Patent ID: 7072606
Filing Date: 2006-07-04
Classification: G03G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: (a) an image forming section for forming a toner image on an image carrier and transferring the formed toner image onto a recording material; (b) a recording material storing section for storing recording materials; (c) a sheet feeding and conveying section provided sideward of the recording material storing section for supplying a recording material from the recording material storing section to the image forming section; (d) a toner reservoir section provided on a side opposite to the sheet feeding and conveying section with respect to the recording material storing section, for storing toner to be supplied to a developing device of the image forming section; (e) a toner separation section provided upward of the developing device to separate the toner; (f) a supply pipe for interconnecting the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section to supply the toner; (g) a collection pipe for interconnecting the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section to collect the toner; (h) a first fluid conveyance device provided on the supply pipe between the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section for conveying a supply fluid; and (i) a second fluid conveyance device provided on the collection pipe between the toner reservoir section and the toner separation section for conveying a collection fluid, wherein the supply pipe comprises a first vertical pipe section extending upward from the toner reservoir section and a first horizontal pipe section extending horizontally to reach the toner separation section, and the first fluid conveyance device is provided at a coupling point of the first vertical pipe section and the first horizontal pipe section.