Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover member that is capable of being opened and closed, wherein the cover member includes a discharge tray that is capable of holding printed recording medium, and an automatic document reader that is provided above the discharge tray, wherein when the cover member is opened to a predetermined position, the automatic document reader supports the printed recording medium placed on the discharge tray so that the printed recording medium does not fall therefrom when the cover member is open.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a process cartridge having a image carrying member, a main body including an attaching section to which the process cartridge is detachably attached, and an image transfer member to be press-contacted to the image carrying member for image transfer when the process cartridge is completely attached to the attaching section. The process cartridge may be configured to apply a pressing force to the attaching section when the process cartridge is not completely attached to the attaching section, and the image forming device may further include a separating mechanism configured to allow the press-contact between the image carrying member and the image transfer member when the process cartridge is completely attached to the attaching section, the separating mechanism operating to separate the image carrying member and the image transfer member when the pressing force is applied by the process cartridge to the attaching section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which can form an image without defective transfer even if a resistance value of a transfer device is so high that defective transfer tends to occur. Before starting operation of printing an image on a sheet, a transfer current is passed to a transfer roller so as to detect a voltage value V of a transfer voltage. When it is determined that the detected voltage value V does not exceed a reference voltage value Vr (resistance value of the transfer roller does not exceed a reference limiting value), an operation mode of the printing operation is set to a first printing mode. When it is determined that the detected voltage value V exceeds a reference voltage value Vr (resistance value of the transfer roller exceeds a reference limiting value), the operation mode of the printing operation is set to a second printing mode.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a brush, and a supporting portion. The brush includes a base member having an elongated plate shape that extends in the longitudinal direction, a brush member including bristles provided on the front surface of the base member, and mounting portions formed at both latitudinal ends of the base member. The supporting portion includes holding portions that hold the mounting portions formed at the both latitudinal ends of the base member, thereby supporting the brush with respect to the image bearing member.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes an engagement device that is capable of being engaged with an engaging member associated with a frame, wherein: the engagement device can be placed in a restricting state where the engagement device is engaged with the engaging member, the engagement device can be placed in an unrestricting state where the engagement device is disengaged from the engaging member, and the engagement device is automatically placed in the unrestricting state when the developing cartridge is placed in an image forming device.

Abstract: A laser printer is configured to move a pinch roller, provided to a main body casing and operating in a position in which the pinch roller obstructs attachment/detachment of a process cartridge, to a position in which the pinch roller does not obstruct attachment/detachment of the process cartridge. Such a configuration can reduce the number of components of the process cartridge compared with the case of incorporating the pinch roller in the process cartridge. In addition, the configuration can reduce the size of the laser printer since it is unnecessary to attach/detach the process cartridge so as to avoid the pinch roller.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus that includes a drum cartridge, a developer cartridge, a coupling mechanism for interlocking the drum cartridge and the developer cartridge, a releasing cam for releasing the interlock provided by the coupling mechanism, and a toner accommodating chamber for accommodating toner. When the amount of toner accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber is greater than or equal to a prescribed amount, the drum cartridge and the developer cartridge are interlocked by the coupling mechanism. When the amount of toner drops below the prescribed amount so that the chamber is empty, the releasing cam releases the interlock provided by the coupling mechanism.

Abstract: A laser beam printer includes a casing with a discharge tray disposed on the top surface of the casing. A cutout part is formed in the top surface of the casing and an opening is formed in the front surface of the casing for facilitating mounting and removal of a process cartridge. The opening can be closed with a cover. When the cover is in a closed position, a top cover part of the cover blocks the cutout part. At this time, the top cover part and a main discharge tray part of the discharge tray are adjacent to one another and function to support paper. When the cover is in an open position, the cutout part is exposed; the top cover part is separated from the main discharge tray part; and the paper is supported by the main discharge tray alone.

Abstract: An apparatus having image forming units to form respective toner images of different colors on a toner-image receiving medium, each unit including an image carrier, a static-latent-image forming portion to form a static latent image on the image carrier, a developing portion to apply a toner of the corresponding color to the image carrier, for forming the toner image on the image carrier, and a toner transferring portion to transfer the toner image from the image carrier to the medium, wherein the image forming units are disposed so as to be opposed to the medium and operable to sequentially transfer the toner images from the image carriers to the medium, and the developing portion of each unit is operable to adsorb the toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred to the medium, and wherein at least the image forming unit located at the most upstream position of the apparatus is provided with a dust removing portion to remove, from the image carrier, a dust which has been transfer

