Seiko Epson Corporation

Toshiaki Ohno

Satoshi Kaneta

Kenichi Kimura

Yoshiro Koga

Tomoe Aruga

Junichiro Shinozaki

Kiyoharu Momose

Hiroshi Niki

Junichi Okada

An endless toner transport which connects a developing device with a cleaning device is disposed so as to pass through these devices in their respective longitudinal directions. The mixing of toner can be enhanced by returning recovered toner to the developing device and by supplying fresh toner to the cleaning device by using the toner transport itself, whereby the reuse of recovered toner and the reduction of the quantity of fresh toner used can be conducted more effectively. In the processes of transporting toner from the developing device to the cleaning device and from the cleaning device to the developing device, toner can effectively be stirred and mixed by utilizing oscillation or the like generated in the endless toner transport which can be in the form of a coil spring so that an additional stirring member is not required, thereby allowing the developing device, and hence the entire image forming apparatus, to be greatly reduced in size.

Toner storage device and supply mechanism for image forming

Image forming apparatus with toner transport mechanism incorporated

A recording paper sorting and discharging device designed to improve the construction of copiers, printers, or the like, in sorting, separating and discharging paper in which the ends of one side of a pair of paper discharging roller shafts are shifted in a direction essentially parallel to a recording paper discharging direction while the other ends of the shafts remain stationary. The device includes a paper discharge section for discharging a recording paper in a direction essentially orthogonal to the discharge section or at an angle with respect to the discharge section, and a paper discharging tray for receiving the recording paper discharged from the discharged section. The paper discharging tray includes a first edge portion over which a section of the recording paper discharged in the orthogonal direction is projected and a second edge portion over which a section of a recording paper discharged at an angle with respect to the orthogonal discharge direction is projected. The device may also include support surfaces for supporting the rear edge of the recording paper discharged orthogonal to or at an angle with respect to the discharged section.

Recording paper sorting and discharging device

A recording paper sorting and discharging device designed to improve the construction of copiers, printers, or the like, in sorting, separating and discharging paper in which the ends of one side of a pair of paper discharging roller shafts are shifted in a direction essentially parallel to a recording paper discharging direction while the other ends of the shafts remain stationary. The paper discharging roller shafts each have at least one roller, the rollers being separated from each other for a given period of time and, in response to detect signals, the rollers disposed on the shafts then contact each other. The recording paper can thereby be discharged obliquely onto a paper discharging tray. Alternatively, a pair of paper discharging roller shafts, each shaft having both a drive roller fixed on one side thereof in an axial direction and a driven paper discharging roller rotatably mounted on the other side thereof such that the respective drive and driven rollers on each shaft press against each other. By cutting off one of the paper discharging roller shafts from the drive system of the device, the recording paper is discharged smoothly and at an angle without generating wrinkles in the paper so the paper is thereafter presorted.

Growing community of inventors

Suwa, Japan

Toshiaki Ohno