Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a development cartridge is movable between a contact position in which a development roller is in contact with a photosensitive drum and a separate position in which the development roller is separate from the photosensitive drum, by a cam and a cam follower that is caused to slide in directions parallel to a rotation axis of the cam between a push position in which the development cartridge is pushed by the cam and positioned in the separate position and a no-push position in which the development cartridge is in the contact position. The cam follower includes a first shaft and a contact arm extending from the first shaft and configured to contact a cam surface of the cam. A projection of the first shaft onto the first cam in a direction parallel to the rotation axis is positioned inside a contour of the first cam.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a housing, a developing roller, a shaft, a first cam, and an elastic member. The housing has a first outer surface at one end portion of the housing in a first direction. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in the first direction. The shaft is along a second axis extending in the first direction. The shaft is movable in the first direction relative to both the housing and the developing roller. The first cam is at one end portion of the shaft in the first direction. The first cam is movable in the first direction together with the shaft. The elastic member is positioned outward of the shaft in a radial direction of the shaft. The elastic member is positioned between the first outer surface and the first cam in the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a first unit dismountable from the apparatus main body, a second unit dismountable from the first unit, and a protective member. The first unit includes a photosensitive member, a transfer unit, and a first unit memory section. The second unit includes a development roller, a storage section that stores a developer, and a second unit memory section. The apparatus main body includes a first main body contact that is electrically connectable to the first unit memory section and a second main body contact that is electrically connectable to the second unit memory section. When the image forming apparatus is packed, the first unit and the second unit are mounted to the apparatus main body with the second unit mounted to the first unit and with the protective member mounted to the first unit and the second unit.

Abstract: A supporting member supports an image reading device. The image reading device is movable between a first position at which a front side of the image reading device is close to an image forming unit and a second position at which a front side of the image reading device is spaced apart from the image forming unit. A first end portion of an operation unit protrudes outward of the image forming unit from one side surface. A second end portion of the operation unit that opposes the first end portion is positioned on an inner side of the image forming unit relative to one side surface of the image forming unit.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped sealing member to be pulled out from a front side of the sheet-shaped sealing member in a pull-out direction that is a longitudinal direction of the sheet-shaped sealing member includes a sealing portion and a cutout portion. The sealing portion seals a sealed portion. The cutout portion is cut out to be cantilevered with a position different from the sealing portion as a root portion. The cutout portion has a free end as a fixing portion to be removably fixed to the sealed portion or a fixed portion of a housing in which the sheet-shaped sealing member is installed.

Abstract: A conductive member includes a substrate; an elastic layer provided on the substrate; and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer, in which the surface layer has a sea/island structure that consists of a sea portion containing a first resin and an island portion containing a second resin, a conductive agent is unevenly distributed in an interface between the sea portion and the island portion, in observation of a cross section of the surface layer, a ratio A of a total area of the island portions in a region X from a surface of the surface layer to a depth that is 10% of a film thickness is 40% or more and 80% or less, a linked island portion where two or more of the island portions are linked is present in the region X, and a ratio B of a total area of the linked island portions to the total area of the island portions is 50% or more and 100% or less.

Abstract: In the case that a developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion for feeding a developer by receiving a rotational force and a pump portion for discharging the developer by reciprocation, and the rotational force and a reciprocating force are received from a main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, there is a liability that a driving connection is not properly established between a portion of the developer supply container for receiving the reciprocating force and a portion of the main assembly side for applying the reciprocating force. The developer supply container is provided with a drive converting mechanism for converting the rotational force received from the main assembly side to a force for operating a volume changing type pump.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a drive source, an electromagnetic clutch, and circuitry. The developing device includes a developer and a rotator to convey or stir the developer. The drive source generates a driving force to drive the rotator. The electromagnetic clutch transmits the driving force of the drive source to the rotator of the developing device. The circuitry controls current to be supplied to the electromagnetic clutch and changes a value of the current supplied to the electromagnetic clutch in accordance with a fluidity of the developer in the developing device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a conductive part, a process cartridge, and a process cartridge set. The conductive part includes an electrical receiving portion; an electrical output portion; and an electrical transfer portion. The electrical transfer portion is electrically connected to the electrical receiving portion, the electrical output portion and an electrical conduction portion respectively; and configured to transfer power received by the electrical receiving portion to the electrical output portion and the electrical conduction portion. When the conductive part is configured to conduct electricity to the process cartridge, the electrical receiving portion is electrically connected to a power supply at an outside of current process cartridge to receive a first voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image bearing member, and a casing on which a discharge port is formed, the casing including a first frame, a second frame disposed below the first frame in a vertical direction, a side cover, and a top cover, the first frame including a side plate that supports an end, in a longitudinal direction, of the image bearing member. At least one of the top cover and the first frame includes a first pillar portion. The second frame includes a second pillar portion. The side cover includes a third pillar portion disposed between the first pillar portion and the second pillar portion in the vertical direction, the third pillar portion being provided at a position at least partially overlapping with the first pillar portion and the second pillar portion when viewed in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable on an image forming apparatus, includes a first unit, and a second unit including a first electrical component, a second electrical component, a first cable portion electrically connected to the first electrical component, a second cable portion electrically connected to the second electrical component, a first member including a first guide portion that guides the first cable portion, and a second member including a second guide portion that guides the second cable portion, the second unit being mountable on the first unit, in which in a state that the second unit is mounted on the first unit, the first member is mounted on a first surface of the first unit, and the second member is mounted on a second surface intersecting the first surface of the first unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drum unit; a fixing unit including a fixing member and a pressing member; a fixing pressure release unit disposed below the fixing unit; a body frame including a lateral support plate and a partition plate; a cooling fan; a first cooling duct; and a shifting mechanism. The first cooling duct is provided on an outside of the lateral support plate. The lateral support plate is provided with an air outlet. The fixing pressure release unit includes a nip pressure adjustment gear and a rotary gear. The fixing unit performs a switching behavior of switching a state of the fixing member and the pressing member between a pressed state and a released state by a rotary drive force supplied from the rotary gear to the nip pressure adjustment gear. The shifting mechanism shifts the fixing unit vertically upward in conjunction with the switching behavior.

