Abstract: A powder conveying device includes a first conveyor, a first conveyance passage, a fall passage, a second conveyor, and a second conveyance passage. The first conveyor conveys powder in a substantially horizontal direction and is disposed in the first conveyance passage. The powder output from an outlet port of the first conveyance passage is to fall in the fall passage. The second conveyor conveys the powder in the substantially horizontal direction and is disposed in the second conveyance passage that has an inlet port to receive the powder falling in the fall passage. When viewed in a cross section orthogonal to a powder conveyance direction, a cross-sectional area of a space that is not occupied by the first conveyor in the first conveyance passage is larger than a cross-sectional area of a space that is not occupied by the second conveyor in the second conveyance passage.

Abstract: A powder conveying device includes a first conveyor, a first conveyance passage, a fall passage, a second conveyor, and a second conveyance passage. The first conveyor conveys powder in a substantially horizontal direction and is disposed in the first conveyance passage. The powder output from an outlet port of the first conveyance passage is to fall in the fall passage. The second conveyor conveys the powder in the substantially horizontal direction and is disposed in the second conveyance passage that has an inlet port to receive the powder falling in the fall passage. When viewed in a cross section orthogonal to a powder conveyance direction, a cross-sectional area of a space that is not occupied by the first conveyor in the first conveyance passage is larger than a cross-sectional area of a space that is not occupied by the second conveyor in the second conveyance passage.

Abstract: A toner conveyance device includes a toner conveyance path through which toner is transported. The toner conveyance path includes a flexible portion, a toner conveyor inside the conveyance path to convey the toner, and a restrictor outside the toner conveyance path to restrict deformation of the toner conveyance path.

Abstract: A sealing member is attached to a second member attached to and detached from a first member having a first opening through which powder passes and having a second opening that communicates with the first opening when the second member is coupled to the first member, and prevents the powder from leaking from a coupling portion between the first opening and the second opening. The sealing member includes: a first elastic member with a first surface arranged on the second member; and a second elastic member arranged on at least a part of a periphery of the first elastic member and having hardness different from that of the first elastic member.

Abstract: A toner conveyance device includes a toner conveyance path through which toner is transported. The toner conveyance path includes a flexible portion, a toner conveyor inside the conveyance path to convey the toner, and a restrictor outside the toner conveyance path to restrict deformation of the toner conveyance path.

Abstract: A cleaning device comprises: a to-be-cleaned member; a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the to-be-cleaned member; a conveying member that conveys a substance removed from the surface of the to-be-cleaned member to outside of the device; a rotatable collecting member that conveys with its surface the substance toward the conveying member; and a partitioning member that guides the substance from the collecting member to the conveying member. The collecting member comprises a conveying portion that carries and conveys the substance; and a protrusion that protrudes toward an upstream side of the conveying portion in a rotating direction of the collecting member. One end of the partitioning member faces the rotating collecting member, and the other end faces the conveying member. The conveying portion and the protrusion are brought into contact with the partitioning member by the rotation of the collecting member.

Abstract: The waste toner container includes: a waste toner detection unit configured to detect a state in which a toner surface of waste toner at that position is displaced up to a ceiling portion or near the ceiling portion. The waste toner detection unit includes: a flexibility member installed so as to cover an opening portion formed in the ceiling portion or a side wall and is configured to be deformed by a direct or indirect push by the waste toner; and a movable member formed so as to contact the flexibility member from outside of the container and so as to be displaced by the direct or indirect push by the waste toner interposing the flexibility member such that displacement thereof is detected by a detection unit. The displacement of the movable member is limited by a regulating member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearer on which a latent image is formed and developed into a toner image; a transfer member that is arranged so as to come in contact with or face the image bearer to form a transfer position; a cleaning unit that removes and collects untransferred toner; a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording medium; a neutralizing light source that irradiates a position downstream of the transfer position and upstream of the cleaning unit in a running direction of the image bearer with neutralizing light which is incident on and reflected by the recording medium sent out from the transfer position and/or the guide member; and a shielding member that blocks light such that the image bearer is not irradiated directly with a part or whole of neutralizing light emitted from the neutralizing light source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearer on which a latent image is formed and developed into a toner image; a transfer member that is arranged so as to come in contact with or face the image bearer to form a transfer position; a cleaning unit that removes and collects untransferred toner; a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording medium; a neutralizing light source that irradiates a position downstream of the transfer position and upstream of the cleaning unit in a running direction of the image bearer with neutralizing light which is incident on and reflected by the recording medium sent out from the transfer position and/or the guide member; and a shielding member that blocks light such that the image bearer is not irradiated directly with a part or whole of neutralizing light emitted from the neutralizing light source.

