Abstract: A process cartridge and an image carrier supporter for use in an image forming apparatus. The image carrier supporter temporarily fixes an image carrier inside a process cartridge of an image forming apparatus. The image carrier supporter includes a penetration shaft, and first and second fixing members. The penetration shaft includes first and second ends, and penetrates through a center throughhole of the image carrier. The first and second fixing members are provided at the first and second ends, respectively, of the penetration shaft, and are configured to closely contact a circumferential inner surface of the image carrier and a frame of a process cartridge, respectively. The process cartridge is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus, and includes a frame, the image carrier, the image carrier supporter, and a process mechanism configured to form an image on the image carrier.

Abstract: A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the same, the process cartridge comprising a side plate; a developing roller rotatably supported at the side plate; a photoconductive body having a center axle rotatably supported at the side plate so as to be located adjacent to the developing roller; and a center shifting member for moving the center axle of the photoconductive body from a first position to a second position so as to separate a developing nip between the photoconductive body and the developing roller. The image forming apparatus includes the process cartridge, so that it can establish and maintain the developing nip between the photoconductive body and the developing roller to print an image or separate the developing nip to circulate the process cartridge in the market.

Abstract: The process provides an expandable chuck with a variable diameter bulb having a variable wall thickness, the chuck being operatively designed to stretch the bulb to reduce its diameter for insertion into a photoreceptor pipe and upon relaxation to compress the bulb so as to increased diameter. The design solves provides a universal chuck to reduce the cost of changing to different diameter chucks in accommodating different size photoreceptors during the coating and drying process.

Abstract: A pressing member applies a pressing force to a trailing end in a direction which intersects a predetermined reference direction, allowing the pressing force to have both a first component in the predetermined reference direction and a second component perpendicular to the predetermined reference direction. A trailing end is pressed in the predetermined reference direction by the first component. In the mounted state, the leading end is in contact with the reference member at two contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface defines a first positioning direction being perpendicular to the first contact surface and intersecting the predetermined reference direction.

Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a support member for supporting a rotary member having a shaft. The support member is detachably assembled in an image-forming device. The support member has a pair of side plates opposed to each other through the rotary member. Each of the side plate receives the shaft of the rotary member. The method includes forming the pair of side plates through a punching process using the same die.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum unit includes a photosensitive drum, a shutter having a rotation axis shaft which opens and closes to selectively enable access to the photosensitive drum, and a coupler, wherein a linear motion thereof causes a rotational motion of the shutter about the rotation axis shaft. The coupler is coupled to a rotation axis shaft of the shutter and is capable of changing a straight line motion to a rotational motion in a narrow space. In an image forming apparatus equipped with the photosensitive drum unit of the invention, a pressing unit mounted at a support frame of the photosensitive drum unit is pressably engageable with the coupler.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism includes a driven coupling for mating with a driving coupling. The driven coupling includes a cylinder flange, a concentric shaft that extends axially outwardly from the flange, and a cylindrical driven coupling member that extends axially outwardly from the concentric shaft. The driven coupling member comprises a flexible membrane that encases non-rigid fill material, such as, e.g., a flowable granular material or a non-Newtonian fluid. The driven coupling member has a non-twisted, triangular cross-section, and is configured such that, when it is operationally engaged with the driving coupling, the non-rigid material substantially solidifies, thereby providing a substantially non-flexible structure for the membrane. The driven coupling may be connected to, for example, a photoreceptor drum of a material supply module, and the driving coupling may be connected to a reprographic device.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a photoreceptor drum exceedingly advantageous for obtaining clear images free from positional image shifting and image blurring. In the invention, a photoreceptor drum is constituted of a drum main body and a first and second flange members to be attached respectively to both lengthwise-direction ends of the drum main body. The drum main body is constituted of a cylindrical body and a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body has a fitting hole formed in each end thereof. The first and second flange members have cylindrical parts to be fitted into and fixed to the fitting holes in the drum main body, and further have shaft support parts. The photoreceptor drum has been formed so that the radial deflection thereof based on a central axis L connecting the centers of the shaft support parts of the first and second flange members is 15 ?m or less.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame.

