Abstract: Construction is achieved by which it is possible definitely prevent the occurrence of creep between a pulley 2b and an outer ring 7f. Trapezoidal shaped concave sections are formed such that the angle of intersection ? between the inside surfaces 23 on both sides of each concave section 17a of knurling 19a of the outer ring 7f is within the range 45°???120°. Moreover, the depth h in the radial direction of the concave sections 17a and the diameter D of the circumscribed circle of the tip end surfaces 22 of the convex sections 18a are regulated so as to satisfy the relationship 0.004D?h?0.015D, and the length L in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 21 of the concave sections 17a is regulated within the range 0.01D?L?0.03D.

Abstract: Provided is a contact member that comes in contact with an inner surface of a cylindrical member being rotated to press against the inner surface, is supported within the cylindrical member, is provided along the inner surface when viewed in an axial direction of the cylindrical member while being supported by the cylindrical member, has an arc shape in which both ends thereof face each other, and has first thin-wall regions which are respectively formed at both ends thereof in a circumferential direction to have thicknesses lower than thicknesses of other regions.

Abstract: Construction is achieved by which it is possible definitely prevent the occurrence of creep between a pulley 2b and an outer ring 7f. Trapezoidal shaped concave sections are formed such that the angle of intersection ? between the inside surfaces 23 on both sides of each concave section 17a of knurling 19a of the outer ring 7f is within the range 45°???120°. Moreover, the depth h in the radial direction of the concave sections 17a and the diameter D of the circumscribed circle of the tip end surfaces 22 of the convex sections 18a are regulated so as to satisfy the relationship 0.004D?h?0.015D, and the length L in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 21 of the concave sections 17a is regulated within the range 0.01D?L?0.03D.

Abstract: Construction is achieved by which it is possible definitely prevent the occurrence of creep between a pulley 2b and an outer ring 7f. Trapezoidal shaped concave sections are formed such that the angle of intersection ? between the inside surfaces 23 on both sides of each concave section 17a of knurling 19a of the outer ring 7f is within the range 45°???120°. Moreover, the depth h in the radial direction of the concave sections 17a and the diameter D of the circumscribed circle of the tip end surfaces 22 of the convex sections 18a are regulated so as to satisfy the relationship 0.004 D?h?0.015 D, and the length L in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 21 of the concave sections 17a is regulated within the range 0.01 D?L?0.03 D.

Abstract: Provided is a contact member that comes in contact with an inner surface of a cylindrical member being rotated to press against the inner surface, is supported within the cylindrical member, is provided along the inner surface when viewed in an axial direction of the cylindrical member while being supported by the cylindrical member, has an arc shape in which both ends thereof face each other, and has first thin-wall regions which are respectively formed at both ends thereof in a circumferential direction to have thicknesses lower than thicknesses of other regions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that holds a toner image, a rotary developing device including a plurality of developing units to develop an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with toner by supplying the toner from the developing unit opposing the image carrier, a foreign-substance receiving plate that receives a falling foreign substance, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the transferred toner image on the recording medium. Each of the developing units includes a developer container that stores developer containing magnetic carriers and toner, and a developing roller that supplies the toner in the developer for development of the electrostatic latent image. The rotary developing device further supports a foreign-substance collecting member that magnetically collects a magnetic foreign substance on the foreign-substance receiving plate.

Abstract: Construction is achieved by which it is possible definitely prevent the occurrence of creep between a pulley 2b and an outer ring 7f. Trapezoidal shaped concave sections are formed such that the angle of intersection ? between the inside surfaces 23 on both sides of each concave section 17a of knurling 19a of the outer ring 7f is within the range 45°???120°. Moreover, the depth h in the radial direction of the concave sections 17a and the diameter D of the circumscribed circle of the tip end surfaces 22 of the convex sections 18a are regulated so as to satisfy the relationship 0.004 D?h?0.015 D, and the length L in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 21 of the concave sections 17a is regulated within the range 0.01 D?L?0.03 D.

