Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes a frame body, a frame cover supported by the frame body so as to be capable of opening and closing, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier, a cleaning unit that removes and collects residual toner from the image carrier, and a toner container for accumulating the toner collected by the cleaning unit. The toner container is supported by the frame cover.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/235,314, filed on Sep. 27, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,684, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/660,620, filed on Sep. 12, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,975,830, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. The present application and above-noted applications claim priority to Japanese Patent Application Nos. JP 2002-266886, filed on Sep. 12, 2002, JP 2002-285333, filed Sep. 30, 2002, and JP 2003-288678, filed Aug. 7, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1) Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a technology for removing and collecting residual toner. 
   2) Description of the Related Art 
   Image forming apparatuses, such as the printers, require replenishment of consumed articles, or replacement of latent image carriers, developing devices, or intermediate transfer bodies with new ones. The users check the components, and, if necessary, do the replacement. 
     FIG. 17  illustrates a conventional printer. The printer has frame covers  101 ,  102 , and  56  which are fixed to a frame body  100  so that the covers are pivotably open. Inside the frame body  100 , a latent image carrier, an exposing device, a developing device, a transfer device, an intermediate transfer belt  31 , toner bottles  57 Y,  57 M,  57 C, and  57 K (“toner bottles  57 ”), a waste toner container  103 , a cleaning device, and a fixing device are provided. Among these, the latent image carrier, the developing device, and the cleaning device are formed as one image forming unit. The image forming unit is often used as a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the frame body. Further, the intermediate transfer belt  31  and another component are sometimes formed as one intermediate transfer unit. A user opens the frame cover  56  for checking the apparatus and detaches the image forming unit or the intermediate transfer belt  31  from the frame body. If the toner inside any of the toner bottles  57  is decreased to a predetermined amount or less, the user opens the frame cover  56  and exchanges the toner bottle with another toner bottle filled with toner to replenish the toner. Further, the user disposes of the waste toner before the waste toner container  103  becomes full. 
   Conventionally, various methods of replenishing a container with toner and disposing of waste toner have been proposed in order to improve operability for maintenance. For example, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. Hei 5-6084, one container is used for non-used toner and a waste toner. 
   When the image forming unit or the intermediate transfer belt  31  is to be replaced with a new one, the user has to demount the container  103  first, although the container  103  does not need to be replaced, to have a reach to the image forming unit or the intermediate transfer belt. This reduces the operability and convenience. Moreover, where to place the demounted container is a problem. Sometimes the toner scatters inside of the apparatus or on the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to solve at least the problems in the conventional technology. 
   An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a frame body; a frame cover supported by the frame body so as to be capable of opening and closing; an image forming unit that forms a toner image with toner on an image carrier; a cleaning unit that removes and collects toner residing on the image carrier; and a toner container for accumulating the toner collected by the cleaning unit, wherein the waste toner container is supported by the frame cover. 
   A process cartridge according to another aspect of the present invention is used in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus including a frame body; a frame cover supported by the frame body so as to be capable of opening and closing; an image forming unit that forms a toner image with toner on an image carrier; a cleaning unit that removes and collects toner residing on the image carrier; and a toner container for accumulating the toner collected by the cleaning unit. The toner container is supported by the frame cover, and at least one unit selected from the image forming unit and the cleaning unit is integrally formed with the image carrier. The process cartridge has an arrangement so that the process cartridge can be detachably attached to the frame body. 
   A waste toner recovery device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a toner container, detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, for collecting waste toner produced in the image formation process by the image forming apparatus, the toner container including a conveying unit for moving the waste toner inside the toner container. The toner container has a shape that fits in a space inside the image forming apparatus. 
