Patent Publication Number: US-9417562-B2

Title: Recovery device and image forming apparatus for recovering liquid developer and passing the liquid developer through a porous section

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-006856 filed Jan. 16, 2015. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a recovery device and an image forming apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     When liquid developer is recovered from a developing member, an image holder, or an intermediate holding member, a toner aggregate, in which toner (toner particles) are aggregated, is included in the recovered liquid developer. The reason for this is that toner is charged as a result of being electrified in each process, and charged toner aggregates and forms toner aggregates. As a method for dispersing toner aggregates, a method that passes liquid developer that includes toner aggregates through a porous section may be considered. However, even if recovered liquid developer is passed through a porous section without change, there are cases in which the toner aggregates are not dispersed. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a recovery device including: 
     a recovery mechanism that recovers a liquid developer from a holding member which revolves while holding the liquid developer, the liquid developer being not delivered from the holding member to a delivery target member and remains on the holding member; 
     a reception section that receives the liquid developer which the recovery mechanism recovers; 
     an addition member that adds a diluent, which reduces a toner concentration of the liquid developer, to the liquid developer that the reception section receives; 
     a porous section through which the liquid developer passes; and 
     a transport member that moves to transport the liquid developer which the reception section receives to the porous section, and causes the liquid developer to pass through the porous section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram that shows a recovery device and the like according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing that shows a container and the like that are provided in the recovery device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are sectional views that show the recovery device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a configuration diagram that shows a developing device and the like of an image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a configuration diagram that shows the developing device and the like of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic configuration diagram that shows the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram that shows a recovery device and the like according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a drawing that shows a container and the like that are provided in the recovery device according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
     An example of a recovery device and an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . In the drawings, an arrow H shows an up-down direction (a vertical direction), and an arrow W shows a device width direction (a horizontal direction). 
     Overall Configuration 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , an image forming apparatus  10  is provided with a transport unit  20 , which transports continuous paper P as a recording medium, image forming sections  26 , which form toner images, and a fixing device  70 , which fixes the toner images onto the continuous paper P. 
     Transport Unit 
     The transport unit  20  has a function of transporting the continuous paper P in a direction (a transport direction) of an arrow A, which is illustrated in the drawings, at a predetermined transport speed. The transport unit  20  is provided with a pair of transport rollers  20 A and  20 B, around which the continuous paper P is wound, and which are disposed aligned in the device width direction. Further, the transport roller  20 A is disposed on an upstream side (the left side in the drawing) in the transport direction (hereinafter, referred to as a “medium transport direction”) of the continuous paper P with respect to the transport roller  20 B. 
     In this configuration, the continuous paper P on the upstream side with respect to the transport roller  20 A in the medium transport direction is transported from a lower side in the drawing to an upper side, and the continuous paper P on the downstream side with respect to the transport roller  20 B in the medium transport direction is transported from an upper side in the drawing to a lower side. 
     Image forming Sections 
     The image forming sections  26  include an image forming section  26 Y, which forms yellow (Y) images, an image forming section  26 M, which forms magenta (M) images, an image forming section  26 C, which forms cyan (C) images, and an image forming section  26 K, which forms black (K) images. Further, the image forming section  26 K, the image forming section  26 C, the image forming section  26 M and the image forming section  26 Y are disposed in this order from the upstream side in the medium transport direction. In addition, the image forming section  26 K, the image forming section  26 C, the image forming section  26 M and the image forming section  26 Y are disposed inside a housing  30 . 
     In the description below, in cases in which it is not particularly necessary to discriminate between the image forming sections  26 , the symbols “Y”, “M”, “C” and “K” will be omitted therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the image forming section  26  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) is provided with an image forming unit  32  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) for forming toner images using a liquid developer G, a transfer unit  34  for transferring toner images formed by the image forming unit  32  to the continuous paper P. 
     Additionally, the liquid developer G that is used in the present exemplary embodiment is liquid developer G of a liquid type that is obtained by dispersing powder toner in a non-volatile oil. 
