Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes a casing (21) having a toner conveyance path (34); a screw (24) conveying a toner in the toner conveyance path (34) in a predetermined conveyance direction; and a downstream side bearing (25) rotatably supporting a downstream side end portion of the screw (24) in the conveyance direction, wherein the screw (24) includes: a shaft (51) extending in the conveyance direction; and a spiral fin (52) provided around an outer circumferential face of the shaft (51), the shaft (51) has a downstream side insertion part (54) inserted into the downstream side bearing (25), and the downstream side insertion part (54) has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of a downstream side end portion of the fin (52) in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes a casing (21) having a toner conveyance path (34); a screw (24) conveying a toner in the toner conveyance path (34) in a predetermined conveyance direction; and a downstream side bearing (25) rotatably supporting a downstream side end portion of the screw (24) in the conveyance direction, wherein the screw (24) includes: a shaft (51) extending in the conveyance direction; and a spiral fin (52) provided around an outer circumferential face of the shaft (51), the shaft (51) has a downstream side insertion part (54) inserted into the downstream side bearing (25), and the downstream side insertion part (54) has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of a downstream side end portion of the fin (52) in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; an image reading portion provided above the image forming portion and configured to read an image from a document sheet; a housing storing the image forming portion and the image reading portion; an operation/display portion provided more outside the housing than a front surface of the housing, and used to operate the image forming apparatus; and a slit provided at the operation/display portion and configured to hold a mobile terminal that is smaller in size than the operation/display portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; an image reading portion provided above the image forming portion and configured to read an image from a document sheet; a housing storing the image forming portion and the image reading portion; an operation/display portion provided more outside the housing than a front surface of the housing, and used to operate the image forming apparatus; and a slit provided at the operation/display portion and configured to hold a mobile terminal that is smaller in size than the operation/display portion.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, first and second agitators, and a transmitting mechanism. The case main body is configured to store a toner. The first and second agitators are configured to rotate and to agitate the toner in the case main body. A transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit rotation to the first and second agitators. The transmitting mechanism stops transmission of the rotation to the second agitator while the transmitting mechanism continues the transmission of the rotation to the first agitator, when driving torque of the second agitator is equal to or more than a first set value.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, first and second agitators, and a transmitting mechanism. The case main body is configured to store a toner. The first and second agitators are configured to rotate and to agitate the toner in the case main body. A transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit rotation to the first and second agitators. The transmitting mechanism stops transmission of the rotation to the second agitator while the transmitting mechanism continues the transmission of the rotation to the first agitator, when driving torque of the second agitator is equal to or more than a first set value.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region and a non-sheet passing region. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The restricting piece is provided with a curving surface on a region including the contacting portion with the non-sheet passing region. The curving surface has a first curving area and a second curving area. The first curving area is provided on a downstream side from the contacting portion in a rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area is provided on an upstream side from the contacting portion in the rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area has a radius of curvature larger than that of the first curving area.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressing member and a separating member. The fixing member is provided with a sheet passing region and a non-sheet passing region. The separating member has a separating plate and a restricting piece. The restricting piece is provided with a curving surface on a region including the contacting portion with the non-sheet passing region. The curving surface has a first curving area and a second curving area. The first curving area is provided on a downstream side from the contacting portion in a rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area is provided on an upstream side from the contacting portion in the rotating direction of the fixing member. The second curving area has a radius of curvature larger than that of the first curving area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as a copier and a printer, includes a structure or assembly for electrically connecting a high-voltage circuit board with an electric component of the image forming apparatus such as charger unit, developer unit and image transfer unit. The structure or assembly includes a circuit board attaching member which holds the high-voltage circuit board, and a contact terminal extending through the circuit board attaching member to be in contact with the high-voltage circuit board and the electric component for the electric connection therebetween. The contact terminal may have a rod shape and the circuit board attaching member may be formed with a cylindrical guide member having a through hole through which the contact terminal extends.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for use in an image forming apparatus has a rotary shaft, a driving joint, a drum gear, a cleaning roller gear, and a transfer roller gear. The rotary shaft extends through a photosensitive member along an axis of rotation of the photosensitive member. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported at the opposite axial end parts thereof by bearings, respectively. The rotary shaft is un-rotatably jointed to the photosensitive member relative thereto at a lateral side part of a rear end part of the rotary shaft corresponding to the rear side of the image forming apparatus. The driving joint is jointed to the rear end part of the rotary shaft protruding from the photosensitive member at the rear side of the image forming apparatus to input a rotating force of a drum motor to the photosensitive drum. The drum gear is provided at the rear side of the photosensitive member. The cleaning roller gear and the transfer roller gear are in mesh with the drum gear.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for use in an image forming apparatus has a rotary shaft, a driving joint, a drum gear, a cleaning roller gear, and a transfer roller gear. The rotary shaft extends through a photosensitive member along an axis of rotation of the photosensitive member. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported at the opposite axial end parts thereof by bearings, respectively. The rotary shaft is un-rotatably jointed to the photosensitive member relative thereto at a lateral side part of a rear end part of the rotary shaft corresponding to the rear side of the image forming apparatus. The driving joint is jointed to the rear end part of the rotary shaft protruding from the photosensitive member at the rear side of the image forming apparatus to input a rotating force of a drum motor to the photosensitive drum. The drum gear is provided at the rear side of the photosensitive member. The cleaning roller gear and the transfer roller gear are in mesh with the drum gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, such as a copier and a printer, includes a structure or assembly for electrically connecting a high-voltage circuit board with an electric component of the image forming apparatus such as charger unit, developer unit and image transfer unit. The structure or assembly includes a circuit board attaching member which holds the high-voltage circuit board, and a contact terminal extending through the circuit board attaching member to be in contact with the high-voltage circuit board and the electric component for the electric connection therebetween. The contact terminal may have a rod shape and the circuit board attaching member may be formed with a cylindrical guide member having a through hole through which the contact terminal extends.

Abstract: A compact sheet processing apparatus mountable on the side of a copying machine body processes sheets discharged therefrom. The apparatus includes a sheet supplier for supplying sheets received from the copying machine body; a sheet discharger; a first transport route connecting the sheet supplier and discharger, and a sheet-stamping mechanism disposed opposite the sheet-bearing surface of the first transport route. Further included is a second transport route, diverging from and extending below the first transport route, which feeds sheets to a punching mechanism disposed therein; a transport drive providing controlled transport of sheets in each transport route; and a process timing control unit. The sheets are transported along both the first and second transport routes wherein the stamping and punching operations are both to be carried out, and then discharged through the discharger. The timing of the processes is controlled according to set conditions.