Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller; a developing pressing member for pressing the developing cartridge; a first developing guide; and a second developing guide. The developing cartridge is movable among a detachable position; a contact position at which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum; and a separated position at which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum. The developing pressing member presses the developing cartridge to place the developing cartridge at the contact position. The developing pressing member is disabled from pressing the developing cartridge to place the developing cartridge at the separated position lower than the contact position. The first developing guide can guide movement of the developing cartridge between the detachable position and the contact position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a guide portion provided to a supporting member, engages a cartridge and guides the cartridge, to move the cartridge toward a mounting portion. A regulated portion provided to a frame, and a regulating portion provided to the supporting member, regulates the position of the regulated portion when the cartridge is at a position not engaged with the guide portion. The supporting member is configured with an upstream side of a light emitting surface being opened with regard to mounting the cartridge to the mounting portion in the mounting direction. A gap is formed between the frame and the light emitting surface when the regulated portion is in contact with the regulating portion and the position of the regulated portion is being regulated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a correcting portion to correct gradation of inputted image data on the basis of a correction condition, an image forming device to form, on a recording material, a toner image corresponding to the corrected image data, a mounting portion, an executing portion to execute an output process for forming and outputting, on the recording material, a predetermined toner image for generating the correction condition, the predetermined toner image including a plurality of image regions different in density, an input portion to permit input of an execution instruction of the output process by an operator, and a controller to control notification of information to the operator. The controller provides notification prompting exchange of the fixing portions in certain cases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a tray for a toner cartridge slidably coupled to the main body and configured to be pushed into and pulled out from the main body; a lever hinge-coupled to a portion of the tray for the toner cartridge and configured to rotate through a push-in/pull-out operation of the tray; a link member hinge-coupled to a portion of the lever and configured to move to a push-in/pull-out direction of the tray through rotation of the lever and simultaneously to perform pressure and pressure release on at least one customer replacement unit memory (CRUM) contact unit located in an inside of the main body; and a support frame configured to elastically support the CRUM contact unit to a direction that a photosensitive drum provided in the toner cartridge is spaced from an image transfer unit located in the main body.

Abstract: A drawer, which is included in an electronic apparatus and an image forming apparatus, includes a drawing portion, a support shaft extending in a removing direction of the drawing portion, a handle at a downstream end of the support shaft, a locking portion at an upstream end of the support shaft, and a fixing member on the drawing portion. A rotation of the handle rotates the support shaft and the locking portion together between an unlocked state in which the drawing portion is fixed and a locked state in which the drawing portion is movable. The locking portion includes a fitting projection fitting to the fixing member in the locked state. The fitting projection includes a first wall extending from a root of the fitting projection, a second wall configured to contact the fixing member in the locked state, and a slanted portion inclined toward the removing direction.

Abstract: A cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the cartridge including i) a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof; and ii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the developing roller, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the developing roller to the developing roller and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein when t

Abstract: A roller unit includes: a first roller including, at one end, a shaft having a cut-out portion; a bearing that supports the shaft and forms a space for accommodating an object disposed in the cut-out portion; and a switching member including a shaft part that can be disposed in the cut-out portion, and a separating part that is continuous with the shaft part and that, when the shaft part is disposed in the cut-out portion, comes into contact with a unit including a second roller to separate the first and second roller. When the shaft part rotates with the shaft and moves from the cut-out portion to the space, the separating part comes out of contact with the unit, bringing the first roller and the second roller into a state in which the first roller and the second roller push each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a tray on which a plurality of developing units are mounted, and a position adjustment unit that is disposed on at least one side of the tray, is movable with respect to the tray, and rotatably supports the plurality of developing units. As the position adjustment unit is moved with respect to the tray, the plurality of developing units are rotated and positions of the plurality of developing units are adjusted by the position adjustment unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a door configured to be connected to the main body by a hinge; a feeding part configured to include a feeding roller for feeding a paper and a pressure roller pressurized to the feeding roller by elastic force of an elastic member to form a nip together with the feeding roller; and a movable member configured to reduce the elastic force applied to the pressure roller so that the pressure roller is moved in a nip releasing direction according to an opening operation of the door.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a process cartridge and a main body with an opening and a cover, is provided. The process cartridge includes a drum cartridge, a toner cartridge, and a switching member. The switching member switches states in the process cartridge between a first state, wherein the toner cartridge is restricted from being detached, and a second state, wherein the toner cartridge is released from the restriction. The process cartridge is movable between an attached position to be placed entirely inside the main body and a detached position to be entirely outside the main body. The main body includes a restrictor to restrict the process cartridge from moving from an intermediate position toward the detached position. While the process cartridge is restricted by the restrictor, a supportive part in the cover supports the process cartridge with the switching member being at least partly placed outside the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image fixing portion detachably mountable to a main assembly and including first and second rollers forming an image fixing nip therebetween; a rubbing roller for rubbing treatment of the first roller; a setting portion for setting whether to permit the execution of the treatment when a number of the recording materials fed to the fixing portion exceeds a predetermined number; a storing portion, provided in the fixing portion, for storing set information corresponding to the setting relating to permission of the treatment set through the setting portion; and a controller for controlling execution of the treatment. If the set information in the storing portion indicates the permission of the treatment, the controller executes the treatment. If not, the controller does not execute the treatment.

