Abstract: An optical scanning device includes an optical source portion to emit an optical beam; an optical deflector to deflect the optical beam in a main scanning direction; and an imaging lens to image the deflected optical beam onto a light-exposed object. A scanning line curvature caused by a refractive index deviation of the imaging lens is determined, and a curvature of the imaging lens in a sub-scanning direction is determined based on the determined scanning line curvature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first unit dismountably mounted on a main body frame and a locking mechanism releasably holding the first unit mounted. The locking mechanism has a handle portion, a lock member, and a preloading member. The handle portion is on the first unit, and is movable to and fro in the mounting and dismounting directions of the first unit. The lock member is swingably on the first unit, and has a hook portion engageable with an engaged portion formed on the main body frame. The preloading member preloads the lock member in a first direction in which the hook portion engages with the engaged portion. As the handle portion is moved in the dismounting direction, the lock member swings in a second direction opposite to the first direction against the preloading force of the preloading member to disengage the hook portion from the engaged portion.

Abstract: In order to improve collecting efficiency of ultrafine particles (UFPs) by a filter in an image forming apparatus, a sheet feeding guide disposed between a transfer portion and a fixing portion is provided with an air passing portion in order to form an air passage toward the filter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, a support member, a lock member, a lock removing portion, and a moving mechanism. The toner container is attachable to an attachment position in an apparatus main body. The support member supports the toner container which is moved between the attachment position and a detachment position located toward a surface of the apparatus main body. The lock member is provided on the support member, is movable in a first direction along the surface, and is displaced between a lock position where the toner container is locked to the attachment position and a removal position. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the lock removing portion moves the lock member to the removal position to remove a lock of the toner container. The moving mechanism moves the toner container toward the detachment position when the lock removing portion removes the lock.

Abstract: An example toner refill cartridge includes a body to contain toner, a toner discharge unit, located at a first end portion of the body in a longitudinal direction, to discharge the toner, a plunger, inserted into the body and movable between a top dead position adjacent to a second end portion of the body and a bottom dead position adjacent to the first end portion, to push the toner toward the toner discharge unit, a locking member, removably coupled with the plunger, to lock the plunger at the top dead position, a pulverization member, including a wing portion extending in a radial direction, coupled with the plunger and movable between a first portion adjacent to the first end portion and a second position adjacent to the second end portion, and an elastic member to apply an elastic force to the pulverization member.

Abstract: An example toner refill cartridge includes a body to accommodate toner, a plunger inserted into the body and movably coupled to the body in a longitudinal direction of the body, and capable of pushing the toner out of the body, a toner injection amount detector to detect each of a plurality of movement positions of the plunger in accordance with the movement of the plunger, and a connection interface to connect to an image forming apparatus to transmit a signal corresponding to each of the detected movement position to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a top cover having an opening, a process cartridge attachable to the housing, a toner cartridge attachable to the process cartridge, and an interlocking mechanism. The top cover is pivotally movable between a first position closing the opening and a second position opening the opening. In a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge, the toner cartridge is pivotally movable between an attachment/detachment position where the toner cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the process cartridge; and a fixed position where the toner cartridge is fixed to the process cartridge. The interlocking mechanism is configured to pivotally move the toner cartridge to the attachment/detachment position when the top cover is moved to the second position, and to pivotally move the toner cartridge to the fixed position when the top cover is moved to the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a first photosensitive drum, a second photosensitive drum, a first developing roller, a second developing roller, a first moving mechanism, a second moving mechanism, a driving gear, a motor, a first gear train, a second gear train, and a third gear train, is provided. The first gear train having a first gear transmits a driving force from the motor to the first developing roller. The second gear train having a second gear transmits the driving force from the motor to the second developing roller. The second gear train is provided separately from the first gear train. The third gear train having a third gear transmits the driving force from the motor to at least one of the first moving mechanism and the second moving mechanism. The third gear train is provided separately from the first gear train and the second gear train.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a frame having a first metal plate and a second metal plate where the first metal plate has a recess portion. The frame supports an image forming member that forms an image on a sheet. The first metal plate and the second metal plate are positioned to each other and an adhesive is in a space formed between the recess portion and the second metal plate. The space is such that it receives the adhesive by injection.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first member having a first face, a first protrusion and a second protrusion projecting from the first face, and a groove portion formed in the first face, and a second member having a second face provided with a first hole and a second hole. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are inserted into the first hole and the second hole. The second face is superposed on the first face so that the groove portion located between the first member and the second member is in a visible state. The second face is sandwiched between a part of the first protrusion inserted in the first hole and the first face. The second hole in which the second protrusion has been inserted has a gap between the second hole and the second protrusion in an extending direction of the groove portion.

