Abstract: A coupling member for an image forming apparatus cartridge is configured to rotate about a rotational axis thereof. The coupling member includes an end portion having an outer surface and a plurality of surfaces forming a recess extending in a direction from the outer surface toward the rotational axis. The plurality of surfaces includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface. As viewed in a direction toward the recess and perpendicular to the rotational axis, the third surface faces toward outside of the recess. Both of the first and second surfaces are sloped with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis such that a distance measured along a direction of the rotational axis between the first and second surfaces decreases as a distance along the first and second surfaces from the outer surface increases.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable to a printer, said printer including a coupling guide contactable to a coupling of the cartridge to guide the coupling member. A case of the cartridge is provided with a hole for exposing a free end portion of the coupling to an outside of the cartridge, and a retracted portion provided in downstream of the hole with respect to the mounting direction of the cartridge. When the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the printer, the coupling guide enters the retracted portion from which the coupling member has retracted.

Abstract: With a structure in which a coupling member includes a sphere providing a center of inclination (pivoting), a rotational force transmitted member has an opening have a diameter smaller than that of the sphere, and the coupling member is prevented from disengaging from rotational force transmitted member by contact of inner edge of the opening to the sphere, the inner edge of the opening may limit an inclinable (pivotable) angle range of the coupling member. In a state that a pin that is a shaft portion is inserted in a hole that is a through-hole provided in a coupling member, opposite end portions of the pin are supported by a driving side flange, which is a rotational force transmitted member. The coupling member, the driving side flange, and the pin are connected in this manner, and the pin contacts the inside of the hole without limiting the inclinable angle range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a discharge unit, a stacking tray including a stacking surface on which the recording material is stacked, a replenishment port, a cover capable of moving between a closed position where the cover covers the replenishment port and constitutes at least part of the stacking surface and an open position where the cover exposes the replenishment port, and an information display unit for displaying information about a procedure for replenishing the developing container with the developer from the replenishment container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which to attach a supply container for supplying a developer, a housing including a discharge portion for discharging a sheet in a discharging direction, a discharge tray including a first stack portion for stacking the sheet thereon, in which the first stack portion is configured to be movable between a closed position and an opened position, a top portion fixed to the housing, and a display portion and an operation portion arranged on the top portion. The top portion includes a first region, a first extension portion, and a second extension portion. As viewed along a vertical direction, the first extension portion and the second extension portion extend from the first region in the discharging direction, and at least a part of the first stack portion is located between the first extension portion and the second extension portion.

Abstract: An apparatus body of an image forming apparatus has a first guide portion having an inlet shape corresponding to an outer shape of an engagement portion provided in a cartridge when seen in an attachment direction of the cartridge to the apparatus body and guiding the engagement portion, a second guide portion for guiding a positioning target portion which is provided on the cartridge for positioning an attachment completion position of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus body, and a movable member being at a regulation position at which a guiding path of the positioning target portion by the second guide portion is blocked is immovable from the regulation position unless being pressed by the engagement portion.

Abstract: An apparatus body of an image forming apparatus has a first guide portion having an inlet shape corresponding to an outer shape of an engagement portion provided in a cartridge when seen in an attachment direction of the cartridge to the apparatus body and guiding the engagement portion, a second guide portion for guiding a positioning target portion which is provided on the cartridge for positioning an attachment completion position of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus body, and a movable member being at a regulation position at which a guiding path of the positioning target portion by the second guide portion is blocked is immovable from the regulation position unless being pressed by the engagement portion.

Abstract: There is provided an erroneous mounting prevention system in which, by moving a second cartridge in a mounting direction to mount the second cartridge on a first apparatus main body, a protruding portion is brought into abutment with a surface portion, and, by moving a first cartridge in the mounting direction to mount the first cartridge on the first apparatus main body, the first cartridge is mounted on the first apparatus main body without being restricted from being moved by the surface portion.

Abstract: There is provided an erroneous mounting prevention system in which, by moving a second cartridge in a mounting direction to mount the second cartridge on a first apparatus main body, a protruding portion is brought into abutment with a surface portion, and, by moving a first cartridge in the mounting direction to mount the first cartridge on the first apparatus main body, the first cartridge is mounted on the first apparatus main body without being restricted from being moved by the surface portion.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable to a printer, said printer including a coupling guide contactable to a coupling of the cartridge to guide the coupling member. A case of the cartridge is provided with a hole for exposing a free end portion of the coupling to an outside of the cartridge, and a retracted portion provided in downstream of the hole with respect to the mounting direction of the cartridge. When the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the printer, the coupling guide enters the retracted portion from which the coupling member has retracted.

Abstract: With a structure in which a coupling member includes a sphere providing a center of inclination (pivoting), a rotational force transmitted member has an opening have a diameter smaller than that of the sphere, and the coupling member is prevented from disengaging from rotational force transmitted member by contact of inner edge of the opening to the sphere, the inner edge of the opening may limit an inclinable (pivotable) angle range of the coupling member. In a state that a pin that is a shaft portion is inserted in a hole that is a through-hole provided in a coupling member, opposite end portions of the pin are supported by a driving side flange, which is a rotational force transmitted member. The coupling member, the driving side flange, and the pin are connected in this manner, and the pin contacts the inside of the hole without limiting the inclinable angle range.