   The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are specifically set forth in or will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of internal structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the printer when frame covers are opened; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of internal structure of an image forming cartridge for black; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a left-side frame cover and waste toner containers; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of another waste toner container formed discretely from the left-side frame cover; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the waste toner container shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a waste toner container in another embodiment; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a waste toner container in still another embodiment; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates how a belt conveys the toner; 
       FIG. 11  illustrates how a plurality of conveyors convey the toner; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a case when conveyors are provided only at positions facing the introduction holes; 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a case when a conveyor along which a transfer amount of waste toner is different depending on parts of the member; 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a waste toner container in still another embodiment; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a drive unit and a drive transmitting unit in an embodiment; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a drive unit and a drive transmitting unit in an another embodiment; and 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the conventional printer. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Exemplary embodiments of the present invention that is applied to a full color printer (hereinafter, “printer”) as an image forming apparatus will be explained below with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an internal structure of the printer.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an appearance of the printer.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an appearance of the printer when the covers of the printer are open. As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the printer includes a frame body  100  in which positions of accommodating components as image forming units are fixed, and a paper feed cassette  41  as a paper feed unit that stocks transfer paper P as recording materials. Assuming the direction indicated by the arrow A is a front side to which the paper feed cassette  41  is pulled out, the frame body  100  has a left-side frame cover  101  supported by the left side of the frame, and has a front-side frame cover  102  supported by the front side of the frame. Both of the covers can be freely opened and closed. The frame body  100  also has a paper discharge tray  56  on the top face thereof, and the tray  56  is also opened and closed in the vertical direction in the figure. When the left-side frame cover  101  is opened, the waste toner container is detachable from the frame body  100  as explained later. When the paper discharge tray  56  is opened, toner bottles  57 Y,  57 C,  57 M, and  57 K that accommodate toners of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) are detachable from the frame body  100 . 
   The structure and operation of the printer will be explained below. The printer includes image forming cartridges  10 Y,  10 C,  10 M, and  10 K (“cartridges  10 ”) provided in the central portion inside the frame body  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . More specifically, the cartridges  10  form images with yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) toners, respectively. An optical unit  20  as an exposing unit is provided below the cartridges  10 , and radiates photoreceptive drums  12 Y,  12 C,  12 M, and  12 K each as an image carrier, with laser beams. An intermediate transfer unit  30  having an intermediate transfer belt  31  is provided in the upper side of the cartridges  10 . The intermediate transfer belt  31  sometimes serves as an image carrier or an intermediate transfer body to which the toner images formed by the image forming cartridges  10  are secondarily transferred. The printer also has a fixing unit  50  that fixes the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt  31 , on the transfer paper P. 
   Since the image forming cartridges  10 Y,  10 C,  10 M, and  10 K have the same structure, the cartridge  10 K for black is explained below.  FIG. 4  illustrates the internal structure of the image forming cartridge for black. The cartridge  10 K includes the photoreceptive drum  12 K, a charger  13 K that charges the drum  12 K, and a developing device  14 K that develops a latent image formed on the drum  12 K. The cartridge  10 K also includes a cleaning device  15 K that removes waste toner such as non-transferred toner as a developer remaining on the drum  12 K, and also removes paper dust. The cleaning device  15 K has a cleaning blade  15   a  to clean the surface of the drum  12 K. The cleaning blade  15   a  may be a cleaning roller as shown in  FIG. 1 . As explained above, the cartridge  10 K integrally supports the photoreceptive drum  12 K, charger  13 K, developing device  14 K, and the cleaning device  15 K to form a process cartridge that is detachably attached to the frame body  100 . 
   The intermediate transfer unit  30  includes the intermediate transfer belt  31  and primary transfer rollers  35 Y,  35 C,  35 M, and  35 K. The intermediate transfer belt  31  is stretched and supported by four rollers  32 , and the rollers  35 Y,  35 C,  35 M, and  35 K are used for transferring the toner images formed on the photoreceptive drums  12 Y,  12 C,  12 M, and  12 K to the intermediate transfer belt  31 . The intermediate transfer unit  30  further includes a secondary transfer roller  36  that transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt  31  further to the recording paper P. The toner image on the belt  31  is transferred to the paper P at a secondary transfer region  37  as a contact part between the belt  31  and the roller  36 . The intermediate transfer unit  30  has a belt cleaning device  18  that cleans off the toner that has failed to be transferred to the paper P and remains on the belt  31 . 
   The transfer paper P in the paper feed cassette  41  is conveyed to the secondary transfer region  37  by a paper feed roller  43  disposed near the cassette  41  and transfer rollers  44 . Registration rollers  45  are disposed on a transfer paper conveying path between the transfer rollers  44  and the secondary transfer region  37 . The rollers  45  control timing of sending the fed recording paper P to the secondary transfer region  37 . 
   The fixing unit  50  has a fixing roller  51  and a pressurizing roller  52 , and fixes the transferred toner image on the paper P with heat and pressure. Paper discharge rollers  55  discharge the paper P with the image fixed onto the paper discharge tray  56 . 
