Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing mechanism and a transfer belt mechanism. The image bearing mechanism is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body in a first direction and supports multiple image bearing members. Each image bearing member has a surface onto which an image is formed while the image bearing member rotates. The transfer belt mechanism includes a transfer belt onto which the images on the multiple image bearing members are transferred while the image bearing members rotate. The transfer belt mechanism is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A powder processing apparatus includes a processing engine, a carrying region forming unit, a door, a powder storage unit. The processing engine is mounted inside an apparatus housing. The processing engine includes one or plural processing units each at least including a movable powder carrier that carries powder, and a powder supply unit. The carrying region forming unit forms a region in the powder carrier where powder can be carried. The door opens and closes an opening formed in a side wall of the apparatus housing. The powder storage unit stores the powder. The powder storage unit moves along with the opening and closing of the door. When the door is opened, an insertion and extraction path that is wide enough to insert and extract the processing engine is ensured in the opening, excluding a region blocked by the powder storage unit that moves along with the door.

Abstract: A powder processing apparatus includes a processing engine, a carrying region forming unit, a door, a powder storage unit. The processing engine is mounted inside an apparatus housing. The processing engine includes one or plural processing units each at least including a movable powder carrier that carries powder, and a powder supply unit. The carrying region forming unit forms a region in the powder carrier where powder can be carried. The door opens and closes an opening formed in a side wall of the apparatus housing. The powder storage unit stores the powder. The powder storage unit moves along with the opening and closing of the door. When the door is opened, an insertion and extraction path that is wide enough to insert and extract the processing engine is ensured in the opening, excluding a region blocked by the powder storage unit that moves along with the door.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing mechanism and a transfer belt mechanism. The image bearing mechanism is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body in a first direction and supports multiple image bearing members. Each image bearing member has a surface onto which an image is formed while the image bearing member rotates. The transfer belt mechanism includes a transfer belt onto which the images on the multiple image bearing members are transferred while the image bearing members rotate. The transfer belt mechanism is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: An image formation device includes: a first unit for image formation, attachably and detachably disposed in the image formation device, a power source unit configured to supply electric power to the first unit, a second unit for image formation, attachably and detachably, independently of the first unit, disposed in the image formation device, and disposed between the first unit and the power source unit and a power supply path provided in the second unit, and configured to be supplied with the electric power from the power source unit and supply the electric power to the first unit.

Abstract: A pressure-applying device includes a pressure-applying portion that applies pressure to a pressure-receiving object and a pressing portion that presses the pressure-applying portion toward the pressure-receiving object, the pressing portion having a hardness higher than a hardness of the pressure-applying portion. The pressure-applying portion includes plural projections that project from a back surface of the pressure-applying portion that faces the pressing portion toward a pressing surface of the pressing portion that faces the pressure-applying portion.

Abstract: A pressure-applying device includes a pressure-applying portion that applies pressure to a pressure-receiving object and a pressing portion that presses the pressure-applying portion toward the pressure-receiving object, the pressing portion having a hardness higher than a hardness of the pressure-applying portion. The pressure-applying portion includes plural projections that project from a back surface of the pressure-applying portion that faces the pressing portion toward a pressing surface of the pressing portion that faces the pressure-applying portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit that rotates and that fixes a toner image on a recording medium, a pressing unit that rotates and that presses the heating unit, and a potential-difference application unit that applies a potential difference between the pressing unit and the heating unit so that a potential of the heating unit is higher than a potential of the pressing unit.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes: a transport part that transports a sheet along a transport path; a sheet guide that forms the transport path when located at a first position and that exposes the sheet in the transport path when located at the second position; a housing that accommodates the transport part and the sheet guide; a cover provided on the housing, the cover being capable of being opened and closed and being provided at a position where the cover covers the sheet guide; and a pulling member that is connected at one end to the cover and at the other end to the sheet guide located at the first position when the cover is closed, the pulling member pulling the sheet guide to the second position when the cover is opened.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating unit that rotates and that fixes a toner image on a recording medium, a pressing unit that rotates and that presses the heating unit, and a potential-difference application unit that applies a potential difference between the pressing unit and the heating unit so that a potential of the heating unit is higher than a potential of the pressing unit.

