Abstract: A light-sensitive unit used in an image-forming device such as an electrostatic copier or printer, which enables one to easily mount and demount a light-sensitive drum without removing an electrically charging device and with no fear of damaging an edge of a cleaning blade. A second process unit (light-sensitive unit) has a resin-made frame having a cleaning device and includes a light-sensitive drum and an electrically charging device, which are removably mounted therein respectively. The light-sensitive drum is mounted in the frame by first axially inserting its rear-end bearing portion into a rear-side drum-holder and by horizontally turning its front-end bearing portion and placing it in a front-side drum-holder along a guide groove provided in the side thereof. Finally, a stopper is fitted in the front-side drum-holder to prevent the drum from slipping out of the holder.

Abstract: In an image forming device of the present invention, which is a tandem type, electrophotographic image forming device in which a plurality of photoconductor drums are located in order from one side to the other side of the main unit of the device, and a sheet of paper sequentially passes through the respective photoconductor drums with being supported by a transfer and transport belt unit, so as to transfer a plurality of kinds of toner images onto the sheet of paper, a first separating/contacting mechanism mechanically lowers/raises the whole of a transfer frame holding the transfer and transport belt unit in association with the opening/closing of a front door, a second separating/contacting mechanism mechanically lowers/raises the right side of the transfer frame in association with the opening/closing of a right side door, and a third separating/contacting mechanism mechanically lowers/raises the left side of the transfer frame in association with the opening/closing of a left side door.

Abstract: A charging device which has a grid disposed between a discharge element and the photosensitive drum. The grid is formed of a regulating portion having a mesh configuration for the range opposing the image area on the photosensitive drum and non-regulating portions with openings for the range opposing the non-image area. The flow of ions discharged from the discharge element is regulated as to their passage through the grid thereby so as to be uniform and charge the image area on the photosensitive drum uniformly. The flow of ions reaches the non-image area without being shaded by the grid, so as to enhance the surface potential for prevention against toner adherence.

Abstract: In an information processing system, information defining a business process is classified into demand information, which is a request instruction from a requester, and supply information, which is a result report to the requester, this demand and supply information being stored into a 5W1H-format database, in which the information is made up combinations of 5W (who, whom, when, where, and what) and 1H (how) elemental information, management of a business process being performed based on these information.

Abstract: A charging device which has a grid disposed between a discharge element and the photosensitive drum. The grid is formed of a regulating portion having a mesh configuration for the range opposing the image area on the photosensitive drum and non-regulating portions with openings for the range opposing the non-image area. The flow of ions discharged from the discharge element is regulated as to their passage through the grid thereby so as to be uniform and charge the image area on the photosensitive drum uniformly. The flow of ions reaches the non-image area without being shaded by the grid, so as to enhance the surface potential for prevention against toner adherence.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with a photoreceptor with an internal gear includes the internal gear in a photoreceptor drum, a pinion gear in engagement with the internal gear, and a cleaning unit and a developer unit which apply contact pressure onto the photoreceptor drum. The pinion gear is provided in such an area that a resulting force of the contact pressure respectively applied from the process elements does not cause a distortion of the photoreceptor drum which exceeds an axial backlash determined in initialization according to a distance between axes of the pinion gear and the internal gear. The described arrangement prevents interference between non-driving surfaces of the internal gear and the pinion gear. As a result, a smooth rotary motion of the photoreceptor drum can be ensured, thereby preventing an image defect caused by an unstable rotary motion of the photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a unit can be attached to the apparatus body in a status where a correct positional correlation between a photoconductive drum and each of other process devices mounted on a unit is maintained. A photoconductive drum is positioned within a copier body by a rotating drive shaft, and the other process devices mounted on a process unit are positioned within a copier body by a boss and a locking member. The boss positions the rotating drive shaft within the copier body. Since the locking member is fitted onto a front-side end of the rotation drive shaft, the locking member is positioned within the copier body by the rotating drive shaft. The other process devices mounted on the process unit are positioned within the copier body by the rotating drive shaft via the boss and the locking member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with a photoreceptor with an internal gear includes the internal gear in a photoreceptor drum, a pinion gear in engagement with the internal gear, and a cleaning unit and a developer unit which apply contact pressure onto the photoreceptor drum. The pinion gear is provided in such an area that a resulting force of the contact pressure respectively applied from the process elements does not cause a distortion of the photoreceptor drum which exceeds an axial backlash determined in initialization according to a distance between axes of the pinion gear and the internal gear. The described arrangement prevents interference between non-driving surfaces of the internal gear and the pinion gear. As a result, a smooth rotary motion of the photoreceptor drum can be ensured, thereby preventing an image defect caused by an unstable rotary motion of the photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: A sheet registering device for registering sheets without any time loss and any fold or breakage of the sheets. A paddler is equipped with two elastic blades, for example, as mounted on a pivotal shaft directed at a right angle with respect to a transporting direction of the sheets, and the adjoining elastic blades are set at an angle of 180.degree. or more. The sheets, as supplied to a staple tray, are transported by the rotating paddler until their downstream ends come into contact with a stopper, and are registered in the transporting direction. At this time, the elastic blades are in contact with the sheet surface. When the transportation and the registration in the transporting direction are ended, the rotation of the paddler stops with its elastic blades being generally in parallel with the tray. After this, the sheets are registered in a (widthwise) direction perpendicular to the transporting direction by a tamper plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with a photoreceptor with an internal gear includes the internal gear in a photoreceptor drum, a pinion gear in engagement with the internal gear, and a cleaning unit and a developer unit which apply contact pressure onto the photoreceptor drum. The pinion gear is provided in such an area that a resulting force of the contact pressure respectively applied from the process elements does not cause a distortion of the photoreceptor drum which exceeds an axial backlash determined in initialization according to a distance between axes of the pinion gear and the internal gear. The described arrangement prevents interference between non-driving surfaces of the internal gear and the pinion gear. As a result, a smooth rotary motion of the photoreceptor drum can be ensured, thereby preventing an image defect caused by an unstable rotary motion of the photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developing tank and a toner hopper. The developing tank is disposed to oppose a recording medium rotatably mounted to an image forming apparatus utilizing electrophotography. A developing member conveys a developer and attaches toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the recording medium to develop the electrostatic latent image. The toner hopper has a toner supply port for supplying toner to the developing tank through a toner replenishing port formed in the developing tank. The developing tank is detachable in a direction of a rotating shaft of the recording medium, and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotating shaft of the recording medium so as to separate from or oppose the recording medium. The toner hopper has a shutter for opening/closing an opening of the toner supply port.