kosugi

Makoto Obu

Yusuke Takeda

Sadayuki Iwai

Atsushi Kawamura

Masaaki Yamada

Kakuji Murakami

Shigekazu Enoki

Yuichi Ueno

Masumi Ikesue

Misao Tanzawa

Koji Hirakura

Yasuo Sawada

Michihito Ohashi

Tsuyoshi Yoshimura

Sotohiro Tsujihara

Kenta Watase

Masanori Katsuki

A method of arranging a plurality of image forming sections, each of which includes a developing device and a cleaning device. The method includes arranging the plurality of image forming sections side by side along an inclined image carrier; and positioning the cleaning device above the developing device of other image forming sections in one of nearby ones of the plurality of image forming sections.

Method for arranging image forming sections

A tandem image forming device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of image forming means arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming means each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming means has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming means, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming means. This configuration insures smooth circulation of a developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.

Image forming apparatus including a transfer belt having image forming units disposed thereabout

Tandem image forming device having a side-by-side arrangement of image forming sections

A tandem image forming device and method for an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming sections arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming sections each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming sections has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming sections, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming section. This configuration ensures smooth circulation of developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.

Tandem image forming device, image forming apparatus and method for using the same

A method of recycling an image supporting material from an image supporting material comprising a non-absorbent substrate and an absorbent swelling layer that swells with absorption of liquids, which is overlaid on the non-absorbent substrate, includes the steps of: applying to an image-bearing side of the image supporting material a liquid in an amount which exceeds a maximum amount of the liquid that can be absorbed by the swelling layer; leveling the liquid applied to the image-bearing side of the image supporting material to form a liquid film layer on the image supporting material; heating the swelling layer or the liquid film layer; bringing a peeling member into contact with the image forming material with the application of heat and pressure thereto when at least part of the liquid reaches an interface between the swelling layer and the image forming material deposited on the swelling layer; and separating said peeling member from image supporting material, to remove the image forming material from the image supporting material, and a recycling apparatus for this method is proposed.

Method of recycling image supporting material and apparatus thereof

A developer recycling system is provided for replenishing a fresh developer to a developing device of an image forming apparatus and collecting it after use. A developer cartridge applicable to the system is also provided. When the fresh developer is replenished from the cartridge to the developing device, a developer existing in the developing device overflows in an amount corresponding to the replenished developer. The developer overflown the developing device is recirculated to the cartridge and reused.

Developer recycling system and developer cartridge therefor

A sheet discharging device incorporated in digital image forming equipment which is selectively operable in a copier mode, facsimile mode, and printer mode. The sheet discharging device has a plurality of sheet outlets each being positioned at a particular level matching respective one of the modes.

Sheet discharging device for image forming equipment

A toner concentration control system for use in electrophotographic copying machines or the like, wherein light from a single light source is simultaneously detected by two photosensors, or by two sensing portions of a single photosensor, the light striking one of the photosensors (or portions) directly and the other after being reflected from developer comprising toner and carrier particles as the developer passes a viewing window in a chute provided for the transport thereof within the copying machine, the intensity of the reflected light being inversely proportional to the concentration of toner in the developer, whereby, by comparison of the output of the photosensors (or portions) by conventional means, the concentration of toner in the developer can be determined and adjusted, the photosensors (or portions) having been carefully selected as a pair of their essentially identical characteristics and response to ambient conditions so that, for example, their parallel deterioration with time or their identical response to changes in temperature will not adversely affect the accuracy of the toner-concentration determination, the portion of the embodiment comprising the light paths, the photosensors, the light source and the external surface of the viewing window being completely sealed from the remainder of the interior of the copying machine, thereby eliminating the adverse affects on measurement and long-term reliability of inevitable airborne particles of developer.

Toner concentration control apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Takeshi Iijima