Abstract: A contact member is substantially arc-shaped along an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical body while being supported in contact with an inside of the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body. The contact member has at least one projection projecting from an inner peripheral surface of the contact member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. A housing includes a mounting unit. A removable unit includes at least a photoconductor drum and is mounted on and dismounted from the mounting unit. An exposure device includes a light-emitting source and is fixed to the mounting unit such that the exposure device pivots about a pivot point in directions in which it approaches and separates from the photoconductor drum. The exposure device includes a driven portion at an end on an upstream side in an inserting direction of the removable unit. The driven portion is driven to move the exposure device in a direction in which it approaches the photoconductor drum. The removable unit includes a driving portion at the end on the upstream side. The driving portion contacts and drives the driven portion to move the exposure device in the direction in which the exposure device approaches the photoconductor drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. A housing includes a mounting unit. A removable unit includes at least a photoconductor drum and is mounted on and dismounted from the mounting unit. An exposure device includes a light-emitting source and is fixed to the mounting unit such that the exposure device pivots about a pivot point in directions in which it approaches and separates from the photoconductor drum. The exposure device includes a driven portion at an end on an upstream side in an inserting direction of the removable unit. The driven portion is driven to move the exposure device in a direction in which it approaches the photoconductor drum. The removable unit includes a driving portion at the end on the upstream side. The driving portion contacts and drives the driven portion to move the exposure device in the direction in which the exposure device approaches the photoconductor drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatably supported, a to-be-transferred member onto which an image that is held by the image carrier is transferred, a driving unit that is disposed on a first end portion of the image carrier in an axial direction of the image carrier and that causes the image carrier to rotate, and a retreat mechanism that causes a second end portion of the image carrier to be separated from the to-be-transferred member while a connection between the image carrier and the driving unit is maintained and thereafter causes the image carrier to retreat by disconnecting the image carrier and the driving unit from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light emitting element unit disposed at an operating position closely opposed to a photoconductor in a printing operation and having a light emitting element that forms an image on the photoconductor, a support unit mounted in the image forming apparatus to support the light emitting element unit, and an elastic member disposed between the light emitting element unit and the support unit. In a state in which the light emitting element unit is disposed at the operating position, the support unit supports the light emitting element unit with the elastic member being disposed therebetween.

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 contact member is supported in contact with an inside of a rotating cylindrical body, and is provided in a substantially arc shape along an inner side surface of the cylindrical body to have both end portions opposed to each other in a state in which the contact member is supported by the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body. The contact member has a gate mark serving as an injection port for a resin material at a position recessed from an outer peripheral surface of the contact member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatably supported, a to-be-transferred member onto which an image that is held by the image carrier is transferred, a driving unit that is disposed on a first end portion of the image carrier in an axial direction of the image carrier and that causes the image carrier to rotate, and a retreat mechanism that causes a second end portion of the image carrier to be separated from the to-be-transferred member while a connection between the image carrier and the driving unit is maintained and thereafter causes the image carrier to retreat by disconnecting the image carrier and the driving unit from each other.

Abstract: A contact member is supported in contact with an inside of a rotating cylindrical body, and is provided in a substantially arc shape along an inner side surface of the cylindrical body to have both end portions opposed to each other in a state in which the contact member is supported by the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body. The contact member has a gate mark serving as an injection port for a resin material at a position recessed from an outer peripheral surface of the contact member.

Abstract: A contact member is substantially arc-shaped along an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical body while being supported in contact with an inside of the cylindrical body, when viewed from an axial direction of the cylindrical body. The contact member has at least one projection projecting from an inner peripheral surface of the contact member.