Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt component, a first detachable unit that faces the belt component in an area where an outer surface of the belt component faces upward, a first housing component that houses the first detachable unit and is drawable from and loadable into the apparatus, a second detachable unit that faces the belt component in an area where the outer surface of the belt component faces downward, and a second housing component that houses the second detachable unit and is drawable from and loadable into the apparatus. With the first housing component being drawn from the apparatus, the first detachable unit is detachable from and attachable to the first housing component in a side-to-side direction. With the second housing component being drawn from the apparatus, the second detachable unit is detachable from and attachable to the second housing component in an upward direction.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes: a rotation shaft rotatably supported in a container chamber that contains powder; and plural blade members detachably attached to the rotation shaft, the blade members including spiral blades configured to transport the powder in an axial direction of the rotation shaft in response to the rotation shaft rotating.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing that includes a container portion, a rotating portion, and a developing roller. The container portion has a metal formed portion formed of metal and contains developer. The rotating portion is to be rotated so as to transport the developer contained in the container portion in a longitudinal direction. The developing roller holds the developer transported by the rotating portion. The metal formed portion is disposed in at least part of the container portion in a region superposed on a developer holding region of the developing roller in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor unit, a developing device, a space maintaining device, a pressing device, a securing device, and at least one connecting device. The photoconductor unit includes a photoconductor and a first part. The developing device includes a developing roller and a second part. The space maintaining device has a third part, is provided in the photoconductor unit or the developing device, and is brought into contact with the first part or the second part at the third part so as to maintain a space between the developing roller and the photoconductor. The pressing device presses the developing device toward the photoconductor unit. The securing device is removable. The at least one connecting device secures the photoconductor unit and the developing device by using the securing device so as to connect the photoconductor unit and the developing device to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor unit, a developing device, a space maintaining device, a pressing device, a securing device, and at least one connecting device. The photoconductor unit includes a photoconductor and a first part. The developing device includes a developing roller and a second part. The space maintaining device has a third part, is provided in the photoconductor unit or the developing device, and is brought into contact with the first part or the second part at the third part so as to maintain a space between the developing roller and the photoconductor. The pressing device presses the developing device toward the photoconductor unit. The securing device is removable. The at least one connecting device secures the photoconductor unit and the developing device by using the securing device so as to connect the photoconductor unit and the developing device to each other.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes an accommodating container, a collector, and a remover. The accommodating container has an opening and a receiving port. The collector is in contact with a surface of a cleaned body while rotating, to remove matter on the surface of the cleaned body. The remover has a tip end that is in contact with the surface of the cleaned body to remove the matter. The accommodating container accommodates the collector and the remover. The collector and the remover are exposed to the cleaned body through the opening. The accommodating container receives, through the receiving port, the matter removed from the cleaned body. The accommodating container is supported in such a manner that the accommodating container can rotate to a position where the matter collected in the accommodating container do not leak through the opening, so as to be separated from the cleaned body.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing that includes a container portion, a rotating portion, and a developing roller. The container portion has a metal formed portion formed of metal and contains developer. The rotating portion is to be rotated so as to transport the developer contained in the container portion in a longitudinal direction. The developing roller holds the developer transported by the rotating portion. The metal formed portion is disposed in at least part of the container portion in a region superposed on a developer holding region of the developing roller in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes: a rotation shaft rotatably supported in a container chamber that contains powder and plural blade members detachably attached to the rotation shaft, the blade members including spiral blades configured to transport the powder in an axial direction of the rotation shaft in response to the rotation shaft rotating.

Abstract: A powder-container attachment device includes a powder container that accommodates powder, and a device body. The device body includes an attachment portion to and from which the powder container is attached and removed with a pushing operation and a pull-out operation, a receiving port, a lid that is moved in interconnection with the pushing operation and the pull-out operation to open and close the receiving port, and an engaging portion with which the lid is engaged in the state of closing the receiving port. The powder container includes a protrusion and a disengagement portion. The lid includes a holding portion that removably holds the protrusion, and an engaged portion that is engaged with the engaging portion during the pull-out operation. The powder container is movable in a direction in which the protrusion moves away from the disengagement portion during the pull-out operation.

