Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes, a cylindrical photoreceptor pipe; at least one flange which is attached to an opening of one end of the photoreceptor pipe, and which is provided with a shaft part projecting outward from the one end at a shaft center position of the photoreceptor pipe; and an earth member which is arranged to penetrate through the shaft part of the at least one flange, and which is provided on its inward side with at least one first contact part which contacts an inner circumference of the photoreceptor pipe, and on its outward side with a second contact part.

Abstract: A waste toner storage unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner container and an inner cover integrally attached to the waste toner container. The waste toner container stores waste toner recovered after an image forming process. The inner cover is located at a region of the waste toner storage unit that does not store waste toner.

Abstract: A process cartridge of the present invention includes a casing capable of accommodating a plurality of units positioned one above the other in a space such that one unit is spaced, in the horizontal direction, from a vertical line extending through the other unit positioned below the one unit. The casing has a bottom wall inclined relative to a horizontal plane and oriented such that when the bottom wall is placed on a horizontal surface, the one unit is shifted toward the vertical line.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, a mark detector, and a controller. The unit is attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus and includes an information mark pattern indicating predetermined information. The mark detector detects the information mark pattern. The controller obtains the information indicated by the information mark pattern based on a detection result provided by the mark detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a charging roller for charging the image carrying member, a charging roller cleaning roller, and first and second shaft bearings. The charging roller cleaning roller contacts and cleans a surface of the charging roller. The first shaft bearing rotatably holds a rotation shaft of the charging roller cleaning roller, while the second shaft bearing rotatably holds a rotation shaft of the charging roller. The second shaft bearing integrally includes a first shaft bearing holding member which movably holds, by use of a resilient member, the first shaft bearing in a direction of moving the charging roller towards and apart from the charging roller cleaning roller.

Abstract: A used toner conveyance device includes a lateral conveyance member for conveying used toner substantially in the horizontal direction, and a vertical conveyance member for upwardly conveying the used toner transferred from the lateral conveyance member. The vertical conveyance member transfers the used toner to either a collection space or a next conveyance path. The vertical conveyance member stops its operation when a prescribed delay time has elapsed after the lateral conveyance member stops conveyance operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image support body; and a lubricant applying part configured to apply lubricant to a surface of the image support body, and including a lubricant containing member configured to seal the lubricant in the lubricant applying part.