Abstract: To realize easier assembly of the photosensitive drum with appropriate contact force to the end face of the drum body, while restricting manufacture cost increase and avoiding need for high skill and/or experience for the factory worker who assembles the drum. A photosensitive drum for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The drum includes a cylindrical drum body 11 having a photosensitive layer, a pair of flanges 12a, 12b attached to opposed end faces of the drum body, a reinforcing stay 13 provided inside the drum body, a drum shaft 14 for rotatably supporting the drum body via the flanges. The flanges are fixed to the reinforcing stay in such a manner that outer peripheries of the flanges are elastically contacted against the end faces of the drum body.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a non-circular twisted projection provided at one longitudinal end of the drum, and engageable with a non-circular twisted hole being disposed at a central portion of a driving rotatable member of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and an electroconductive member provided on the projection, electrically connected to the drum, and contactable with an electroconductive member electrically connected with a main assembly of the image forming apparatus and disposed in the hole to ground the drum. The contact position between the electroconductive members moves in interrelation with the projection being moved toward the hole by rotation of the driving rotatable member when the projection is engaged with the hole.

Abstract: For supporting a cylindrical photosensitive drum, a high-precision high-strength supporting apparatus is disclosed to include a sleeve member and a shalt member. The sleeve member has an outer wall for attaching to the photosensitive drum, an inner wall within which an axial hole is defined, a first retaining portion positioned at the inner wall, and four locating ribs disposed inside the axial hole. The shaft member has an outer tube inserted into the axial hole of the sleeve member, a second retaining portion provided on the outer tube and engaged with the first retaining portion of the sleeve member, a connecting portion inwardly extending from the outer tube, an inner tube disposed at an inner end of the connecting portion, and four locating slot provided on the inner tube and engaged with the locating rib of the sleeve member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum is for a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes a motor, and a gear having a non-circular twisted hole. The drum includes a cylinder having a non-circular twisted projection engageable with the hole to receive a driving force from the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. A recess is formed in the projection and has a bottom portion and a side surface portion. When the projection receives a pulling force toward the hole by rotation of the gear with the projection and the hole being engaged with each other, the bottom portion contacts a spherical surface portion provided at a central portion of the hole, and the side surface portion contacts the spherical surface portion.

Abstract: A developing cartridge and an image forming apparatus having a photoreceptor drum are provided. The photoreceptor drum includes a pair of sleeves having outer diameter units inserted into the ends of a cylindrical drum on which a photoconductive material layer is formed, inner diameter units to which shafts are rotatably coupled, and at least two protrusion units separated from each other in a length direction of the shafts and contacting the shafts by protruding from the inner diameter units. Accordingly, the location tolerance and the assembly tolerance of the photoreceptor drum can be reduced by only modifying the shape of the sleeves, without adding additional parts. As a result, printing defects such as voids and unevenness can be advantageously prevented, since the developing nip and developing gap are formed very uniformly.