Abstract: A detachable unit to be attached to a unit-receiving apparatus includes a unit body, a rotary member, an urging member urging the rotary member toward a downstream side in a detachable-unit-attaching direction, a contact-receiving portion provided on the rotary member, first and second support-receiving portions provided at respective ends of the rotary member, first and second supports provided at respective positions of the unit body corresponding to the positions of the first and second support-receiving portions, and first and second rotary support members provided between the first support-receiving portion and the first support and between the second support-receiving portion and the second support, respectively, and supporting the respective ends of the rotary member such that the rotary member is rotatable. The first and second rotary support members are supported in such a manner as to be movable in a detachable-unit-attaching-and-detaching direction.

Abstract: A cleaner includes a cleaning member that includes a tip portion that comes into contact with an image carrier that carries an image, and that removes and cleans developer adhered to the image carrier, a cleaning container which stores the developer removed by the cleaning member, a cleaning support that includes a cleaning supporting portion that supports a proximal end of the cleaning member, and a damped portion, a damping body that includes a first and a second damping bodies arranged in contact with the damped portion and that regulates vibration of the cleaning support, and a fixing member of the damping body that includes a first fixing portion arranged to face the damped portion with the first damping body, and a second fixing portion arranged to face the damped portion with the second damping body, and that is supported by the cleaning container.

Abstract: An image forming device has: an image forming body on which an image is formed in a state in which the image forming body is charged; a charging device having plural discharge portions, and charging the image forming body by discharging of plural discharge portions; and a control section that, when forming the image on the image forming body, operates the plural discharge portions, and when not forming the image on the image forming body, switches between a state of operating some of the plural discharge portions and decreasing output of or stopping the discharge portions other than the some discharge portions, and a state of operating some other of the plural discharge portions and decreasing output of or stopping the discharge portions other than the some other discharge portions.

Abstract: A discharger includes a discharging member that faces a member to be charged and discharges electricity by applying voltage; and a grid member that is disposed between the discharging member and the member to be charged and regulates electric discharge from the discharging member. The grid member has holes with a predetermined shape and extending through the grid member from the discharging member toward the member to be charged, and has a first region with the holes arranged at a first inclination angle, a second region with the holes arranged at a second inclination angle, and a boundary between the first and second regions and extending in the extending direction of the discharging member. When the first region is symmetrically projected onto the second region with respect to the boundary, an arrangement pattern of the holes in the first region and an arrangement pattern of the holes in the second region are positionally displaced relative to each other.

Abstract: A cleaning unit includes: a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the image carrier; a cleaning container that stores developer removed by the cleaning member; a cleaning support that is formed by bending a plate and includes a cleaning-supporting portion supporting the other end portion of the cleaning member and a supported portion angled with respect to the cleaning-supporting portion by bending; a supporting-portion-of-support that includes a facing portion facing the supported portion, is provided at the cleaning container, and supports the cleaning support; a damping member that is disposed between the supported portion and the facing portion, is formed so as to be elastically deformable, and regulates vibration of the cleaning member; and a securing member that secures the cleaning support to the supporting-portion-of-support at a position adjacent to the damping member.

Abstract: An electrical connection structure includes a holder that holds an electric terminal provided with an electrical contact portion having elasticity and held such that the electrical contact portion is elastically deformable; a guiding member fitted to the holder and capable of guiding the holder in first and second directions, which are substantially orthogonal to each other, to move the electrical contact portion to a predetermined contact position on a conductive member, the first direction being a direction in which the electrical contact portion is elastically deformed by being pressed against the conductive member; and a restraining member that comes into contact with the holder that has been guided by the guiding member to move the electrical contact portion to the contact position, the restraining member restraining the holder from being moved in a direction opposite to the first direction by an elastic reaction force applied to the holder.