Abstract: A process cartridge that includes a frame with a first side wall, a second side wall, a bottom wall and a front wall, an image carrying member, a guide member, a first opening in the bottom wall, and a second opening in the bottom wall is provided. The image carrying member is supported by and extends between the first side wall and the second side wall in a manner that permits the image carrying member to rotate, and the image carrying member projects, at least in part, beyond a bottom surface of the bottom wall. The guide member extends between the first side wall and the second side wall and forms part of the bottom wall. The first opening in the bottom wall extends from the first side wall to the second side wall and is provided between the front wall and the guide member. The second opening in the bottom wall extends from the first side wall to the second side wall and is provided between the guide member and the image carrying member.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cleaning unit. A casing having a wall that is formed with at least one opening that allows communication between an interior and an exterior of the casing. The cleaning unit is accommodated in the casing and that confronts the wall with a space being formed between the cleaning unit and the wall. At least a part of the cleaning unit confronts the at least one opening. The at least a part of the cleaning unit is in communication with the exterior of the casing via the at least one opening.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing having a wall defining a developer accommodating portion inside the casing, a filling port being formed through the wall in fluid communication with the developer accommodating portion; a cylindrical wall portion formed on the wall at a circumferential edge of the filling port and protruding from the wall outside the casing, the cylindrical wall portion having an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and an end surface positioned between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface; a closure member which is fitted in the cylindrical wall portion, while being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion, to close the filling port; and a protruding portion that is provided on at least one of the end surface and the closure member at its contact portion between the end surface and the closure member and that protrudes toward the other one of the end surface and the closure member.

Abstract: A method of reusing a developing device that can be detachably mounted in a body of an image-forming device includes: preparing a used developing device that includes a developer-carrying member that carries a developer thereon, and a gear mechanism having a plurality of gears that transfer a driving force inputted from the image-forming device to the developer-carrying member; and replacing at least one gear in the gear mechanism with at least one replacement gear that has stronger gear teeth than the at least one original gear.

Abstract: An image carrying member cartridge includes an image carrying member; a charging device disposed along an axial direction of the image carrying member for charging the image carrying member; a cleaning member disposed below the charging device and along the axial direction of the image carrying member and provided to remove adherents from the image carrying member; and a cartridge housing that accommodates the image carrying member, the charging device and the cleaning member. The cartridge housing includes a sheet outlet below the cleaning member for discharging a recording medium. Ends of the cleaning member in the axial direction of the image carrying member are located closer to a center of the image carrying member in the axial direction as compared with ends of an opening of the sheet outlet in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus that includes a drum cartridge, a developer cartridge, a coupling mechanism for interlocking the drum cartridge and the developer cartridge, a releasing cam for releasing the interlock provided by the coupling mechanism, and a toner accommodating chamber for accommodating toner. When the amount of toner accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber is greater than or equal to a prescribed amount, the drum cartridge and the developer cartridge are interlocked by the coupling mechanism. When the amount of toner drops below the prescribed amount so that the chamber is empty, the releasing cam releases the interlock provided by the coupling mechanism.

Abstract: A brush holder for use in a process cartridge is integrally formed with a brush attachment portion, an extended end portion, a central extended portion, a downward extended portion, an electrode connection portion, and an electrode portion. The brush holder is formed longer than a brush. A holder supporting wall is provided at a brush mounting portion. The brush holder is supported by fitting a recess defined between the brush attachment portion and the downward extended portion onto the holder supporting wall.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which can form an image without defective transfer even if a resistance value of a transfer device is so high that the defective transfer tends to occur. Before starting operation of printing an image on a sheet, a transfer current is passed to a transfer roller so as to detect a voltage value V of a transfer voltage. When it is determined that the detected voltage value V does not exceed a reference voltage value Vr (resistance value of the transfer roller does not exceed a reference limiting value), an operation mode of the printing operation is set to a first printing mode. When it is determined that the detected voltage value V exceeds a reference voltage value Vr (resistance value of the transfer roller exceeds a reference limiting value), the operation mode of the printing operation is set to a second printing mode.

Abstract: A laser printer is configured to move a pinch roller, provided to a main body casing and operating in a position in which the pinch roller obstructs attachment/detachment of a process cartridge, to a position in which the pinch roller does not obstruct attachment/detachment of the process cartridge. Such a configuration can reduce the number of components of the process cartridge compared with the case of incorporating the pinch roller in the process cartridge. In addition, the configuration can reduce the size of the laser printer since it is unnecessary to attach/detach the process cartridge so as to avoid the pinch roller.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided with a process cartridge having a image carrying member, a main body including an attaching section to which the process cartridge is detachably attached, and an image transfer member to be press-contacted to the image carrying member for image transfer when the process cartridge is completely attached to the attaching section. The process cartridge may be configured to apply a pressing force to the attaching section when the process cartridge is not completely attached to the attaching section, and the image forming device may further include a separating mechanism configured to allow the press-contact between the image carrying member and the image transfer member when the process cartridge is completely attached to the attaching section, the separating mechanism operating to separate the image carrying member and the image transfer member when the pressing force is applied by the process cartridge to the attaching section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover member that is capable of being opened and closed, wherein the cover member includes a discharge tray that is capable of holding printed recording medium, and an automatic document reader that is provided above the discharge tray, wherein when the cover member is opened to a predetermined position, the automatic document reader supports the printed recording medium placed on the discharge tray so that the printed recording medium does not fall therefrom when the cover member is open.