Patent Publication Number: US-9411264-B1

Title: Toner adjusting mechanism and image forming apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-020570 filed Feb. 4, 2015. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The invention relates to a toner adjusting mechanism and an image forming apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a toner adjusting mechanism, including: 
     a storage section in which a liquid developer, which is collected from a holding member that revolves with holding the liquid developer, is stored; 
     a supply section that causes the liquid developer which is stored in the storage section to flow at a predetermined flow velocity to supply the liquid developer to a developer tank; 
     a circulating section that causes the liquid developer which is discharged from the storage section to flow and circulate at a flow velocity faster than the flow velocity of the liquid developer which flows in the supply section; 
     a detecting section that detects a toner concentration of the liquid developer which flows in the circulating section; and 
     an addition section that adds an adjustment agent which adjusts the toner concentration of the liquid developer to the liquid developer which is stored in the storage 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 illustrating a toner adjusting mechanism and the like according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a dispersing device which is provided in the toner adjusting mechanism according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the dispersing device which is provided in the toner adjusting mechanism according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, as viewed from an axial direction of a rotating shaft member; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating the dispersing device which is provided in the toner adjusting mechanism according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an information transmission path of a control section which is provided in the toner adjusting mechanism according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram illustrating a collecting mechanism which is provided in an image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming section which is provided in the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a configuration diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a configuration diagram illustrating a toner adjusting mechanism and the like according to a comparative embodiment in relation to exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A toner adjusting mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention and an example of an image forming apparatus will be described according to  FIGS. 1 to 9 . Note that, an arrow H depicted in the drawings indicates the vertical direction (a plumb direction) of the apparatus, an arrow W indicates the width direction (a horizontal direction) of the apparatus, and an arrow D indicates the depth direction (a horizontal direction) of the apparatus. 
     Overall Configuration 
     An image forming apparatus  10  is an apparatus which forms an image on continuous paper P as a recording medium using a liquid-state type of liquid developer G which is obtained by dispersing a powder toner in a nonvolatile oil. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the image forming apparatus  10  is provided with a transporting section  20 , an image forming section  26  which forms a toner image, and a fixing device  70 . The transporting section  20  transports the continuous paper P, and the fixing device  70  fixes a toner image to the continuous paper P. In order to reuse the liquid developer G, the image forming apparatus  10  is provided with a toner adjusting mechanism  120 . The toner adjusting mechanism  120  adjusts the toner concentration of the liquid developer G which is collected from the image forming section  26 . Note that, the toner adjusting mechanism  120  will be described later. 
     Transporting Section 
     The transporting section  20  is configured to transport the continuous paper P at a predetermined transport speed in an arrow A direction (hereinafter referred to as a “medium transport direction”) in the drawings, and is provided with a pair of transport rollers  20 A and  20 B. 
     Image Forming Section 
     The image forming section  26  is provided with an image forming section  26 Y, an image forming section  26 M, an image forming section  26 C, and an image forming section  26 K. The image forming section  26 Y forms a yellow (Y) image, the image forming section  26 M forms a magenta (M) image, the image forming section  26 C forms a cyan (C) image, and the image forming section  26 K forms a black (K) image. 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 the description hereinafter, when there is no particular need to distinguish therebetween, the letters “Y”, “M”, “C”, and “K” will be omitted from the end of the reference numeral. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the image forming section  26  is provided with an image forming unit  32  and a transfer unit  34 . The image forming unit  32  is for forming a toner image, and the transfer unit  34  is for transferring the toner image to the continuous paper P. 
     Image Forming Unit 
     The image forming unit  32  is provided with an image holding member  38 , a charging device  40 , and an exposure device  42 . The image holding member  38  holds the toner image, the charging device  40  charges the image holding member  38 , and the exposure device  42  irradiates the image holding member  38  with an exposure beam to form an electrostatic latent image. The image forming unit  32  is provided with a developing machine  44 . The developing machine  44  transfers the liquid developer G to the image holding member  38  and develops the electrostatic latent image of the image holding member  38  as the toner image. 
