Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a supporting member supporting multiple cartridges and movable between an inside position inside an apparatus main body and an outside position, in which the cartridges are supported arrayed in a direction of extracting the supporting member from the inside position to the outside position, with the multiple cartridges being detachably attachable at the outside position; a first cartridge; a second cartridge adjacent to the first cartridge; and a third cartridge adjacent to the second cartridge. The first cartridge has a greater protrusion amount from the supporting member compared to the second cartridge and the third cartridge, in a direction orthogonal to the extracting direction and to a longitudinal direction of the cartridges. When viewed from the orthogonal direction, the amount of overlapping between the first cartridge and the second cartridge is greater than the amount of overlapping between the second cartridge and the third cartridge.

Abstract: A main body includes a second movable member that is movable and that has a first recess portion. The second movable member is moved from a first position where a first projecting portion of a first cartridge can enter the first recess portion to a second position by a movement of the first projecting portion, thereby allowing a second cartridge to be moved to an attachment position of the main body. The second movable member also allows a third projecting portion of the second cartridge to enter the first recess portion at the first position. The second movable member is moved to the second position when the third projecting portion enters the first recess portion, thereby allowing the second cartridge to be moved to the attachment position.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller; a casing for accommodating therein developing agent; a storage medium including an electric contact surface; a holder movable along with the electric contact surface in a first direction crossing the electric contact surface, the holder being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the casing in the first direction; and a pressure member for pressing the holder while being moved in a second direction crossing the first direction when the holder is moved between the first position and the second position. A distance in the first direction between the electric contact surface and the pressure member when the holder is positioned at the first position is greater than a distance in the first direction between the electric contact surface and the pressure member when the holder is positioned at the second position.

Abstract: An aromatic amine derivative represented by formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, L, AR1, Ar2, k, m, and n are the same as defined in the specification, is useful as a material for an organic EL device and realizes an organic EL device with a high efficiency and a long lifetime even when driving it at a low voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a pressing member, a process cartridge, and a drawer. The body casing includes a positioning member. The pressing member is disposed inside the body casing. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum. The drawer is configured to support the process cartridge and to move, in a sliding direction orthogonal to an axis direction of the photosensitive drum, between an inside position that is a position inside the body casing and an outside position that is a position outside the body casing. The process cartridge includes an engagement portion and a spring. The engagement portion is configured to be positioned by the positioning member. The spring is configured to be pressed by the pressing member such that the engagement portion is pressed toward the positioning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, an image forming unit, a plurality of covers, a shutter, and a linkage mechanism. The image forming unit includes a light source and is disposed in an interior of the casing. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium. The covers are openable and closable relative to the casing. The shutter is openable and closable relative to the light source. The linkage mechanism links the respective covers to the shutter. The linkage mechanism sets the shutter in a closed state in a situation in which at least one of the covers is in an open state and sets the shutter in an open state in a situation in which all the covers are in a closed state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a toner container, a latch mechanism, a toner sensor, a determination section, and a locking control section. The latch mechanism locks the toner container in the casing. When the determination section determines that a detection result of the toner sensor is greater than an amount range of remaining toner in a nearly empty state, the locking control section controls the latch mechanism to lock the toner container in the casing. When the determination section determines that a detection result of the toner sensor falls in the amount range of remaining toner in the nearly empty state, the locking control section controls the latch mechanism to unlock the toner container in the apparatus main body in response to an unlocking operation input through an operation input section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movement member arranged to move a cartridge and is movable between a first position for disposing the cartridge at a position where image formation is possible and a second position where the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the movement member. At least one coupling provided in the cartridge is, when the movement member is at the first position, moved to a drive position where the coupling is arranged to engage with a drive member to rotate at least one rotating member, and while the movement member is being moved from the second to first positions, the at least one coupling is at an inclined position.