Abstract: An imaging device has a fuser assembly and a removably insertable cartridge with an activation device. The fuser assembly has a fusing nip that heats during use. A shutter moves between a fully opened and fully closed position to allow or block access to the fusing nip. A frame has an opening to allow passage of the activation device of the cartridge. During use, the shutter blocks access to the fusing nip until the activation device of the cartridge passes through the opening of the frame and contacts a corresponding activation surface, whereby the shutter begins opening and travels through a range of movement until reaching the fully opened position when the cartridge is fully inserted into the imaging device. Removal of the cartridge reverses the action of the shutter.

Abstract: In a cartridge structure employing an inclinable coupling member engaging with a rotational force transmitting portion of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the coupling member is unable to engage with the rotational force transmitting portion of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus when the mounting and dismounting direction and the developing/spacing direction relative to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of different from each other. Under the circumstances, a coupling lever contacting and retracting relative to the coupling member in interrelation with the mounting and dismounting operation of a developing cartridge B1, and a coupling spring for the coupling lever to apply an urging force to the coupling member are provided.

Abstract: A heater for a fuser includes a substrate, a first pair of heating elements provided on the substrate, and a second pair of heating elements provided on the substrate. The first pair of heating elements and the second pair of heating elements extend in a length direction of the substrate. The second pair of heating elements is provided between one heating element among the first pair of heating elements and the other heating element among the first pair of heating elements. A distance between the heating elements of the second pair of heating elements is greater than or equal to a value obtained by adding widths of each of the first pair of heating elements and the second pair of heating elements at a center in the length direction of each of the heating elements from the first and second pairs of heating elements.

Abstract: A wiring holder includes a first member and a second member attached to the first member. The first member and the second member are configured to hold an electric wire. At least one of the first member and the second member includes a connector cover portion configured to cover a connector at one end of the electric wire.

Abstract: An image carrier according to one or more embodiments may include: a cylindrical image carrier member including an outer circumferential surface formed with an image carrier layer configured to carry a developer image; one or more silencers disposed in the image carrier member; and a bonding member that bonds the one or more the silencers to an inner circumferential surface of the image carrier member. For each silencer, the inner circumferential surface of the image carrier member includes one or more bonding areas to which the bonding member is attached. A bonding range, in which the one or more bonding areas are fit, for each silencer, has a length thereof in an axial direction of the silencer being greater than a length thereof in a circumferential direction of the silencer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for compressing drive curves for scanning devices and corresponding computer programs are provided. In this case, a drive curve is decomposed into segments. Segments which are not yet present in a library are stored in the library. Moreover, for each segment a pointer to a corresponding segment in the library is stored in a list.

Abstract: A printer includes a main body including a printing unit for printing an image, a developer cartridge for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the printing unit and removable from the main body, a releasing member provided in the main body and pushing the developer cartridge in a removal direction to move the developer cartridge from a mounting position where the developer cartridge is locked to the main body to a removal position where the developer cartridge is unlocked, and a handle provided on the developer cartridge. The handle moves in conjunction with the movement of the developer cartridge from the mounting position to the removal position of the developer cartridge such that the handle is switched from a first position adjacent to a side of the developer cartridge to a second position protruding from the side of the developer cartridge, so that the handle can be gripped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cartridge attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body, a replenishment restriction portion configured to switch between a restricting state in which toner replenishment through a replenishment port is restricted and an allowing state in which toner replenishment through the replenishment port is allowed, a toner remainder amount detection portion, and a controller. The controller is configured to, when the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, maintain the replenishment restriction portion in the restricting state in a case where a second printable sheet number is larger than a first printable sheet number, with the first printable sheet number being obtained from a lifetime of the cartridge, and the second printable sheet number being obtained from a sum of the amount of toner accommodated in the developer container and an amount of toner accommodated in the replenishment container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, including a housing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position and a lock member provided on the drawer and movable between a lock position at which the lock member locks the drum cartridge to the drawer, and a release position at which a lock between the drum cartridge and the drawer is released. The lock member includes an operation portion for moving the lock member between the lock position and the release position. The developing cartridge includes a cover member that covers at least a portion of the operation portion in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrical parameter detection method, a chip, a consumable, and an image forming apparatus. The electrical parameter detection method includes: configuring an installation detecting pin to be at a high level by an image forming control unit; controlling a voltage of an installation detecting terminal to be at a low level by a chip control unit, such that a current loop is formed between the image forming apparatus and the chip; and determining, by the image forming apparatus, whether the image forming apparatus is in a desired contact with the chip according to an electrical parameter of the current loop.