     The image forming unit  32  is provided with a removal member  86  and a collecting mechanism  90 . The removal member  86  removes the oil contained in the liquid developer G from the liquid developer G of the image holding member  38  before the toner image is transferred to a transfer roll  34 A, and the collecting mechanism  90  collects the liquid developer G that remains on the image holding member  38 . Note that, the collecting mechanism  90  will be described later. 
     Developing Machine 
     The developing machine  44  is provided with a developing section  50  and a supply section  48 . The developing section  50  transfers the liquid developer G to the electrostatic latent image which is formed on the image holding member  38 , and the supply section  48  supplies the liquid developer G to the developing section  50 . 
     The developing section  50  is provided with a developing roll  52  and a charging member  54 . The developing roll  52  is an example of a developing member which rotates (revolves). The developing section  50  is provided with a collecting mechanism  100 . The collecting mechanism  100  collects the liquid developer G which remains on the developing roll  52 . Note that, the collecting mechanism  100  will be described later. 
     Supply Section 
     The supply section  48  is provided with a developer tank  60  and a supply roll  62 . The liquid developer G is stored in the developer tank  60 , and the supply roll  62  takes on the liquid developer G from the developer tank  60  and supplies the liquid developer G to the developing roll  52 . The supply section  48  is provided with a blade  64  and a charging device  66 . The blade  64  adjusts a film of the liquid developer G that is adhered to the supply roll  62 . 
     Transfer Unit 
     The transfer unit  34  is provided with the transfer roll  34 A and a backup roll  34 B. The transfer roll  34 A is an example of an intermediate holding member, and the backup roll  34 B is an example of a transfer member which is disposed on the opposite side from the transfer roll  34 A. The transfer unit  34  is provided with a collecting mechanism  88 . The collecting mechanism  88  collects, from the transfer roll  34 A, the liquid developer G which is not transferred to the continuous paper P from the transfer roll  34 A and remains on the transfer roll  34 A. 
     Fixing Device 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the fixing device  70  is provided with a heating section  72  and a fixing section  80 . The heating section  72  heats the continuous paper P, and the fixing section  80  fixes the toner image to the continuous paper P. 
     Operations of Overall Configuration 
     The supply roll  62  which is rotationally driven takes the liquid developer G which is stored in the developer tank  60 . The liquid developer G which is taken by the supply roll  62  is supplied to the developing roll  52  (refer to  FIG. 7 ). 
     The charging member  54  charges the toner contained in the liquid developer G which is supplied to the developing roll  52 , and the liquid developer G containing the charged toner is transferred from the developing roll  52  to the electrostatic latent image which is formed on the image holding member  38 . The electrostatic latent image is developed as the toner image by the developing machine  44 . 
     The toner image which is formed on the image holding member  38  which rotates is primarily transferred to the transfer roll  34 A. The toner image which is primarily transferred to the transfer roll  34 A is transferred to the continuous paper P which is transported. In this case, the oil moves (is transferred) to the continuous paper P together with the toner image. This process is performed by the image forming section  26  of each color, and a toner image in which the colors are superimposed on each other is formed on the continuous paper P. 
     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. 8 ). 
     Configuration of Main Parts 
     Next, description will be given of the collecting mechanism  90 , the collecting mechanism  100 , and the toner adjusting mechanism  120 . 
     Collecting Mechanism 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the collecting mechanism  90  is provided with a scraping blade  92  and a collecting member  94 . The scraping blade  92  scrapes, from the image holding member  38 , the liquid developer G which is not transferred from the image holding member  38  to the transfer roll  34 A and remains on the image holding member  38 , and the collecting member  94  collects the liquid developer G which is scraped off. The collecting mechanism  90  is provided with a transporting pipe  96  and a pump  98 , which are for transporting the liquid developer G which is collected in the collecting member  94  to a receiving section  132  (described later). In the description hereinafter, the liquid developer G which is scraped off by the scraping blade  92  will be referred to as a first collected agent K 1 . 
