Abstract: A developing device includes a toner bearer to rotate while bearing toner and a toner regulator including a bend on a free end side. The bend is disposed in contact with a surface of the toner bearer and defines a regulation nip to adjust an amount of the toner on the toner bearer. The toner regulator further includes an area having a water contact angle greater than or equal to 70 degrees. The area having the water contact angle includes, at least, a downstream end of the bend in a rotation direction of the toner bearer.

Abstract: A cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a frame. A photosensitive member is rotatably supported by the frame. An opening is provided in the frame that exposes the photosensitive member. A cover member is detachably attached to the frame to cover at least part of the opening. A flexible sheet member having handling caution information displayed thereon is attached to the cover member on one end portion thereof and separably attached to the frame on the other end portion thereof.

Abstract: A drum cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a cleaning frame, a photosensitive drum rotatably supported by the cleaning frame, and an opening provided in the cleaning frame and configured to expose the photosensitive drum. In a factory default state of the drum cartridge, handling caution information is printed in at least part of a region of a surface of the photosensitive drum, the region being exposed from the opening.

Abstract: A process unit includes a rotatable image bearer, an optical writing head to expose the image bearer within an maximum exposure range in an axial direction of the image bearer, a developer bearer, spacers disposed in axial end portions of the image bearer to determine a position of the optical writing head relative to the image bearer and slidingly contact the image bearer, a cleaner disposed downstream from the developer bearer in an image bearer rotation direction, and a remover to slidingly contact the axial end portion of the image bearer to remove a substance adhering thereto. In the axial direction, inner ends of the spacers are positioned inside a toner layer range of the developer bearer extending beyond a largest sheet width. The remover is disposed downstream from the cleaner and crossing a line extending from the inner end of the spacer perpendicularly to the axial direction.

Abstract: A light guide plate having light-emitting-side unit optical shapes arranged on a light emitting surface in a direction perpendicular to a light guide direction and a thickness direction of the light guide plate. The optical shape extends in the light guide direction and has a groove shape recessed in the light emitting surface, and a bottom of the groove is formed on a surface which is concave toward the back surface side. Inclined surfaces which are inclined from an edge portion toward the bottom side are formed in two end portions of the concave surface in an arrangement direction. When a width of the optical shape in the arrangement direction is W21, a maximum inclination angle ? of the inclined surface relative to the light emitting surface satisfies 20°???45°, and a radius of curvature r of the concave surface satisfies r?W21/(4×sin ?).

Abstract: A developing cartridge, to be used in an image forming apparatus in which the developing cartridge including a developer carrier and a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum are attachable and detachable, includes a cartridge body including the developer carrier, first and second supporting members that support the cartridge body to be capable of turning, and a restricting member that restricts the turn of the cartridge body with respect to the first supporting member in the developing cartridge in which the first and second supporting members have been positioned in the body of the image forming apparatus and urging has been made possible in one direction in a turning direction of the cartridge body so that the developing roller is made capable of coming into contact with the photosensitive drum, when the developing cartridge has been attached to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A cleaning device in accordance with the present disclosure includes a cleaning member to clean toner on an image bearer, a toner conveyor that rotates to convey toner cleaned by the cleaning member, and an agitator that includes a bent portion that is in contact with the toner conveyor, and the agitator vibrates due to the rotation of the toner conveyor. The agitator includes a plurality of arm members, and a first end of a first arm member of the plurality of arm members is attached to a second end of a second arm member of the plurality of arm members.

Abstract: A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A seal member 14 which seals a gap among a rotating body 9 provided in an opening of a frame body 13, a blade 18a, and the frame body 13 in an end region in an axial direction of the rotating body 9, the seal member 14 including: a first seal portion 14b which comes into contact with the rotating body 9; a second seal portion 14e which comes into contact with the blade 18a; and a third seal portion 14f which is constituted by a surface formed in a stair shape and sequentially arranged between the first seal portion 14b and the second seal portion 14e and which is capable of reducing a gap formed between the rotating body 9 and the blade 18a due to rotation of the rotating body 9.

Abstract: A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.

Abstract: A developing device includes a toner bearer to rotate while bearing toner and a toner regulator including a bend on a free end side. The bend is disposed in contact with a surface of the toner bearer and defines a regulation nip to adjust an amount of the toner on the toner bearer. The toner regulator further includes an area having a water contact angle greater than or equal to 70 degrees. The area having the water contact angle includes, at least, a downstream end of the bend in a rotation direction of the toner bearer.

Abstract: A light guide plate having light-emitting-side unit optical shapes arranged on a light emitting surface in a direction perpendicular to a light guide direction and a thickness direction of the light guide plate. The optical shape extends in the light guide direction and has a groove shape recessed in the light emitting surface, and a bottom of the groove is formed on a surface which is concave toward the back surface side. Inclined surfaces which are inclined from an edge portion toward the bottom side are formed in two end portions of the concave surface in an arrangement direction. When a width of the optical shape in the arrangement direction is W21, a maximum inclination angle ? of the inclined surface relative to the light emitting surface satisfies 20°???45°, and a radius of curvature r of the concave surface satisfies r?W21/(4×sin ?).

Abstract: A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.

Abstract: A process unit includes a rotatable image bearer, an optical writing head to expose the image bearer within an maximum exposure range in an axial direction of the image bearer, a developer bearer, spacers disposed in axial end portions of the image bearer to determine a position of the optical writing head relative to the image bearer and slidingly contact the image bearer, a cleaner disposed downstream from the developer bearer in an image bearer rotation direction, and a remover to slidingly contact the axial end portion of the image bearer to remove a substance adhering thereto. In the axial direction, inner ends of the spacers are positioned inside a toner layer range of the developer bearer extending beyond a largest sheet width. The remover is disposed downstream from the cleaner and crossing a line extending from the inner end of the spacer perpendicularly to the axial direction.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation. A flexible container includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer and an opening for permitting discharge of the developer. The flexible container also includes a superposed multi layer sheet structure portion for forming the developer accommodating portion. A sealing member seals the opening and an unsealing member moves the sealing member to unseal the opening. A frame that accommodates the flexible container, the sealing member, and the unsealing member includes a fixing portion for fixing the flexible container. A fixed portion fixed to the fixing portion is provided at the superposed multi layer sheet structure portion of the flexible container, and an interlayer bonding portion between the superposed layers is provided between the fixed portion of the multi layer sheet structure portion and the developer accommodating portion.

Abstract: A cleaning device in accordance with the present disclosure includes a cleaning member to clean toner on an image bearer, a toner conveyor that rotates to convey toner cleaned by the cleaning member, and an agitator that includes a bent portion that is in contact with the toner conveyor, and the agitator vibrates due to the rotation of the toner conveyor. The agitator includes a plurality of arm members, and a first end of a first arm member of the plurality of arm members is attached to a second end of a second arm member of the plurality of arm members.

Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a presser, a cleaner, and a seal. The endless belt bears an image or a recording medium. The presser is disposed in contact with each end of the belt in a lateral direction of the belt. The cleaner contacts the belt to clean a surface of the belt. The seal is disposed on one end or both ends of the cleaner in the lateral direction of the belt. The seal has an inner end inside the belt in the lateral direction of the belt. An exposure area is disposed on an inner side of each end of the belt in the lateral direction of the belt. The presser and the seal are disposed on an outer side of an image area, in which an image is formed, and on an outer side of the exposure area in the lateral direction of the belt.

Abstract: A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.

Abstract: A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.

Abstract: A multicolor molded component used in an image forming apparatus includes a molded portion molded with a first resin, and a bearing portion configured to be movable with respect to the molded portion, and to support a rotating member. The molded portion includes a regulation portion, and the bearing portion is formed by injection molding to be engaged with the regulation portion in such a manner as to be movable in a first direction with respect to the molded portion.