Abstract: A photosensitive medium supporting apparatus includes a supporting shaft to rotatably support a photosensitive medium and to have a fixing groove or a fixing projection formed at one portion of the supporting shaft that projects from one end of the photosensitive medium, a first shaft supporting member to support the one portion of the supporting shaft that projects from one end of the photosensitive medium and to have a fixing projection or a fixing groove that is inserted into the fixing groove or the fixing projection of the supporting shaft, and a second shaft supporting member to support an other portion of the supporting shaft that projects from the other end of the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier rotated by a drive section and carrying a toner image to transfer onto a transfer medium; and a drive-side coupling and an image carrier-side coupling capable of being connected to and being separated from each other by relative movement in a direction of a rotary shaft of the drive section and capable of connecting and separating the drive section and the image carrier. The drive-side coupling has a plurality of abutting surfaces for transmitting a driving force, the image carrier-side coupling has a plurality of abutting surfaces to which the driving force is transmitted, and the drive-side coupling and the image carrier-side coupling have a difference in angles of each of the abutting surfaces of the couplings with respect to a direction in which the couplings are connected to and separated from each other.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer capable of easily attaching and detaching a retaining means to retain the inside of a photoconductive drum to and from the photoconductive drum. A flange located on the extraction side of a photoconductive drum is provided with: a retaining means to support the photoconductive drum from the side of the inner circumferential face of the photoconductive drum. And an advance and retreat mechanism to advance and retreat the retaining means to and from the inner face of the photoconductive drum. The retaining means can be easily dismantled from the photoconductive drum by operating the advance and retreat mechanism, and thereafter extracting the flange from the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to bear an image on a surface thereof, an image bearing member supporting member configured to support the image bearing member, a sliding member having a guide portion, a positioning member configured to be detachably positioned at a given position on the sliding member and including a fitting portion that has planes and that is configured to fit with image bearing member supporting member while the positioning member being positioned at the given position, and a pressing member configured to press the image bearing member supporting member toward the planes of the fitting portion and having the pressing member having a V-shaped portion so that the V-shaped portion is pushed between the guide portion and the image bearing member supporting member to press the image bearing member supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive bodies fixing unit. The image forming apparatus includes: a main body frame; a fixing frame on which a plurality of photosensitive bodies are installed, the fixing frame being fixed at a predetermined position on the main body frame; a guide protruding portion formed on the fixing frame to guide the fixing frame to be coupled with the main body frame; a guide rail formed on the main body frame for the guide protruding portion to be inserted into; and a position determining portion formed on the guide rail to fix the guide protruding portion to a predetermined position. Accordingly, the parallel alignment between the scanning units and the photosensitive bodies may be relatively easily maintained and accurate color overlapping and color presentation are obtained to achieve high image quality.

Abstract: A bearing retainer including a flange having a front surface and a rear surface, a hub extending from the front surface and having an exterior surface configured to receive and support a looped extension spring and having an interior forming a bearing pocket, and at least one resilient finger initially extending from the rear surface and having a curve so as to extend toward and beyond the front surface and including at least one retainer tab extending from a surface opposite the hub and positioned on the rear surface side relative to the flange. The resilient finger is configured to be deflectable from a free position toward the hub in response to a deflection force to enable a portion of the resilient finger including the retainer tab to be inserted through an opening in a wall and to substantially return to the free position upon release of the deflection force such that the wall is held between the retainer tab and rear surface, thereby securing the bearing retainer within the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum unit (photosensitive unit) including a photosensitive body, a fixing unit for fixing a toner image transferred from the photosensitive body onto a recording material, and a vertical conveying path for conveying the recording material between the photosensitive drum unit and the fixing unit. Rails (guiding members) for guiding the removable photosensitive drum unit in a longitudinal direction are provided on the fixing unit. The rails are constituted of resin material capable of blocking heat transmitted towards the photosensitive drum unit.

Abstract: A bearing detachably and rotatably holds a photoconductor. A bearing holder firmly holds the bearing. A rotating lever is provided on a rotation axis of a photoconductor between the photoconductor and the bearing holder. The bearing holder and the rotating lever are provided with many protrusions at regular intervals. At a first relative position of the bearing holder and the rotating lever, the protrusions on the bearing holder are located in between the protrusions on the rotating lever. At a second relative position of the bearing holder and the rotating lever, the protrusions on the bearing holder ride on the protrusions on the rotating lever thereby pushing the photoconductor away from the bearing and detaching the photoconductor from the bearing.

Abstract: A driving unit including a motor, a support bracket supporting the motor, at least one stud supporting a gear which is rotated with a driving force of the motor, and a heatproof member disposed between a frame fastening the support bracket and the stud, and an image forming apparatus applying the same.

Abstract: A developing unit and an image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer container to contain a developer, a developer carrier to transfer the developer of the developer container to the image carrier, support brackets, fixed to the developer container, to rotatably support the developer carrier, frames to rotatably support the image carrier; and a hinge shaft fixed to each of the support brackets and supported by the frames.