Abstract: A development device that has communication port sealing means for sealing a communication port communicating a developer supporter container with a developer container. The development device is advantageous in cost reduction, easy manufacturing, and formation of high-quality images. In the development device which has a developing roller container for containing a developing roller, a developer container for containing a developer, a base member for forming a communication port communicating the developer roller container with the developer container, and a seal member that is adhered to the base member so as to cover the communication port, and which cancels sealing of the communication port by peeling off the seal member from the base member by pulling out the seal member in a direction parallel to an opened surface of the communication port, the base member is composed of a polypropylene resin having a bent section, and the seal member is adhered to the base member by thermal compression bonding.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one process cartridge removably mounted on an apparatus body and including at least an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed and a cleaning device configured to remove toner left after image transfer with a cleaning blade. A hole for passing a light beam emitted from an optical writing unit toward the image carrier therethrough is formed in part of a case bottom wall of the process cartridge higher in level than part of the case bottom wall below the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor and a lubricant applicator. The photoconductor carries a toner image formed by developing an electrostatic latent image with a toner. The lubricant applicator applies a solid lubricant to a surface of the photoconductor, and includes a brush roller, a holder, a pressing member, and a protrusion. The holder holds the solid lubricant. The brush roller scrapes off the solid lubricant from the holder and applies the scraped solid lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor. The pressing member has an ellipse shape and presses the solid lubricant toward the brush roller via the holder. The protrusion is disposed on the holder and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the pressing member at two positions provided in both end portions of the pressing member in a direction of a minor axis of the ellipse formed by the pressing member to support the pressing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, and a process cartridge detachably disposed in the main body and an image bearing member. The image bearing member provides an image on a surface thereof and rotate at a predetermined linear velocity. A lubricant applying member contacts the image bearing member and applies a lubricant on the surface of the image bearing member while rotating with the image bearing member. The lubricant applying member includes a brush roller and is controlled to rotate at a linear velocity different from the predetermined linear velocity of the image bearing member at a contact portion with the image bearing member. In this way, the lubricant applying member applies an amount of the lubricant smaller than an amount of lubricant used when the image bearing member and the lubricant applying member rotate at an identical linear velocity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of image forming include a process cartridge detachably mounted therein. The process cartridge includes a photoconductive element and a housing storing the photoconductive element and including a guide portion guiding the process cartridge. The guide portion faces an inner wall of the image forming apparatus or another process cartridge adjoining thereto and guides the adjoining process cartridge. The guide portion slidably engages with a portion of the process adjoining cartridge. The guide portion varies in shape according to its position in the image forming apparatus. The guide portion may be separately formed from or integrated with the housing. A method and apparatus of an image forming includes an image transfer mechanism and a plurality of process cartridges arranged in parallel. Each of the process cartridges includes photoconductive elements and a housing, and forms an image for a single separated color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a charging roller for charging the image carrying member, a charging roller cleaning roller, and first and second shaft bearings. The charging roller cleaning roller contacts and cleans a surface of the charging roller. The first shaft bearing rotatably holds a rotation shaft of the charging roller cleaning roller, while the second shaft bearing rotatably holds a rotation shaft of the charging roller. The second shaft bearing integrally includes a first shaft bearing holding member which movably holds, by use of a resilient member, the first shaft bearing in a direction of moving the charging roller towards and apart from the charging roller cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of process cartridges, and a guide mounted to the frame. The guide mounted to the frame includes a plurality of guide portions having supporting surfaces arranged at predetermined different heights and on which the plurality of process cartridges are detachably placed, and is configured to guide the plurality of process cartridges placed on the supporting surfaces along a path between respective first positions and respective second positions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image support body; and a lubricant applying part configured to apply lubricant to a surface of the image support body, and including a lubricant containing member configured to seal the lubricant in the lubricant applying part.

Abstract: A process cartridge of the present invention includes a casing capable of accommodating a plurality of units positioned one above the other in a space such that one unit is spaced, in the horizontal direction, from a vertical line extending through the other unit positioned below the one unit. The casing has a bottom wall inclined relative to a horizontal plane and oriented such that when the bottom wall is placed on a horizontal surface, the one unit is shifted toward the vertical line.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless transfer member and a plurality of image forming units. The endless transfer member is arranged at a transverse position in the image forming apparatus, and has a circulatory rotating surface declining at a predetermined angle to a horizontal plane. Each of the plurality of image forming units includes a first surface facing the endless transfer member and a second surface opposite to the first surface and angled in a similar direction to the endless transfer member. The plurality of image forming units perform an image forming operation and are arranged next to one another facing the endless transfer member such that, in any two adjacent image forming units of the plurality of image forming units, one of the any two adjacent image forming units has a portion overhanging the other one of the any two adjacent image forming units.

Abstract: A charging apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus with which current fluctuation values in the charging current can be suppressed, and image defects caused by filming and the like can be prevented, by specifying a permissible gap fluctuation value by quantitatively ascertaining the relationship between the fluctuation value in charging current and the fluctuation value in the gap between the photosensitive body and the charging roller. In a charging apparatus equipped with a charging roller provided at a minute gap away from a photosensitive body, for performing charging, the relationship Gmax?Gmin?30 (?m) is satisfied when the gap (?m) between the charged side of the photosensitive body and the charging side of the charging roller has a maximum value Gmax (?m) and a minimum value Gmin (?m).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes at least one process cartridge removably mounted on the apparatus body and including at least an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed and a cleaning device configured to remove toner left on image transfer with a cleaning blade. A hole for passing a light beam emitted from an optical writing unit toward the image carrier therethrough is formed in part of the case bottom wall of the process cartridge higher in level than part of the case bottom wall below the cleaning blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of process cartridges, and a guide mounted to the frame. The guide mounted to the frame includes a plurality of guide portions having supporting surfaces arranged at predetermined different heights and on which the plurality of process cartridges are detachably placed, and is configured to guide the plurality of process cartridges placed on the supporting surfaces along a path between respective first positions and respective second positions.