     Image Forming Unit 
     The image forming unit  32  is provided with an image holder  38 , which holds toner images, an electrification device  40 , which electrifies the image holder  38 , an exposure device  42 , which forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the image holder  38  with exposure light, and a developing device (not shown in  FIG. 5 ), which develops the electrostatic latent image on the image holder  38  into a toner image. 
     Image Holder 
     The image holder  38  is configured to be a cylinder, and is driven to rotate (revolve) about an axis (in a direction of an arrow R 1 ) by a driving unit (not shown in the drawings). The image holder  38  includes an aluminum substrate, and a photosensitive layer (not shown in the drawings) in which an undercoating layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer are formed in order above the substrate. 
     Furthermore, a recovery device  92  that is provided with a scraping blade  88  that scrapes away liquid developer G, which is not transferred from the image holder  38  to a transfer roller  34 A (which will be described later) and remains on the image holder  38 , from the image holder  38 , and a recovery member  90  that recovers the liquid developer G which is scraped away, is provided. 
     In addition, a removal member (not shown in the drawings) which removes oil that is included in the liquid developer G, from the liquid developer G on the image holder  38  before a toner image is transferred to the transfer roller  34 A, is provided. 
     Electrification Device 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the electrification device  40  is configured as a scorotron type charging device, and is disposed so as to face the image holder  38 . Further, the electrification device  40  is set so as to electrify the image holder  38 . 
     Exposure Device 
     The exposure device  42  is configured as an LED print head, and is disposed so as to face the image holder  38  on a downstream side of the electrification device  40  in a rotational direction of the image holder  38 . Further, the exposure device  42  forms an electrostatic latent image on the image holder  38  by irradiating the image holder  38 , which has been electrified by the electrification device  40 , with exposure light. 
     Developing Device 
     The developing device  44  is provided with a developing unit  50  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ), which delivers the liquid developer G to the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image holder  38 , and a supply unit  48  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ), which supplies the liquid developer G to the developing unit  50 . 
     Developing Unit 
     The developing unit  50  is cylindrical and is provided with a developing roller  52 , as one example of a developing member, which is driven to rotate (revolve) about an axis (in a direction of an arrow R 2 ) by a driving unit (not shown in the drawings), and an electrification member  54 , which is disposed to face the developing roller  52 . Furthermore, the developing unit  50  is provided with a recovery device  100  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ), which recovers liquid developer G that remains on the developing roller  52 . 
     The developing roller  52  is configured so that a developing voltage is applied thereto by a power source (not shown in the drawings), and an electric field for developing the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image holder  38 , is formed between the developing roller  52  and the image holder  38  (in a nipped section N 1 ). 
     Furthermore, an electric field for supplying the liquid developer G from a supply roller  62 , which will be described later, to the developing roller  52 , is formed between the developing roller  52  and the supply roller  62 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the electrification member  54  is configured as a scorotron type charging device, and is used in order to electrify toner that is included in the liquid developer G. The electrification member  54  is disposed so as to face the developing roller  52  on an upstream side with respect to the nipped section N 1  in a rotational direction of the developing roller  52 . Additionally, the recovery device  100  will be described in detail later. 
     In this configuration, the electrification member  54  electrifies toner that is included in the liquid developer G and is supplied to the developing roller  52 , and the liquid developer G, which includes the electrified toner, is delivered from the developing roller  52  to the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image holder  38 . As a result of this, the developing unit  50  develops the electrostatic latent image, which is formed on the image holder  38  as a toner image. Additionally, in a case in which the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image using the liquid developer G, oil also migrates to the image holder  38 . 
     Supply Unit 
     The supply unit  48  is provided with a developer tank  60 , which is disposed on a lower side of the developing roller  52  and accommodates the liquid developer G, and the supply roller  62 , which supplies the liquid developer G to the developing roller  52  by drawing up the liquid developer G from the developer tank  60 . In addition, the supply unit  48  is provided with a blade  64 , which adjusts a layered film of the liquid developer G that is adhered to the supply roller  62 , and an electrification device  66 , which, as one example, positively electrifies toner that is included in the liquid developer G, which is adhered to the supply roller  62 . 