Abstract: A process cartridge including a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a waste toner container, is provided. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum including a photosensitive layer and a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, a drum cleaner arranged to contact the photosensitive drum, a cleaner frame configured to accommodate the drum cleaner therein, and a waste toner conveyer tube connected with the cleaner frame. The developing cartridge is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge and includes a developer roller. The waste toner container is movable to be attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. When the developing cartridge and the waste toner container are attached to the drum cartridge, the waste toner container is connected with the waste toner conveyer tube and is located on an opposite side of the developing cartridge to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an exposure device, a drive device, a cleaning body, and an exposure device holder. The exposure device is disposed on a motion trajectory between an exposure position and a retracted position and emits light to the image bearer via a lens having a lens surface at the exposure position. The drive device causes the exposure device to move between the exposure position and the retracted position. The cleaning body disposed on the motion trajectory of the exposure device tilts a cleaning surface when contacting with the lens surface of the exposure device. The exposure device holder supports the exposure device while changing an attitude of the exposure device such that the lens surface remains in contact with the cleaning surface of the cleaning body when the exposure device moves from the retracted position to the exposure position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, endless belt, photosensitive drums, setting unit, contacting/separating mechanism, transmitting mechanism, and coupling members. The photosensitive drums are disposed in confrontation with the endless belt and are arranged in a first direction. Each photosensitive drum has an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The setting unit sets the image forming apparatus to a monochrome mode or color mode. The contacting/separating mechanism controls at least one photosensitive drum to contact or separate from the endless in accordance with the set mode. The transmitting mechanism selectively transmits drive power to photosensitive drums. Each coupling member is selectively coupled to the corresponding photosensitive drum and has a coupling axis extending in the second direction.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus that includes: first to third image formation units provided in this order in a traveling direction of a transfer target medium; a detector configured to detect first to third correction patterns formed on the transfer target medium by the first to third image formation units, respectively; and a control unit programed to control image misregistration correction based on a result of detection by the detector. The control unit causes the first and third image formation units to form the first and third correction patterns on the transfer target medium, respectively. When an amount of image misregistration between the first correction pattern and the third correction pattern is less than a predetermined value, the control unit neither causes the second image formation unit to form the second correction pattern, nor executes the image misregistration correction.