   The toner bottles  57 Y,  57 C,  57 M, and  57 K that accommodate color toners of Y, C, M, and K are mounted on the upper side of the frame body  100 . The developing devices  14  of the image forming cartridges  10  are replenished with toners filled in the toner bottles  57  as required. The toner bottles  57 Y,  57 C,  57 M,  57 K are dismountable from the frame body  100  when the paper discharge tray  56  is opened, as shown in  FIG. 3 . If the toner amount in the toner bottle  57  is decreased to a predetermined amount or less, the user exchanges the bottle with a new bottle filled with toner. 
   If an image is formed only with black color in the above structured printer, the charger  13 K uniformly charges the photoreceptive drum  12 K in the image forming cartridge  10 K. Subsequently, the optical unit  20  performs exposure by scanning the drum  12 K with a laser beam according to image formation to form a latent image on the surface thereof. The latent image on the drum  12 K is developed with black toner carried on the developing roller  14   a  of the developing device  14 K to be visualized as a toner image. The toner image formed on the drum  12 K is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt  31  by the action of a primary transfer roller  35 K. After the primary transfer is finished, the cleaning device  15 K cleans the surface of the photoreceptive drum  12 K to be in a standby state for the following image formation. The transfer paper P is fed into the frame body  100  by the paper feed roller  43  and the transfer rollers  44 . The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt  31  is transferred to the paper P at the secondary transfer region  37 . The transfer paper P on which the toner image is transferred passes through the fixing unit  50 , where image is fixed, and the paper discharge rollers  55  discharge the paper P onto the paper discharge tray  56  formed on the top face of the frame body  100 . The belt cleaning device  18  in contact with the transfer belt  31  cleans the non-transferred toner remaining on the transfer belt  31  in the same manner as that of the photoreceptive drum  12 . 
   In the above structured printer, if a color image is to be formed, an image forming process the same as that for the black color is carried out in the image forming cartridges  10 Y,  10 C,  10 M, and  10 K to form toner images of the colors on surfaces of the photoreceptive drums  12 Y,  12 C,  12 M, and  12 K, respectively. The toner images formed on the drums  12 Y,  12 C,  12 M, and  12 K are sequentially and superposedly transferred to the transfer belt  31  by primary transfer bias rollers  35 Y,  35 C,  35 M, and  35 K in order of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow. The transfer belt  31  is driven to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. The transfer paper P is conveyed by the paper feed roller  43  and the registration rollers  44  from the paper feed cassette  41  toward the transfer region  37 . The toner image formed on the transfer belt  31  is collectively transferred to the transfer paper P by the action of the secondary transfer roller  36 . The transfer paper P with the toner image transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit  50 , where the toner image is fixed at a fixing nip region formed with the fixing roller  51  and pressurizing roller  52 . The paper discharge rollers  55  discharges the paper onto the paper discharge tray  56 . The rollers  55  are disposed on the downstream side of the fixing unit  50  in a direction of conveying the transfer paper. 
   The toner bottles  57 , the intermediate transfer belt  31 , and the image forming cartridges  10  are disposed slantingly in the same direction with respect to the frame body  100 , and therefore, the whole length of the frame body  100  is reduced to achieve its minimization. Among the image forming cartridges  10 Y,  10 C,  10 M, and  10 K, the image forming cartridge  10 K that forms a black toner image is disposed so as to be on the side of the secondary transfer region  37 . The image forming cartridges are step-formed so that the cartridge  10 K is disposed lower than the cartridge  10 Y. This is because even in the color printer, images using only black are most frequently formed and therefore, the cartridge  10 K is disposed on the side of the secondary transfer region  37  in order to reduce a time required for printing an image of black color. By disposing slantingly the devices in the frame body  100 , the frame body  100  has a space S formed between the image forming cartridges  10  and the paper feed cassette  41 . When the left-side frame cover  101  is closed, the waste toner container  16  is fitted in this space S. 
   The non-transferred toner that fails to be transferred to the intermediate transfer belt  31  and remains on the photoreceptive drums  12 Y,  12 C,  12 M, and  12 K is recovered by the cleaning devices  15 Y,  15 C,  15 M, and  15 K (“cleaning devices  15 ”) as first cleaning units. Each of the cleaning devices  15  recovers the non-transferred toner remaining on the drum  12  by the cleaning roller, and a waste toner conveying unit  17  conveys the toner to the recovered waste toner container  16 . 