Abstract: A process cartridge which is capable of being carried on a movable guide provided in the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and which is movable from a receiving position toward a mount position in interrelation with movement of the movable guide, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the drum; a cartridge frame supporting the drum and the process means; a first portion to be carried, provided at one longitudinal end of the drum, for being supported by the movable guide; a second portion to be carried, provided at the other longitudinal end of the drum, for being supported by the movable guide; a first positioning portion to be positioned relative to a main assembly, the first positioning portion extending outwardly from the cartridge frame adjacent the other longitudinal end of the drum; a second positioning portion to be positioned relative to the main assembly, the second positioning portion extending outwardly from the cartridge frame ad

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a print unit that prints an image by an electrophotographic process and has a developer cartridge having a photoreceptor drum. A door opens and closes one side of the print unit to install and remove the developer cartridge. A fixing member is selectively shifted between a first position where the developer cartridge is installed and removed and a second position where the developer cartridge is fixed to the print unit by opening and closing the door.

Abstract: A photoconductive drum may be located and supported in an image forming apparatus via bushings at each end of a drum axle. The bushings may be produced from a single die cavity and may include orientation features which may be employed to key the bushings with a housing, such as a toner cartridge cleaner housing.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum supporting apparatus for rotatably supporting a photosensitive drum includes a first supporting member having a first hole for supporting one end of the drum, and first and second surfaces on one side and the other side of the first supporting member relative to an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the drum, respectively. The first and second surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the first hole. The apparatus also includes a second supporting member having a second hole for supporting the other end of the drum, and a third and a fourth surfaces on one side and the other side of the second supporting member relative to the plane, respectively. The third and fourth surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the second hole.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus configured to form a toner image on a photoconductive element and transfer it to a recording medium of the present invention, the photoconductive element and an image transferring member pressed thereagainst are constructed into an image transferring unit. The image transferring unit is removable from the casing of the apparatus independently of image forming devices arranged around the photoconductive element other than the image transferring member.

Abstract: A photosensitive unit is described. The photosensitive unit may include a side wall; a drum body rotatably provided with respect to the side wall and formed with an electrostatic latent image; a brake member provided on one end portion of the drum body in an axial direction and having a brake-side inclined surface whose diameter is gradually enlarged or reduced along the axial direction with an axis of the drum body as a center; and an urging member having an urging-side inclined surface surface-contacting the brake-side inclined surface and urging the brake member such that the urging-side inclined surface surface-contacts the brake-side inclined surface.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum for a printer cartridge, which can be easily mounted on a printer cartridge of which the positions of drum connectors are fixed, is disclosed. The photosensitive drum for a printer cartridge comprises a cylindrical drum having a photosensitive layer on a cylindrical surface thereof; and a pair of rotation shafts which is respectively mounted on the sides of the cylindrical drum for rotating and supporting the cylindrical drum, wherein at least one of the rotation shafts is insert-fitted to the side of the cylindrical drum.

Abstract: A power coupling device including a driving coupler mounted in the driving unit having a first connection part and a first positioning part; and a driven coupler mounted in the driven part having a second connection part and a second positioning part, respectively. The driven coupler having a first coupler member fixed to the driven part; a second coupler member having the second connection part and the second positioning part for connection with the first coupler member; and a connection for connecting the first coupler member with the second coupler member to control the connecting position. The connection means has a plurality of projections formed at one of the first and the second coupler members; and a plurality of depressions formed at the other one of the first and the second coupler members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism and an image bearing member. The image forming mechanism is configured to form an image. The image bearing mechanism is detachably provided to the image forming apparatus. The image bearing mechanism includes an image bearing member configured to bear the image formed by the image forming mechanism, and a through shaft configured to support the image bearing member.

Abstract: A housing assembly of an OPC unit to protect an OPC drum in an image forming apparatus includes a main housing enclosing at least a half of a large-diameter OPC drum and provided with a main-opening selectively contacting a plurality of developing units and a plurality of sub-openings, a first housing and a second housing each mounted on a side of the main housing, a handle hingedly connected to the main housing, and a plurality of brackets mounted on opposite sides of the main housing. As a result, the housing assembly of the OPC unit allows easy development, electrification, exposure, image transfer and treatment of a waste toner, and reliability of the image developing process increases due to the fixation of the developing units. Also, since the exposure of the OPC drum is minimized, an area of the OPC drum to be contaminated can be reduced.