Abstract: A drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum, and a developing housing configured to store the toner therein. The developing housing includes a first housing supporting the developing roller, a second housing having an inlet port, and a gasket providing a sealing between the first housing and the second housing. The first housing is movable relative to the photosensitive drum. The second housing is immovable relative to the photosensitive drum. The gasket is elastically deformable in response to movement of the first housing relative to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical body having an inner diameter at each of both end parts in an axial direction larger than an inner diameter at a central part in the axial direction, the cylindrical body having a stepped part between the inner diameter at each of the both end parts in the axial direction and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction, wherein a coaxiality C between an outer diameter of the cylindrical body and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction is 0.3 mm or less.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a first unit including a photosensitive member and a first frame; a second unit including a developing member and a second frame; a holding portion movable between a first position for holding the second unit at the separated position and a second position for holding the second unit at the developing position; a movable member; and an urging portion. the movable member is movable to a contact force receiving position, a separating force receiving position separating force receiving portion, a first retracted position, and a second retracted position. The urging portion urges the movable member placed at the first retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the contact force receiving position, and urges the movable member placed at the second retracted position in a direction of moving the movable member toward the separating force receiving position.

Abstract: A control device selects one of a plurality of chromatic colors as a target chromatic color according to a consumption status of developing agents of the plurality of chromatic colors. The control device causes an image forming portion to execute a process of forming, on a surface of a transfer medium, a plurality of chromatic color test images of the plurality of chromatic colors, and a superimposed test image in which a black test image is superimposed on a background image of the target chromatic color. The control device acquires a test detection signal of an amount of diffuse reflection light in each of areas of the plurality of chromatic color test images and the superimposed test image on the surface of the transfer medium. The control device adjusts timing of image formation of the plurality of colors by the image forming portion based on the test detection signal.

Abstract: A process cartridge is configured such that a movement direction of a surface of a developing roller is opposite to a movement direction of a surface of a toner supplying roller in a position where the developing roller is in contact with the toner supplying roller, the developing roller and the toner supplying roller rotate to satisfy a peripheral speed ratio R of 1.1 to 2.5, and a toner satisfying predetermined requirements is used.

Abstract: In a charging roll, at least one groove extending in a direction within ±46° relative to a circumferential direction is regularly formed in an axial direction on an outer peripheral surface of an elastic body layer. The groove has a width of 4 to 30 ?m and a depth of 2 to 12 ?m. A planar part being a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic body layer other than the groove has a width of 4 to 30 ?m. A specific relationship is present between an angle of the direction in which the groove extends relative to the circumferential direction and a ratio of the width of the groove to the width of the planar part. The surface layer includes a binder polymer and roughness forming particles. The roughness forming particles are respectively arranged on the planar part and the groove.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum unit including a drive member and a photosensitive drum; a frame body having an opening through which a part of the drum unit is exposed; a shutter member shielding the photosensitive drum exposed through the opening; and a link member connecting the frame body and the shutter member. The shutter member is movable from a shielding position to an open position. A joint between the link member and the shutter member is provided to a part of the shutter member. The link member has a first portion extending from the joint toward the outside of the shutter member. In the shielding position, at least a part of the first portion overlaps with the drive member in a drum axis direction and at least a part of the first portion overlaps with the drive member in a view in an opening direction of the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developer carrying member, and a cleaning member including an elastic blade and a regulating portion. When an average of a free length L1 [mm] of the elastic blade in the image bearing region in the widthwise direction of the elastic blade is an average free length L1a [mm], an average of a free length L2 [mm] of the elastic blade on an outside of the developing region in the widthwise direction of the elastic blade is an average free length L2a [mm], and an absolute value of a difference between the average free length L1a and the average free length L2a is a free length difference ?L [mm], the following relationships are satisfied: L ? 2 ? a ? 1.2 × L ? 1 ? a , L ? 2 ? L ? 2 ? a - ? ? L × 0.2 , and L ? 1 ? L ? 1 ? a + ? ? L × 0.2 .