   The waste toner container  16  is held integrally with the left-side frame cover  101  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Therefore, by opening the left-side frame cover  101  for maintenance of the apparatus, each of the image forming cartridges  10  and the intermediate transfer belt  31  can be taken out without dismounting the waste toner container  16 . Even if any trouble occurs suddenly in any of the image forming cartridges  10  and the intermediate transfer belt  31  and components are required to be replaced, there is no need to dismount the waste toner container  16 . Therefore, for the maintenance, the user does not need to find out a right place for the waste toner container  16  to be put on, and toner drops from the waste toner container  16  can be suppressed to the minimum. Further, if the container  16  ensures an estimated capacity for the amount of waste toner to be accommodated therein by the time the life of the apparatus is ended, there is no need to replace the container  16  with a new one, which can achieve maintenance free. As explained above, by holding the waste toner container  16  integrally with the left-side frame cover  101 , the operability and convenience in use for maintenance can be improved. 
     FIG. 5  is a side view of the structure of the left-side frame cover and waste toner containers. The waste toner recovered by the cleaning devices  15 Y,  15 C,  15 M, and  15 K is conveyed to the waste toner container  16  through conveying pipes  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K connected to waste toner conveying units  17 Y,  17 C,  17 M, and  17 K. The waste toner recovered by the belt cleaning device  18  is conveyed to the waste toner container  16  through a conveying pipe  61  connected to a waste toner conveying unit  19 . At this time the tips of the conveying pipes  61 ,  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K connected to the waste toner conveying units  17  and  19  are fitted to the waste toner container  16 . In such a structure, only the image forming cartridges  10  can be easily replaced, thus improving operability. Even if the life of the image forming cartridges  10  is elongated, there is no need to increase the capacity of the waste toner container provided on the side of the image forming cartridges  10 . Therefore, even the image forming cartridges  10  having long life can be made compact in size and cost reduction can be achieved. 
   Further, the waste toner container  16  as shown in  FIG. 5  is formed integrally with the left-side frame cover  101  and held thereby, but the container  16  may be formed as a discrete unit and is held by the left-side frame cover  101 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the waste toner container formed as a discrete unit that is not fixed to the left-side frame cover. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a waste toner container  116  is formed as a discrete unit and held by the left-side frame cover  101 . The waste toner container  116  has a projection  116   a  formed at the end thereof, and this projection  116   a  is fitted into a slide member  117  provided on the left-side frame cover  101  and thereby the container  116  is held by the left-side frame cover  101 . The slide member  117  is then slid to enable dismounting of the waste toner container  116  from the frame cover  101 . 
   The waste toner container  116  is held by the left-side frame cover  101  in the above-explained manner. Therefore, by opening the left-side frame cover  101  for maintenance of the apparatus, it is possible to take out the image forming cartridges  10  and the intermediate transfer belt  31  without dismounting of the waste toner container  116 . Even if any abnormal event suddenly occurs in the cartridges  10  and the transfer belt  31  and any of the components needs to be replaced, there is no need to dismount the recovered waste toner container  116 . Therefore, the user no longer cares about a right place for the container  116  to be put on during the maintenance, and it is possible to minimize toner drops from the container  116 . By holding the waste toner container  116  by the left-side frame cover  101 , it is possible to improve the operability and convenience in use for maintenance of the apparatus. Further, the container  116  is dismountable and replaceable with a new waste toner container, and therefore, the capacity of the container  116  can be reduced to smaller size than that of the waste toner container  16 , and space savings can be achieved. 
   Further, it may be designed to visually check the amount of waste toner T in the container  116  from outside in order to determine the time to replace the waste toner container  116 .  FIG. 7  is a front view of the structure of the left-side frame cover and the waste toner container. The left-side frame cover  101  has a window  118  made of transparent resin such as acrylic resin. The window  118  is provided at a part of the face in contact with the waste toner container  116 . The amount of the waste toner T in the container  116  can be visually checked from the outside through this window  118 . By molding the waste toner container  116  with the transparent resin, the amount of waste toner T in the container  116  may also be visually checked from the outside. 
   As explained above, the amount of waste toner T in the waste toner container  116  can be visually checked from the outside. Therefore, there is no need to particularly provide a waste-toner full amount detector in the container  116 . The user can find, without using the detector, the time when the container  116  should be replaced, and can prepare another waste toner container in advance. Since the waste-toner full amount detector is not needed, cost reduction of the apparatus can be achieved. 