Abstract: A flywheel includes a rotation shaft, a flywheel body, and a protruding body. A first end of the rotation shaft is supported by a rotating body. The flywheel body is provided at a second end of the rotation shaft and rotates together with the rotation shaft. The protruding body protrudes from a surface at a rotating-body side of the flywheel body and extends in a circumferential direction of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A flywheel includes a rotation shaft, a flywheel body, and a protruding body. A first end of the rotation shaft is supported by a rotating body. The flywheel body is provided at a second end of the rotation shaft and rotates together with the rotation shaft. The protruding body protrudes from a surface at a rotating-body side of the flywheel body and extends in a circumferential direction of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a belt-shaped body and at least one transfer surface forming member. At least one image held by at least one image holding body is transferred to the belt-shaped body. The belt-shaped body is moved so as to be rotated in a single direction. The at least one transfer surface forming member has an outer radius, has a central portion and one and another end portions in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of the belt-shaped body, and forms a transfer surface so as to cause the belt-shaped body to be in contact with the at least one image holding body. The outer radius of the at least one transfer surface forming member is larger at the central portion than at the one and the other end portions.

Abstract: Provided is a transfer mechanism including a rotor that configures a transfer section which transfers an image including a flat pigment to a recording medium, a second gear that engages with a first gear provided in a support, a to-be-supported object that is provided with the rotor and the second gear, is supported by the support through a shaft portion of the rotor, and is allowed to move around the shaft portion in a direction in which engagement of the second gear with the first gear becomes weaker, and a member that presses or pulls the to-be-supported object in a direction in which the engagement becomes stronger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears an image, a transfer belt that is constituted of an endless belt member and onto which the image on the image bearing member is transferred, and multiple roller members around which the transfer belt is rotatably wrapped. The multiple roller members include a drive roller that rotationally drives the transfer belt and a tilt changeable roller that is capable of changing a tilt angle thereof. An area of the tilt changeable roller that is in contact with the belt member is provided with a contact portion composed of rubber with a coefficient of static friction selected from a range between 0.7 and 1.3.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a first support member that supports a wound member, an endless transferred body being wound around the wound member; a second support member that supports a transfer member, the transfer member and the wound member pinching the transferred body and a recording medium, the transfer member causing a developer image on the transferred body to be transferred onto the recording medium; a coupling portion that couples the second support member to the first support member so that an angle of the second support member is changeable relative to the first support member; and an urging portion that is provided at the first support member and urges the second support member in a direction in which the transfer member presses the wound member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent-image forming member including a latent-image carrier and support members disposed at both ends of the latent-image carrier to support the latent-image carrier, a charging member including a discharge electrode that supplies an electric charge to the latent-image carrier and a control electrode that is disposed between the discharge electrode and the latent-image carrier and controls a potential of the latent-image carrier, a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that are respectively formed on the latent-image forming member and the charging member and that are connected to each other to connect the latent-image forming member and the charging member to each other, and an urging member that is disposed between the latent-image forming member and the charging member to urge them away from each other.

Abstract: A charging device includes a discharge electrode that charges a surface of a rotatable image carrier and extends along the image carrier, a case that extends along and encloses the discharge electrode with a side thereof nearest to the image carrier being open, a grid electrode provided between the image carrier and the discharge electrode, a cleaning member that cleans at least one of the discharge electrode, the case, and the grid electrode by moving along the case, a regulating portion that is provided between the cleaning member and the case and regulates a distance between the cleaning member and the case in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the cleaning member by coming into contact with the cleaning member or the case, and a supporting portion that supports the regulating portion and allows the regulating portion to move away from the cleaning member or the case.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent-image forming member including a latent-image carrier and support portions, a charging member including a discharge electrode and a control electrode, restraining portions that restrain both ends of the control electrode in a width direction, and abutting portions that are provided on the support portions, that include curved surfaces, and that are abutted against the control electrode. The curved surfaces have a center of curvature that coincides with a rotational center of the latent-image carrier, and are at a position where a distance from the latent-image carrier in a radial direction is equal to a distance between the latent-image carrier and the control electrode. When the charging member is attached to the latent-image forming member, the control electrode is abutted against the curved surfaces by the restraining portions and is deformed along the curved surfaces.

Abstract: A transport device includes an endless belt having a recording-medium transport surface provided with multiple holes; stretching members between which the endless belt is stretched so as to be able to revolve; and a suction unit provided inside the endless belt. The suction unit has an opening having a larger width than the endless belt. The opening is exposed at both sides of the endless belt in the width direction. The suction unit draws air through the opening to cause the recording medium to stick to the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a latent image forming portion that includes a latent image carrier having a cylindrical shape, and a supporting member disposed at both ends of the latent image carrier and rotatably supporting the latent image carrier, a charging unit that includes a discharge electrode supplying electric charge to the latent image carrier, and a grid electrode having a shape curved around the latent image carrier, a first supporting portion that supports the curved grid electrode from the latent image carrier side, a second supporting portion that supports the curved grid electrode from the discharge electrode side, and a pinching unit that pinches the grid electrode between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion in a contact state.