Abstract: A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt, configured to receive a toner image formed by developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member with a toner, includes a base layer and an elastic layer. The elastic layer has an irregular surface formed with spherical particles, and the spherical particles include flexible particles having 0.1 MPa to 30 MPa of compressive strength and 15% to 50% of restoring ratio at the time of 10% deformation. Image forming apparatus. Image forming method.

Abstract: In an axial direction of a developing sleeve that bears magnetic developer on an outer circumferential surface thereof, ends of a sheet-shaped stirring member that stirs the magnetic developer in a container frame to move the magnetic developer toward the developing sleeve are disposed on an outer side of a region in a magnetic field region generated by a magnet roller disposed on an inner side of the developing sleeve. The region has a magnetic field strength equal to or larger than a predetermined magnetic flux density at which the magnetic developer can be borne on the surface of the developing sleeve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a photosensitive member, a developing device including a developing roller, pressing members configured to engage with the developing device and springs configured to urge the pressing members. In some examples, each of the pressing members may be configured to contact and move the developing device between various positions based on the urging of the springs. Additionally or alternatively, various ends of a contact surface of the developing roller configured to contact developer may be disposed relative to an axis line of the developing roller and pressing surfaces of the pressing members.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a toner cartridge having a housing that includes a toner reservoir. An electrical connector on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. The electrical connector and the electrical contact of the toner cartridge move upward toward the top of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the retracted position to the operative position. The electrical contact of the toner cartridge is positioned within a pocket of the electrical connector. The pocket includes an opening that faces upward when the electrical connector is in the operative position permitting the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device to enter the pocket from above.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with a developing roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than a second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the first electrical contact is from the developing roller shaft. The supply electrode includes a first electrical contact in contact with the supply roller shaft, and a second electrical contact positioned closer to the developing roller shaft than the second agitator gear is to the developing roller shaft. The second electrical contact of the supply electrode is positioned farther from the developing roller shaft than the second electrical contact of the developing electrode is from the developing roller shaft.

Abstract: Included are an output member including a coupling allowed to be engaged with a unit; an input member; an input-side engagement member; an output-side engagement member allowed to be engaged with the input-side engagement member; an elastic member urging the input-side engagement member toward the output-side engagement member; and a disengagement member which moves the input-side engagement member at an engaged position, at which engagement with the output-side engagement member is allowed, to a disengaged position at which engagement with the output-side engagement member is released. In each of a state where the input-side engagement member is at the engaged position and a state where the input-side engagement member is at the disengaged position, a space is formed in which the output-side engagement member is allowed to move in the shaft direction when the output member is pressed to the shaft direction.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a rotating body that opens and closes an apparatus main body which is provided with a recording portion that performs recording on a medium and rotates between a first posture that is a closed posture and a second posture that is an open posture, a biasing unit that biases the rotating body in an opening direction, and a biasing release unit that releases an action of a biasing force applied by the biasing unit to the rotating body in a range from a third posture, which is a posture between the first posture and the second posture, to the second posture.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an intermediate layer, a photosensitive layer, and a surface layer laminated on a conductive support in this order, wherein a cured product of a polymerizable monomer contains an electron transport agent and n-type metal oxide fine particles to which a reactive organic group is bonded in the surface layer.