   The waste toner container shown in  FIG. 3  is formed in such a manner that the side of the container facing the cleaning device is step-formed so as to fit the space S formed in the frame body  100 , but the form of the container is not particularly limited.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a waste toner container having a different form from the waste toner container of  FIG. 1 . For example, a waste toner container  216  has a top face  216 A as a side facing the cleaning devices  15 Y,  15 C,  15 M, and  15 K. The top face  216 A is inclined so as to be substantially parallel with a line L (see  FIG. 9 ) connecting rotational centers of the photoreceptive drums  12 Y,  12 C,  12 M, and  12 K. The waste toner container  216  shown in  FIG. 8  has, for example, introduction holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  65  formed in a side face  216 C thereof, and the conveying pipes  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K are connected to the holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  65  from the side face  216 C, respectively. 
     FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the waste toner container with introduction holes provided on the top face of the container. A waste toner container  316  shown in  FIG. 9  has a top face  316 A as a side facing the cleaning devices  15 Y,  15 C,  15 M, and  15 K in the same manner as the container  216  shown in  FIG. 8 . The top face  316 A is inclined so as to be substantially parallel with the line L connecting the rotational centers of the photoreceptive drums  12 Y,  12 C,  12 M, and  12 K. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the line L also serves as a line connecting the cleaning units  150 Y,  150 C,  150 M, and  150 K of the cleaning devices  15 . The container  316  has introduction holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65 , and  66  formed on the top face  316 A and a highest top face  316 B. The holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  65  are connected to one ends of the conveying pipes  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K (“conveying pipes  61 ”), respectively. Intervals P 1 , P 2 , and P 3  of the conveying pipes  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K are set to equal to one another. By making the top face  316 A parallel with the line L like the waste toner container  316 , the distance between the top face  316 A and the cleaning devices  15  is set constant, and the length of the conveying pipes  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K is made equal to one another, which makes it possible to share the components. An opening  66  formed on the highest top face  316 B of the container  316  is connected with a toner conveying path (not shown) communicating the transfer screw  19  of the belt cleaning device  18  (see  FIG. 1 ). In such a structure, the waste toner cleaned by the cleaning device  15  and the belt cleaning device  18  can be recovered into the waste toner container. 
   A conveying unit for internally conveying toner T to be accommodated may be provided inside the waste toner container  16 . A screw conveyor  67  as a conveying unit for conveying waste toner T recovered in the container is provided inside the waste toner container  316  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The screw conveyor  67  is continuously extended along and below positions facing the introduction holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  65 . Both ends of the screw conveyor  67  are rotatably supported by the waste toner container  316 , and an end part  67   a  positioned on the lower side of the container  316  is projected toward the outside of the container  316 . The projected end part  67   a  is fixed with a spur gear  68  to which drive force is transmitted so that the spur gear  68  and the screw conveyor  67  are integrally rotatable. The screw conveyor  67  is disposed in such a manner that if the member  67  is rotated in either right or left direction, the waste toner T inside the container can be conveyed in a direction away from the introduction holes. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the screw conveyor  67  is extended from the lower side of the inclined top face  316 A toward the highest top face  316 B so that the toner is conveyed from the lower side to the higher side of the waste toner container  316 . When the drive force is transmitted to the screw conveyor  67  to rotate, the waste toner T is conveyed from the lower side toward the higher side of the container  316 . 
   According to the waste toner container  316  having such a structure, the waste toner recovered by the cleaning devices  15  passes through the conveying pipes  61  from the conveying screws (waste toner conveying units)  17  to be recovered into the waste toner container  316  through the introduction holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  65 . As the container  316  has the inclined top face  316 A, the height inside the container is different at positions. Therefore, each amount of toner that can be deposited is different from one another depending on the positions. If the same amount of waste toner is recovered from each of the conveying pipes  61 , the lower part below the introduction hole  65  connected with the conveying pipe  61 K has a lower limit to toner deposition as compared with that of the lower part below the introduction hole  62 . This is because the heights of the container  316  from the bottom face up to the top face  316 A are different. Therefore, if a sensor  21  detects the amount of toner deposited through the introduction hole  62 , the amount of toner deposited through the introduction hole  65  is over-flown, which may cause leakage of toner from the introduction hole  65  or clogging in the conveying pipe  61 K. 