Abstract: A sealing member is attached to a second member attached to and detached from a first member having a first opening through which powder passes and having a second opening that communicates with the first opening when the second member is coupled to the first member, and prevents the powder from leaking from a coupling portion between the first opening and the second opening. The sealing member includes: a first elastic member with a first surface arranged on the second member; and a second elastic member arranged on at least a part of a periphery of the first elastic member and having hardness different from that of the first elastic member.

Abstract: The waste toner container includes: a waste toner detection unit configured to detect a state in which a toner surface of waste toner at that position is displaced up to a ceiling portion or near the ceiling portion. The waste toner detection unit includes: a flexibility member installed so as to cover an opening portion formed in the ceiling portion or a side wall and is configured to be deformed by a direct or indirect push by the waste toner; and a movable member formed so as to contact the flexibility member from outside of the container and so as to be displaced by the direct or indirect push by the waste toner interposing the flexibility member such that displacement thereof is detected by a detection unit. The displacement of the movable member is limited by a regulating member.

Abstract: A cleaning device comprises: a to-be-cleaned member; a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the to-be-cleaned member; a conveying member that conveys a substance removed from the surface of the to-be-cleaned member to outside of the device; a rotatable collecting member that conveys with its surface the substance toward the conveying member; and a partitioning member that guides the substance from the collecting member to the conveying member. The collecting member comprises a conveying portion that carries and conveys the substance; and a protrusion that protrudes toward an upstream side of the conveying portion in a rotating direction of the collecting member. One end of the partitioning member faces the rotating collecting member, and the other end faces the conveying member. The conveying portion and the protrusion are brought into contact with the partitioning member by the rotation of the collecting member.

Abstract: A belt unit is detachably attached to a housing. A holder changes a state of an endless belt by moving a transfer roller between a first state as an endless belt movement state and a second state as a detachment state. The first state allows the endless belt to circulate for image formation, and the second state allows the belt unit to be detached from the housing. The holder moves the transfer roller adjacent supporter independently of the transfer roller and lifts the opening in the endless belt to a prescribed position to expose it to the front side plate.

Abstract: A lubricant supplying device comprises a solid lubricant, a lubricant applicator to scrape and supply the lubricant to a target, and a pressing mechanism to press the solid lubricant against the lubricant applicator. An amount of pressure applied to the solid lubricant by the pressing mechanism increases until one of a thickness of the solid lubricant and a number of printed sheets reaches a prescribed level after the lubricant starts being consumed.

Abstract: A belt unit is detachably attached to a housing. A holder changes a state of an endless belt by moving a transfer roller between a first state as an endless belt movement state and a second state as a detachment state. The first state allows the endless belt to circulate for image formation, and the second state allows the belt unit to be detached from the housing. The holder moves the transfer roller adjacent supporter independently of the transfer roller and lifts the opening in the endless belt to a prescribed position to expose it to the front side plate.

Abstract: A lubricant supplying device comprises a solid lubricant, a lubricant applicator to scrape and supply the lubricant to a target, and a pressing mechanism to press the solid lubricant against the lubricant applicator. An amount of pressure applied to the solid lubricant by the pressing mechanism increases until one of a thickness of the solid lubricant and a number of printed sheets reaches a prescribed level after the lubricant starts being consumed.