Abstract: An exposure device includes an exposure section, a weight, and an elastic portion. The exposure section includes plural light emitting elements arranged along an axial direction of an image holding member that is rotatable, is positioned with respect to the image holding member at both ends in the axial direction, and exposes the image holding member to light by emitting light to the image holding member. The weight is disposed so as to face the exposure section, and has a mass determined in advance. The elastic portion is elastic, and is disposed between the exposure section and the weight to support the weight so as to be vibratable.

Abstract: A muffling member for an image forming apparatus includes a thermoplastic member disposed in a photoconductor drum and having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. The thermoplastic member has a slit-shaped opening at a certain position in a circumferential direction of the thermoplastic member. The thermoplastic member also has a second opening at least at a certain position along the slit-shaped opening, the second opening having an opening width greater than an opening width of the slit-shaped opening.

Abstract: An exposure device includes an exposure section, a weight, and an elastic portion. The exposure section includes plural light emitting elements arranged along an axial direction of an image holding member that is rotatable, is positioned with respect to the image holding member at both ends in the axial direction, and exposes the image holding member to light by emitting light to the image holding member. The weight is disposed so as to face the exposure section, and has a mass determined in advance. The elastic portion is elastic, and is disposed between the exposure section and the weight to support the weight so as to be vibratable.

Abstract: A muffling member for an image forming apparatus includes a thermoplastic member disposed in a photoconductor drum and having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. The thermoplastic member has a slit-shaped opening at a certain position in a circumferential direction of the thermoplastic member. The thermoplastic member also has a second opening at least at a certain position along the slit-shaped opening, the second opening having an opening width greater than an opening width of the slit-shaped opening.

Abstract: A support member is supported in a cylinder included in an image carrier and includes a separation-space-defining portion that is arranged at a certain position in a circumferential direction and extends in an axial direction of the cylinder so that the support member has an arc shape; and a groove-defining portion having a groove depth that changes along the axial direction. A bottom plate of the groove-defining portion is elastically deformed so that the support member presses an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder at least at both ends in the axial direction and is thereby supported in the cylinder.

Abstract: A support member supported in a cylinder includes six or more contact portions that are in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. The support member is arc-shaped and has a gap extending in an axial direction of the cylinder. When the support member is viewed in the axial direction, a groove is formed in the support member such that the groove and the gap are on opposite sides of a center of the cylinder, and the contact portions are symmetrical with respect to a straight line that passes through the centers of the gap and the cylinder. Of the contact portions on one side of the straight line, the farthest contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 90 degrees or more, and the adjacent contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 20 degrees or more in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A support member is supported in a cylinder included in an image carrier and includes a separation-space-defining portion that is arranged at a certain position in a circumferential direction and extends in an axial direction of the cylinder so that the support member has an arc shape; and a groove-defining portion having a groove depth that changes along the axial direction. A bottom plate of the groove-defining portion is elastically deformed so that the support member presses an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder at least at both ends in the axial direction and is thereby supported in the cylinder.

Abstract: A support member supported in a cylinder included in an image carrier includes a separation-space-defining portion that is arranged at a certain position in a circumferential direction and extends in an axial direction of the cylinder so that the support member has an arc shape; and a groove-defining portion that extends in the axial direction. An outer diameter of the support member in a central region in the axial direction is smaller than an outer diameter of the support member at both ends in the axial direction. In a state in which the support member is supported in the cylinder, the groove-defining portion is elastically deformed such that elastic restoring force generated in the central region is greater than elastic restoring force generated at the ends.

Abstract: A support member supported in a cylinder includes six or more contact portions that are in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. The support member is arc-shaped and has a gap extending in an axial direction of the cylinder. When the support member is viewed in the axial direction, a groove is formed in the support member such that the groove and the gap are on opposite sides of a center of the cylinder, and the contact portions are symmetrical with respect to a straight line that passes through the centers of the gap and the cylinder. Of the contact portions on one side of the straight line, the farthest contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 90 degrees or more, and the adjacent contact portions are separated from each other by approximately 20 degrees or more in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A contact member is fitted in a cylindrical body that is substantially cylindrical and configurates an image carrier, and is supported by the cylindrical body while being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body at contact portions provided in three areas in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body. All angles formed by two of straight lines passing through the contact portions and an axial center of the cylindrical body are more than about 90 degrees in a state in which the contact member is supported within the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a ridgeline part provided at one end of the cleaning member in a lateral direction of the cleaning member, the ridgeline part including a first ridgeline that extends in an axial direction of a member to be cleaned that rotates and second ridgelines provided at respective ends of the first ridgeline, each second ridgeline extending in a direction away from the member to be cleaned. The ridgeline part is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the member to be cleaned so that the ridgeline part and a corner portion on which the ridgeline part is formed press into the outer peripheral surface of the member to be cleaned and deform the member to be cleaned.

Abstract: A contact member is fitted in a cylindrical body that is substantially cylindrical and configurates an image carrier, and is supported by the cylindrical body while being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body at contact portions provided in three areas in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body. All angles formed by two of straight lines passing through the contact portions and an axial center of the cylindrical body are more than about 90 degrees in a state in which the contact member is supported within the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A cleaning member includes a ridgeline part provided at one end of the cleaning member in a lateral direction of the cleaning member, the ridgeline part including a first ridgeline that extends in an axial direction of a member to be cleaned that rotates and second ridgelines provided at respective ends of the first ridgeline, each second ridgeline extending in a direction away from the member to be cleaned. The ridgeline part is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the member to be cleaned so that the ridgeline part and a corner portion on which the ridgeline part is formed press into the outer peripheral surface of the member to be cleaned and deform the member to be cleaned.

Abstract: An electrophotographic multi-layered photosensitive member having a top layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide and the method for forming the top layer are provided. The hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide has an atomic ratio of carbon to carbon plus silicon C/(Si+C) ranging from 0.17 to 0.47 and a ratio of the number of hydrogen atoms bonded to a silicon atom per silicon atom, to number of hydrogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom per carbon atom, {(Si--H)/Si}/{(C--H)/C}, ranging from 0.3 to 1.0. The top layer is formed on a photosensitive member of hydrogenated amorphous silicon by employing a glow discharge CVD method. The gaseous mixture composed of disilane (Si.sub.2 H.sub.6) and propane (C.sub.3 H.sub.8) mixed with a mol ratio expressed as C.sub.3 H.sub.8 /(Si.sub.2 H.sub.6 +C.sub.3 H.sub.8) ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 is used. Another gaseous mixture is also used with an improved result. The mixture comprises disilane (Si.sub.2 H.sub.6) gas, propane (C.sub.3 H.sub.8) gas, and hydrogen (H.sub.