Abstract: A device disposed opposing an image bearer includes a roller to rotate while contacting a surface of the image bearer, a rolling bearing fitted around a shaft located at an end of the roller in an axial direction of the roller, a frame to house the roller, and a bearing support removably attached to the frame. The rolling bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, and a rolling element disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring. The bearing support holds, from an outer-ring side, the rolling bearing interposed between the bearing support and the frame. The bearing support includes a receiving portion to contact the outer ring of the rolling bearing and bias the rolling bearing toward the frame in a direction in which the rolling bearing is interposed between the bearing support and the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge attachable/detachable to/from an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus. A bearing member for pivotally supports a rotation member has an engaged portion that is arranged at a part on one end side of the cartridge in a direction of a rotational axis of the rotation member and engaged with an engaging portion provided in the apparatus body. An engagement state between the engaged portion and the engaging portion is maintained until at least a coupling of the rotation member is coupled to a driving shaft provided in the apparatus body in a process of attaching the cartridge to the apparatus body. A movement of the bearing member to at least the other end side in the direction of the rotational axis with respect to the apparatus body is restricted when the engaged portion and the engaging portion are put into the engagement state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main frame, a plurality of process cartridges, a cartridge-supporting body, a belt, a waste toner cartridge, a contact-separation mechanism, and a collective conveying unit. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum cleaning unit collecting waste toner on the drum. The cartridge-supporting body is movable between an internal position inside the frame and an external position outside the frame. The belt confronts the process cartridges in the internal position. The waste toner cartridge accommodates the waste toner collected from the drums. The contact-separation mechanism moves the cartridge-supporting body between a contact position where the drums are in contact with the belt and a separated position where the drums are out of contact with the belt. The collective conveying unit aggregates waste toner collected from drums and conveys collectively the aggregated waste toner to the waste toner cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, a container attachment portion, and a control portion. The toner container has a coupling portion. The container attachment portion includes a coupled portion that includes a first key member. A second key member of the coupling portion is formed at position where it does not interfere with the first key member in attachment state. The second key member is made of insulator. The coupled portion includes a contact terminal in which a contact is opened by the second key member and becomes OFF state when the toner container is inserted to attachment position, and the contact is closed and becomes ON state when the toner container is removed from the attachment position. The control portion detects the toner container attached to the container attachment portion when the contact of the contact terminal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cover member that includes a flat portion, a substantially circular hole portion formed in the flat portion, an arc portion inserted through the hole portion, a first cutaway portion having a shape formed by cutting in the hole portion radially outward, the first cutaway portion arranged in a position opposed to the protrusion portion when viewed in a direction of a rotational axis, and a second cutaway portion having a shape formed by cutting the flat portion toward a photosensitive drum in the direction of the rotational axis to expose a coupling member when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a photosensitive drum, a developer cartridge with a developer roller and a protrusion, a casing, a separator member to move the developer cartridge between a contact position and a separate position, and a first guide to guide the protrusion, is provided. The first guide confronts the protrusion along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the developer roller when the developer cartridge is in the contact position. The first guide includes a first guiding surface and a first inclined surface. The first guiding surface extends in parallel with a line connecting a center of a rotation axis of the developer roller with a center of a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum. The first inclined surface inclines with respect to the first guiding surface. The protrusion contacts the first inclined surface when the separator member moves the developer cartridge toward the separate position.

Abstract: A charging device (51) includes a charging roller (65), a supporting section (71), a guide (73), a first biasing section (75), and a second biasing section (90). The charging roller (65) charges an image bearing member (50). The supporting section (71) supports the charging roller (65) such that the charging roller (65) is rotatable. The guide (73) guides the supporting section (71) in a first direction (D1). The first biasing section (75) biases the supporting section (71) in the first direction (D1) to press the charging roller (65) against the image bearing member (50). The second biasing section (90) biases the supporting section (71 toward the guide (73).

Abstract: The electrophotographic member includes an electroconductive substrate and an electroconductive surface layer. The surface layer contains an electroconductivity imparting agent and a polyrotaxane including a first and a second polyrotaxane molecule. The first polyrotaxane molecule includes a first cyclic molecule, and the second polyrotaxane molecule includes a second cyclic molecule. The cyclic molecules of the first and the second polyrotaxane molecules are bound in such a manner that the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group of the first cyclic molecule and the oxygen atom of a hydroxy group of the second cyclic molecule are bound with a structure represented by the following formula (1): *—R1—Z—R2—** In this formula, z represents a linking group, and “*” and “**” represent binding sites to be bound to either of the oxygen atoms derived from the hydroxy groups of the first and the second cyclic molecule. R1 and R2 each represent a specific structure.