   The waste toner container  316  shown in  FIG. 9  has the screw conveyor  67 , that is driven to rotate, provided inside thereof. The waste toner deposited at the lower part is conveyed up to the higher part by the screw conveyor  67 , and thereby a heap of the waste toner at the lower part in the container  316  is collapsed. Consequently, it is possible to resolve leakage of the waste toner from the introduction hole  65  and clogging in the conveying pipe  61 K of the container  316 , or resolve adhesion of the toner to the container  316 . Therefore, the waste toner can be efficiently filled in the container  316 . Further, the introduction holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  65  are provided in the waste toner container  316 , and the holes are connected to the conveying pipes  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K, respectively, and therefore the waste toner can be efficiently recovered. 
   An opening for detection may be provided on the highest top face  316 B as a highest position of the waste toner container  316 . The opening is provided for the sensor  21  as a full amount detector that detects how the internal side of the container is filled with the recovered waste toner. The sensor  21  is mounted on the frame body  100  so that the sensor  21  is positioned above the container  316  when the container  316  is mounted on the frame body  100 . Therefore, even when the waste toner container  316  is replaced, the sensor  21  is avoided from being replaced together with the container. Thus, it is possible to prevent unnecessary replacement of components and reduce the cost of the waste toner container  316 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates the waste toner container when a belt is used as a conveyor. The waste toner container  316  uses a belt  70  as the conveyor. The belt  70  is internally arranged in the container  316  and is wound around between pulleys  71  and  72  that are rotatably supported. Many steps are formed on the peripheral surface of the belt  70 , and therefore, the belt  70  is formed so as to easily convey the waste toner T. Of the pulleys  71  and  72 , the pulley  71  is disposed on the opening  66  side, and the pulley  72  is disposed on the lower side of the introduction hole  65 . Therefore, the belt  70  is arranged so as to be inclined downward in a right direction in  FIG. 10 , that is, the pulley  72  is positioned at a lower side. The drive force is transmitted from the drive unit (not shown) to the pulley  72  to move the belt  70  in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 10 . 
   Even if the conveyor is formed with the belt  70 , the belt  70  can convey the waste toner deposited at the lower part toward a higher part, thereby a heap of the waste toner deposited at the lower part in the container is collapsed. It is, therefore, possible to resolve the leakage of the waste toner from the introduction hole  65  and clogging in the conveying pipe  61 K, or resolve adhesion of the toner to the waste toner container  316 , thus the waste toner can be efficiently filled in the container  316 . 
     FIG. 11  illustrates the waste toner container when a plurality of conveyors are provided. The waste toner container  316  as shown in  FIG. 11  has screw conveyors  67  and  167  as the conveyors provided inside the container. The container itself has the same structure as that of the container shown in  FIG. 9 . The screw conveyor  167  has the same structure as that of the screw conveyor  67 , and is coupled to the screw conveyor  67  through a train of gears  80  as a coupler. When the screw conveyor  67  is rotated, the screw conveyor  167  is rotated in the same direction. 
   By providing the screw conveyors  67  and  167  in the waste toner container  316 , the waste toner deposited at the lower part can be efficiently conveyed toward the higher part. Therefore, it is possible to resolve leakage of the waste toner from the introduction hole  65  and clogging in the conveying pipe  61 K, or resolve adhesion of the toner to the container  316 . Thus, the waste toner can be efficiently filled in the container  316 . It is noted that two lines of the screw conveyors  67  and  167  are arranged as the conveyors in  FIG. 11 , but the number of lines or the form of the conveyor is not thus limited. For example, in the structure as shown in  FIG. 10 , the belt  70  may be arranged in plurality in the direction of bus bur of the pulleys  71  and  72 , or the belts  70  may be vertically arranged inside the container  316  as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     FIG. 12  illustrates the structure of the waste toner container when conveyors are provided only at positions facing the introduction holes. Screws parts  267   a ,  267   b ,  267   c , and  267   d , as the conveyors, are provided inside the waste toner container  316  as shown in  FIG. 12 . The screw parts  267   a ,  267   b ,  267   c , and  267   d  are partially formed only at positions corresponding to the introduction holes  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  65 . The screw conveyor  267  is rotatably supported by the waste toner container  316 , and an end part  267   e  positioning on the lower side is projected to the outside of the container  316 . The projected end part  267   e  is fixed with a spur gear  68  to which drive force is transmitted so that the spur gear  68  and the screw conveyor  267  are integrally rotatable. Therefore, the drive force is transmitted to the screw conveyor  267  to rotate. 