     In this configuration, the supply roller  62 , which is driven to rotate, draws up the liquid developer G that is accommodated in the developer tank  60 . Then, the blade  64  adjusts the layered film of the liquid developer G, and the electrification device  66  electrifies the toner that is included in the liquid developer G. Furthermore, the liquid developer G, which is drawn up by the supply roller  62 , is supplied to the developing roller  52  as a result of to the electric field formed between the supply roller  62  and the developing roller  52 . As a result of this, a film (a layer) of the liquid developer G is formed on the developing roller  52 . 
     Transfer Unit 
     The transfer unit  34  is provided with the transfer roller  34 A, which is disposed to face the image holder  38  and to which a toner image, which is held by the image holder  38 , is transferred, as an example of an intermediate holding member. Furthermore, the transfer unit  34  is provided with a backup roller  34 B, which is disposed on an opposite side to the transfer roller  34 A with the continuous paper P interposed therebetween, as an example of a transfer member. 
     A primary transfer voltage, which is caused by a power source (not shown in the drawings), is applied to the transfer roller  34 A. As a result of this, an electric field for transferring the toner image on the image holder  38  to the transfer roller  34 A, is formed between the transfer roller  34 A and the image holder  38  (in a nipped section N 2 ). 
     In addition, a secondary transfer voltage, which is caused by a power source (not shown in the drawings), is applied to the backup roller  34 B. As a result of this, an electric field for transferring the toner image on the transfer roller  34 A to the continuous paper P, is formed between the backup roller  34 B and the transfer roller  34 A. 
     Furthermore, a recovery device  98 , which is provided with a scraping blade  94 , which scrapes away liquid developer G, which is not transferred from the transfer roller  34 A to the continuous paper P and remains on the transfer roller  34 A, from the transfer roller  34 A, and a recovery member  96  that recovers the liquid developer G which is scraped away, is provided. 
     In this configuration, the toner image that is held by the image holder  38  is transferred to the transfer roller  34 A, and the toner image, which is transferred to the transfer roller  34 A, is transferred to the continuous paper P. Additionally, the oil, which migrates from the developing roller  52  to the image holder  38 , migrates to the continuous paper P through the transfer roller  34 A in the same manner. 
     Fixing Device 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the fixing device  70  is provided with a heating section  72 , which heats the continuous paper P, an oil removal section  76 , which removes the oil from the continuous paper P, and a fixing section  80 , which fixes toner images to the continuous paper P. 
     In this configuration, the continuous paper P is heated by the heating section  72 , toner and oil, which are included in the liquid developer G that is on the continuous paper P, separate, and a layer of oil is formed in a layer, which is above the toner. 
     Furthermore, oil on the upper layer is removed by the oil removal section  76 , the continuous paper P is heated and pressurized by the fixing section  80 , and a toner image is fixed to the continuous paper P. 
     Actions of Overall Configuration 
     The image holder  38  of the image forming unit  32  for each color rotates, and the image holder  38  is electrified by the electrification device  40  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). 
     Next, the exposure device  42  exposes the image holder  38 , which has been electrified, depending on image data, which is received from an image signal processing section (not shown in the drawings), and an electrostatic latent image (not shown in the drawings) is formed on the image holder  38 . Further, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by the developing device  44 . 
     The toner image that is formed on the image holder  38 , which rotates, is primarily transferred to the transfer roller  34 A. 
     The toner image, which is primarily transferred to the transfer roller  34 A, is transferred to the continuous paper P, which is transported. At this time, oil also migrates to the continuous paper P with the toner image. This step is performed by the image forming section  26  for each color, and a toner image, in which each color overlaps with other colors, is formed on the continuous paper P. 
     Furthermore, the oil of the continuous paper P, which is transported, is removed by the fixing device  70 , and the toner image is fixed to the continuous paper P (refer to  FIG. 6 ). 