Abstract: A multi-layer electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer includes a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer. The charge generating layer contains a charge generating material. The charge transport layer contains a charge transport material, a binder resin, and silica particles. The charge transport layer is a monolayer. The charge transport layer is disposed as an outermost surface layer of the multi-layer electrophotographic photosensitive member. The silica particles have a content of at least 0.5 parts by mass and no greater than 15 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. The binder resin includes a polyarylate resin. The polyarylate resin has a repeating unit represented by general formula (I) shown below. In general formula (I), R1-R3 and Y are defined as those described in the specification.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body, an intermediate transfer belt, a holding member, a primary transfer member, a secondary transfer member, and a biasing member. The intermediate transfer belt comes into contact with and separate from the photosensitive body. The holding member holds the intermediate transfer belt. The biasing member biases the primary transfer member toward a side of the photosensitive body. The holding member is movable between a first holding position to make the intermediate transfer belt come into contact with the photosensitive body and a second holding position to make the intermediate transfer belt separate from the photosensitive body. The primary transfer member moves toward a side remote from the photosensitive body against biasing force of the biasing member in accordance with a movement of the holding member from the first holding position to the second holding position.

Abstract: A removable unit has a first unit removably attached to an image forming apparatus, a second unit held by being removably attached to the first unit, and a cover member. The cover member is supported pivotably on the first unit, and can be located selectively either in a first position overlapping, or a second position not overlapping, the attachment/removal path of the second unit. When the cover member pivots from the first position to a third position pivoted through a predetermined angle from the first position toward the second position, from the first unit a reaction force acts on the cover member to restrict its pivoting toward the second position and, when the cover member pivots from the second position to the third position, from the first unit a reaction force acts on the cover member to restrict its pivoting toward the first position.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a housing formed with an opening part; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the housing through the opening part in a first direction. The housing includes a first support part arranged at the opening part, and a cover movable between a closed position and an opened position. The cover includes a second support part positioned away from the first support part in the first direction when the cover is at the opened position. The process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge having a drum frame; and a toner cartridge detachably attachable to the drum frame. When the cover is at the opened position, the first support part and the second support part are configured to support the drum frame of the process cartridge detached from the housing to restrict displacement of the drum frame in the first direction.

Abstract: A flange member includes a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion disposed inside the first cylindrical portion coaxially with the first cylindrical portion, an inwardly protruding portion protruding from an inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion, a first wall extending in the central axis direction and connecting the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion together and is in contact with a shaft member between the first wall and the second wall to receive a driving force, a second wall opposed to the first wall, and a connecting portion connecting the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion and connecting the first wall and the second wall. A groove is provided inside the first cylindrical portion and outside the second cylindrical portion. The connecting portion is disposed adjacent to the inwardly protruding portion with respect to the shaft member in the central axis direction.

Abstract: A detachable unit has a unit housing and a grip portion thereon. The detachable unit is insertable and removal along an insertion/removal trajectory formed inside the body of an image forming apparatus and forming a depression angle as seen from the removal direction. The grip portion has a pressed face facing the upstream side of the unit housing in its removal direction and substantially perpendicular to the insertion/removal trajectory, a first side extending along the lower-end edge of the pressed face, and a second side extending along the upper-end edge of the pressed face. No face extending on the upstream side of the unit housing in the removal direction connects to the first side, and a finger insertion portion into which a finger can be inserted from the side of the first side along the pressed face is formed in the first side.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a replaceable unit that has a housing having an internal reservoir for storing toner. A circuit board retainer is positioned on an exterior surface of the housing. The retainer includes a top having an undersurface having first and second supports extending away from the undersurface of the top toward a bottom of the retainer. A mounting platform is positioned on the undersurface of the top intermediate the first and second supports and spaced apart from the bottom of the retainer. A circuit board is mounted on the mounting platform. The top and the first and second supports form an opening at the front of the retainer sized to receive an electrical connector of the image forming device for mating with the circuit board when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device.

