Patent ID: 8831465
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by means of toner, comprising: an image carrier including an image carrying surface to form an electrostatic latent image; a developing device which supplies the toner to the image carrying surface to form a toner image; and a suction device configured to create airflow for suctioning the toner scattered from the developing device, wherein the developing device includes a duct configured to guide the airflow to the suction device, the duct includes a connection port, to which the suction device is connected, and a suction surface provided with suction ports into which the toner flows, and the suction ports that are farther away from the connection port have a different opening size than the suction ports that are nearer to the connection port, the duct includes a closing surface opposite to the connection port, the suction surface extending between the connection port and the closing surface includes a starting end region closer to the connection port than the closing surface, a terminal end region closer to the closing surface than the connection port, and an intermediate region between the starting and terminal end regions, the suction ports include a starting end suction port group formed of suction ports formed in the starting end region, a terminal end suction port group formed of suction ports formed in the terminal end region, and an intermediate suction port group formed of suction ports formed in the intermediate region, and an average ventilation area in the intermediate suction port group is smaller than an average ventilation area in the starting end suction port group and an average ventilation area in the terminal end suction port group.