Abstract: A developer storage container includes a container body, a discharging member, and a regulating member. The regulating member is disposed in a space formed by the container body and the discharging member, and partitions the space into a storage space to store developer in the container body and a discharging side space to store developer to be discharged from a discharging port. Further, the regulating member forms a passage hole to allow developer to pass through and regulates an amount of developer to be conveyed from the storage space to the discharging side space.

Abstract: A developer storage container includes a container body, a discharging member, and a regulating member. The regulating member is disposed in a space formed by the container body and the discharging member, and partitions the space into a storage space to store developer in the container body and a discharging side space to store developer to be discharged from a discharging port. Further, the regulating member forms a passage hole to allow developer to pass through and regulates an amount of developer to be conveyed from the storage space to the discharging side space.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a plurality of image bearing bodies on each of which a toner image is formed; a plurality of drive sections for rotating the plurality of image bearing bodies; a carrying section for carrying a transfer medium; and a transfer section for superposing each of the toner images formed on each of the image bearing bodies onto the transfer medium to transfer, wherein each of the drive sections is coupled with each of the image bearing bodies by a coupling comprising a drive section side coupling portion and an image bearing body side coupling portion which are formed to be engagable with each other, and at least one of the drive section side coupling portion and the image bearing side coupling portion is freely engaged with a rotary shaft for transmitting a torque from each of the drive sections to each of the image bearing bodies.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing device; a container for containing developer; a developer detector for outputting an output signal corresponding to presence or absence of developer, the developer detector being attached to a wall surface of the container so that a detector plane faces toward inside of the container; an agitating device for sliding on the detector plane of the developer detector and for agitating developer in the container; a controller for controlling a movement speed of the agitating device so that a relation between rise time T0 required for rise of the output signal outputted from the developer detector and time T1 when the agitating device covers the detector plane of the developer detector meets T0>T1.

Abstract: A gear assembly comprises at least two gears, each of which is formed by injection molding and has a plurality of ribs on their bases. The two gears have a gear ratio of 1:N and a ratio of the number of ribs is 1:M (N and M are integers). Alternatively, the two gears are supported in positions where one of ribs on one gear and one of ribs on the other gear lie on the same line at a predetermined number of times while one of gears rotates once. The two gears can also be supported in positions where the ribs on the two gears have predetermined positional relationships so that the two gears rotate at a constant angular speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a plurality of image bearing bodies on each of which a toner image is formed; a plurality of drive sections for rotating the plurality of image bearing bodies; a carrying section for carrying a transfer medium; and a transfer section for superposing each of the toner images formed on each of the image bearing bodies onto the transfer medium to transfer, wherein each of the drive sections is coupled with each of the image bearing bodies by a coupling comprising a drive section side coupling portion and an image bearing body side coupling portion which are formed to be engagable with each other, and at least one of the drive section side coupling portion and the image bearing side coupling portion is freely engaged with a rotary shaft for transmitting a torque from each of the drive sections to each of the image bearing bodies.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developing device; a container for containing developer; a developer detector for outputting an output signal corresponding to presence or absence of developer, the developer detector being attached to a wall surface of the container so that a detector plane faces toward inside of the container; an agitating device for sliding on the detector plane of the developer detector and for agitating developer in the container; a controller for controlling a movement speed of the agitating device so that a relation between rise time T0 required for rise of the output signal outputted from the developer detector and time T1 when the agitating device covers the detector plane of the developer detector meets T0>T1.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of a driving source in a main body to an object mounted on the main body for receiving the rotation, the transmission mechanism comprising a plurality of couplings provided at different positions along an axial direction of a rotating axis; wherein each of the couplings comprises, a male coupling member having a plurality of protrusions provided at an identical internal on an outer circumferential surface of the rotating axis; and a female coupling member having a plurality of protrusions for engaging with the male coupling's protrusions.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus is provided wherein toner images formed on a plurality of image carriers are primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer object, and then, are secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet. The color image-forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, a longitudinal direction of which is arranged in substantially a vertical direction, and onto which toner images formed on image carriers are sequentially transferred in such a manner that the toner images overlap relative to each other so as to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer member. In addition, a transferring device is provided to transfer the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer member and the image carriers are integrated into a rack, and the rack is drawable in substantially a horizontal direction with respect to a mainframe of the color image-forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a color image forming apparatus wherein toner images formed on a plurality of image carriers are primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer object, and then, are secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a color image forming apparatus wherein toner images formed on a plurality of image carriers are primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer object, and then, are secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a color image forming apparatus wherein toner images formed on a plurality of image carriers are primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer object, and then, are secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of a driving source in a main body to an object mounted on the main body for receiving the rotation, the transmission mechanism comprising a plurality of couplings provided at different positions along an axial direction of a rotating axis; wherein each of the couplings comprises, a male coupling member having a plurality of convex elements provided at an identical internal on an outer circumferential surface of the rotating axis; and a female coupling member having a plurality of concave elements for engaging with the convex elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a rotational body. The apparatus includes: the rotating body such as a photoreceptor drum; a driver for driving the rotating body; the first member, provided in a driving transmission path of the driving force, for transmitting the driving force from the driving source to the rotating body, and for elastically deforming itself so as to control a natural frequency value of a driving system including the rotating body and driving source; and the second member, provided in the driving transmission path of the driving force, for controlling damping characteristics of the driving system.

Abstract: A developer in use with an image forming apparatus. The developer includes: a developing sleeve which rotates and holds toner on itself so as to develop a latent image on a photoreceptor with the toner; a driving motor for generating a rotational driving force; a drive transmission for transmitting the rotational driving force of the driving motor to the developing cartridge in which the drive transmission has a transmitting state and an untransmitting state; and a shock easing controller or member for easing a shock of transmission of the rotational driving force to the developing sleeve in the transmitting state, in which the shock easing controller or member is provided in at least one of the driving means and the drive transmission means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt device which transfers a toner image formed on a rotating photosensitive drum onto a recording sheet by providing corona charging from a rear surface of a transferring/conveying belt that is stretched around a driving roller and a driven roller, which conveys the recording sheet. A movable frame supports both ends of the rotational shafts of the driving roller and the driven roller. The movable frame is rotatably supported by a stationary housing of the transfer belt device. The movable frame can oscillate around a bearing section so that both ends of the rotational shaft of the driving roller connected with a driving source are supported. One end of the shaft of the driving roller connected with the driving source is supported by a stationary bearing member of the stationary housing. The other end of the shaft of the driving roller is supported by a movable bearing member which is movably provided in the stationary housing.