Abstract: An imaging device includes an image carrying member; a developing unit for forming a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image that has been formed on the image carrying member in a charged state; a cleaning unit for cleaning a toner that remains on the image carrying member after the toner image has been transferred from the image carrying member onto a transfer material; a lubricant applying unit for applying a lubricant on the image carrying member; and a control unit for performing drive control of the image carrying member, the developing unit, the cleaning unit, and the lubricant applying unit. Before the imaging device starts an imaging operation, the control unit controls the image carrying member, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit to perform respective operations; while controls the lubricant applying unit to repeat performing and suspending the operation in an intermittent manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging roller that continuously rotates and uniformly charges a photoconductor for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon, a cleaning roller that contacts a peripheral surface of the charging roller and cleans the charging roller while being driven by rotation of the charging roller, wherein a peripheral surface of the cleaning roller is formed of a melamine resin foam, and a cleaning roller shifting unit that causes the cleaning roller to contact the charging roller for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals of image formation while movably holding the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image carrying member; a developing unit for forming a toner image by developing an electrostatic latent image that has been formed on the image carrying member in a charged state; a cleaning unit for cleaning a toner that remains on the image carrying member after the toner image has been transferred from the image carrying member onto a transfer material; a lubricant applying unit for applying a lubricant on the image carrying member; and a control unit for performing drive control of the image carrying member, the developing unit, the cleaning unit, and the lubricant applying unit. Before the imaging device starts an imaging operation, the control unit controls the image carrying member, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit to perform respective operations; while controls the lubricant applying unit to repeat performing and suspending the operation in an intermittent manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming devices each including a photosensitive member, a charging device to charge a surface of the photosensitive member, and a lubricant supplying device to supply a lubricant to the surface of the photosensitive member, respectively. At least one of the plurality of image forming device includes a charging device with a different constitution from a constitution of a charging device of another of the image forming devices, and the one of the plurality of image forming devices with the different charging device includes a lubricant supplying device with a different constitution from a constitution of a lubricant supplying device of the another of the image forming devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a plate. The image forming unit is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. The image forming unit includes a convex portion. The plate includes a hole configured to receive the convex portion. The image forming unit further includes a lever which is provided at a front side of a unit case of the image forming unit and is configured to move between a working position and a storing position. When the lever is moved from the storing position to the working position, the convex portion is removed from the hole.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless transfer member and a plurality of image forming units. The endless transfer member is arranged at a transverse position in the image forming apparatus, and has a circulatory rotating surface declining at a predetermined angle to a horizontal plane. Each of the plurality of image forming units includes a first surface facing the endless transfer member and a second surface opposite to the first surface and angled in a similar direction to the endless transfer member. The plurality of image forming units perform an image forming operation and are arranged next to one another facing the endless transfer member such that, in any two adjacent image forming units of the plurality of image forming units, one of the any two adjacent image forming units has a portion overhanging the other one of the any two adjacent image forming units.

Abstract: A charging device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus are provided. The charging device includes a charging roller configured to charge an image carrier and a cleaning roller configured to clean the charging roller while making contact with a surface of the charging roller. The charging device further includes a bearing member including a first portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the charging roller and a second portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the cleaning roller. The charging device also includes an elastic member provided outside of the second portion of the bearing member with respect to an axial direction of the rotational shaft of the cleaning roller such that the charging roller makes contact with the image carrier when the first portion of the bearing member is pressed by the elastic member.

