Abstract: An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an image formation part; a conveyance part that conveys the medium; a detector that detects a leading end of the medium and a position detection mark on the medium; and a conveyance controller that controls the conveyance part under one of a first print mode based on one of the leading end of the medium and the position detection mark and a second print mode based on the other. The conveyance controller is configured, when switching from the first print mode to the second print mode when the medium stands by at a first standby position downstream of the detector, to retract the medium from the first standby position to a position upstream of the detector and then to resume to convey the medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion, a first guiding portion, a second guiding portion, a first rotatable member pair provided between the first and second guiding portions, an air discharging portion for discharging air from a feeding passage of the first guiding portion to an outside of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, and a second rotatable member pair provided downstream of the second guiding portion.

Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a writing device, a partition, and a plurality of side members. The image bearer is configured to bear an image. The writing device is configured to write the image on the image bearer. The partition is disposed between the image bearer and the writing device. The plurality of side members is disposed facing and spaced apart from each other at an interval in an axial direction of the image bearer. The writing device is fixed to the plurality of side members and is spaced apart from the partition.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a main assembly side drive transmission member and a main assembly side urging member, the cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive drum; a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the drum, the developing roller contactable to and spaceable from the drum; an urging force receiving portion for receiving an urging force from the urging member to space the roller from the drum; a cartridge side drive transmission portion capable of coupling with the main assembly side drive transmission member to receive a rotational force for rotating the roller; a releasing member capable of urging the main assembly side drive transmission member to decouple the cartridge side drive transmission member from the main assembly side drive transmission member by the urging force receiving portion receiving the urging force from the main assembly side urging member.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises a frame including a chamber, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a first coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a rotational force can be transmitted from the first coupling member to the photosensitive drum, and a second coupling member provided adjacent to an opening in the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the opening, with the second coupling member forming at least a part of the passageway through which toner can move from the chamber to the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to control a first image forming unit such that while a plurality of images are being sequentially formed, a first pattern image is formed in a first sheet-to-sheet area between a first black image and a second black image among the plurality of images on a first photosensitive body, and control the second image forming unit such that while the plurality of images is being sequentially formed, a second pattern image are formed in a second sheet-to-sheet area between a first color image and a second color image among the plurality of images on a second photosensitive body. The first sheet-to-sheet area in a case where the first pattern image is formed without the second pattern image being formed is narrower than the first sheet-to-sheet area in a case where the first pattern image and the second pattern image are formed.

Abstract: In one example, a wheel includes an annular body having a central axis; and multiple concentric grooves in the body surrounding the central axis. A first one of the grooves penetrates the body from a first side and a second one of the grooves penetrates the body from a second side opposite the first side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a drum cartridge mountable to the frame, and including a photosensitive drum and a drum memory in which drum identification information identifying the drum cartridge is stored, and a control unit including a main body memory in which the drum identification information is to be stored. The control unit reads out the drum identification information from the drum memory, determines whether the drum identification information read out from the drum memory coincides with the drum identification information stored in the main body memory, and enables to execute resister pitch measuring processing of measuring variations in printing pitch due to the photosensitive drum. In a case where it is determined that the drum identification information read out from drum memory coincides with the drum identification information stored in the main body memory, the control unit does not execute the resister pitch measuring processing.

Abstract: A fixing method of fixing a regulating blade made of a resin to a mounting portion of a developing frame made of a resin so that the regulating blade is in non-contact with a developer carrying member, the fixing method including: imaging the mounting portion; determining a target value of a gap between the developer carrying member and the regulating blade based on characteristic information of a shape of the imaged mounting portion; giving, to the regulating blade, a force for deflecting the regulating blade to adjust a relative position of the regulating blade with respect to the developer carrying member that the gap falls within a predetermined range including the target value over a longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member; and fixing the regulating blade to the mounting portion in a state in which the regulating blade has been deflected and the gap falls within the predetermined range.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a cam, a switching mechanism, a sheet tray, a sheet feed mechanism, a sheet sensor, and a controller. The switching mechanism rotates the cam to move the developing roller from a contact position in contact with the photosensitive drum to a separated position away from the photosensitive drum after development for the first sheet, if feeding of a second sheet is not started after elapse of a prescribed time period since detection of a first sheet. If image data for the second sheet is ready and upon elapse of a predetermined standby time period from elapse of the prescribed time period, the sheet feed mechanism starts feeding the second sheet toward the photosensitive drum and the switching mechanism rotates the cam to move the developing roller to the separated position in accordance with conveyance of the second sheet.

Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises a frame including a chamber, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a first coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a rotational force can be transmitted from the first coupling member to the photosensitive drum, and a second coupling member provided adjacent to an opening in the cartridge. The chamber is in fluid communication with the opening, with the second coupling member forming at least a part of the passageway through which toner can move from the chamber to the opening.

Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge is removably insertable into to the main body casing in a first direction. The developing cartridge is removably insertable into the main body casing in the first direction. The drum cartridge includes a first handle. The first handle has a first recess having a first hollow. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. The second handle has a second recess having a second hollow.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an exposure unit, a development unit, a toner supply motor, and a processor. The exposure unit exposes the photosensitive drum based on image data. The development unit forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. The toner supply motor supplies the toner to the development unit from the toner cartridge. The processor detects toner emptiness when a toner supply ratio calculated based on an integrated value of a pixel count value of the image data and an integrated value of a driving time of the toner supply motor is less than a preset threshold.

Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft; and a cam. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein. The developing roller is rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction. The shaft extends along a second axis extending in the axial direction. The shaft is movable along the second axis. The cam is movable along the second axis in response to axial movement of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface non-parallel with the second axis.

Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.

Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.