Abstract: A process cartridge collectively accommodates at least a latent image carrier and a developer carrier carrying tonner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier and includes a side plate unit rotatably supporting the latent image carrier and the developer carrier. The side plate includes a bearing that rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the developer carrier; an elastic body that pushes the bearing against a rotation shaft of the latent image carrier; and a guiding unit that guides the bearing in a direction of the pushing. The guiding unit includes an abrasion preventing structure at a wall surface of the guiding unit that comes in contact with the bearing.

Abstract: A powder conveyance device capable of removing toner (powder) stuck to a conveyor belt easily and reliably comprises a powder conveyor belt having a plurality of concavo-convex portions formed continuously on a conveyance surface thereof, driving means for driving the conveyor belt, and a scraping member that contacts the conveyor belt. At least one of the scraping member and a convex portion of the conveyor belt deforms elastically such that a tip end of the scraping member enters a concave portion and scrapes away the powder stuck to the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade, a receiving member, an inlet seal, an adhering member, and an end seal. The cleaning blade is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum to remove residual toner therefrom. The receiving member receives the residual toner. The inlet seal guides the residual toner to the receiving member. The adhering member adheres the inlet seal to the receiving member. The end seal is arranged along the end portions of the cleaning blade and the inlet seal. The inlet seal covers the end seal and extends out from the end seal in its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A toner conveyance device includes a toner conveyance path to convey toner from a lower position to an upper position, a lower holding member and an upper holding member provided in the toner conveyance path, a toner conveyance belt extended among the upper holding member and the lower holding member, running obliquely upward at a lower-side region, running obliquely downward at an upper-side region, and including engagement grooves communicating an inner side and outer side of the conveyance belt formed at predetermined intervals in a running direction of the conveyance belt so as to transfer a drive force, and a guide member provided inside a circulating loop of the conveyance belt to prevent the conveyance belt from entering inside. The lowest portion of the guide member at the upper-side region is placed on a substantially vertical line drawn from a belt delivery part of the lower holding member.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier, a bearing member, a biasing member, and a guide. The developer carrier supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The bearing member rotatably supports the developer carrier axially. The biasing member is provided on a side of the bearing member opposite the image carrier to apply a force to the bearing member to move the bearing member and the developer carrier toward the image carrier. The guide is disposed about the bearing member to enable the bearing member to move therebetween and guide the bearing member toward the image carrier. The bearing member includes a rotatable part to rotate and slide over the guide while contacting the guide.

Abstract: A first bearing member and a second bearing member fit in a first side and a second side of a rotating shaft in the axial direction, respectively. The first bearing member is held by a supporting portion provided in a casing on a side corresponding to an emplacing member of an image carrier drum. The second bearing member is held by fitting in a fit-in portion from inside. A wall surface that regulates a charging roller in a longitudinal direction is formed on the second bearing member to protrude from a wall surface rotatably and pivotally supporting the charging roller.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is disclosed that includes a developer carrier for carrying a developer used for developing a latent image, a developer supplying chamber having a developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier by rotation, a developer storing chamber positioned above the developer supplying chamber for storing the developer and supplying the developer to the developer supplying chamber, and a partitioning member positioned between the developer supplying chamber and the developer storing chamber. The partitioning member has an opening through which the developer is supplied from the developer storing chamber to the developer supplying chamber. The developing apparatus includes a conveying member positioned above the partitioning member for conveying the developer in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a casing including an opening facing the rotary member, a cleaning member disposed at the opening to contact the rotary member to remove a substance adhering thereto, an entrance seal disposed at the opening to prevent leakage of the removed substance through a gap between the opening and the rotary member, a pair of lateral end seals respectively disposed both end portions of the cleaning member as well as the entrance seal in an axial direction of the rotary member, and a compressing member. A first face of each lateral end seal is attached to the casing. The compressing member compresses each lateral end seal by pressing a second face thereof opposite the first face-and presses a third face of the lateral end seal against the casing in a direction in which the lateral end seal is expanded by the compression.

Abstract: In a toner collecting device of the present invention for conveying collected waste toner to a waste toner storing portion with a toner conveying device, the toner conveying device is positioned at a side opposite to a driveline included in an apparatus body to which the toner collecting device is mounted. A driveline for driving the toner conveying device is not arranged at the side opposite to the driveline of the apparatus body, but the toner conveying device is directly driven by the driveline of the apparatus body. With this configuration, the toner collecting device is capable of driving, e.g., a toner conveying belt or a toner conveying screw arranged at the counter drive side without sophisticating the configuration.

Abstract: A conveyor device includes a conveyor belt and a driving unit that applies a driving force to the conveyor belt at different portions in a width direction of the conveyor belt to drive the conveyor belt. The driving unit includes a driving shaft having a projection corresponding to each of the portions. The belt includes a recess corresponding to the projection arranged on each side of the conveyor belt in the width direction.

Abstract: A toner transport screw that is capable of maintaining a smooth and stable transport function. The toner transport screw, in which a helical blade is disposed on the circumference of a rotating shaft, has at least one spiral direction reversal part formed by connecting the respective ends of a first blade part and a second blade part, the directions of spiral of the first blade part and the second blade part being in opposite directions. A passage, which allows the toner to pass through the blades in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, is formed in the spiral direction reversal part.

Abstract: A developing device includes a main body that is arranged between a pair of supporting members and includes a developing roller. Both end portions of the developing roller are supported by the supporting members in a first direction in which the developing roller is movable toward and away from an image carrier. A groove is formed on each of the supporting members. Either one of an end portion of the developing roller and a bearing that supports the end portion is inserted into the groove. Either one of at least one of the end portions of the developing roller and at least one of the bearings is movable in the groove in a second direction that intersects the first direction.

Abstract: A toner agitating unit is located in a toner hopper that houses toner used for developing a latent image. The toner agitating unit includes a rotary shaft and an agitating member. The agitating member is a flat plate made of resin. The agitating member has a plurality of slits extending from an outer edge of the agitating member toward the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A waste-toner collecting device includes a cleaning unit that collects waste toner remaining on an image carrier; a conveying belt that conveys the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit in a first direction; and a conveying screw that conveys the waste toner conveyed by the conveying belt in a second direction. An end of the conveying screw on a side of the conveying belt is rotatably supported by an inner wall of a body of the waste-toner collecting device in a state where the end of the conveying screw is in contact with the inner wall.

Abstract: A seal member covers a space between a developing roller and a casing of a developing device. The seal member includes a flexible sheet and a reinforcing member fixed to the sheet. The reinforcing member is fixed to the casing. Notches are provided in the reinforcing member in a direction perpendicular to the length of the reinforcing member.

Abstract: A developing device is provided with a developer accommodating vessel accommodating developer having as primary components a nonmagnetic toner and magnetic particles referred to as a carrier. The carrier is composed of a magnetic material as a core material that is uniformly covered with an insulating synthetic resin. The toner is mixed with the carrier at a weight ratio to the overall weight of the developer of 3-10%. The carrier has an average particle size of 65 ?m or less and a saturation magnetization of at least 70 emu/g. The developing device includes a developing roller and a sleeve roller that rotates about the developing roller. The surface of the sleeve roller is processed with metal shot to achieve a surface roughness of 0.45-1.08 times the average particle size of the carrier, or more specifically a roughness Rz of about 30 ?m.