Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a process cartridge having a developing device and detachably installable in the image forming apparatus, and a drive unit to rotatively drive the developing device. The drive unit includes a drive force generator to generate a drive force to rotatively drive the developing device, a drive substrate to support the drive force generator, a drive shaft to transmit the drive force to the developing device, a bracket having a cylindrical bearing seating, a bracket bearing provided inside the bearing seating to support the drive shaft in a thrust direction, and an elastic member provided between the bearing seating and the bracket bearing to allow movement of the drive shaft in a radial direction, and a substrate bearing provided to the drive substrate to support the drive shaft in both the radial and thrust directions.

Abstract: A disclosed to-be-transferred object length measurement device includes a first rotating body; a passage detection unit detecting a passage of the to-be-transferred object; a rotation amount measurement unit measuring a rotation amount of the first rotating body in a first measurement period; a second rotating body feeding the to-be-transferred object; a speed detection unit detecting a first feeding speed and a second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object; and a calculation unit calculating a feeding distance of the to-be-transferred object per a predetermined rotation amount of the first rotating body based on the first feeding speed, and further calculating a length of the to-be-transferred object based on the rotation amount of the first rotating body in the first measurement period, the feeding distance, and the second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object in the second measurement period.

Abstract: A steering controller uses a photointerrupter that detects the position of a filler when a steering roller is in a predetermined reference inclined position. The steering controller drives a steering motor to bring the steering roller to the reference inclined position based on a detection result obtained by the photointerrupter every time predetermined adjustment timing arrives or every time the power is turned on. Using the rotation angle of the steering motor in this condition as a reference rotation angle, the steering controller controls the rotation of the steering motor.

Abstract: A drive transmission mechanism including a drive shaft, a rotational driving member having at least two first protrusions and provided to the drive shaft, a driven member having at least two second protrusions and provided to a rotary shaft of a rotary member, deformable connecting parts provided to at least one of portions between the first protrusions and the rotational driving member and portions between the second protrusions and the driven member, and an elastic member covering the deformable connecting parts. The deformable connecting parts displace one of the first and second protrusions relative to one of the rotational driving member and the driven member in a direction tangential to a direction of rotation of the rotational driving member and the driven member upon contact of the first protrusions with the second protrusions.

Abstract: A belt conveying device includes an endless belt stretched by a plurality of rollers; a drive unit that is connected to one of the plurality of rollers and drives the roller; a plurality of belt velocity detectors that are arranged at a plurality of locations along a belt width direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the endless belt and detect conveyance velocities of the endless belt; and a belt-inclination calculating unit that calculates an inclination of the endless belt in the moving direction from a difference between conveyance velocities of the endless belt detected by the plurality of belt velocity detectors.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a first rotation body and a second rotation body. The first rotation body includes a cup unit, a shaft, and ribs that project from the cup unit and connect the cup unit to the shaft. One of the first rotation body and the second rotation body transmits a rotational driving force to other one of the first rotation body and the second rotation body through balls. The first rotation body is so formed that the cup unit and the shaft are formed into one piece using resin material. Moreover, the rib is so formed into one piece with the cup unit and the shaft using resin material.

Abstract: A coupling unit includes two constant velocity joints arranged in series in the shaft direction. The coupling unit couples a driven shaft and a drive shaft. Each constant velocity joint includes a ball non-retaining member and a ball retaining member. The ball non-retaining member has an annular space with one opened end and a plurality of track grooves extending in the shaft direction on an external wall surface of the annular space at a constant interval in a circumferential direction. The ball retaining member has a portion that engages with the annular space of the ball non-retaining member, and that retains a ball that slides along each of the track grooves formed in the ball non-retaining member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a process cartridge having a developing device and detachably installable in the image forming apparatus, and a drive unit to rotatively drive the developing device. The drive unit includes a drive force generator to generate a drive force to rotatively drive the developing device, a drive substrate to support the drive force generator, a drive shaft to transmit the drive force to the developing device, a bracket having a cylindrical bearing seating, a bracket bearing provided inside the bearing seating to support the drive shaft in a thrust direction, and an elastic member provided between the bearing seating and the bracket bearing to allow movement of the drive shaft in a radial direction, and a substrate bearing provided to the drive substrate to support the drive shaft in both the radial and thrust directions.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a constant velocity joint having an outer ring including an annular space with an open end, plural outer grooves axially extending in an outer wall of the annular space and being equally spaced from each other in a circumferential direction, and plural inner grooves axially extending in an inner wall of the annular space and facing the respective outer grooves, and a cage configured to hold balls that slide along the inner walls and the outer walls. The outer ring and/or the cage may be made of a synthetic resin. A drive force of one of the cage and the outer ring may be transmitted to the other one of the cage and the outer ring when part of the cage may be inserted in the annular space and the balls held by the cage may be engaged in the inner grooves and the outer grooves.

Abstract: A drive transmission mechanism including a drive shaft, a rotational driving member having at least two first protrusions and provided to the drive shaft, a driven member having at least two second protrusions and provided to a rotary shaft of a rotary member, deformable connecting parts provided to at least one of portions between the first protrusions and the rotational driving member and portions between the second protrusions and the driven member, and an elastic member covering the deformable connecting parts. The deformable connecting parts displace one of the first and second protrusions relative to one of the rotational driving member and the driven member in a direction tangential to a direction of rotation of the rotational driving member and the driven member upon contact of the first protrusions with the second protrusions.