     Accordingly, the pump  98  causes the first collected agent K 1  to flow within the transporting pipe  96  such that the first collected agent K 1  is discharged to the receiving section  132 . 
     The collecting mechanism  100  is provided with a scraping blade  102  and a collecting member  104 . The scraping blade  102  scrapes, from the developing roll  52 , the liquid developer G which is not transferred from the developing roll  52  to the image holding member  38  and remains on the developing roll  52 , and the collecting member  104  collects the liquid developer G which is scraped off. The collecting mechanism  100  is provided with a transporting pipe  106  and a pump  108 , which are for transporting the liquid developer G which is collected in the collecting member  104  to the receiving section  132  (described later). In the description hereinafter, the liquid developer G which is scraped off by the scraping blade  102  will be referred to as a second collected agent K 2 . 
     Accordingly, the pump  108  causes the second collected agent K 2  to flow within the transporting pipe  106  such that the second collected agent K 2  is discharged to the receiving section  132 . 
     Toner Adjusting Mechanism 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the toner adjusting mechanism  120  is provided with a dispersing device  130  and a concentration adjusting device  150 . The dispersing device  130  disperses the toner aggregate which is contained in the first collected agent K 1  and the second collected agent K 2 , and the concentration adjusting device  150  adjusts the toner concentration. Note that, the toner aggregate is an aggregate of toner which is formed as a result of toner (toner particles) becoming electrically charged due to being charged by the charging members  54 ,  66 , or the like. In the description hereinafter, when not particularly distinguishing between the first collected agent K 1  and the second collected agent K 2 , there is a case in which the first collected agent K 1  and the second collected agent K 2  will be collectively referred to as the collected agent K. 
     Dispersing Device 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the dispersing device  130  is provided with a container  136  and a transporting member  140 . The receiving section  132  which receives the collected agent K and a porous section  134  through which the collected agent K passes are formed in the container  136 , and the transporting member  140  transports the collected agent K within the container  136 . The dispersing device  130  is provided with a funnel member  138 . The funnel member  138  gathers the collected agent K which passes through the porous section  134 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the container  136  is formed to include a bottom plate  136 A and a side plate  136 B. The bottom plate  136 A is circular, and the side plate  136 B stands from the circumferential edge of the bottom plate  136 A to the top side. The container  136  is disposed such that the bottom plate  136 A is inclined in relation to the horizontal plane. 
     A portion of the bottom plate  136 A in the container  136  on the bottom side in relation to a center C thereof (the right side in the drawing) is the receiving section  132 , and a portion on the top side in relation to the center C (the left side in the drawing) is the porous section  134 . The receiving section  132  is disposed on the bottom side of the exit ports (reference numeral omitted) of the transporting pipes  96  and  106 , and the receiving section  132  is configured to receive the collected agent K which is discharged from the transporting pipes  96  and  106 . 
     The porous section  134  includes a mesh member  144  (a mesh) through which the collected agent K passes. Specifically, the mesh member  144  is formed in the bottom plate  136 A by rendering the portion of the top side of the container  136  in relation to the center C mesh shaped. The funnel member  138  which gathers the collected agent K which passes through the mesh member  144  is disposed beneath the porous section  134 . 
     The transporting member  140  is provided with a rotating shaft member  128 , a pair of plate members  122 , and a motor  126 . The rotating shaft member  128  extends in the plumb direction from the center C of the container  136  to the bottom plate  136 A, the pair of plate members  122  are disposed, one on each side of the rotating shaft member  128 , to interpose the rotating shaft member  128 , and the motor  126  applies a rotating force to the rotating shaft member  128 . 
     The rotating shaft member  128  cylindrically shaped, and a pair of support members  124  (refer to  FIGS. 4A and 4B ), the cross sections of which form an L-shape from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft member  128 , are attached to the rotating shaft member  128  so as to extend to the outside in the radial direction of the rotating shaft member  128 . The pair of support members  124  is disposed to interpose the rotating shaft member  128 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating the cross section taken across the line IVA-IVA in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating the cross section taken across the line IVB-IVB in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , in each of the support members  124 , the portion of the top end side of the plate member  122  is fixed by a fixing unit (not shown), and each of the support members  124  supports the respective plate member  122 . 
     The plate member  122  is formed using an elastic member (for example, a rubber material), and the outer appearance is rectangular. The plate member  122  is elastically deformed in a curved shape which is convex in the direction of procession as viewed from the radial direction of the rotating shaft member  128  due to the portion of the bottom end side of the plate member  122  being attached in contact with the bottom plate  136 A. 
     In this configuration, when the motor  126  applies a rotational force to the rotating shaft member  128 , the pair of plate members  122  revolves (moves) in one direction (the arrow E direction in  FIG. 3 ). As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4A , in the receiving section  132 , the plate member  122  which revolves is configured to transport the collected agent K which is received by the receiving section  132  toward the porous section  134 . Meanwhile, as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , in the porous section  134 , the plate member  122  which revolves is configured to rub off the collected agent K which is transported onto the mesh member  144  to cause the collected agent K to pass through the mesh member  144 . The collected agent K which passes through the mesh member  144  is gathered by the funnel member  138 , and the collected agent K which is gathered by the funnel member  138  is stored in a storage section  152  (described later). 
     Concentration Adjusting Device 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the concentration adjusting device  150  is provided with the storage section  152 , a supply section  154 , and an addition section  158 . The collected agent K which is gathered by the funnel member  138  is stored in the storage section  152 , the supply section  154  is for supplying the collected agent K to the developer tank  60  of the developing machine  44 , and the addition section  158  adds an adjustment agent L to the collected agent K. 
     The concentration adjusting device  150  is provided with a circulating section  162  and a detecting section  166  (for example an ultrasonic concentration sensor). The circulating section  162  is for causing the collected agent K which is discharged from the storage section  152  to circulate, and the detecting section  166  detects the toner concentration of the collected agent K which flows in the circulating section  162 . 
     Storage Section 
     Storage Section 
     The storage section  152  is provided with a storage tank  170  and an agitation member  172 . The storage tank  170  is a container in which the collected agent K which is gathered by the funnel member  138  is stored, and the agitation member  172  agitates the collected agent K within the storage tank  170  to render the toner concentration of the collected agent K uniform. 
     Supply Section 
     The supply section  154  is provided with a supply pipe  176  and a pump  178 , which are for supplying the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170  to the developer tank  60 . The pump  178  causes the collected agent K to flow within the supply pipe  176  at a predetermined flow velocity (hereinafter referred to as the “first flow velocity”), and supplies the collected agent K to the developer tank  60 . Note that, when the pipe diameter of the supply pipe  176  is 10 mm, the first flow velocity is 42 mm/s. 
     Circulating Section 
     The circulating section  162  is provided with a return pipe  202  and a pump  204 , which are for causing the collected agent K to be discharged from the storage tank  170  and causing the collected agent K to circulate via the dispersing device  130 . The pump  204  causes the collected agent K to flow within the return pipe  202  at a second flow velocity which is faster than the first flow velocity, and causes the collected agent K to circulate via the dispersing device  130 . Note that, when the pipe diameter of the return pipe  202  is 10 mm, the second flow velocity is 106 mm/s. 
     Detection Section 
     The detecting section  166  is disposed part way down the return pipe  202 , and the detecting section  166  is configured to detect the toner concentration of the collected agent K which flows within the return pipe  202 . Here, the detecting section  166  is disposed in a position at which the flow path length of the return pipe  202  from the storage tank  170  is L 1  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). 
     Addition Section 
     The addition section  158  is provided with a first mechanism  180  and a second mechanism  190 . 
     The first mechanism  180  is provided with a container  184 , a transporting pipe  186 , and a pump  188 . The oil which is the dispersion medium is stored in the container  184  as the adjustment agent L, and the transporting pipe  186  and the pump  188  are for transporting the adjustment agent L which is stored in the container  184  to the storage tank  170 . Accordingly, the pump  188  is configured to cause the adjustment agent L to flow within the transporting pipe  186 , and to add the adjustment agent L to the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170 . 
     Meanwhile, the second mechanism  190  is provided with a container  194 , a transporting pipe  196 , and a pump  198 . A high concentration developer which has a higher toner concentration than a predetermined reference toner concentration is stored in the container  194  as the adjustment agent L, and the transporting pipe  196  and the pump  198  are for transporting the adjustment agent L which is stored in the container  194  to the storage tank  170 . Accordingly, the pump  198  is configured to cause the adjustment agent L to flow within the transporting pipe  196 , and to add the adjustment agent L to the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170 . 
     The addition section  158  controls the pumps  188  and  198  based on the detection results of the detecting section  166 , and is provided with a control section  210  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). The control section  210  adds the adjustment agent L to the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170 . Note that, the specific configuration of the control section  210  will be described later, together with the operations. 
     Operations of Main Parts 
     Next, description will be given of the operations of the main parts in comparison with a comparative embodiment in relation to the exemplary embodiment. 
     First, description will be given of a toner adjusting mechanism  300  according to the comparative embodiment. Note that, description will be given of mainly the parts of the toner adjusting mechanism  300  according to the comparative embodiment which differ from those of the toner adjusting mechanism  120  according to the exemplary embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the toner adjusting mechanism  300  is not provided with a dispersing device which disperses the toner aggregate which is contained in the collected agent K. Accordingly, the first collected agent K 1  which is collected from the image holding member  38  and the second collected agent K 2  which is collected from the developing roll  52  are directly discharged to the storage tank  170 . The toner adjusting mechanism  300  is not provided with a circulating section for causing the collected agent K which is discharged from the storage tank  170  to circulate. A detecting section  302  which detects the toner concentration of the collected agent K is disposed part way down the supply pipe  176 . 
     Here, the detecting section  302  is disposed in a position at which the flow path length of the supply pipe  176  from the storage tank  170  is L 1  (refer to  FIG. 9 ). In other words, in the exemplary embodiment, the flow path length from the storage tank  170  to the detecting section  166  is set to be equal to the flow path length from the storage tank  170  to the detecting section  302  in the comparative embodiment. 
     In this configuration, the first collected agent K 1  which is collected from the image holding member  38  and the second collected agent K 2  which is collected from the developing roll  52  flow within the transporting pipes  96  and  106 , and are directly discharged to the storage tank  170 . The agitation member  172  which rotates agitates the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170  and renders the toner concentration of the collected agent K uniform. 
     The pump  178  causes the collected agent K to flow within the supply pipe  176  at the first flow velocity, and supplies the collected agent K to the developer tank  60 . Here, the detecting section  302  which is disposed part way down the supply pipe  176  detects the toner concentration of the collected agent K which flows within the supply pipe  176 . The control section  210  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) adds the adjustment agent L to the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170  by controlling the driving and non-driving of the pump  188 , and the driving and non-driving of the pump  198  based on the detection results of the detecting section  302 . Accordingly, the toner concentration of the collected agent K is adjusted to obtain the predetermined reference toner concentration. 
     The collected agent K which is set to the predetermined reference toner concentration flows within the supply pipe  176  and is supplied to the developer tank  60 . 
     Next, description will be given of the operations of the toner adjusting mechanism  120  according to the exemplary embodiment. 
     In the toner adjusting mechanism  120 , the first collected agent K 1  which is collected from the image holding member  38  and the second collected agent K 2  which is collected from the developing roll  52  flow in the transporting pipes  96  and  106 , and are discharged to the receiving section  132  (refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The receiving section  132  receives the collected agent K which is discharged from the transporting pipes  96  and  106 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4A , in the receiving section  132 , the plate member  122  which revolves is configured to transport the collected agent K from the receiving section  132  toward the porous section  134 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , in the porous section  134 , the plate member  122  which revolves is configured to rub off the collected agent K which is transported onto the mesh member  144  to cause the collected agent K to pass through the mesh member  144 . The toner aggregate contained in the collected agent K is dispersed due to the plate member  122  rubbing off the collected agent K onto the mesh member  144 . 