     Configuration of Main Sections 
     Next, the recovery device  100  will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the recovery device  100  is provided with a scraping blade  102  as an example of a scraping member that scrapes away the liquid developer G which remains on the developing roller  52 , and a recovery member  104 , which recovers the liquid developer G, which is scraped away by the scraping blade  102 . In the following descriptions, the liquid developer G, which is scraped away by the scraping blade  102 , will be referred to as surplus developer E. 
     Furthermore, the recovery device  100  is provided with a dispersal device  130  (refer to  FIG. 1 ), which disperses toner aggregates, which are included in the surplus developer E. Additionally, toner aggregates are aggregates of toner, which are formed by toner being charged as a result of being electrified by the electrification member  54 ,  66  or the like, and the charged toner aggregating. 
     Scraping Blade 
     The scraping blade  102  is a plate-shaped rubber blade that extends in a device depth direction (a paper surface depth direction), and an leading end section of the scraping blade  102  is in contact with the developing roller  52  in a portion that is on a downstream side with respect to the nipped section N 1  in a rotational direction of the developing roller  52 . Furthermore, the scraping blade  102  is inclined in such a manner that a portion of a leading end side of the scraping blade  102  is positioned on an upper side in comparison with a portion of a base end side thereof when viewed from the device depth direction. 
     In this instance, a toner concentration of the surplus developer E, which is scraped away from the developing roller  52  by the scraping blade  102 , is mostly higher than a toner concentration of the liquid developer G that is supplied to the developing roller  52 . 
     The reason why the toner concentration of the surplus developer E is high will be described below. 
     The following descriptions will be made focusing on the movement of toner and oil from the developing roller  52  to the image holder  38  in a case in which the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image holder  38  is developed into a toner image and made visible. 
     In a case of the toner that is included in the liquid developer G, only toner of a portion in which the electrostatic latent image is formed moves from the developing roller  52  to the image holder  38 , and toner of a portion in which the electrostatic latent image is not formed remains on the developing roller  52 . Meanwhile, in a case of the oil that is included in the liquid developer G, half of the oil moves to the image holder  38 , and the other half of the oil remains on the developing roller  52  as a result of surface tension of the oil with respect to the image holder  38  and surface tension of the oil with respect to the developing roller  52 . As a result of this, oil layers of the same thickness are formed on the image holder  38  and the developing roller  52 . 
     In this instance, it is rare for images of the same color to be formed on half of an output image or more. Therefore, the amount of toner that remains on the developing roller  52  is greater than the amount of toner that moves to the image holder  38 . As a result of this, in the abovementioned manner, the toner concentration of the surplus developer E is higher than a toner concentration of the liquid developer G that is supplied to the developing roller  52 . In addition, the viscosity of the surplus developer E is also high since the toner concentration of the surplus developer E is high. 
     Recovery Member 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the recovery member  104  extends in the device depth direction (the paper surface depth direction), and is disposed on a downstream side of the scraping blade  102 . The recovery member  104  has a box-shape, has an opening section  104 A, and is configured to recover the surplus developer E, which is scraped away by the scraping blade  102 , through the opening section  104 A. 
     Furthermore, a transport pipe  106 , which transports the surplus developer E, which the recovery member  104  recovers, toward the dispersal device  130  (refer to  FIG. 1 ), is connected to a bottom plate  104 B of the recovery member  104 . 
     In the manner described above, a recovery mechanism  120 , which recovers the liquid developer G from the developing roller  52  is configured to include the scraping blade  102  and the recovery member  104 . 
     Dispersal Device 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the dispersal device  130  is provided with a container  136 , in which a reception section  132  that receives the surplus developer E, and a porous section  134  through which the surplus developer E passes, are formed, and a transport member  140 , which transports the surplus developer E inside the container  136 . Furthermore, the dispersal device  130  is provided with an addition mechanism  142  as an example of an addition member that adds a diluent L for reducing the toner concentration of the surplus developer E to the surplus developer E, which the reception section  132  receives. 
     Container 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the container  136  is configured to include a circular bottom plate  136 A, and a side plate  136 B that rises up from a peripheral edge of the bottom plate  136 A to an upper side. Further, the container  136  is disposed so that the bottom plate  136 A is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. 