Abstract: A charging device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus are provided. The charging device includes a charging roller configured to charge an image carrier and a cleaning roller configured to clean the charging roller while making contact with a surface of the charging roller. The charging device further includes a bearing member including a first portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the charging roller and a second portion configured to rotatably support a rotational shaft of the cleaning roller. The charging device also includes an elastic member provided outside of the second portion of the bearing member with respect to an axial direction of the rotational shaft of the cleaning roller such that the charging roller makes contact with the image carrier when the first portion of the bearing member is pressed by the elastic member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge, a toner storage, and a toner supplying unit. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a pair of side plates. The developer container includes a toner inlet mounted at a predetermined position on one of its top surface. The pair of side plates are arranged in parallel and separated by a predetermined distance which determines a predetermined longitudinal width of the process cartridge and configured to support the components in the process cartridge.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device for an image-forming device configured so as to be capable of preventing the image quality from deteriorating by being able to prevent the deterioration of the charging state caused by deposits of foreign matter without increasing costs. There is also provided a cleaning member that can make contact with the cleaning target-members. The cleaning member has a portion composed of melamine resin foam for making contact with at least the cleaning target members, and the melamine resin foam has an Asker F hardness of 5 to 25 points and a hardness variation of 5 points or less, and is used on the cleaning target members in a state obtained by heat compression from the original shape. The pressing member is furthermore disposed in contact with the cleaning member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a charging roller for charging the image carrying member, a charging roller cleaning roller, and first and second shaft bearings. The charging roller cleaning roller contacts and cleans a surface of the charging roller. The first shaft bearing rotatably holds a rotation shaft of the charging roller cleaning roller, while the second shaft bearing rotatably holds a rotation shaft of the charging roller. The second shaft bearing integrally includes a first shaft bearing holding member which movably holds, by use of a resilient member, the first shaft bearing in a direction of moving the charging roller towards and apart from the charging roller cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, incorporating a process cartridge, capable of determining optimum light exposure conditions suitable for both a charging potential and a film thickness of image bearing member, and performing the image formation even during the period from initiating to completing the setting of light exposure conditions. The image forming apparatus includes at least a charger unit, a light exposure unit, a developer unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The detection unit is adapted to detect the total of rotation of the image bearing member. The control unit computes light exposure conditions to operate the light exposure unit based on an estimated thickness for a film of the image bearing member, which is calculated from the total of rotation obtained by the detection unit, and a first target uniform charging potential to control a uniform charging potential of the image bearing member, and to control the light exposure unit to be brought into the light exposure conditions.

Abstract: A highly reliable developing device, process cartridge, device unit, and image forming apparatus in which a developer is not spattered to the outside of the developing device even when the developing device where a developer is preset is included with shipment in an image forming apparatus main body. This developing device comprises a developer container for containing a developer, and a toner replenishing portion which is connected with a toner conveyance portion installed in the image forming apparatus main body and which is communicated with the developer container via an opening portion. Such a developing device is provided with a sealing member for sealing the opening portion until use of the developing device on the image forming apparatus main body is started.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image bearing member, a charger, a latent image forming device, a developing device, a surface moving member, a transfer device, a cleaner having a cleaning blade and an irradiating device configured to discharge the latent image bearing member. This developing device is configured to develop images with a toner having a circularity not less than 0.94. The irradiating device is disposed on the upstream from the cleaner relative to the rotation direction of the latent image bearing member.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that is capable of realizing good cleaning characteristics and transfer characteristics, and obtaining a high quality image using toner having a high average roundness is provided. The imaging apparatus includes an image carrier, a charge unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit. The transfer unit may directly transfer a toner image onto a recording medium that is carried by a transfer belt, or transfer the toner image onto the transfer belt first to then transfer the toner image onto the recording medium from the transfer belt. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning blade and a brush roller. The toner used in the imaging apparatus has an average roundness ? within a range of 0.93˜0.99, and a friction coefficient ?s of the image carrier satisfies a condition, friction coefficient ?s?3.6?3.3×average roundness ?.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging roller that continuously rotates and uniformly charges a photoconductor for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon, a cleaning roller that contacts a peripheral surface of the charging roller and cleans the charging roller while being driven by rotation of the charging roller, wherein a peripheral surface of the cleaning roller is formed of a melamine resin foam, and a cleaning roller shifting unit that causes the cleaning roller to contact the charging roller for a predetermined time at predetermined intervals of image formation while movably holding the cleaning roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming devices each including a photosensitive member, a charging device to charge a surface of the photosensitive member, and a lubricant supplying device to supply a lubricant to the surface of the photosensitive member, respectively. At least one of the plurality of image forming device includes a charging device with a different constitution from a constitution of a charging device of another of the image forming devices, and the one of the plurality of image forming devices with the different charging device includes a lubricant supplying device with a different constitution from a constitution of a lubricant supplying device of the another of the image forming devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image support body; and a lubricant applying part configured to apply lubricant to a surface of the image support body, and including a lubricant containing member configured to seal the lubricant in the lubricant applying part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one process cartridge removably mounted on an apparatus body and including at least an image carrier on which a toner image is to be formed and a cleaning device configured to remove toner left after image transfer with a cleaning blade. A hole for passing a light beam emitted from an optical writing unit toward the image carrier therethrough is formed in part of a case bottom wall of the process cartridge higher in level than part of the case bottom wall below the cleaning blade.

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.