Abstract: To provide a flange to be attached to an end of a photoconductor drum, the flange including: a drum engagement part capable of being engaged with an inner surface of the photoconductor drum; and a center hole, wherein the flange is prepared by cutting at least one of a surface of the engagement part and an inner surface of the center hole so that the axis of the center hole coincides with the axis of the photoconductor drum.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a gear attachable to an end of the photosensitive drum in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, a shaft member capable of passing through an inside of the photosensitive drum and the gear so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, and a frame having a pair of shaft supporting portions which supports both end portions of the shaft member at positions outside the photosensitive drum. One of the pair of shaft supporting portions functions as a gear-side supporting portion which is provided on a side where the gear is disposed. The gear includes a first insertion hole, into which the shaft member is inserted, and a projecting portion, which protrudes outward from a side, which is opposite to a side facing the end of the photosensitive drum, of the gear.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a cartridge receiving portion; a drive engaging unit; and a coupling member. The cartridge receiving portion receives a process cartridge detachably mounted therein. The drive engaging unit can move between an engaged position, in which the drive engaging unit transfers a driving force to the process cartridge, and a disengaged position, in which the drive engaging unit fails to transfer a driving force to the process cartridge. The coupling member moves the drive engaging unit between the engaged position and the disengaged position in association with mounting and detaching of the process cartridge in the cartridge receiving portion.

Abstract: After having assembled an intermediate transfer assembly and an image carrier unit, an operator attaches a bearing to a hole section in a side frame, inserts one end of a pivotal shaft of an image carrier into the bearing attached to the hole section, turns the pivotal shaft with one end of the pivotal shaft attached to the bearing serving as a pivot, and runs the other end of the pivotal shaft through a notch in the side frame. The operator attaches a bearing to the other end of the pivotal shaft run through the notch from the axial direction of the pivotal shaft, and fixes the bearing onto the side frame by a fixing member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum supporting apparatus for rotatably supporting a photosensitive drum includes a first supporting member having a first hole for supporting one end of the drum, and first and second surfaces on one side and the other side of the first supporting member relative to an imaginary plane passing through the axis of the drum, respectively. The first and second surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the first hole. The apparatus also includes a second supporting member having a second hole for supporting the other end of the drum, and a third and a fourth surfaces on one side and the other side of the second supporting member relative to the plane, respectively. The third and fourth surfaces are inclined with respect to the plane so as to contact with the drum and are provided on the inner surface of the second hole.

Abstract: A structure to maintain a steady rotation speed of an optical photoconductor in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The structure includes a frame; an optical photoconductor which has a cylindrical shape on an outer surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed by an optical scan, the optical photoconductor comprising a looped protrusion protruding from an end portion in a lengthwise direction of the optical photoconductor and a rotation shaft installed to be capable of rotating with respect to the frame; a damper installed at an end of the optical photoconductor, the damper comprising a core having a through hole, through which the rotation shaft of the optical photoconductor passes, and a wing, which extends from an outer circumference of the core, contacts and presses an inner circumference of the looped protrusion; and a rotation preventing unit which prevents the damper from rotating depending on rotation of the optical photoconductor.

Abstract: Apparatus for precisely positioning one or more of the work stations of a document printer/copier relative to an internal drum, including a first member, attached to either a work station or the internal drum, having two sections, each section having a reference surface forming an angle therebetween, an actuator for changing the included angle between the first reference surface and second reference surface, thus enabling the included angle to be increased or decreased, and a second member having a reference surface that mates with the pair of reference surfaces, associated with the other of the work station or the internal drum, so as to accurately adjust the work station relative to the internal drum dependent upon the included angle of the first reference surface and second reference surface.