   The waste toner T to be recovered into the waste toner container  316  is deposited like a heap inside the container at each lower part below the introduction holes. Therefore, when the screw conveyor  267  is rotated, the screw parts  267   a ,  267   b ,  267   c , and  267   d  are rotated at the portions heaped with waste toner, and the waste toner heaped at the lower part of the container is conveyed toward the higher position while the heaped waste toner is collapsed. Therefore, it is possible to resolve leakage of the waste toner from the introduction hole  65  and clogging in the conveying pipe  61 K, or resolve adhesion of the toner to the container  316 . Therefore, the waste toner can be efficiently filled in the container  316 . 
     FIG. 13  illustrates the structure of the waste toner container when a conveyor in which a transfer amount of waste toner is different depending on parts of the conveyor. The waste toner container  316  has a screw part as the conveyor provided therein. The screw part is formed in such a manner that a transfer amount of waste toner is indirectly proportional to a change in internal height of the container  316 , that is, a change in capacity. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the waste toner container  316  has a relation of H 1 &gt;H 2  where H 1  is an internal height of the container on the side of the introduction hole  62  and H 2  is the internal height on the side of the introduction hole  65 . Therefore, on the side of the introduction hole  65 , the waste toner reaches the limit to the amount of toner deposition quicker than that on the hole  62  side. In other words, the top of the heaped waste toner on the hole  65  side touches the internal face of the top face  316 A quicker than the top of the heaped waste toner on the hole  62  side touches it. 
   A screw conveyor  367  shown in  FIG. 13  is designed to change a size and a pitch of the screw part so that an amount of toner conveyable per hour is increased larger as a position on the screw conveyor is closer to the introduction hole  65  at the lower position of the container, and that the amount of toner is decreased smaller as a position on the screw conveyor is closer to the introduction hole  62  at the higher position. Therefore, the toner amount to be transferred can be increased at the lower part of the container where the recovered waste toner T is deposited faster than other parts, and the deposited waste toner can be efficiently conveyed toward the higher part. Thus, it is possible to resolve leakage of the waste toner from the introduction hole  65  and clogging in the conveying pipe  61 K, or resolve adhesion of the toner to the container  316 . Therefore, the waste toner can be efficiently filled in the container  316 . 
     FIG. 14  illustrates a waste toner container when an introduction hole is provided on the highest top position of the container. A waste toner container  416  as shown in  FIG. 14  uses the opening  66  provided on a highest top face  416 B as an introduction hole. Like the container  416 , if there is one introduction hole  66  that introduces the waste toner T into the container  416 , the end parts of the conveying pipes  61 Y,  61 C,  61 M, and  61 K are integrated into one as a conveying pipe  61 P, and the pipe  61 P may be connected to the introduction hole  66 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 14 , by providing the introduction hole  66  on the highest top face  416 B of the container  416 , the waste toner is recovered from the highest part of the container  416 . Therefore, even if the toner amount is detected by the sensor  21  through the introduction hole  66 , it is possible to obtain substantially the same result as the toner amount recovered in the container. Even in this case, however, the recovered waste toner is deposited highest at the lower part right below the introduction hole  66  in the container. Therefore, considering the efficiency of filling the container with toner, it is preferable to rotate the screw conveyor  67  in the direction opposite to the case of  FIG. 9  and convey the waste toner toward the side of the end part  67   a , that is, in the direction away from the introduction hole  66 . 
   The waste toner container  316  has a drive unit that drives a conveyor and a drive transmitting unit provided on the outside thereof.  FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the drive unit and the drive transmitting unit. The waste toner container  316  shown in  FIG. 15  includes the screw conveyor  67 , a drive motor  81  that drives the screw conveyor  67  to rotate, and a gear group  80  that transmits the drive force from the drive motor  81  to the screw conveyor  67 . The gear group  80  as the drive transmitting unit includes a spur gear  69 , a bevel gear  84 , and a bevel gear  83 . The spur gear  69  is mounted to one end of a shaft  82  provided in parallel with the screw conveyor  67 , the bevel gear  84  is mounted to other end of the shaft  82 , and the bevel gear  83  is mounted to a drive shaft  81   a  of the drive motor  81 . The spur gear  69  is engaged with the spur gear  68 , and the bevel gear  84  is engaged with the bevel gear  83 . The spur gear  69 , the bevel gear  84 , the bevel gear  83 , and drive motor  81  are internally provided in the frame body  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The spur gear  68  is engaged with the spur gear  69  when the waste toner container  316  is set at a predetermined position. 