     In addition, in the container  136 , a portion of a lower side (the right side in the drawing) with respect to a center C of the bottom plate  136 A is set as the reception section  132 , and a portion of an upper side (the left side in the drawing) with respect to the center C is set as the porous section  134 . Furthermore, the reception section  132  is disposed on a lower side of a discharge section  106 A of the transport pipe  106 , and surplus developer E, which is discharged from the transport pipe  106 , is received in the reception section  132 . 
     Furthermore, the porous section  134  includes a net member  144  (mesh), through which the surplus developer E passes. More specifically, the net member  144  is formed by configuring a portion in the bottom plate  136 A of an upper side with respect to the center C of the container  136  to have a net shape. 
     Addition Mechanism 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the addition mechanism  142  is provided with an accumulation tank  166 , in which oil, which is a dispersal medium, is stored as the diluent L, a transport pipe  168  for transporting the diluent L, which is stored in the accumulation tank  166  to the reception section  132 , and a pump  170 . As a result of this, the diluent L is added to the surplus developer E, which the reception section  132  receives through the transport pipe  168 , as a result of the pump  170  being operated, and the toner concentration of the surplus developer E is reduced. 
     Transport Member 
     The transport member  140  is provided with a rotating shaft member  150 , which extends from the center C of the container  136  in a direction that is perpendicular to the bottom plate  136 A, a pair of plate members  152 , which are disposed on both sides of the rotating shaft member  150  with the rotating shaft member  150  interposed therebetween, and a motor  156 , which applies a rotational force to the rotating shaft member  150 . 
     The rotating shaft member  150  is set to be a column, and a pair of support members  154 , sections of which have L-shapes (refer to  FIGS. 3A and 3B ), are attached to the rotating shaft member  150  so as to extend from an outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft member  150  to an outer side in a radial direction thereof. Further, the pair of support members  154  are disposed so as to interpose the rotating shaft member  150 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows a sectional view taken along line IIIA-IIIA in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3B  shows a sectional view taken along line IIIB-IIIB in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a portion of an upper end side of the plate member  152  is fixed to each support member  154  by a fixing unit, which is not shown in the drawing, and the respective support members  154  support the plate members  152 . 
     The respective plate members  152  are formed using an elastic member (for example, a rubber material), and the external shapes thereof are rectangular. Further, the plate member  152  is elastically deformed so as to be warped in a curved form when viewed from a radial direction of the rotating shaft member  150  as a result of a portion of a lower end side of the plate member  152  being in contact with and being pressed against the bottom plate  136 A. 
     In this configuration, the pair of plate members  152  revolve (move) in one direction as a result of a rotational force being applied to the rotating shaft member  150  by the motor  156  (refer to an arrow E in  FIG. 2 ). Further, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3A , the reception section  132  is configured such that the plate members  152 , which revolve, transport the surplus developer E, which the reception section  132  receives, and the toner concentration of which is reduced by the addition of the diluent L, toward the porous section  134 . Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the porous section  134  is configured such that the plate members  152 , which revolve, rub the surplus developer E, which is transported, against the net member  144  and cause the surplus developer E to pass through the net member  144 . 
     Additionally, a funnel member  158 , which collects the surplus developer E that has passed through the porous section  134 , is disposed on a lower side of the porous section  134 , and the surplus developer E, which is collected by the funnel member  158 , is transported to a concentration adjustment section, which is not shown in the drawing. 
     Actions of Main Sections 
     Next, the actions of the main sections will be described. The supply roller  62 , which rotates, draws up the liquid developer G that is accommodated in the developer tank  60 . Further, the blade  64  adjusts the layered film of the liquid developer G, and the electrification device  66  electrifies the toner that is included in the liquid developer G (refer to FIG.  5 ). Further, the liquid developer G is supplied from the supply roller  62 , which rotates, to the developing roller  52 , which rotates. Furthermore, the electrification member  54  electrifies the toner that is included in the liquid developer G, which is supplied to the developing roller  52 , and a portion of the liquid developer G which includes the electrified toner, is delivered from the developing roller  52  to the electrostatic latent image that is formed on the image holder  38 . As a result of this, the electrostatic latent image is developed (made visible) as a toner image. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the liquid developer G which is not delivered to the image holder  38  and remains on the developing roller  52  is scraped away by the scraping blade  102 . In this instance, the liquid developer G which remains on the developing roller  52  includes toner aggregates which are formed by toner being charged as a result of being electrified by the electrification member  54 ,  66  or the like, and the toner aggregating. 