Abstract: A discharger includes a discharger main body that is adapted to be attached to and detached from a holding member of an image forming apparatus, a first electrode member that is formed of a wire rod, a second electrode member, a voltage for discharge being applied between the first and second electrode members, an electrode cleaning member that cleans the first electrode member, a detected portion that is integrally disposed to the electrode cleaning member, a detecting member that detects the detected portion while the electrode cleaning member is in a predetermined reference position, a cleaning member conveyer that conveys the electrode cleaning member in both directions which toward and away from the reference position, and a movement control unit that controls a movement of the cleaning member conveyer by the conveyer.

Abstract: A maintenance system includes a maintenance device and a control device that controls the operation of the maintenance device. The control device is configured to activate the maintenance device automatically when a numerical value associated with the operation of a maintenance target device reaches a predetermined threshold value and to activate the maintenance device when it receives an instruction from a user. When the control device is instructed to activate the maintenance device by an instruction from the user, the control device changes the preset threshold value such that the operation interval of the maintenance device becomes smaller.

Abstract: A cleaner includes a cleaning member having a distal end in contact with an image carrier so as to remove developer attached to the image carrier, a cleaning container that stores the removed developer, a cleaning support body including a cleaning support portion extending from the distal end to a proximal end of the cleaning member so as to support the proximal end of the cleaning member, a bent portion bent from the cleaning support portion, and a supported portion supported by the cleaning container, a vibration-damping body in contact with an end of the bent portion opposite the cleaning support portion so as to regulate vibration of the cleaning support body, and a vibration-damping-body fixing member supported by the cleaning container and having a clamp portion that clamps the vibration-damping body between the vibration-damping-body fixing member and the end of the bent portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that holds a toner image, a rotary developing device including a plurality of developing units to develop an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with toner by supplying the toner from the developing unit opposing the image carrier, a foreign-substance receiving plate that receives a falling foreign substance, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes the transferred toner image on the recording medium. Each of the developing units includes a developer container that stores developer containing magnetic carriers and toner, and a developing roller that supplies the toner in the developer for development of the electrostatic latent image. The rotary developing device further supports a foreign-substance collecting member that magnetically collects a magnetic foreign substance on the foreign-substance receiving plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a plurality of charging members, each applying charging voltage between the charging member and corresponding charged body, a plurality of cleaning members, each removing adherent matters by reciprocating in a contact state with each of the charging members, each waiting in a waiting position in a non-cleaning time, a plurality of detection units, each detection unit detecting by availability of electric connection whether each of the cleaning members is located in the waiting position, and a series circuit that connects the plurality of detection units in series, wherein, when the plurality of cleaning members clean the plurality of charging members: an outward movement is started from a cleaning member on a side corresponding to one end of the series circuit, and a homeward movement is completed by the cleaning member on the side corresponding to the one end of the series circuit.

Abstract: A discharger includes a discharging member that faces a member to be charged and discharges electricity by applying voltage thereto; and a grid member that is disposed between the discharging member and the member to be charged and regulates electric discharge from the discharging member. The grid member has holes with a predetermined shape that extend therethrough from the discharging member toward the member to be charged, and has a first region with the holes arranged at a first inclination angle, a second region with the holes arranged at a second inclination angle, and a boundary between the first and second regions that extends in the direction of the discharging member. When the first region is symmetrically projected onto the second region with respect to the boundary, arrangement patterns of the holes in the first and second regions are positionally displaced relative to each other.

Abstract: A powder transporting device includes: a dropping path through which developer drops; a loosening member that is arranged in the dropping path, and loosens the developer applied on an inner wall of the dropping path; a supporting portion that is provided on the inner wall of the developing path, and supports the loosening member; a rotary member that includes: a rotary center; and a reciprocation applying portion that is located at a position eccentric from the rotary center, the rotary member being arranged within the dropping path and rotationally driven; and a reciprocation applied portion that is provided on the loosening member, and is brought into contact with the reciprocation applying member, wherein the loosening member is moved along the inner wall of the dropping path by contact between the reciprocation applying member and the reciprocation applied portion while the rotary member rotates.