Abstract: A pressing device includes a first pressurization unit; a second pressurization unit that is provided to face the first pressurization unit, and sandwiches and pressurizes a medium moving in a contact region formed between the first pressurization unit and the second pressurization unit; and a contact region variable unit that changes a width dimension of the contact region along a moving direction of the medium in a state of maintaining a contact pressure on an outlet side of the contact region, in varying a contact state of the contact region.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes an accommodating container, a collector, and a remover. The accommodating container has an opening and a receiving port. The collector is in contact with a surface of a cleaned body while rotating, to remove matter on the surface of the cleaned body. The remover has a tip end that is in contact with the surface of the cleaned body to remove the matter. The accommodating container accommodates the collector and the remover. The collector and the remover are exposed to the cleaned body through the opening. The accommodating container receives, through the receiving port, the matter removed from the cleaned body. The accommodating container is supported in such a manner that the accommodating container can rotate to a position where the matter collected in the accommodating container do not leak through the opening, so as to be separated from the cleaned body.

Abstract: A developer discharge structure includes a tube-shaped container portion disposed in an apparatus body and holding developer, the container portion having an outlet port that allows the developer to be discharged to a recovery container; an opening-closing member disposed in the container portion, opening the outlet port when the recovery container is positioned in an attached position in which the recovery container is attached to the apparatus body, and closing the outlet port when the recovery container is positioned in a detached position in which the recovery container is detached from the apparatus body; and an operating member disposed in the apparatus body and performing a detachment preparation operation, in which a member disposed adjacent to the container portion is prepared for detachment from the apparatus body, to restrict movement of the opening-closing member from a position in which the opening-closing member closes the outlet port.

Abstract: A developer discharge structure includes a tube-shaped container portion disposed in an apparatus body and holding developer, the container portion having an outlet port that allows the developer to be discharged to a recovery container; an opening-closing member disposed in the container portion, opening the outlet port when the recovery container is positioned in an attached position in which the recovery container is attached to the apparatus body, and closing the outlet port when the recovery container is positioned in a detached position in which the recovery container is detached from the apparatus body; and an operating member disposed in the apparatus body and performing a detachment preparation operation, in which a member disposed adjacent to the container portion is prepared for detachment from the apparatus body, to restrict movement of the opening-closing member from a position in which the opening-closing member closes the outlet port.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image holding body assembly that includes an image holding body, a developing assembly that includes a developer holding body, an urging member, a contacting and separating mechanism, and a gap forming mechanism. The image holding body assembly is inserted into and pulled from an assembly receiving portion. The urging member urges the developing assembly so that the developer holding body is pressed against the image holding body. The contacting and separating mechanism is disposed on the front side and operated to separate the image holding body assembly and the developing assembly from each other against an urging force. The gap forming mechanism forms a gap between the image holding body and the developer holding body on the rear side against the urging force. The size of the gap is larger than that existing before the image holding body assembly is pulled.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image holding body assembly that includes an image holding body, a developing assembly that includes a developer holding body, an urging member, a contacting and separating mechanism, and a gap forming mechanism. The image holding body assembly is inserted into and pulled from an assembly receiving portion. The urging member urges the developing assembly so that the developer holding body is pressed against the image holding body. The contacting and separating mechanism is disposed on the front side and operated to separate the image holding body assembly and the developing assembly from each other against an urging force. The gap forming mechanism forms a gap between the image holding body and the developer holding body on the rear side against the urging force. The size of the gap is larger than that existing before the image holding body assembly is pulled.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a frame that includes a pair of standing walls spaced apart from each other, and a linking section linking the pair of standing walls; and an intermediate transfer section that includes support rolls extending between the pair of standing walls and supported by the pair of standing walls, and an intermediate transfer belt held by the support rolls and circulating. The apparatus further includes built-in bodies, at least, into each of which a photoreceptor roll having a shaft with protruding both ends and rotatable around the shaft is incorporated, and which are arranged along the intermediate transfer belt while being supported in a state that the both ends of the shaft penetrate the pair of standing walls, and each of which is fixed to a first standing wall of the pair of standing walls by a screw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member rotatably supported in a body of the image forming apparatus, and bearing a developer image; a developing device including a developing container, a developing member, and a transporting member, the developing container containing a developer, the developing member disposed so as to oppose the image bearing member, the developing member having thereon the developer in the developing container and rotating to develop a latent image, the transporting member transporting the developer in the developing container while stirring the developer, the developing device being unremovably supported with respect to the body of the image forming apparatus; and a damping member disposed with respect to an axial direction of a rotational axis of the developing member so as to be situated at an end portion of the developing container in the axial direction, and restraining vibration of the developing container.

Abstract: A gear center-distance maintaining mechanism includes a first support body that rotatably supports a first gear to be rotated by driving force from a driving unit, a second support body that rotatably supports a second gear to be meshed with the first gear so as to transmit rotational force from the first gear to a rotating body, the second support body being movable relative to the first support body in a direction such that the second gear moves away from the first gear, an arc-shaped face provided in the second support body and centered on an axis of the second gear, and a restricting portion provided in the first support body and shaped like an arc centered on an axis of the first gear, the restricting portion restricting the movement of the second support body relative to the first support body by contact with the arc-shaped face.

