Abstract: An optical encoder includes a light emitting unit that emits parallel light onto a plurality of marks that are arranged on an object such as a rotor or a belt, at a predetermined interval in a moving direction of the object, and a light receiving unit that receives light modulated by the marks. The parallel light is generated by a collimating lens.

Abstract: A disclosed constant velocity joint includes an outer ring including an annular space with an open end, plural outer grooves axially extending in an outer wall of the annular space and being equally spaced from each other in a circumferential direction, and plural inner grooves axially extending in an inner wall of the annular space and facing the respective outer grooves; and a cage configured to hold balls that slide along the inner walls and the outer walls. The outer ring and/or the cage is made of a synthetic resin. A drive force of one of the cage and the outer ring is transmitted to the other one of the cage and the outer ring when part of the cage is inserted in the annular space and the balls held by the cage are engaged in the inner grooves and the outer grooves.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus comprises a unit, which includes a rotating body and is detachable from an apparatus body, and a connection unit configured to connect a driven shaft provided in the unit to a drive shaft provided in the apparatus body. The driven shaft is configured to transmit a drive force to the rotating body. The drive shaft is configured to be rotated by a drive force of a drive source. The unit is positioned relative to the apparatus body by connecting the drive shaft and the driven shaft with the connection unit. The rotating body includes at least one of a developing roller, a drive roller of an intermediate transfer belt, a drive roller of a sheet transport belt, a roller configured to transport a sheet, and a secondary transfer roller. The connection unit is a constant velocity joint.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main-body and a process cartridge. A female connector is arranged on a developing roller shaft in the process cartridge. The female connector has an open-ended ring-like space formed between an outer ring and an inner ring. A plurality of track grooves are arranged on the circumference of at least one of the outer ring and the inner ring. One end of a cartridge driving shaft is supported in the apparatus main-body, while the other end thereof facing the process cartridge is movable in a radial direction. A male connector is arranged on the movable end of the cartridge driving shaft. A front portion of the male connector is a cylindrical spherical-body holding portion that rotatably holds a plurality of spherical bodies. When the spherical-body holding portion enters into the ring-like space, the spherical bodies slide along the track grooves.

Abstract: Heat exhaust holes are provided in a unit frame at positions just above respective imaging units. An exhaust fan causes air heated at developing elements to be exhausted outside an apparatus via heat exhaust ducts and a common duct. The heat exhaust holes are formed in different sizes depending on a position of the imaging unit. The closer the position of the imaging unit is, the larger the heat exhaust hole provided above the imaging unit is.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which prevents the rusting of metallic components and paper jams and improves the cooling capability of a heat pipe by ensuring that water droplets do not become adhered to the heat pipe, thereby reducing thermal resistance. A fixing apparatus and a printer engine are shielded from each other by a heat receiving plate, a thermal insulation member, and a heat radiating plate. A heat pipe is provided in the shielding member. One end side of the heat pipe is disposed between the fixing apparatus and printer engine to serve as a heat receiving portion, and the other end side of the heat pipe is disposed in a higher position than the one end side to serve as a heat radiating portion. The thermal insulation member covers the periphery of an intermediate portion of the heat pipe between the two end sides of the heat pipe.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably provided in an image forming apparatus having a main gear. The process cartridge includes a photoconductive unit and a rotatable unit, and a positioning member. The rotatable unit includes an unit body, an idler shaft, an idler gear attached to the idler shaft, a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear, and a rotating member having a shaft and the rotating gear on the shaft of the rotating member. The positioning member positions the image carrying member and the rotating member with a predetermined distance therebetween, and includes an absorbing hole configured to reduce the effect of an external force, generated by a rotation of the main gear, applied from the main gear to the idler gear.

Abstract: In a driving motor that rotates and drives a rotor by a magnetic force generated between a rotor and a stator, a constant velocity joint that transmits a rotation driving force between a driving-side rotating member and a driven-side rotating member. The driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member align in an axial direction and engage with each other. The driving-side rotating member is directly connected to the rotor to function as a driving shaft.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a first rotation body and a second rotation body. The first rotation body includes a cup unit, a shaft, and ribs that project from the cup unit and connect the cup unit to the shaft. One of the first rotation body and the second rotation body transmits a rotational driving force to other one of the first rotation body and the second rotation body through balls. The first rotation body is so formed that the cup unit and the shaft are formed into one piece using resin material. Moreover, the rib is so formed into one piece with the cup unit and the shaft using resin material.