   In the waste toner container  316 , when the drive motor  81  drives to rotate the drive shaft  81   a , the drive force is transmitted to the screw conveyor  67  through the bevel gear  84 , the spur gear  69 , and the spur gear  68  to rotate the screw conveyor  67 . By using the gear group  80  in such a manner, drive transmission loss becomes less as compared with the case of using the belt and pulleys, and the screw conveyor  67  can be driven by registering the gears each other when the left-side frame cover  101  is closed. 
     FIG. 16  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the drive unit and the drive transmitting unit. The waste toner container  316  includes the screw conveyor  67 , the drive motor  81 , and a gear group  85  that transmits the drive force of the drive motor  81  to the screw conveyor  67 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , the gear group  85  as the drive transmitting unit includes the bevel gear  84  and the bevel gear  83 . The bevel gear  84  is mounted to an end part  67   a  of the screw conveyor  67 , and the bevel gear  83  transmits the drive force from the drive motor  81  to the bevel gear  84 . The bevel gear  83  is mounted to the drive shaft  81   a  of the drive motor  81 . The bevel gear  83  and the drive motor  81  are internally provided in the frame body  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The bevel gear  84  and the bevel gear  83  are disposed so as to be engaged with each other when the left-side frame cover  101  is closed. 
   According to the waste toner container  316 , when the drive motor  81  drives to rotate the drive shaft  81   a , the drive force is transmitted to the screw conveyor  67  from the bevel gear  83  through the bevel gear  84  to rotate the screw conveyor  67 . By using bevel gears for the gear group  85 , drive transmission loss becomes less as compared with the case of using the belt and pulleys, and the screw conveyor can be driven by registering the gears when the left-side frame cover  101  is closed. 
   According to the printer of the embodiment, the waste toner container  16 ,  116 ,  216 , or  316  is held by the left-side frame cover  101 . Therefore, if it is not the time to replace the waste toner container, the container does not need to be dismounted, and therefore, toner drops from the container  16 ,  116 ,  216 , or  316  can be prevented, thus improving operability and convenience in use. 
   Furthermore, the waste toner container  16  is integrally formed with the left-side frame cover  101  and is held thereby. Therefore, if the container  16  ensures an estimated capacity for the amount of waste toner to be accommodated therein by the time the life of apparatus itself is ended, there is no need to replace the waste toner container  16  with a new one, which allows improvement of convenience and easy achievement of maintenance free. 
   Moreover, the waste toner container  116  is detachably attached to the left-side frame cover  101  and is held thereby. Therefore, the capacity of the container  116  can be reduced smaller than that of the container  16  not replaceable, thus achieving space savings. 
   Furthermore, the window  118  is formed on the waste toner container  116 , and therefore, the amount of waste toner accommodated inside the container can be visually checked from outside. Therefore, even if the waste-toner full amount detector is not particularly provided, the user can find out the time to replace the waste toner container  16  and prepare another container in advance. Since the waste-toner full amount detector is not needed, the apparatus can be made cheaper. 
   Moreover, as a process cartridge, the photoreceptive drum  12 , the charger  13 , the developing device  14  and for the photoreceptor are integrally supported to form the image forming cartridge  10 . In such a structure, the image forming cartridge  10  can easily be detached from the frame body  100  for replacement, thus improving operability. Further, even if the life of the image forming cartridges  10  is elongated, the capacity of the waste toner container on the side of the image forming cartridges  10  does not need to be increased, thus allowing minimization and cost reduction even in the image forming cartridges  10  having long life. 
   According to the waste toner recovery device of the present invention, if the cleaning device is provided in plurality, height of the recovered waste toner container is inclined in the same direction as a line connecting the cleaning units of the cleaning devices, or the inclination is made parallel with the line. By doing so, the form of the container can be fitted in the shape of the space formed below the cleaning units, thus, efficiently accommodating the container in the apparatus. 
   The present document incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese priority documents, 2002-266886 filed in Japan on Sep. 12, 2002, 2002-285333 filed in Japan on Sep. 30, 2002 and 2003-288678 filed in Japan on Aug. 7, 2003. 
   Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.