     Further, the surplus developer E which is scraped away by the scraping blade  102 , flows across the surface (a surface that faces upward in the drawing) of the scraping blade  102 , falls from a base end side of the scraping blade  102 , and is recovered by the recovery member  104  through the opening section  104 A. Furthermore, the surplus developer E which is recovered by the recovery member  104 , is transported toward the dispersal device  130  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) by the transport pipe  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the surplus developer E which is transported by the transport pipe  106 , is discharged toward the reception section  132  from the discharge section  106 A of the transport pipe  106 , and received by the reception section  132 . 
     Meanwhile, the diluent L is added to the surplus developer E which passes through the transport pipe  168  and is received by the reception section  132 . As a result of this, the toner concentration of the surplus developer E is reduced. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3A , in the reception section  132 , the plate member  152 , which revolves, transports the surplus developer E, the toner concentration of which is reduced, toward the porous section  134 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3B , in the porous section  134 , the plate member  152 , which revolves, rubs the surplus developer E, which is transported, against the net member  144  and causes the surplus developer E to pass through the net member  144 . 
     The toner aggregates which are included in the surplus developer E, are dispersed as a result of the surplus developer E being rubbed against and passing through the net member  144  by the plate member  152 . 
     The surplus developer E in which the toner aggregates have been dispersed, is collected by the funnel member  158 , and transported to the concentration adjustment section, which is not shown in the drawing. 
     Summary 
     In this manner, as a result of causing the surplus developer E, the toner concentration of which is reduced by adding the diluent L thereto, to pass through the porous section  134 , the toner aggregates which are included in the surplus developer E are effectively dispersed in comparison with a case in which the recovered surplus developer E passes through the porous section  134  without change. 
     In addition, as a result of the plate members  152  rubbing the surplus developer E against the net member  144  and causing the surplus developer E to pass through the net member  144 , toner aggregates are effectively dispersed in comparison with a case in which the surplus developer E is not rubbed against the net member  144 . 
     In addition, as a result of the plate member  152  revolving (moving) in one direction, the surplus developer E which the reception section  132  receives is transported to the porous section  134 , and the surplus developer E is rubbed against the net member  144  and caused to pass through the net member  144 . In this manner, the surplus developer E is transported and caused to pass through the net member  144  as a result of only rotating the plate member  152  in one direction. 
     In addition, in the image forming apparatus  10 , as a result of the toner aggregates, which are included in the surplus developer E, being dispersed, the reuse of a larger amount of the surplus developer E is made possible in comparison with a case in which the toner aggregates are not dispersed. 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     Next, an example of a recovery device and an image forming apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Additionally, the same symbols will be given to members and the like which are the same as the first exemplary embodiment, description thereof will be omitted, and primarily, portions which differ from the first exemplary embodiment will be described. 
     Dispersal Device 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a dispersal device  200  according to the second exemplary embodiment is provided with a container  206 , in which a reception section  202  that receives the surplus developer E, and a porous section  204  through which the surplus developer E passes, are formed, and a transport member  240 , which transports the surplus developer E inside the container  206 . 
     Container 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the container  206  is configured to include a rectangular bottom plate  206 A, and a side plate  206 B that rises up from a peripheral edge of the bottom plate  206 A to an upper side. Further, the container  206  is disposed so that the bottom plate  206 A is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. 
     In addition, in the container  206 , a portion of a lower side (the right side in the drawing) with respect to a center C (the center in a left-right direction in the drawing) of the container  206  is set as a reception section  202 , and a portion of an upper side (the left side in the drawing) with respect to the center C is set as a porous section  204 . Further, the reception section  202  is disposed on a lower side of a discharge section  106 A of the transport pipe  106 , and the reception section  202  receives surplus developer E, which is discharged from the transport pipe  106 . 