Abstract: A steering controller uses a photointerrupter that detects the position of a filler when a steering roller is in a predetermined reference inclined position. The steering controller drives a steering motor to bring the steering roller to the reference inclined position based on a detection result obtained by the photointerrupter every time predetermined adjustment timing arrives or every time the power is turned on. Using the rotation angle of the steering motor in this condition as a reference rotation angle, the steering controller controls the rotation of the steering motor.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a first rotation body and a second rotation body. The first rotation body includes a cup unit, a shaft, and ribs that project from the cup unit and connect the cup unit to the shaft. One of the first rotation body and the second rotation body transmits a rotational driving force to other one of the first rotation body and the second rotation body through balls. The first rotation body is so formed that the cup unit and the shaft are formed into one piece using resin material. Moreover, the rib is so formed into one piece with the cup unit and the shaft using resin material.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a first rotation body and a second rotation body. The first rotation body includes a cup unit, a shaft, and ribs that project from the cup unit and connect the cup unit to the shaft. One of the first rotation body and the second rotation body transmits a rotational driving force to other one of the first rotation body and the second rotation body through balls. The first rotation body is so formed that the cup unit and the shaft are formed into one piece using resin material. Moreover, the rib is so formed into one piece with the cup unit and the shaft using resin material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main-body and a process cartridge. A female connector is arranged on a developing roller shaft in the process cartridge. The female connector has an open-ended ring-like space formed between an outer ring and an inner ring. A plurality of track grooves are arranged on the circumference of at least one of the outer ring and the inner ring. One end of a cartridge driving shaft is supported in the apparatus main-body, while the other end thereof facing the process cartridge is movable in a radial direction. A male connector is arranged on the movable end of the cartridge driving shaft. A front portion of the male connector is a cylindrical spherical-body holding portion that rotatably holds a plurality of spherical bodies. When the spherical-body holding portion enters into the ring-like space, the spherical bodies slide along the track grooves.

Abstract: A disclosed to-be-transferred object length measurement device includes a first rotating body; a passage detection unit detecting a passage of the to-be-transferred object; a rotation amount measurement unit measuring a rotation amount of the first rotating body in a first measurement period; a second rotating body feeding the to-be-transferred object; a speed detection unit detecting a first feeding speed and a second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object; and a calculation unit calculating a feeding distance of the to-be-transferred object per a predetermined rotation amount of the first rotating body based on the first feeding speed, and further calculating a length of the to-be-transferred object based on the rotation amount of the first rotating body in the first measurement period, the feeding distance, and the second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object in the second measurement period.

Abstract: A belt conveying device includes an endless belt stretched by a plurality of rollers; a drive unit that is connected to one of the plurality of rollers and drives the roller; a plurality of belt velocity detectors that are arranged at a plurality of locations along a belt width direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the endless belt and detect conveyance velocities of the endless belt; and a belt-inclination calculating unit that calculates an inclination of the endless belt in the moving direction from a difference between conveyance velocities of the endless belt detected by the plurality of belt velocity detectors.

Abstract: A cleaning device that cleans the surface of an image carrier, includes a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the image carrier, a lubricant-applying brush roller that applies a lubricant to the surface of the image carrier, a cleaning brush roller that removes residual transfer toner from the surface of the image carrier, and a flicker that removes toner from the cleaning brush roller. The flicker performs a flicking operation corresponding to a part of the entire area in the axial direction of the cleaning brush roller at one time. A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus include the image carrier and the cleaning device.

Abstract: A coupling unit includes two constant velocity joints arranged in series in the shaft direction. The coupling unit couples a driven shaft and a drive shaft. Each constant velocity joint includes a ball non-retaining member and a ball retaining member. The ball non-retaining member has an annular space with one opened end and a plurality of track grooves extending in the shaft direction on an external wall surface of the annular space at a constant interval in a circumferential direction. The ball retaining member has a portion that engages with the annular space of the ball non-retaining member, and that retains a ball that slides along each of the track grooves formed in the ball non-retaining member.

Abstract: A support device for use in an image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge and an apparatus main body. The process cartridge further includes an image carrier, at least one sub unit, and a cartridge-side fitting portion. The at least one sub unit includes a rotational member having a driven shaft. The apparatus main body further includes an apparatus-main-body-side fitting portion and a driving device. The driving device is provided with a drive shaft, and is configured to drive the rotational member. With the support device, the drive shaft is radially positioned at one support point along an axial direction thereof in the driving device before installing the process cartridge into the apparatus main body. In addition, the drive shaft is radially positioned at the one support point and a connecting point between the driven shaft and the driven shaft after installing the process cartridge into the apparatus main body.

Abstract: In a driving motor that rotates and drives a rotor by a magnetic force generated between a rotor and a stator, a constant velocity joint that transmits a rotation driving force between a driving-side rotating member and a driven-side rotating member. The driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member align in an axial direction and engage with each other. The driving-side rotating member is directly connected to the rotor to function as a driving shaft.