Abstract: A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a cover, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, an intermediate transfer belt and a movable cam. The movable cam is movable among a first position when the cover is in the open position, a second positon and a third position when the cover is in the closed position. In a case where the movable cam is in the first position, the photosensitive drum is in a first drum position spaced from the intermediate transfer belt, and the developing roller is in a first developing position spaced from the photosensitive drum. In a case where the movable cam is in the second position, the photosensitive drum is positioned toward the the intermediate transfer belt from the first drum position. In a case where the cam is in the third position, the developing roller is positioned toward the photosensitive drum from the first developing position.

Abstract: A developer cartridge may include: a first gear having a small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion; and a second gear including: a first columnar portion centered on a second axis; a second columnar portion having a smaller diameter than the first columnar portion; a first engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first columnar portion and engageable with the small-diameter gear portion; a second engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the second columnar portion and positioned closer to a housing than the first engagement portion in an axial direction and engageable with the large-diameter gear portion; and a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction and rotatable together with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. The second engagement portion may engage the large-diameter gear portion after the first engagement portion engages the small-diameter gear portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The main body casing has an opening and a slot extending in from the opening toward an inside of the main body casing along a first direction. The drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the slot. The main body casing includes a drum guide groove configured to guide movement of the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum protrusion configured to be engaged with the drum guide groove. A width of the drum guide groove in the second direction is decreased toward the inside of the main body casing from the opening.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; a developing cartridge; and a plate. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum; a first holder; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the first holder. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame. The developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a second holder; and a second memory having a second electrical contact surface that is movably supported by the second holder. The plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame. The second holder moves together with the plate in accordance with movement of the first holder in a state where the plate connects the first holder and the second holder to each other.

Abstract: A developer cartridge may include: a first gear having a small-diameter gear portion and a large-diameter gear portion; and a second gear including: a first columnar portion centered on a second axis; a second columnar portion having a smaller diameter than the first columnar portion; a first engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the first columnar portion and engageable with the small-diameter gear portion; a second engagement portion extending along a portion of a peripheral surface of the second columnar portion and positioned closer to a housing than the first engagement portion in an axial direction and engageable with the large-diameter gear portion; and a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction and rotatable together with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. The second engagement portion may engage the large-diameter gear portion after the first engagement portion engages the small-diameter gear portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame and includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction; a second memory having a second electrical contact surface; and a developing holder holding the second electrical contact surface such that the second electrical contact surface is movable relative to the casing. The drum cartridge further includes an elastic member that can expand and contract in a second direction crossing the first direction. The developing holder is connected to the elastic member and is movable in the second direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner image forming portion, a foil transfer unit, a sheet tray, and a discharge portion. The toner image forming portion is provided in the housing and configured to form a toner image on a sheet. The foil transfer unit is configured to superpose a foil with a surface of the sheet. The sheet tray is installable in the housing in an inserting direction and configured to accommodate a sheet to be supplied to the toner image forming portion. The first discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the foil transfer unit to the outside of the housing in a discharging direction opposite to the inserting direction. The second discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the toner image forming portion to the outside of the housing without passing through the foil transfer unit in the discharge direction.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a casing having a first toner accommodating portion and a second toner accommodating portion; an agitator; an auger; a first protrusion positioned at one side in a first direction of the second toner accommodating portion; a second protrusion positioned at another side in the first direction of the second accommodating portion; a memory; and a toner-side electrical contact surface electrically connected to the memory. The toner cartridge is attachable to a drum cartridge by the casing pivotally moving from a first position to a second position relative to the drum cartridge about the first protrusion and the second protrusion. When the casing is at the first position, the toner-side electrical contact surface does not contact a first electrical contact surface of the drum cartridge. When the casing is at the second position, the toner-side electrical contact surface contacts the first electrical contact surface.

Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion, the first developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft, the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion, the second developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft, the detection-rotational-body supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing including an image forming unit and a discharge tray, and an optional device configured to be removably attached to the main casing. The main casing includes a conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the image forming unit, a discharge path through which the sheet is conveyed toward one of the discharge tray and the optional device, the discharge path diverging from the conveying path, and a return path including a first path through which the sheet is conveyed temporarily out of the main casing via an opening formed in the main casing, and a second path through which the sheet is conveyed toward the image forming unit. The first path diverges from the conveying path. The second path diverges from the first path. The optional device is disposed closer to the discharge tray than the opening.

Abstract: Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.

Abstract: Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.

Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a first supporting member is attached to a housing and has a first developing supporting portion and a driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion, the first developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a first part of a rotational shaft, the driving-force-receiving-member supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a driving-force-receiving member. The second supporting member is attached to the housing and has a second developing supporting portion and a detection-rotational-body supporting portion, the second developing supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a second part of the rotational shaft, the detection-rotational-body supporting portion being configured to rotatably support a detection rotational body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing including an image forming unit and a discharge tray, and an optional device configured to be removably attached to the main casing. The main casing includes a conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the image forming unit, a discharge path through which the sheet is conveyed toward one of the discharge tray and the optional device, the discharge path diverging from the conveying path, and a return path including a first path through which the sheet is conveyed temporarily out of the main casing via an opening formed in the main casing, and a second path through which the sheet is conveyed toward the image forming unit. The first path diverges from the conveying path. The second path diverges from the first path. The optional device is disposed closer to the discharge tray than the opening.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a shutter that opens and closes when the cartridge is attached and detached to a developing unit or image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a casing having a chamber with a first opening at one end portion allowing toner to flow out of the casing. The cartridge includes a cover that covers the first opening, movable with the casing and having a second opening allowing toner to flow out of the cover. The shutter is located at the one end portion and has a protrusion further from the one end portion than the cover. The developing unit supports the protrusion when the cartridge is mounted thereon, and the casing pivots with the cover relative to the developing unit between a first position where the shutter closes the second opening and a second position where a third opening of the shutter overlaps the second opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner image forming portion, a foil transfer unit, a sheet tray, and a discharge portion. The toner image forming portion is provided in the housing and configured to form a toner image on a sheet. The foil transfer unit is configured to superpose a foil with a surface of the sheet. The sheet tray is installable in the housing in an inserting direction and configured to accommodate a sheet to be supplied to the toner image forming portion. The first discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the foil transfer unit to the outside of the housing in a discharging direction opposite to the inserting direction. The second discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the toner image forming portion to the outside of the housing without passing through the foil transfer unit in the discharge direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The main body casing has an opening and a slot extending in from the opening toward an inside of the main body casing along a first direction. The drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the slot. The main body casing includes a drum guide groove configured to guide movement of the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum protrusion configured to be engaged with the drum guide groove. A width of the drum guide groove in the second direction is decreased toward the inside of the main body casing from the opening.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge; and a developing cartridge. The drum cartridge includes: a drum frame; a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; and a first memory having a first electrical contact surface. The developing cartridge is attachable to the drum frame and includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction; a second memory having a second electrical contact surface; and a developing holder holding the second electrical contact surface such that the second electrical contact surface is movable relative to the casing. The drum cartridge further includes an elastic member that can expand and contract in a second direction crossing the first direction. The developing holder is connected to the elastic member and is movable in the second direction in a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the drum frame.