Abstract: A chamber (2A) adapted to dismountably mount respective units (10) and (10) is formed in a main body (2). Guiding members (37, 38, 39) are formed on each of the opposite side walls of the chamber, and guided portions (11A, 11B, 24A, 24B) formed on opposite sides of the respective units (10, 20) are engaged with the guiding members so that they are guided to the mounting position. Near the initial portions (37A, 38A, 39A) of the respective guiding members (37, 38, 39) in the main body (2), an indicating member (41) including indicators (41a, 41b, 41c) which indicates initial positions of the respective guiding member (37, 38, 39). Consequently, the initial positions of the guided members (11A, 11B, 24A, 24B) of the respective units (10, 20) can be visually confirmed by the indicators (41a, 41b, 41c,) which improves the operability of insertion of the respective units (10, 20).

Abstract: A transmission comprises a rotary shaft; a gear secured to the rotary shaft coaxially; and a regulative member secured to the rotary shaft. This regulative member press-contacts one end of the gear to maintain the gear exactly perpendicular to an axis of the rotary shaft. A photosensitive drum is fit to the gear. The regulative member is secured on the rotary shaft by press fitting.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a drum frame, first and second drum frame openings at a different longitudinal ends of the drum frame, first and second end regulating portions at different longitudinal ends of the drum frame, a drum shaft with a through hole, a drum end flange with an end flange opening for receiving the drum shaft, first and second openings provided opposite from each other at a periphery of the end flange opening, and a connecting member penetrating the first opening and the through hole and engaged with the second opening to connect the photosensitive drum with the drum shaft. The regulating portions regulate the position of the drum in its longitudinal direction and the connecting member connects the drum shaft with the drum.

Abstract: A process including: providing a cylindrical substrate rotating about the long axis; applying at least one coating layer with a direct writing applicator on the outer surface of the rotating substrate; and curing the resulting coated layer or layers. The use of a direct writing applicator provides precision in the dispensing of organic photoconductor coating layers with respect to line width and line thickness.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum of an image forming apparatus includes a drum main body having a hollow shape, and a vibration damping body spaced from an inner wall of the drum main body, having a hollow shape, formed with a plurality of slits, and expanding and closely contacting the inner wall of the drum main body while the drum main body rotates.

Abstract: A grounding method and apparatus for robustly grounding a photoreceptor assembly, including a conductive photoreceptor drum, in a xerographic image producing machine. The grounding apparatus includes (a) a flange including a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second and smaller diameter; (b) a conductive plating formed on said flange presenting a relatively large conductive surface area for contactably assembling against walls of the conductive photoreceptor drum; and (c) an electrical connector for electrically connecting the large conductive surface area of the conductive plating to an electrically conductive drive shaft of the xerographic image producing machine.

Abstract: A biasing mechanism in an image forming apparatus exerts a variable force on a removable cartridge unit to generate a nip force between a roller in the cartridge unit and another roller. A pivot member is fixed to the apparatus housing. An arm is pivotally mounted in the housing about the pivot member, with the arm in contact with a protrusion on the cartridge unit. A force generating member is mounted in the housing and contacts the arm so as to urge the arm to pivot about the pivot member and press against the cartridge unit. The resulting force exerted on the cartridge unit by the arm varies according to the point of contact between the cartridge unit and the arm. In some embodiments, the arm and the cartridge unit protrusion are electrically conductive, and an electrical contact is established as the arm is pressed against the protrusion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of process cartridges, and a guide mounted to the frame. The guide mounted to the frame includes a plurality of guide portions having supporting surfaces arranged at predetermined different heights and on which the plurality of process cartridges are detachably placed, and is configured to guide the plurality of process cartridges placed on the supporting surfaces along a path between respective first positions and respective second positions.

Abstract: A photosensitive drum assembly for an image forming apparatus. A drum defines first and second open ends. A flange is partially disposed in the first open end. A grounding plate assembly includes a drum contact member and a shaft contact member. The drum contact member is configured to remove an electrically resistive coating from an interior of the drum. The shaft contact member is configured to contact a grounding shaft. The shaft contact member is disposed entirely within an interior of the flange.