Abstract: A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a side plate, a cleaning unit, a waste-toner conveyor unit. The photosensitive drum has a first drum body and a second drum body, each having a photosensitive layer and a supported portion extending from one end of the drum body in a first direction along a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. The side plate supports the supported portions. The cleaning unit has cleaners and conveyors corresponding to the drum bodies so as to remove waste toner from the photosensitive drums and convey the waste toner removed by the cleaners in the first direction. The waste-toner conveyor unit has a collecting conveyor configured to convey the waste toner conveyed by the. The collecting conveyor is disposed between the side plate and the drum bodies. The collecting conveyor is disposed below the first conveyor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a plurality of process cartridges, and a moving member. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotation axis extending in a first direction. The plurality of process cartridges is configured to move between an engaging position and a release position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The photosensitive drum and the positioning member engage with each other in the engaging position, and are disengaged from each other releasing the engagement in the release position. The moving member in a pressing position is configured to exert pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the engaging position. The moving member in the non-pressing position is configured to release the pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the release position.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body, a rotating member, and a position regulating portion. The rotating member includes both end portions in axial direction rotatably supported by a pair of sidewalls. The position regulating portion is located in the container body so as to cover a part of the rotating member. The rotating member includes a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion. The large-diameter portion is formed to have an outer diameter rotatable around a shaft inside the position regulating portion. The small-diameter portion is formed to have an outer diameter smaller than the large-diameter portion. The position regulating portion includes a cut-out portion that regulates passing of the large-diameter portion and permits passing of the small-diameter portion. The small-diameter portion is arranged by being displaced in the axial direction from an inside of the position regulating portion, and the large-diameter portion is arranged inside the position regulating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of performing a first image forming mode that performs image formation at a first peripheral speed ratio representing a ratio of a peripheral speed of a developer bearing member to a peripheral speed of an image bearing member and at a second image forming mode that performs the image formation at a second peripheral speed ratio different from the first peripheral speed ratio. The image forming apparatus also detects an amount of a developer consumed in the image formation, based on an estimate of the amount of the developer consumed by one pixel and the number of pixels at a part at which the developer is consumed. The estimate of the amount of the developer consumed by the one pixel in the first image forming mode is different from that in the second image forming mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a rotatable photosensitive member; and a cartridge detachably mounted in the main assembly, the cartridge including a rotatable developer carrying sleeve for carrying a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive member and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the sleeve, wherein with respect to a mounting direction of the cartridge, the developer accommodating portion is disposed downstream of a rotation axis of the sleeve, and a developing portion where a surface of the sleeve is in contact with or closest to the photosensitive member is disposed downstream of the rotation axis of the sleeve or at the same position as the rotation axis of the sleeve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a cartridge including a developing member by moving the cartridge in the insertion direction, and a pressing member having a first pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member. The pressing member has a second pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion integrally moves with the movement of the pressing member. The image forming apparatus also includes an elastic member configured to press the pressing member so that the second pressing portion presses the cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a main body, a top cover, a first exposure device, a second exposure device, and a linkage mechanism, is provided. The top cover is pivotable about a first pivot axis. The first exposure device and the second exposure device are supported by the top cover pivotably about a second pivot axis and a third pivot axis, respectively. The second exposure device is at a position closer to the first pivot axis than the first exposure device. The linkage mechanism moves the first exposure device from a first retracted position toward a first exposing position and the second exposure device from a second retracted position toward a second exposing position in conjunction with the top cover moving between a first position and a second position. The linkage mechanism moves the first exposure device at a timing later than the second exposure device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming station for forming an unfixed toner image on a sheet; a fixing portion detachably mountable to the apparatus, said fixing portion including a rotatable member for being contacted by an image carrying surface of the sheet; a jam detector for detecting jamming in said fixing portion; an executing portion for executing a cleaning process for said rotatable member after clearance of the jamming; a storing portion, provided on said fixing portion, for storing information as to whether or not the cleaning process is executed; and a display for displaying a state of capability of image forming operation. The executing portion executes the cleaning process before said display displays the state, when the information stored in said storing portion of said fixing portion mounted in said main assembly indicates non-execution of said cleaning process.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing and a developing roller. The casing has an accommodation chamber, first and second ribs, a handle, and first and second pressure members. The accommodation chamber has one end portion and another end portion in a first direction, and an outer surface. The developing roller is positioned at one side of the accommodation chamber in a second direction. The ribs, the handle, and the pressure members are positioned at another side of the accommodation chamber in the second direction. The ribs and the pressure members are positioned at the outer surface. The handle is positioned between the first rib and the second rib in the first direction. The first pressure member is positioned between the handle and the first rib in the first direction. The second pressure member is positioned between the handle and the second rib in the first direction.

Abstract: A printer apparatus has a main unit, a print unit, a driving unit, a control unit, and a power unit. The print unit is provided on one side surface of the main unit. The driving unit is provided on another side surface of the main unit. The control unit and the power unit are installed openably and closably to the main unit such that the driving portion, the control portion, and the power supply portion are exposable to the outside.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes one or plural forming devices that form respective images on a recording medium that is being transported, a fixing device provided on a downstream side with respect to at least one of the forming devices in a direction of transport of the recording medium and that fixes the images formed on the recording medium, a delivering device that receives the recording medium transported in a first direction and discharges the recording medium in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a supplying device that supplies the recording medium to any of the forming devices or to the delivering device. The forming devices, the fixing device, the delivering device, and the supplying device have respective housings and are each joinable to any of the other devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; photosensitive drums juxtaposed with each other in a juxtaposed direction; developing units each including a developing roller; an opening-closing member; and a first contacting-separating member. The opening-closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first contacting-separating member is provided at the opening-closing member and movable relative to the casing in the juxtaposed direction for moving, in a state where the opening-closing member is at the closed position, the developing roller between an adjacent position adjacent to or in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums and a separated position spaced apart from the corresponding photosensitive drums.

Abstract: An imaging device with a two door interlock system for detecting a positional state of orthogonally mounted first and second access doors of the imaging device. The two door interlock system includes a mounting assembly rotatably mounted to a frame of the imaging device and movable by the first access door between a first position and a second position, and an actuator projecting from an inner surface of the second access door, and a sensor positioned on the mounting assembly and providing an output signal that changes between a first state and a second state. The output signal being in the first state when both of the first and second access doors are in their respective closed positions and in the second state when at least one of the first and second access doors are in their respective open positions.

Abstract: A development container includes a positioning portion and a rotation stop portion engaged with and guided by a guide of an image forming apparatus, and a longitudinal positioning portion, at one end in an axial direction of a developer carrying member. In a state where a cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, when a cross-sectional positioning range is defined by using a width, having one end at a point at which the rotation stop portion contacts the guide and another end at a point at which the positioning portion contacts the guide in an attachment direction of the cartridge, and a height being a width of the guide at the point at which the rotation stop portion contacts the guide or the point at which the positioning portion contacts the guide, the longitudinal positioning portion overlaps the cross-sectional positioning range in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A drive gear for a generally cylindrical imaging component. The drive gear includes a body for engaging the generally cylindrical imaging component; a cylindrical shaft attached to the body, the cylindrical shaft having an end surface; and lobes extending longitudinally outward from the end surface.

Abstract: A protective member is provided in a detachably attachable manner on a side wall of a sheet feeding cassette such that an opening cover of an image forming apparatus does not come into contact with a sheet guide surface. In a drawing out direction of a cassette storing sheets, a range in which an upper surface of the protective member extends overlaps at least a portion of a range in which the sheet guide surface extends. The upper surface of the protective member is vertically positioned at a position higher than a position of the sheet guide surface.

Abstract: Provided is an opening/closing device including an opening/closing member that rotates to open and close an opening of a housing, a shaft member that is formed at a portion on one side of the opening/closing member and is formed of a shaft about which the opening/closing member rotates with respect to the housing, a grip portion that is formed at a portion on the other side of the opening/closing member and is gripped by a user, a meshed portion that is formed at a portion on the other side of the opening/closing member and meshes with a meshing portion formed at the housing, and a restraint unit that is formed at a portion on one side of the opening/closing member and restrains the opening/closing member from being deformed due to a release of meshing of the meshing portion with the meshed portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a locking mechanism that locks an opening/closing door to an engagement position, the locking mechanism having a engaged member and an urging member that urges the engaged member; and an engagement member that is provided on the door and engages the engaged member; wherein an urging force acting on the engaged member from the urging member is converted from a first urging force to press out the engagement member to a second urging force to draw the engagement member into the engagement position when the door is closed; wherein the engagement member has a contacted region and the engaged member has a contact region that comes in contact with the contacted region; and wherein the contacted region elastically deforms when the contact region comes in contact with the contacted region.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cover has a pivot shaft and is pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position. The link member is slidingly movable in a direction parallel to the pivot shaft in response to depression of a button. The locking member provides locking engagement between the cover and a housing, and is pressed by the link member in accordance with the sliding movement of the link member to release the locking engagement. The push member is movable in a direction opposite to an opening direction of the cover to be pressed against the housing when the cover is at the closed position in accordance with the sliding movement of the link member. The depression of the button causes both unlocking and movement of the cover in the opening direction when the cover is at the closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming stations including respective electrophotographic photosensitive drums; an image transfer belt contactable to the drums; image transfer rollers, contactable to the transfer belt to urge the belt to the drums for transferring the toner images from the drums onto the belt, the rollers being provided with respective rotational shafts about an axis of which the rollers are rotatable; and a slidable member slidable in a direction in which the stations are arranged to retract the rollers away from the corresponding drums, the slidable member being provided with inclined surfaces contactable to the shafts, the inclined surfaces being disposed at such positions that the rollers are retracted from respective drums sequentially with the movement of the slidable member in the direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly having an opening; a supporting member for dismountably supporting a cartridge for forming an image on a recording material, the supporting member being movable between an inside position and an outside position through the opening; an openable member configured to open and close the opening; and a connecting member configured to connect the openable member and the main assembly with each other, the connecting member being provided with a movement regulating portion configured to regulate movement of the supporting member placed in the outside position in a state that the openable member opens the opening.

Abstract: A driving assembly is provided for a processing cartridge capable of being detachably installed in an electronic imaging device. The driving assembly includes a power receiving unit and a power transfer unit. The power receiving unit is configured for receiving a rotational driving force from a driving mechanism of the electronic imaging device; and the power transfer unit is coupled to the power receiving unit for receiving the rotational driving force from the power receiving unit. The power receiving unit remains constantly inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the power transfer unit, and has an initial position and a displaced position; the power receiving unit moves from the initial position to the displaced position when an external force is applied; and the receiving unit returns to the initial position from the displaced position when the external force is withdrawn.

Abstract: A drum supporting member, which is usable with an image forming apparatus, includes a photosensitive drum and a mounting portion for detachably mounting a developing cartridge. The drum mounting portion also includes a contacting member contactable with the developing cartridge, with contacting member being movable between a first position and a second position. When the contacting member is in the first position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with a developing roller of the developing cartridge being placed in a third position contacting the photosensitive drum. When the contacting member is in the second position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with the developing cartridge being placed in a fourth position in which the developing cartridge is dismountable from the drum supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit horizontally insertable and drawable with respect to a main body frame, and a lock mechanism for the unit. The lock mechanism includes a lock member which has an engagement projection engageable with an engaged portion formed in the main body frame, and a biasing member which biases the lock member in a first direction toward engagement of the engagement projection with the engaged portion. Along with insertion of the unit, the lock member moves in a second direction, and when the unit is inserted to a predetermined position, biasing force of the biasing member causes the lock member to move in the first direction and the engagement projection engages with the engaged portion. By moving the lock member in the second direction, engagement between the engagement projection and the engaged portion is released to make it possible to draw the unit.

Abstract: An opening/closing mechanism is provided between a powder transport container removably attached to an apparatus housing and a powder receiving container provided in the apparatus housing to receive powder in the powder transport container as a result of a connection port communicating with a discharging port of the powder transport container. The opening/closing mechanism opens and closes the discharging port along with attachment and detachment of the powder transport container, and includes an opening/closing lid that opens the discharging port by being stopped by a part of the powder receiving container when the powder transport container is attached to the apparatus housing, a seal member, and a covering material that is provided on a surface of the opening/closing lid opposed to the seal member and has a protruding piece in contact with an edge portion of the connection port when the powder transport container is attached.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an image forming unit, a guiding portion, a positioning mechanism, and a posture-switchable lever member. The positioning mechanism is disposed on the guiding portion, and provided with a first urging member and a unit-abutting portion for abutting on the image forming unit. The positioning mechanism positions the image forming unit by urging the image forming unit when attached into the apparatus main body in a first position. The posture-switchable lever member is provided swingably on the image forming unit and switches between a first posture in which the posture-switchable lever member locks the image forming unit in the first position within the apparatus main body, and a second posture in which the posture-switchable lever member releases the lock on the image forming unit and permits the image forming unit to be detached from the apparatus main body along the attachment/detachment direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a plurality of photoreceptor drums, a plurality of developing devices, a frame, an intermediate transfer unit, a secondary transfer roller, first positioning portions, and second positioning portions. The secondary transfer roller forms a secondary transfer nip portion with the first roller where the toner images are transferred to a sheet. The first positioning portions are arranged at the intermediate transfer unit and the frame. The first positioning portions position the intermediate transfer unit in a second direction inside the apparatus main body. The second positioning portions are arranged at the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus main body. The second positioning portions position a distal end side in the mounting direction of the intermediate transfer unit in a third direction inside the apparatus main body. The third direction intersects with the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a pair of cassette guides. The housing is provided with a cassette storage space and a unit storage space. The unit storage space is disposed above the cassette storage space and configured to slidably support an image forming unit. The housing has a pair of side plates arranged to be opposite to each other in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the image forming unit. The pair of cassette guides is provided in the cassette storage space and arranged inside the pair of side plate. A guide rail part is formed by a gap between the side plate and the guide cassette arranged inside the side plate, and a top face of the cassette guide. A unit-side rail provided to the image forming unit is slidably engaged with the guide rail part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first removable member that includes an image carrying member and that is removably supported with respect to a body of the image forming apparatus; a first guide portion that is provided at a lower surface of the first removable member; a second guide portion that is provided at the first removable member; a first guiding portion that is provided at the body of the image forming apparatus and supports the first guide portion when the first removable member is placed on the first guiding portion; and a second guiding portion that is provided at the body of the image forming apparatus, in which, when the first removable member moves in a mounting direction from a state in which the first guide portion is supported by the first guiding portion, the second guiding portion contacts the second guide portion and guides the second guide portion.

Abstract: A rotational axis line of the image bearing member is parallel to a pivotal axis line of the handle. When the handle is grasped, the process cartridge body in a non-used state is inclined so that the image bearing member is positioned upward relative to a horizontal surface, and the process cartridge body from which developer has been consumed is inclined so that the image bearing member is positioned downward relative to the horizontal surface.

Abstract: A process unit includes a rotatable image bearer, an optical writing head to expose the image bearer within an maximum exposure range in an axial direction of the image bearer, a developer bearer, spacers disposed in axial end portions of the image bearer to determine a position of the optical writing head relative to the image bearer and slidingly contact the image bearer, a cleaner disposed downstream from the developer bearer in an image bearer rotation direction, and a remover to slidingly contact the axial end portion of the image bearer to remove a substance adhering thereto. In the axial direction, inner ends of the spacers are positioned inside a toner layer range of the developer bearer extending beyond a largest sheet width. The remover is disposed downstream from the cleaner and crossing a line extending from the inner end of the spacer perpendicularly to the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a drum unit. The drum unit is out of the housing at a first position, moved in a first direction from the first position to a second position in the housing, and then to a third position away from the first position. The drum unit includes: a photosensitive drum; a cleaning unit for toner; a conveying tube extending in the first direction; a conveying member in the conveying tube and rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction; and a first gear fixed to the conveying member and rotatable about the first axis. The housing has a second gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction. The first gear is separated from the second gear at the second position, and engaged with the second gear at the third position. The first axis and the second axis overlap in the third position.

Abstract: An opening/closing detection mechanism has a multifunctional peripheral body portion, a front cover, a side cover, and an interlock mechanism. The interlock mechanism contains a switch, a plate-like portion, a bulged portion, and a rocking mechanism. The bulged portion is provided on the side cover. When the side cover is in the closed state, the bulged portion abuts on a rear region located on the side opposite to the front cover with respect to a region where a projection portion is provided of the switch. The rocking mechanism rocks the switch in the opening/closing direction of the front cover according to the opened/closed state of the side cover.

Abstract: A process unit has an image carrying unit having an image carrying member configured to be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, and a developing agent removing member, a developing unit having a developing agent carrying member configured to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a waste developing agent collecting unit configured to collect the developing agent removed by the removing member from the image carrying member. The waste developing agent collecting unit is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the developing unit such that the waste developing agent collecting unit faces the developing unit, and the developing unit is connected to the waste developing agent collecting unit such that the developing unit being movable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the waste developing agent collecting unit.

Abstract: A collection container is divided by a divider plate into waste developer collection chambers in communication with waste developer reception ports for each color developer and a single waste toner collection chamber in communication with waste toner reception ports for each color toner. Further, the divider plate is a part of the inner wall of the collection container and the part is installed extending in the vertical direction to define a clearance between the divider plate and the bottom plate of the collection container. This makes it possible to collect color waste toner and color waste developer with a simple configuration.