Abstract: A process cartridge has a drum unit having a photosensitive drum; a developing unit having a developing roller and movable relative to the drum unit; a first electrically conductive member provided at the drum unit and configured to contact a terminal of an image forming apparatus; a second electrically conductive member provided at the developing unit; and a third electrically conductive member electrically connected to the first electrically conductive member and to the second electrically conductive member, the third electrically conductive member being deformable in accordance with the movement of the developing unit.

Abstract: A developing frame has: side walls that support ends of a developing roller shaft; a connecting wall that connects the side walls, the connecting wall being pressed by first and second pressing members; and a handle extending from the connecting wall in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction. The handle is located farther away from the developing roller than the connecting wall is in the second direction. A drum frame has a supporting wall that supports the first and second pressing members. The supporting wall has an opening that is located between the first pressing member and the second pressing member. The opening allows the handle to be exposed when the developing cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge. The supporting wall overlaps the handle as viewed from the first direction in a state where the handle is exposed through the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an inlet to which a power cable can connect. The inlet is sandwiched and fixed by two plate members from a direction crossing to a connection direction of the power cable.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer disposed on the conductive substrate; a charging device that charges a surface of the photoreceptor; an exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor by irradiating the surface of the photoreceptor with light, the exposure device including plural light sources arranged in an axial direction of the photoreceptor; a developing device including a developer including a toner which forms a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with the developer; and a transfer device that transfers the toner image to a recording medium. A mean width WSm of waviness profiles of an outer periphery of the conductive substrate determined in accordance with JIS B0601 (2001) is smaller than an interval at which the light sources are arranged in the axial direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device including a developing roller and a developing frame including a toner receiving port, and a toner cartridge including a toner accommodation part and a conveyance device configured to convey toner from the toner accommodation part toward the developing device. The conveyance device includes a coupling tube and a shutter. The coupling tube includes a toner supply port faceable the toner receiving port, is coupleable to the developing device and is movable with respect to the toner accommodation part at a state where the coupling tube is coupled to the developing device and the toner supply port faces the toner receiving port. The shutter is movable between an opening position at which the toner supply port is opened with the coupling tube being coupled to the developing device and a closed position.

Abstract: A cleaning unit configured to clean toner left on an image bearing unit includes a cleaning member configured to remove the toner, a coil spring conveying the toner removed by the cleaning member in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning member, and a support member being rotatable and supporting one end of the coil spring to transmit a rotational driving force to the coil spring. The support member is provided with a long hole lengthy in the longitudinal direction of the coil spring such that one end of the coil spring engages with the long hole.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles and an external additive that includes silica particles having a compression aggregation degree of 60% to 95% and a particle compression ratio of 0.20 to 0.40 and fatty acid metal salt particles.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge for forming a visible toner image. The cartridge includes a development chamber having a toner inlet through which toner is supplied into the development chamber, a development roller provided in the development chamber, and a supply roller provided in the development chamber that supplies toner to the development roller. The cartridge further includes a first toner transporting member that transports toner supplied through the toner inlet in an axial direction of the supply roller, and a toner supply guide that is disposed between the first toner transporting member and the supply roller and includes a slit which has a length in the axial direction and through which toner is dropped onto the supply roller. The toner supply guide is downwardly inclined in the axial direction.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge main body, a protection member, a rib of the cartridge main body, and a pair of guides of the protection member, wherein an upstream-side guide of the guides can guide the rib when the cartridge main body is inserted into a device main body, and terminates the guide after allowing the cartridge main body to be inserted up to a position where the cartridge main body becomes independent of the device main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member unit having an image bearing member, a developing unit including a developer carrying member configured to form a toner image on the image bearing member, and a moving mechanism configured to move the developing unit in interrelation with opening and closing of an openable member. In addition, a moving portion moves the image bearing member unit between a mounting position and a predetermined position a predetermined distance away from the mounting position in an upstream direction with respect to the inserting direction, with the moving portion capable of moving the image bearing member unit to the predetermined position or to a position upstream of the predetermined position with respect to the inserting direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an improved structure which avoids additional expenses associated with packing a developing unit and allows the developing unit to be stably stored. The image forming apparatus may include a body, a first developing unit accommodating portion and a second developing unit accommodating portion disposed at different positions in the body, and a developing unit which is allowed to be detachably accommodated in the first developing unit accommodating portion and the second developing unit accommodating portion. When accommodated in the first developing unit accommodating portion, the developing unit may be disposed such that it does not perform image formation. When accommodated in the second developing unit accommodating portion, the developing unit may be disposed to perform image formation.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a casing including a developer accommodation part for accommodating developer; an agitator for agitating the developer and rotatable about a first rotational axis extending in an axial direction; a receiving member rotatable about a second rotational axis upon receipt of a drive-force inputted thereto; a first drive-force transmission member rotatable about a third rotational axis upon receipt of the drive-force from the receiving member; and a second drive-force transmission member rotatable about the first rotational axis together with the agitator. The second drive-force transmission member can contact the first drive-force transmission member and receive the drive-force therefrom, the first rotational axis being positioned closer to the second rotational axis than the third rotational axis is to the second rotational axis when projected in the axial direction of the agitator.

