Abstract: A toner storage container detachable from an image forming apparatus includes: a bottle part that stores toner; a discharge opening that opens the bottle part to the outside; a first shutter member rotatably attached to the bottle part between a closed position and an open position; a second shutter member relatively movable with respect to the bottle part in an attachment/detachment direction in which the second shutter member is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus between a storage position separated from the first shutter member at the open position and a detachment position in contact with the first shutter member at the closed position; and a lock mechanism that regulates movement of the second shutter member at the detachment position from the detachment position, wherein the lock mechanism includes a connection member having an inclined surface inclined with respect to the attachment/detachment direction.

Abstract: A toner replenishing apparatus includes: a toner storage that stores toner for replenishment; an agitation paddle that is arranged in the toner storage and rotates to agitate toner stored in the toner storage; a conveyance member that is disposed in a lower part of the toner storage and is used to convey the toner stored in the toner storage toward a developer; and an agitation member that moves along with rotation of the agitation paddle, wherein the conveyance member is arranged away from the agitation paddle in a plan view, and the agitation member agitates the toner located above the conveyance member, which is a part of the toner stored in the toner storage.

Abstract: A toner supply device includes a toner storage unit that stores toner for supply, and a stirring unit that stirs the toner stored in the toner storage unit. The toner storage unit includes an inlet for introducing the toner from a toner container to the toner storage unit, and an intake portion that takes in the toner to a supply path for supplying the toner toward a developing device. The stirring unit includes a paddle portion provided to be rotatable about an axis of rotation for moving the toner toward the intake portion, and a screw portion for transporting the toner toward the paddle portion. The screw portion transports the toner in a direction of the axis of rotation of the paddle portion.

Abstract: A toner replenishing apparatus includes: a toner storage that stores toner for replenishment; an agitation paddle that is arranged in the toner storage and rotates to agitate toner stored in the toner storage; a conveyance member that is disposed in a lower part of the toner storage and is used to convey the toner stored in the toner storage toward a developer; and an agitation member that moves along with rotation of the agitation paddle, wherein the conveyance member is arranged away from the agitation paddle in a plan view, and the agitation member agitates the toner located above the conveyance member, which is a part of the toner stored in the toner storage.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes, in an apparatus body, a sensing portion which senses presence or absence of depression by a paper feed unit. The sensing portion includes a slider provided to be slidingly movable along a mounting direction of the paper feed unit, a push switch arranged behind the slider along the mounting direction, and a first elastic body and a second elastic body for elastically biasing the slider toward a direction away from the push switch. The first elastic body is interposed between the slider and a portion which does not relatively move with respect to the apparatus body, and the second elastic body is interposed between the slider and a switch portion of the push switch.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes, in an apparatus body, a sensing portion which senses presence or absence of depression by a paper feed unit. The sensing portion includes a slider provided to be slidingly movable along a mounting direction of the paper feed unit, a push switch arranged behind the slider along the mounting direction, and a first elastic body and a second elastic body for elastically biasing the slider toward a direction away from the push switch. The first elastic body is interposed between the slider and a portion which does not relatively move with respect to the apparatus body, and the second elastic body is interposed between the slider and a switch portion of the push switch.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a housing to cover a specified region of an image carrier. A first cleaning section and a second cleaning section are respectively placed in upper and lower parts of the housing partitioned by a partition member. The first cleaning section includes a first cleaning brush and a first regulating member. The second cleaning section includes a second cleaning brush and a second regulating member. The partition member substantially extends in a continuous manner with respect to a horizontal direction from the specified region to at least a position equivalent to an end portion on a housing sidewall side of the first or the second regulating member. A clearance exists between the housing sidewall and an end portion on the housing sidewall side of the partition member.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a housing to cover a specified region of an image carrier. A first cleaning section and a second cleaning section are respectively placed in upper and lower parts of the housing partitioned by a partition member. The first cleaning section includes a first cleaning brush and a first regulating member. The second cleaning section includes a second cleaning brush and a second regulating member. The partition member substantially extends in a continuous manner with respect to a horizontal direction from the specified region to at least a position equivalent to an end portion on a housing sidewall side of the first or the second regulating member. A clearance exists between the housing sidewall and an end portion on the housing sidewall side of the partition member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer belt is transferred to a transfer sheet by a transfer electric field generated between a secondary transfer roller and a driving roller. A guide surface of a pre-transfer guide and a flat portion of the intermediate transfer belt form an angle of no less than 13° and no greater than 17°, and a distance from a tip of the guide surface and the flat portion is no less than 1.0 mm and no greater than 3.0 mm.

Abstract: A secondary cleaning device has a cleaning brush, collection roller, and controller. The cleaning brush is driven by a drive mechanism and thereby rotates in a state that brush fibers thereof are contacting with a secondary transfer belt to collect toner on the secondary transfer belt. The collection roller is driven by another drive mechanism and thereby rotates in a state contacting with the cleaning brush to collect toner from the cleaning brush. The collection roller rotates in such a manner that the collection roller and the cleaning brush move in the same direction with each other at a contact area between the collection roller and the cleaning brush. The controller controls the drive mechanism such that the circumferential speed ratio of the collection roller with respect to the cleaning brush is greater than one and smaller than two.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer belt is transferred to a transfer sheet by a transfer electric field generated between a secondary transfer roller and a driving roller. A guide surface of a pre-transfer guide and a flat portion of the intermediate transfer belt form an angle of no less than 13° and no greater than 17°, and a distance from a tip of the guide surface and the flat portion is no less than 1.0 mm and no greater than 3.0 mm.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided with a conductive fur brush kept in contact with a transfer belt, a conductive brush kept in contact with the transfer belt upstream of the fur brush in the feed direction, and a single of constant-current d.c. power supply. The fur brush is connected to the constant-current d.c. power supply, and the conductive brush is grounded. A current flows from the constant-current d.c. power supply via the transfer belt to the conductive brush.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a control section. The control section controls a power supply for applying a bias voltage to a cleaning brush and a driving mechanism for the cleaning brush so that the cleaning brush 41 begins to rotate when a predetermined delay time has passed after the start of the application of the bias voltage to cleaning brush. Toner remaining on an image bearing body at an upstream side of a nip portion between the cleaning brush and the image bearing body is surely removed.

Abstract: A secondary cleaning device has a cleaning brush, collection roller, and controller. The cleaning brush is driven by a drive mechanism and thereby rotates in a state that brush fibers thereof are contacting with a secondary transfer belt to collect toner on the secondary transfer belt. The collection roller is driven by another drive mechanism and thereby rotates in a state contacting with the cleaning brush to collect toner from the cleaning brush. The collection roller rotates in such a manner that the collection roller and the cleaning brush move in the same direction with each other at a contact area between the collection roller and the cleaning brush. The controller controls the drive mechanism such that the circumferential speed ratio of the collection roller with respect to the cleaning brush is greater than one and smaller than two.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided with a conductive fur brush kept in contact with a transfer belt, a conductive brush kept in contact with the transfer belt upstream of the fur brush in the feed direction, and a single of constant-current d.c. power supply. The fur brush is connected to the constant-current d.c. power supply, and the conductive brush is grounded. A current flows from the constant-current d.c. power supply via the transfer belt to the conductive brush.