Abstract: An image forming apparatus is described. An image forming apparatus may include an image forming apparatus body and a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable with respect to the body, wherein the unit includes: a frame; a plurality of photosensitive bodies; a plurality of developer cartridges, including developer carriers, detachably mountable on the frame; and a pressing portion provided on the frame for pressing each of the cartridges so that the developer carrier thereof is directed toward the corresponding photosensitive body, each of the cartridges is pivoted to be movable to an imaging position pressed by the pressing portion and a detached position released from the pressing by the pressing portion, and the body is provided with an abutting portion abutting the cartridge located on the detached position thereby pivoting the cartridge and moving the same to the imaging position when the unit is mounted on the body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a photosensitive drum detachably attached to the main body, a light exposure member configured to expose the photosensitive member to light, a developer container configured to store a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive drum, and a supporting member disposed in the main body and configured to support the light exposure member and to hold the developer container detachably. The supporting member is configured to, while holding the developer container, move between a light exposure position where the light exposure member is located proximate to the photosensitive drum and a separation position where the light exposure member is separated from the photosensitive drum while the supporting member holds the developer container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is described. An image forming apparatus may include an image forming apparatus body and a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable with respect to the body, wherein the unit includes: a frame; a plurality of photosensitive bodies; a plurality of developer cartridges, including developer carriers, detachably mountable on the frame; and a pressing portion provided on the frame for pressing each of the cartridges so that the developer carrier thereof is directed toward the corresponding photosensitive body, each of the cartridges is pivoted to be movable to an imaging position pressed by the pressing portion and a detached position released from the pressing by the pressing portion, and the body is provided with an abutting portion abutting the cartridge located on the detached position thereby pivoting the cartridge and moving the same to the imaging position when the unit is mounted on the body.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a cartridge and a unit frame. The cartridge has a cartridge-grip. The unit frame is configured to accommodate the cartridge. The unit frame includes a first plate, a second plate, a first beam, and a second beam. The first plate has a through hole. The first beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. The first beam includes a frame-grip disposed between an upper end of the first beam and a lower end of the first beam. The second beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. When the cartridge is accommodated in the unit frame, a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the frame-grip is smaller than a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the cartridge-grip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main casing and a cartridge support member. The main casing provides a fulcrum part. The cartridge support member supports a plurality of cartridges and is movable among an internal position in which the cartridge support member is accommodated in the main casing, an external position in which the cartridge support member is pulled outside the main casing, and a cartridge mounting position. The cartridge support member is slidable in a pulled-out direction from the internal position to the external position, and is pivotable between the external position and the cartridge mounting position. The cartridge support member has an upstream portion and a downstream portion disposed downstream of the upstream portion in the pulled-out direction. The cartridge support member pivots about the fulcrum part positioned near the upstream portion when the cartridge support member moves from the external position to the cartridge mounting position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a tray is configured to move between a first position inside an apparatus body and a second position outside the apparatus body. The tray allows a first recording medium to be conveyed from a first receiving portion of the tray when the tray is positioned in the first position. A supply part has a first opening and allows a second recording medium different from the first recording medium to be conveyed through the first opening. A conveying mechanism conveys, in the second direction, the second recording medium supplied from the supply part. The conveying mechanism includes a guide member disposed below the first receiving portion and configured to guide the second recording medium.

Abstract: A developer container including: a housing including an inner surface that defines a filling port for filling developer; a cap mounted to the housing and sealing the filling port; and an agitating member having a rotary shaft and configured to be rotated about the rotary shaft to agitate the developer in the housing, wherein a first end portion of the rotary shaft is supported by the inner surface of the housing and the cap mounted to the housing.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a cartridge and a unit frame. The cartridge has a cartridge-grip. The unit frame is configured to accommodate the cartridge. The unit frame includes a first plate, a second plate, a first beam, and a second beam. The first plate has a through hole. The first beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. The first beam includes a frame-grip disposed between an upper end of the first beam and a lower end of the first beam. The second beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. When the cartridge is accommodated in the unit frame, a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the frame-grip is smaller than a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the cartridge-grip.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a process frame, and a process unit. The plurality of photosensitive drums includes a black photosensitive drum and color photosensitive drums. Black toner is used in the black photosensitive drum. Each of yellow, magenta, and cyan toner is used in one of the color photosensitive drums. The black and color photosensitive drums are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The process frame supports the color photosensitive drums in fixed positions and is detachably mounted on the main body. The process frame is inserted in a mounting direction to be mounted on the main body. The process unit is detachably mounted in the process frame and supports the black photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include an image forming apparatus body and a photosensitive unit detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus body. The photosensitive unit includes: a frame; photosensitive bodies supported by the frame; cartridges including a developer carrier and detachably mountable to the frame; and a pressing portion provided on the frame for pressing the cartridges to direct the developer carrier toward the corresponding photosensitive body. Each cartridge can shift in the frame to a first attitude pressed by the pressing portion, and a second attitude released from the press of the pressing portion and detachable from the frame. The image forming apparatus body is provided with an abutment portion abutting the cartridge in the second attitude thereby bringing the cartridge into the first attitude when the photosensitive unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus body.

Abstract: The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, a gear, a first intermediate gear, a second intermediate gear, a developing roller gear, and a supply roller gear. The supply roller is in contact with the developing roller. The gear is configured to receive a drive force from an outside. The first intermediate gear is provided to a supply roller shaft such that the first intermediate gear is rotatable relative to the supply roller shaft. The developing roller gear is provided to a developing roller shaft such that the developing roller gear is unrotatable relative to the developing roller shaft. The developing roller gear is engaged with the second intermediate gear. The supply roller gear is provided to the supply roller shaft such that the supply roller gear is unrotatable relative to the supply roller shaft. The supply roller gear is engaged with the second intermediate gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a moving unit configured to support a cartridge and to slide in a generally horizontal direction between multiple positions. For example, the positions may include a position where the moving unit is located inside the main body and a position where the moving unit is located outside the main body. Additionally or alternatively, the moving unit may also move between one interior position and another interior position located below the one interior position. The moving unit may be configured to electrically connect electrical contacts between the moving unit and a main body of the image forming apparatus based on its movement. In one example, the moving unit may include two electrical contacts disposed in the sliding direction of the unit, the electrical contacts configured to connect with electrical contacts of the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge, a first unit, and a second unit. The first unit includes a sheet discharge tray and a guide. The cartridge has an accommodating portion configured to accommodate a color material. The guide is positioned below the sheet discharge tray and is configured to guide the cartridge to its assembled position. The first unit has an opening directing downward, and the guide has a lower end. The second unit includes a sheet supply tray positioned below the guide. The first unit and the second unit are pivotally movably connected to each other about a pivot axis to provide a first position and a second position. In the first position, the opening is closed by the second unit and the lower end of the guide is directed toward the sheet supply tray. In the second position, the opening is exposed to an outside.

Abstract: A drum unit is provided, which includes a frame configured such that a development cartridge including a pressed portion is detachably attached thereto, and a pressing member. The development cartridge is movable between a pressed state where the pressed portion is pressed by the pressing member when attached to the frame and a released state where the pressed portion is released from pressing of the pressing member when the development cartridge is attached to the frame. The pressing member includes a pressing section that contacts and presses the pressed portion when the development cartridge is in the pressed state, and a restriction section configured to, when the development cartridge is in the pressing state, restrict movement of the pressed portion in a released direction, in which the pressed portion moves when the development cartridge moves from the pressing state to the released state.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft.