Abstract: A conveying device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a conveying body, a conveyance passage, and an inlet portion. The conveying body has an elastic material and is configured to convey one of toner and developer. The conveyance passage includes the conveying body therein. The one of toner and developer is conveyed to the conveyance passage in a conveying direction as the conveying body rotates. The inlet portion is formed at an upstream side of the conveyance passage and is configured to pass the one of toner and developer therethrough into the conveyance passage. The conveying body has an exposed portion exposed through the inlet portion being exposed inside the conveyance passage. A portion of the exposed portion of the conveying body includes a high rigidity portion having rigidity greater than rigidity of a non high rigidity portion of the conveying body.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image hearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer in a developing range to transport developer by rotation, a support to support the developer bearer and including a holder mount, a rod-shaped developer regulator disposed facing a surface of the developer bearer across a gap, and a holder secured to the holder mount of the support to hold the rod-shaped developer regulator. The rod-shaped developer regulator extends in an axial direction of the developer bearer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry developer to a developer range where the developer bearer faces a latent image bearer, a development casing forming a developer storing part storing the developer to supply to the surface of developer bearer, a developer through opening communicating a space in where the developer bearer is disposed and the developer storing part, a cover sheet covering the developer through opening at the developing casing, and when the cover sheet is removed, the developer pass through the developer through opening, a sheet collecting shaft to collect the cover sheet by rotating, and a transmitting mechanism to transmit a force for rotating to the sheet collecting shaft. The transmitting mechanism does not transmit the force to the collecting shaft after the cover sheet is collected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication connector arranged on an image-forming apparatus body to provide communications with an information storage device including a guide portion and installed on a detachable device. The connector includes a body terminal which, when the detachable device is attached to the apparatus body, contacts a contact terminal of the information storage device, and a body projection extending in a moving direction of the detachable device and having a slope at its distal end. The body terminal is arranged on the body projection and configured not to project further than the slope, to be exposed to outside from a portion other than the slope, and to contact the contact terminal inside the guide portion when the body projection is inserted thereinto. An inclination angle ? of an end portion of the slope is not smaller than an inclination angle ?1 of the slope.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a development casing in which a developer conveyance channel is formed facing the developer bearer through a communicating area, a developer supply member disposed in the developer conveyance channel, a developer regulator disposed facing a lower portion of the developer bearer to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer, and a sheet member that is removably installed to seal the communicating area and passes through a gap between the developer regulator and the developer bearer and an opening formed in the development casing. A first end of the sheet member is retained downstream from the gap in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer, and the sheet member is fixed to the development casing at a position across the communicating area from the first end with a second end positioned outside the development casing.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry developer to a developer range where the developer bearer faces a latent image bearer, a development casing forming a developer storing part storing the developer to supply to the surface of developer bearer, a developer through opening communicating a space in where the developer bearer is disposed and the developer storing part, a cover sheet covering the developer through opening at the developing casing, and when the cover sheet is removed, the developer pass through the developer through opening, a sheet collecting shaft to collect the cover sheet by rotating, and a transmitting mechanism to transmit a force for rotating to the sheet collecting shaft. The transmitting mechanism does not transmit the force to the collecting shaft after the cover sheet is collected.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry developer, disposed facing an image bearer, a developer conveyance member disposed facing the developer bearer, to agitate and supply developer to the developer bearer, a decompression portion surrounded by upper walls of the developing device and including multiple vents arranged in a longitudinal direction of the developing device and a filter. A number of the multiple vents is greater in either end portion than in a center portion in the longitudinal direction of the developing device.

Abstract: A powder container includes a cylindrical container body to contain a powder, having an opening in one end thereof, to convey the powder contained in the container body to the opening with rotation of the container body, and having a container-body projection provided on an outer circumferential surface of the container body; and a cylindrical holder, into which the end of the container body having the opening is inserted, to hold the container body rotatably, having a powder outlet through which the powder is discharged from the holder and a holder projection provided on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The container-body projection repetitively contacts and separates from the holder projection with rotation of the container body to vibrate the container body and the holder.