     The collected agent K in which the toner aggregate is dispersed is gathered by the funnel member  138 , and is stored in a storage tank  170  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The agitation member  172  which rotates agitates the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170  and renders the toner concentration of the collected agent K uniform. 
     The pump  178  causes the collected agent K to flow within the supply pipe  176  at the first flow velocity, and supplies the collected agent K to the developer tank  60 . The pump  204  causes the collected agent K to flow within the return pipe  202  at a second flow velocity which is faster than the first flow velocity, and discharges the collected agent K to the receiving section  132 . 
     Here, the detecting section  166  which is disposed part way down the return pipe  202  detects the toner concentration of the collected agent K which flows within the return pipe  202 . The control section  210  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) adds the adjustment agent L to the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170  by controlling the driving and non-driving of the pump  188 , and the driving and non-driving of the pump  198  based on the detection results of the detecting section  166 . Accordingly, the toner concentration of the collected agent K is adjusted to obtain the predetermined reference toner concentration. 
     The collected agent K which is set to the predetermined reference toner concentration flows within the supply pipe  176  and is supplied to the developer tank  60 . 
     SUMMARY 
     As described above, the detecting section  302  of the toner adjusting mechanism  300  according to the comparative embodiment detects the toner concentration of the collected agent K which flows within the supply pipe  176  at the first flow velocity. Meanwhile, the detecting section  166  of the toner adjusting mechanism  120  according to the exemplary embodiment detects the toner concentration of the collected agent K which flows within the return pipe  202  at the second flow velocity which is faster than the first flow velocity. 
     Here, as described earlier, in the exemplary embodiment, the flow path length from the storage tank  170  to the detecting section  166  is set to be equal to the flow path length from the storage tank  170  to the detecting section  302  in the comparative embodiment. Therefore, the detecting section  166  detects the toner concentration of the collected agent K which is stored in the storage tank  170  sooner than the detecting section  302 . 
     Accordingly, in the toner adjusting mechanism  120 , inconsistencies in the toner concentration of the collected agent K which is supplied to the developer tank  60  are suppressed in comparison to in the toner adjusting mechanism  300 . 
     The toner adjusting mechanism  120  is provided with the dispersing device  130  which disperses the toner aggregate which is contained in the collected agent K, and the toner adjusting mechanism  300  is not provided with a dispersing device. In this manner, the toner aggregate is dispersed in the toner adjusting mechanism  120 . In the toner adjusting mechanism  120 , since the toner aggregate is dispersed, the toner concentration in the storage tank  170  is uniform. 
     In the image forming apparatus  10 , density irregularities occurring in the output image are suppressed due to the suppression of inconsistencies in the toner concentration of the collected agent K which is supplied to the developer tank  60 . 
     Note that, detailed description of the specific exemplary embodiment of the invention is given; however, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment, and it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that it is possible to adopt various other exemplary embodiments within the scope of the invention. For example, in the exemplary embodiment, the remaining liquid developer G from the image holding member  38  and the developing roll  52  is collected; however, the remaining liquid developer G may be collected from either one of the image holding member  38  and the developing roll  52 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the toner adjusting mechanism  120  is provided with the dispersing device  130 ; however, in particular, the dispersing device  130  may not be provided. However, in this case, the operations of the dispersing device  130  are no longer obtained. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the pump  204  causes the collected agent K to flow within the return pipe  202 , and causes the collected agent K to be circulated via the dispersing device  130 ; however, the collected agent K may be circulated without passing through the dispersing device  130 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, while not particularly described, the collected developer (the oil and the like) which is collected by the removal member  86  may be collected in the container  136 . 
     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.