Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a plurality of photoreceptors provided along a sheet transportation path and each extending perpendicularly to the sheet transportation path; and an imaging mechanism for forming toner images on surfaces of the respective photoreceptors. A pair of support plates receive opposite end circumferential portions of the respective photoreceptors to support the photoreceptors together in a parallel relation. Bearings are fitted around the opposite end circumferential portions of the respective photoreceptors, and the pair of support plates each have the same number of cut-away portions as the number of the photoreceptors for receiving outer rings of the bearings, the cut-away portions being formed in a spaced apart relation.

Abstract: An image-forming machine which has an image-forming unit that moves substantially horizontally between an acting position in a housing and a non-acting position that is drawn out forward. The image-forming unit has a frame having a front wall member and a rear wall member, and a plurality of image-forming devices mounted on the frame. The front wall has a pair of receiving holes arranged at a distance in the transverse direction and the rear wall has a pair of pins located at a distance in the transverse direction. In a preferred embodiment, the housing has a pair of pins located in the front and a pair of receiving holds in the rear such that when the image-forming unit is brought to the acting position, the receiving holes of the front wall engage the front pins of the housing and the pins on the rear wall engage the receiving holes in the rear of the housing.

Abstract: An image-forming machine which forms an image on a photosensitive material drum which passes through the steps of electric charging, exposure to light, developing and transfer. A pair of side walls are disposed opposite to each other, spaced at a distance. Inner wheels of bearings have an inner wheel and an outer wheel. The inner wheels are secured to the outer peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive material drum at both ends thereof, and outer wheels of the bearings are secured to the corresponding side walls, so that the photosensitive material drum is rotatably supported by the side walls.

Abstract: A transfer belt unit in an image-forming machine comprising a transfer roller which is disposed being opposed to an image carrier with a transfer belt interposed therebetween and is rotatably supported at both ends by a support member, and a moving means which moves said transfer roller toward said image carrier up to a first position where said transfer belt is pushed onto said image carrier, and moves said transfer roller in a direction opposite to said image carrier up to a second position where said transfer belt is separated away from said image carrier.

Abstract: A toner cartridge is extractably set in a storing recess of an image forming apparatus main body, and toner is supplemented to a specified part of the image forming apparatus main body. While the toner cartridge is brand-new, an inner seal member peelably adhered to the lower surface of the toner cartridge main body seals the toner dropping opening at the lower surface. After setting the toner cartridge in the storing recess, by peeling off and taking up the inner seal member by the take-up shaft, the toner dropping opening is unsealed. An outer seal member provided slidably along the lower surface of the toner cartridge main body opens or closes the toner dropping opening beneath the inner seal member. When the toner cartridge is drawn out from the storing recess, an outer seal member operating member becomes engaged with an engaging part of the image forming apparatus main body, thereby automatically closing the outer seal member.

Abstract: A cleaning device of an image-forming apparatus includes a soft elastic member movable in the direction of the axis of the shaft line of an elastic blade, and an interlocking mechanism for moving and separating the soft elastic members toward and away from each other during the rotation of the elastic blade. The soft elastic members may be engaged with the end of the blade when a pointed edge of the blade is engaged with a surface of a photoreceptor, and the soft elastic members may be separated from the ends of the blade when the pointed edge of the blade is positioned away from the surface of the photoreceptor. The elastic members do not interfere with the rotation of the blade when the pointed edge of the blade is positioned adjacent the surface of the photoreceptor. And, since the elastic members are engaged with the ends of the blade while the pointed edge of the blade is engaged with the surface of the photoreceptor, the scattering of the toner from the ends of the blade can be prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of images having a body of the apparatus provided with a corona charger, in which a corona wire is strung along a charging opening of the corona charger. An image-forming device is installed in the body of the apparatus. The device is removable from the body of the apparatus along the corona wire. The apparatus further includes a cleaning device that is attached to the end portion of the image-forming device opposite to the direction in which the image-forming device is pulled out of the body of the apparatus. The cleaning device touching the corona wire through the charging opening when the image-forming device moves along the corona wire and separating from the corona wire when the image-forming device is installed into the body of the apparatus.