Abstract: A powder container includes a powder containing compartment having a powder outlet connectable to a horizontally extending tube of an apparatus in conjunction with installation of the powder container in the apparatus, a removably insertable plug member to open and close the powder outlet in conjunction with installation of the powder container, and at least one discrimination protrusion projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the powder container. The powder contained in the powder containing compartment is discharged from the powder outlet thereof to the tube. A downstream end of the discrimination protrusion is positioned downstream from a downstream end of the powder outlet of the powder containing compartment in an installation direction in which the powder container is installed in the apparatus, and at least one of shape, arrangement, and quantity of the discrimination protrusion is unique to the type of powder contained in the powder container.

Abstract: A powder storage container capable of preventing erroneous opening of a powder loading port. The powder storage container includes a powder storage part configured to store a developer used for image forming, a powder discharge part provided on one end part of the powder storage part to discharge the developer stored in the powder storage part, a gripping part protruding through an end face of the one end part side of the powder storage part, a powder loading port causing an inner space of the powder storage part and an outer portion of the powder storage part to communicate with each other, and a sealing member capable of sealing the powder loading port. The powder loading port is enclosed by the gripping part.

Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism includes a connection for integrally rotating a driving shaft on the driving source side and a driven shaft of a rotary member. The connection includes a tubular boss portion; and a fitting shaft portion fitted into the tubular boss portion. An inner shaft portion is provided in a projecting manner from bottom center of the tubular boss portion toward inside the tubular boss portion. An inner recessed portion into which the inner shaft portion fits is provided in center of a leading edge plane for fitting of the fitting shaft portion. Micro gaps are provided between an inner surface of the tubular boss portion and an outer surface of the fitting shaft portion and between an inner surface of the inner recessed portion and an outer surface of the inner shaft portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication connector arranged on an image-forming apparatus body to provide communications with an information storage device including a guide portion and installed on a detachable device. The connector includes a body terminal which, when the detachable device is attached to the apparatus body, contacts a contact terminal of the information storage device, and a body projection extending in a moving direction of the detachable device and having a slope at its distal end. The body terminal is arranged on the body projection and configured not to project further than the slope, to be exposed to outside from a portion other than the slope, and to contact the contact terminal inside the guide portion when the body projection is inserted thereinto. An inclination angle ? of an end portion of the slope is not smaller than an inclination angle ?1 of the slope.

Abstract: A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer through an opening formed in the development casing, a magnetic field generator, a developer regulator disposed facing the developer bearer, a first seal member to cover a clearance between the latent image bearer and a rim of the development casing upstream from the opening, and a second seal member. The first seal member includes a first end portion fixed to the rim of the development casing and a second end portion in contact with the latent image bearer, and the second seal member includes a first end portion fixed to an inner face of the development casing farther from the latent image bearer than the first seal member, and a second end portion hanging to contact the developer carried on the developer bearer downstream from the developer regulator.

Abstract: An imaging device provided with a latent image carrying body rotatably disposed to carry a latent image, a developing unit that develops the latent image carried on the carrying body by using a developer containing toner at least, and a duct disposed downstream of the developing unit and having a wall with an upstream suction port and a downstream suction port formed. An air flow path is formed by a surface of the latent image carrying body and a surface of the duct wall, between the upstream suction port and the downstream suction port. A gap of the air flow path is wider at the downstream side than at the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image carrying body.

Abstract: A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer through an opening in the development casing to carry developer, a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer bearer, a developer regulator extending in an axial direction of the developer bearer to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer, and a first axial end seal provided in an axial end portion of the development device outside an image range, in contact with an upstream face of the developer regulator to reduce a size of a clearance between the developer regulator and the development casing.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry developer, disposed facing an image bearer, a developer conveyance member disposed facing the developer bearer, to agitate and supply developer to the developer bearer, a decompression portion surrounded by upper walls of the developing device and including multiple vents arranged in a longitudinal direction of the developing device and a filter. A number of the multiple vents is greater in either end portion than in a center portion in the longitudinal direction of the developing device.

Abstract: A powder container includes a powder containing compartment having a powder outlet connectable to a horizontally extending tube of an apparatus in conjunction with installation of the powder container in the apparatus, a removably insertable plug member to open and close the powder outlet in conjunction with installation of the powder container, and at least one discrimination protrusion projecting from an outer circumferential surface of the powder container. The powder contained in the powder containing compartment is discharged from the powder outlet thereof to the tube. A downstream end of the discrimination protrusion is positioned downstream from a downstream end of the powder outlet of the powder containing compartment in an installation direction in which the powder container is installed in the apparatus, and at least one of shape, arrangement, and quantity of the discrimination protrusion is unique to the type of powder contained in the powder container.