Abstract: A mounting structure of a removable member includes a body; a removable member mounted to and dismounted from the body; a functional member provided at the removable member and having a determined function; a first gear provided at the removable member and transmitting power to the functional member; a second gear provided at the body, and engaging the first gear and transmitting the power to the first gear when the removable member is mounted to the body; and a covering member provided at the body. The covering member moves to an engageable position where the first and second gears are engageable with each other when the removable member is mounted to the body. The covering member covers at least a portion of the second gear from an engagement side of the first gear by moving from the engageable position when the removable member is dismounted from the body.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an image forming unit including: a development unit that includes a development member; a photosensitive unit that includes a photosensitive member; a transfer unit that is disposed to face the photosensitive member; and an elastic member that is attached to the transfer unit and the development unit and urges the development unit toward the transfer unit to align the development unit and the photosensitive member with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a frame that includes a pair of standing walls spaced apart from each other, and a linking section linking the pair of standing walls; and an intermediate transfer section that includes support rolls extending between the pair of standing walls and supported by the pair of standing walls, and an intermediate transfer belt held by the support rolls and circulating. The apparatus further includes built-in bodies, at least, into each of which a photoreceptor roll having a shaft with protruding both ends and rotatable around the shaft is incorporated, and which are arranged along the intermediate transfer belt while being supported in a state that the both ends of the shaft penetrate the pair of standing walls, and each of which is fixed to a first standing wall of the pair of standing walls by a screw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member rotatably supported in a body of the image forming apparatus, and bearing a developer image; a developing device including a developing container, a developing member, and a transporting member, the developing container containing a developer, the developing member disposed so as to oppose the image bearing member, the developing member having thereon the developer in the developing container and rotating to develop a latent image, the transporting member transporting the developer in the developing container while stirring the developer, the developing device being unremovably supported with respect to the body of the image forming apparatus; and a damping member disposed with respect to an axial direction of a rotational axis of the developing member so as to be situated at an end portion of the developing container in the axial direction, and restraining vibration of the developing container.

Abstract: A toner cartridge mounting structure includes a toner cartridge and a developing member. The toner cartridge having a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner, a toner supplying opening through which the toner in the toner accommodating portion is supplied, and a supplying opening shutter for opening and closing the toner supplying opening. The developing member has a toner receiving opening and a receiving opening shutter for opening and closing the toner receiving opening. The toner supplying opening being higher than the toner receiving opening, and the supplying opening shutter being opened after the receiving opening shutter is opened, by the operation of mounting the toner cartridge in an apparatus body.

Abstract: A mounting structure of a removable member includes a body; a removable member mounted to and dismounted from the body; a functional member provided at the removable member and having a determined function; a first gear provided at the removable member and transmitting power to the functional member; a second gear provided at the body, and engaging the first gear and transmitting the power to the first gear when the removable member is mounted to the body; and a covering member provided at the body. The covering member moves to an engageable position where the first and second gears are engageable with each other when the removable member is mounted to the body. The covering member covers at least a portion of the second gear from an engagement side of the first gear by moving from the engageable position when the removable member is dismounted from the body.

Abstract: A gear center-distance maintaining mechanism includes a first support body that rotatably supports a first gear to be rotated by driving force from a driving unit, a second support body that rotatably supports a second gear to be meshed with the first gear so as to transmit rotational force from the first gear to a rotating body, the second support body being movable relative to the first support body in a direction such that the second gear moves away from the first gear, an arc-shaped face provided in the second support body and centered on an axis of the second gear, and a restricting portion provided in the first support body and shaped like an arc centered on an axis of the first gear, the restricting portion restricting the movement of the second support body relative to the first support body by contact with the arc-shaped face.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer supporter that includes: a magnet member that has a plurality of magnetic poles; and a cylinder member; and a thickness regulation member wherein, of the plurality of the magnetic poles, a magnetic pole, which is placed at a position nearest to the thickness regulation member downstream in a rotation direction of the cylinder member from the thickness regulation member, has a maximum position of a normal magnetic flux density distribution, and the maximum position is placed outside the area of angle ? downstream in the rotation direction of the cylinder member from the thickness regulation member, and wherein the diameter of the cylinder member is D, the projection width is W in a case where the thickness regulation member is projected onto the surface of the cylinder member, and the angle ? is 180×W/(D×?).

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchangeable toner cartridge which can be attached to or detached from an apparatus main body. The toner cartridge includes the toner transfer member which is provided along a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and which can rotate. At the first range of the upstream side in a toner transfer direction the toner transfer member is formed into a substantially spiral shape, and at the second range of the downstream side in the toner transfer direction on a side of a toner supply port, toner transfer member has a shape different from that of the first range.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an image forming unit including: a development unit that includes a development member; a photosensitive unit that includes a photosensitive member; a transfer unit that is disposed to face the photosensitive member; and an elastic member that is attached to the transfer unit and the development unit and urges the development unit toward the transfer unit to align the development unit and the photosensitive member with each other.

Abstract: A toner cartridge mounting structure includes a toner cartridge and a developing member. The toner cartridge having a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner, a toner supplying opening through which the toner in the toner accommodating portion is supplied, and a supplying opening shutter for opening and closing the toner supplying opening. The developing member has a toner receiving opening and a receiving opening shutter for opening and closing the toner receiving opening. The toner supplying opening being higher than the toner receiving opening, and the supplying opening shutter being opened after the receiving opening shutter is opened, by the operation of mounting the toner cartridge in an apparatus body.