Abstract: An exposure device includes: a substrate that includes a plate-shaped main body that extends in one direction, a plurality of light emitting elements that are mounted on one surface of the main body, and a heating element that is mounted on the other surface of the main body and generates heat in accordance with light emission of the light emitting element; a housing that extends in the one direction, has a frame shape in which a through hole is formed, and to an inside of the through hole of which the substrate is fixed so that a thickness direction of the main body is a penetrating direction of the through hole; and a first contact member that extends in the one direction, and is in contact with at least a portion of the heating element and the main body at a different position in the one direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a developing unit and a developing unit attaching portion that is provided in an apparatus main body. The developing unit and the developing unit attaching portion are provided with an insertion guide. The insertion guide makes the developing unit a state it is inclined from a normal posture so as to be moved on a position departed from a photoreceptor drum during a period from a start of insertion of the developing unit into the developing unit attaching portion until just before completion of the insertion, and makes, during a period from just before completion of the insertion until completion of the insertion, the developing unit turn according to an insertion operation of the developing unit so as to be brought close to the photoreceptor drum, whereby the developing unit is positioned so as to take the normal posture.

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 drum unit usable in the process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having an axis L1 and a coupling member having an axis L2. The coupling member includes a first end portion connected with the photosensitive drum, a second end portion having an outermost surface, an axle portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion to each other, and at least one projection extending from the second end portion. For at least part of the outermost surface of the second end portion, a maximum distance from the axis L2 to the outermost surface along a line perpendicular to the axis L2 increases as the distance along the axis L2 from the axle portion increases.

Abstract: A transmission device for a photosensitive drum includes a sleeve, a transmission unit disposed in the sleeve and capable of moving and rotating at the same time, an elastic member, and a shell receiving the sleeve and the elastic member so that a relatively larger radius section and a relatively smaller radius section of the elastic member exert elastic force on the sleeve and the transmission unit, respectively. The transmission unit has two engagement blocks and a receiving space between them. Each engagement block has an inclined outer surface, an inner surface, an inclined top surface and an engagement concave connecting the inner and outer surfaces. The engagement concaves are opened toward opposite directions for engagement with two pillars of a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus respectively. As a result, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly.

Abstract: A transmission device for a photosensitive drum includes a sleeve having at least one guiding groove, a transmission unit having a shaft disposed in the sleeve and capable of moving and rotating at the same time, an elastic member, and a gear member receiving the sleeve and the elastic member so that the elastic member exerts elastic force on the shaft of the transmission unit. The transmission unit has two engagement blocks and a receiving space between them. Each engagement block has an inclined outer surface, an inner surface, an inclined top surface and an engagement concave connecting the inner and outer surfaces. The engagement concaves are opened toward opposite directions for engagement with two pillars of a drive member of an electronic image forming apparatus respectively. As a result, the transmission device can be connected with and separated from the drive member smoothly.