Abstract: A support device for use in an image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge and an apparatus main body. The process cartridge further includes an image carrier, at least one sub unit, and a cartridge-side fitting portion. The at least one sub unit includes a rotational member having a driven shaft. The apparatus main body further includes an apparatus-main-body-side fitting portion and a driving device. The driving device is provided with a drive shaft, and is configured to drive the rotational member. With the support device, the drive shaft is radially positioned at one support point along an axial direction thereof in the driving device before installing the process cartridge into the apparatus main body. In addition, the drive shaft is radially positioned at the one support point and a connecting point between the driven shaft and the driven shaft after installing the process cartridge into the apparatus main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a transfer mechanism, a fixing mechanism, and a heat radiation mechanism. The image forming mechanism forms a toner image which is transferred by the transfer mechanism transfers onto a recording sheet and is fixed by the fixing mechanism. The heat radiation mechanism is disposed between the image forming and fixing mechanisms and radiates heat generated by the fixing mechanism. The heat radiation mechanism includes a heat receiving member, a heat radiating member, and a heat conduction member. The heat receiving member receives heat generated by the fixing mechanism. The heat radiating member radiates the heat received by the heat receiving member. The heat conduction member has a thermal conductive property to efficiently conduct the heat from the heat receiving member to the heat radiating member.

Abstract: A cleaning device that cleans the surface of an image carrier, include a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant-applying brush roller that applies a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier, a cleaning brush roller that removes residual transfer toner from the surface of the image carrier, and a flicker that removes toner from the cleaning brush roller. The flicker performs a flicking operation corresponding to a part of the entire area in the axial direction of the cleaning brush roller at one time. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus include the image carrier and the cleaning device.

Abstract: Heat exhaust holes are provided in a unit frame at positions just above respective imaging units. An exhaust fan causes air heated at developing elements to be exhausted outside an apparatus via heat exhaust ducts and a common duct. The heat exhaust holes are formed in different sizes depending on a position of the imaging unit. The closer the position of the imaging unit is, the larger the heat exhaust hole provided above the imaging unit is.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which prevents the rusting of metallic components and paper jams and improves the cooling capability of a heat pipe by ensuring that water droplets do not become adhered to the heat pipe, thereby reducing thermal resistance. A fixing apparatus and a printer engine are shielded from each other by a heat receiving plate, a thermal insulation member, and a heat radiating plate. A heat pipe is provided in the shielding member. One end side of the heat pipe is disposed between the fixing apparatus and printer engine to serve as a heat receiving portion, and the other end side of the heat pipe is disposed in a higher position than the one end side to serve as a heat radiating portion. The thermal insulation member covers the periphery of an intermediate portion of the heat pipe between the two end sides of the heat pipe.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably provided in an image forming apparatus having a main gear. The process cartridge includes a photoconductive unit and a rotatable unit, and a positioning member. The rotatable unit includes an unit body, an idler shaft, an idler gear attached to the idler shaft, a rotating gear coupled to the main gear via the idler gear, and a rotating member having a shaft and the rotating gear on the shaft of the rotating member. The positioning member positions the image carrying member and the rotating member with a predetermined distance therebetween, and includes an absorbing hole configured to reduce the effect of an external force, generated by a rotation of the main gear, applied from the main gear to the idler gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a transfer mechanism, a fixing mechanism, and a heat radiation mechanism. The image forming mechanism forms a toner image which is transferred by the transfer mechanism transfers onto a recording sheet and is fixed by the fixing mechanism. The heat radiation mechanism is disposed between the image forming and fixing mechanisms and radiates heat generated by the fixing mechanism. The heat radiation mechanism includes a heat receiving member, a heat radiating member, and a heat conduction member. The heat receiving member receives heat generated by the fixing mechanism. The heat radiating member radiates the heat received by the heat receiving member. The heat conduction member has a thermal conductive property to efficiently conduct the heat from the heat receiving member to the heat radiating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a rotary member having an image formation area, and a scale located at a position outside of the image formation area and on an inner circumference of the rotary member. Also included is a drive device configured to drive the rotary member, a developing device configured to develop an image on the image formation area of the rotary member, and a transfer device configured to transfer the image on the image formation area to a recording sheet. Further included is a sensor configured to detect the scale on the rotary member and to output a signal corresponding to the detection of the scale.

Abstract: A belt apparatus including a belt configured to rotate around a plurality of belt rollers, a belt speed detection system configured to detect a speed of the belt, and a contact roller configured to contact the belt. A control device is configured to control the contact roller based on a detected speed of the belt. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part configured to form an image, a first image transfer device, a transfer belt configured to rotate around a plurality of belt rollers and to hold the image transferred by the first image transfer device, a transfer belt speed detection system configured to detect a speed of the transfer belt, and a second transfer roller configured to transfer the image held on the transfer belt to a paper. A control device configured to control the second transfer roller based on a detected speed of the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a rotary member having an image formation area, and a scale located at a position outside of the image formation area and on an inner circumference of the rotary member. Also included is a drive device configured to drive the rotary member, a developing device configured to develop an image on the image formation area of the rotary member, and a transfer device configured to transfer the image on the image formation area to a recording sheet. Further included is a sensor configured to detect the scale on the rotary member and to output a signal corresponding to the detection of the scale.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a light emitting unit that emits parallel light onto a plurality of marks that are arranged on an object such as a rotor or a belt, at a predetermined interval in a moving direction of the object, and a light receiving unit that receives light modulated by the marks. The parallel light is generated by a collimating lens.