Abstract: An apparatus body of an image forming apparatus has a first guide portion having an inlet shape corresponding to an outer shape of an engagement portion provided in a cartridge when seen in an attachment direction of the cartridge to the apparatus body and guiding the engagement portion, a second guide portion for guiding a positioning target portion which is provided on the cartridge for positioning an attachment completion position of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus body, and a movable member being at a regulation position at which a guiding path of the positioning target portion by the second guide portion is blocked is immovable from the regulation position unless being pressed by the engagement portion.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable to a printer, said printer including a coupling guide contactable to a coupling of the cartridge to guide the coupling member. A case of the cartridge is provided with a hole for exposing a free end portion of the coupling to an outside of the cartridge, and a retracted portion provided in downstream of the hole with respect to the mounting direction of the cartridge. When the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the printer, the coupling guide enters the retracted portion from which the coupling member has retracted.

Abstract: With a structure in which a coupling member includes a sphere providing a center of inclination (pivoting), a rotational force transmitted member has an opening have a diameter smaller than that of the sphere, and the coupling member is prevented from disengaging from rotational force transmitted member by contact of inner edge of the opening to the sphere, the inner edge of the opening may limit an inclinable (pivotable) angle range of the coupling member. In a state that a pin 88 which is a shaft portion is inserted in a hole 86b which is a through-hole provided in a coupling member 86, opposite end portions of the pin 88 are supported by a driving side flange 87 which is a rotational force transmitted member. The coupling member 86 and the driving side flange 87 and the pin 88 are connected in this manner, and the pin 88 contact the inside of the hole 86b without limiting the inclinable (pivotable) angle range, by which the coupling member 86 is prevented from disengaging from the driving side flange 87.

Abstract: With a structure in which a coupling member includes a sphere providing a center of inclination (pivoting), a rotational force transmitted member has an opening have a diameter smaller than that of the sphere, and the coupling member is prevented from disengaging from rotational force transmitted member by contact of inner edge of the opening to the sphere, the inner edge of the opening may limit an inclinable (pivotable) angle range of the coupling member. In a state that a pin 88 which is a shaft portion is inserted in a hole 86b which is a through-hole provided in a coupling member 86, opposite end portions of the pin 88 are supported by a driving side flange 87 which is a rotational force transmitted member. The coupling member 86 and the driving side flange 87 and the pin 88 are connected in this manner, and the pin 88 contact the inside of the hole 86b without limiting the inclinable (pivotable) angle range, by which the coupling member 86 is prevented from disengaging from the driving side flange 87.

Abstract: A packing member for packing a cartridge that is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a first portion having an opening as an entrance for the cartridge, a recessed portion for accommodating the cartridge, and first and second limiting portions for limiting positions of the cartridge in directions perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cartridge. The packing member also includes a second portion for openably covering the opening. The first and second limiting portions contact portions of the cartridge excluding a region where the electrostatic latent image is to be formed on a photosensitive drum or a developing roller.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: a restriction member provided on a toner cartridge, the restriction member being movable between a restriction position, at which relative movement between (1) the toner cartridge attached to the attachment portion of the process cartridge and (2) the process cartridge is restricted by an engagement of the restriction member and the process cartridge, and a non-restriction position, at which the relative movement is not restricted; and a driving transmission unit for transmitting a driving force from the apparatus body to the toner cartridge by engaging with the apparatus body. The restriction member moves from the restriction position to the non-restriction position when a driving force reception unit receives the driving force from the driving transmission unit.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable to a printer, said printer including a coupling guide contactable to a coupling of the cartridge to guide the coupling member. A case of the cartridge is provided with a hole for exposing a free end portion of the coupling to an outside of the cartridge, and a retracted portion provided in downstream of the hole with respect to the mounting direction of the cartridge. When the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the printer, the coupling guide enters the retracted portion from which the coupling member has retracted.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable to a printer, said printer including a coupling guide contactable to a coupling of the cartridge to guide the coupling member. A case of the cartridge is provided with a hole for exposing a free end portion of the coupling to an outside of the cartridge, and a retracted portion provided in downstream of the hole with respect to the mounting direction of the cartridge. When the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the printer, the coupling guide enters the retracted portion from which the coupling member has retracted.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: a restriction member provided on a toner cartridge, the restriction member being movable between a restriction position, at which relative movement between (1) the toner cartridge attached to the attachment portion of the process cartridge and (2) the process cartridge is restricted by an engagement of the restriction member and the process cartridge, and a non-restriction position, at which the relative movement is not restricted; and a driving transmission unit for transmitting a driving force from the apparatus body to the toner cartridge by engaging with the apparatus body. The restriction member moves from the restriction position to the non-restriction position when a driving force reception unit receives the driving force from the driving transmission unit.