     Furthermore, the porous section  204  includes a net member  214  (mesh), through which the surplus developer E passes. More specifically, in the bottom plate  206 A, the net member  214  is formed by configuring a portion in the bottom plate  206 A of an upper side with respect to the center C of the container  206  to have a net shape. 
     Transport Member 
     The transport member  240  is provided with a plate member  252 , a pair of guide rails  250 , which are separated in the device depth direction on an upper side of the container  206 , and a support member  260 , which is guided by the guide rails  250  and supports the plate member  252 . Furthermore, the transport member  240  is provided with a driving member  262 , which applies a movement force to the support member  260  in such a manner that the support member  260  is guided by the guide rails  250 . 
     The pair of guide rails  250  are disposed so as to extend over the reception section  202  and the porous section  204  when viewed from an upper side (refer to  FIG. 8 ), and are inclined at the same angle as the bottom plate  206 A when viewed from a lateral side (refer to  FIG. 7 ). 
     The support member  260  supports a portion of an upper end side of the plate member  252 , and is supported in a moveable manner by the guide rails  250 . 
     The plate member  252  is formed using an elastic member (for example, a rubber material), and the external shape thereof is rectangular. Further, the plate member  252  is elastically deformed so as to be warped in a curved form when viewed from a lateral side as a result of a portion of a lower end side of the plate member  252  being in contact with and being pressed against the bottom plate  206 A. 
     In this configuration, the plate member  252  moves in a first direction as a result of the driving member  262  applying a movement force to the support member  260  in the first direction (the direction of an arrow D 1  in  FIG. 7 ) in a case in which the plate member  252  is positioned in the reception section  202 . Further, the reception section  202  is configured such that the plate member  252 , which moves, transports the surplus developer E, the toner concentration of which has been reduced as a result of the addition of the diluent L, toward the porous section  204 . Meanwhile, the porous section  204  is configured such that the plate member  252 , which moves, rubs the surplus developer E, which is transported, against the net member  214  and causes the surplus developer E to pass through the net member  214 . 
     Furthermore, after the plate member  252  causes the surplus developer E to pass through the net member  214 , the plate member  252  moves in a second direction as a result of the driving member  262  applying a movement force to the support member  260  in the second direction (the direction of an arrow D 2  in  FIG. 7 ). Further, the plate member  252  returns to the reception section  202 , and the step is repeated. Since the plate member  252  curves in a convex manner in a movement direction when viewed from a lateral side, in a case of moving in the second direction, the plate member  252  curves on the opposite side to a case of moving in the first direction. 
     Additionally, the present invention has been described in detail using specific exemplary embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments, and the fact that it is possible to adopt a variety of other exemplary embodiments within the range of the present invention would be obvious to a person skilled in the art. For example, in abovementioned first and second exemplary embodiments, the recovery device  100  is used in order to recover the liquid developer G that remains on the developing roller  52 , but the recovery device  100  may also be used in order to recover the liquid developer G that remains on the image holder  38  or the liquid developer G that remains on the transfer roller  34 A. 
     In addition, in abovementioned first and second exemplary embodiments, the addition mechanism  142  adds the diluent L to the surplus developer E which the reception section  132  receives, but the diluent L may also be added to the surplus developer E in a state prior to being received by the reception section  132 . 
     In addition, in abovementioned first and second exemplary embodiments, the containers  136  and  206  are disposed so that the bottom plates  136 A and  206 A are inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, but the bottom plates may be parallel to a horizontal plane. 
     In addition, in abovementioned first and second exemplary embodiments, oil, which is a dispersal medium, is used as the diluent L, but a low concentration developer, the toner concentration of which is lower than the liquid developer G, may also be used as the diluent L. 
     In addition, in abovementioned first and second exemplary embodiments, the surplus developer E are caused to pass through the net members  144  and  214 , but may also be caused to pass through a porous member, in which many holes are formed. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.