Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an object, an electrically conductive member; and an urging member arranged to urge the electrically conductive member towards the object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive member and the object to each other. In the image forming apparatus, the electrically conductive member is formed of a material having a low elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the urging member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: To provide a technique to reduce force required for opening or closing a cover disposed in an image forming apparatus, the present invention provides a storage container that is attached to an open-close door in a state where the open-close door is open to expose inside of the image forming apparatus, and that is disposed in a predetermined attaching position in the image forming apparatus by closing of the open-close door. The storage container has an inlet for toner to enter, and a storage portion to store the toner. The inlet is opened in synchronization with operation of attaching the storage container to the open-close door, and the inlet is closed in synchronization with operation of detaching the storage container from the open-close door.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an object, an electrically conductive member; and an urging member arranged to urge the electrically conductive member towards the object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive member and the object to each other. In the image forming apparatus, the electrically conductive member is formed of a material having a low elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the urging member.

Abstract: To efficiently transmit drive through couplings on one and another sides during forward rotation and reverse rotation. When first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a forward direction, first and third drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the forward direction while producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are drawn to each other in the rotational axis direction. When the first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a reverse direction, second and fourth drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the reverse direction without producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are separated from each other in the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit including a toner discharge opening; a second unit including a toner receiving opening, wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit is detachably mountable to the apparatus; and a shutter for permitting toner flow from the first unit into the second unit when the one unit is set in the apparatus, and the toner discharge opening of the first unit is above the toner receiving opening of the second unit, the shutter being effective to close when the one unit is removed from the main assembly. By inserting the first unit or the second unit into the main assembly, the shutter is moved to a position right above the toner receiving opening of the second unit, and thereafter, the shutter is opened by a further insertion of the one unit.

Abstract: When an abutting member is in contact with a driving force transmission member that engages with a driving member, a biasing member biases the driving force transmission member in a direction where the driving force transmission member is disengaged from the driving member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: To provide a technique to reduce force required for opening or closing a cover disposed in an image forming apparatus, the present invention provides a storage container that is attached to an open-close door in a state where the open-close door is open to expose inside of the image forming apparatus, and that is disposed in a predetermined attaching position in the image forming apparatus by closing of the open-close door. The storage container has an inlet for toner to enter, and a storage portion to store the toner. The inlet is opened in synchronization with operation of attaching the storage container to the open-close door, and the inlet is closed in synchronization with operation of detaching the storage container from the open-close door.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit including a toner discharge opening; a second unit including a toner receiving opening, wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit is detachably mountable to the apparatus; and a shutter for permitting toner flow from the first unit into the second unit when the one unit is set in the apparatus, and the toner discharge opening of the first unit is above the toner receiving opening of the second unit, the shutter being effective to close when the one unit is removed from the main assembly. By inserting the first unit or the second unit into the main assembly, the shutter is moved to a position right above the toner receiving opening of the second unit, and thereafter, the shutter is opened by a further insertion of the one unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a lever configured to move a secondary transfer roller from an endless belt. The lever is arranged between a primary transfer surface of the endless belt, which opposes a plurality of image bearing members between an opposing roller and a stretching roller, and a surface opposing the primary transfer surface. The lever is engaged with the secondary transfer roller to separate the secondary transfer roller from the endless belt. Such a simple contact-separation configuration for the secondary transfer roller achieves reduction in size and space of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In a case where a belt unit is not attached to an apparatus body, when an opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, a switching member cannot press a switch, and image formation operation is prohibited. In a case where the belt unit is attached to the apparatus body, when the opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, the switching member presses the switch, and the prohibition of the image formation is released.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes: a first output gear and a second output gear which are rotatable about the same rotational axis; and a single intermediary member to be rotated about the rotational axis by a driving source. The intermediary member is provided between the first output gear and the second output gear with respect to an axial direction of the rotational axis. The intermediary member moves in a first axial direction of the rotational axis to rotate in engagement with the first output gear when the driving source rotates in a first direction, and moves in a second axial direction of the rotational axis opposite to the first axial direction to rotate in engagement with the second output gear when the driving source rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit including a stretching roller and a rotatable transfer belt stretched by the stretching roller; a cleaning unit, including a blade movable toward and away from the transfer belt, for collecting a toner removed from the transfer belt by the blade; a moving member for moving the blade between a contact position where the blade is contacted to the transfer belt and a retracted position where the blade is moved away from the transfer belt; and a drive transmission device for permitting transmission of a driving force between the stretching roller and the movable member. The drive transmission device has an idling region where the drive transmission device is rotatable by a predetermined amount without transmitting the driving force to the stretching roller when the driving force is transmitted from the moving member to the drive transmission device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a lever configured to move a secondary transfer roller from an endless belt. The lever is arranged between a primary transfer surface of the endless belt, which opposes a plurality of image bearing members between an opposing roller and a stretching roller, and a surface opposing the primary transfer surface. The lever is engaged with the secondary transfer roller to separate the secondary transfer roller from the endless belt. Such a simple contact-separation configuration for the secondary transfer roller achieves reduction in size and space of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In a case where a belt unit is not attached to an apparatus body, when an opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, a switching member cannot press a switch, and image formation operation is prohibited. In a case where the belt unit is attached to the apparatus body, when the opening and closing member is closed against the apparatus body, the switching member presses the switch, and the prohibition of the image formation is released.

Abstract: A container is detachably mountable on an apparatus body in a mounting-detaching direction that is along the same direction as a mounting-detaching direction of a transfer unit and that is in the reverse direction of the mounting-detaching direction of the transfer unit. When the transfer unit and the container are mounted on the apparatus body, a belt, a cleaning device, and the container are arranged in that order in a transport direction of the belt. A discharge portion is provided, the discharge portion extending in the mounting-detaching direction of the container, for discharging the toner removed by the cleaning device to the container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer unit including a stretching roller and a rotatable transfer belt stretched by the stretching roller; a cleaning unit, including a blade movable toward and away from the transfer belt, for collecting a toner removed from the transfer belt by the blade; a moving member for moving the blade between a contact position where the blade is contacted to the transfer belt and a retracted position where the blade is moved away from the transfer belt; and a drive transmission device for permitting transmission of a driving force between the stretching roller and the movable member. The drive transmission device has an idling region where the drive transmission device is rotatable by a predetermined amount without transmitting the driving force to the stretching roller when the driving force is transmitted from the moving member to the drive transmission device.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes: a first output gear and a second output gear which are rotatable about the same rotational axis; and a single intermediary member to be rotated about the rotational axis by a driving source. The intermediary member is provided between the first output gear and the second output gear with respect to an axial direction of the rotational axis. The intermediary member moves in a first axial direction of the rotational axis to rotate in engagement with the first output gear when the driving source rotates in a first direction, and moves in a second axial direction of the rotational axis opposite to the first axial direction to rotate in engagement with the second output gear when the driving source rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction.