Abstract: A developing device including a first frame including a first welding surface and a second frame including a second welding surface, wherein the first frame and the second frame are welded so that the first welding surface and the second welding surface are opposite to each other, and wherein the developing device further includes: a seal member that is adhered to a first adhesion surface of the first frame and a second adhesion surface of the second frame, wherein the seal member covers a first side end portion from a first side in an orthogonal direction at an opposite part, where the first welding surface and the second welding surface are disposed opposite one another; and a filling agent that is filled between the seal member and the first side end portion in the orthogonal direction at the opposite part.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a housing; a developing roller; a seal member, and a layer thickness regulating member that contacts a circumferential surface of the developing roller via developer and regulates a thickness of a developer layer on the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The seal member has a sliding contact portion made of fiber having elasticity and sliding-contacting the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member has one end portion that is supported by the housing and the other end portion to which a bent portion is formed to face the seal member, and the bent portion is configured to enter the sliding contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming device facilitating fluid communication between developer cartridges supported in a main body frame and a process unit in which developing units are accommodated in a drawer movable in a first direction and second direction opposite to the first direction. The developing units are arrayed in the first and second direction, and the process unit is formed with communication ports displaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the first and second direction. An inlet shutter mechanism is provided to open the communication ports when the drawer is assembled to an operable position for image formation. The main body has abutment portions to open each shutter of the inlet shutter mechanism in accordance with the movement of the drawer to the operable position.

Abstract: A developing device including a first frame including a first welding surface and a second frame including a second welding surface, wherein the first frame and the second frame are welded so that the first welding surface and the second welding surface are opposite to each other, and wherein the developing device further includes: a seal member that is adhered to a first adhesion surface of the first frame and a second adhesion surface of the second frame, wherein the seal member covers a first side end portion from a first side in an orthogonal direction at an opposite part, where the first welding surface and the second welding surface are disposed opposite one another; and a filling agent that is filled between the seal member and the first side end portion in the orthogonal direction at the opposite part.

Abstract: A developing device including a first frame including a first welding surface and a second frame including a second welding surface, wherein the first frame and the second frame are welded so that the first welding surface and the second welding surface are opposite to each other, and wherein the developing device further includes: a seal member that is adhered to a first adhesion surface of the first frame and a second adhesion surface of the second frame, wherein the seal member covers a first side end portion from a first side in an orthogonal direction at an opposite part, where the first welding surface and the second welding surface are disposed opposite one another; and a filling agent that is filled between the seal member and the first side end portion in the orthogonal direction at the opposite part.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a frame; a developer carrying member rotatably supported to the frame; and a side seal. The developer carrying member is rotatable about its axis in a rotating direction and has an axial end portion and a remaining portion inward of the axial end portion in an axial direction. The side seal is disposed between the frame and a peripheral surface of the axial end portion and includes: a contact member that can contact the peripheral surface; a support member disposed between the contact member and the frame; and a double-sided tape for adhering the contact member to the supporting member. The contact member includes: a first seal member; and a second seal member disposed adjacent to and upstream of the first seal member in the rotating direction. The first seal member and the second seal member are affixed to one adhesive surface of the double-sided tape.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a frame having an opening; a developer carrying member rotatably supported to the frame; and a side seal. The developer carrying member is rotatable about its axis in a rotating direction and has an axial end portion in an axial direction. The side seal is disposed between the frame and a peripheral surface of the axial end portion, and has a contact member contacting the peripheral surface. The contact member includes: a first seal member disposed adjacent to an edge of the opening in the axial direction; and a second seal member disposed adjacent to and upstream of the first seal member in the rotating direction. The first seal member permits developer to move inward in the axial direction and provides a mobility of developer therein higher than that of the second seal member that is made of a material that restricts movement of developer.

Abstract: An image forming device has a main casing and a cartridge accommodating portion in which a combined unit of first and second cartridges can be loaded. The first cartridge includes a pressing member movable between a first position in which the second cartridge is removed from the first cartridge and a second position in which the second cartridge is combined with the first cartridge. A moving member supported on the main casing is movable between a third position in which the combined unit is unloaded from the main casing and a fourth position in which the combined unit is loaded in the main casing. The pressing member disposed in the second position presses the moving member to move to the fourth position. A determination unit does not start image forming operations until a position detector provided on the main casing detects that the moving member is in the fourth position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a mounting part configured to allow plural types of cartridges having different initial capacities of developing agent to be detachably mountable therein; a light emitting device configured to emit light into the cartridge mounted in the mounting part; a light receiving device configured to receive light emitted from the light emitting device and passed through an inside of the cartridge; a determining unit configured to determine that a replacement time of the cartridge has been reached when a ratio of time, during which an output value of the light receiving device exceeds a light reception reference value, exceeds a determination threshold value. The image forming apparatus or the cartridges are configured such that the determination of the replacement time changes according to the initial capacity of the cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming device facilitating fluid communication between developer cartridges supported in a main body frame and a process unit in which developing units are accommodated in a drawer movable in a first direction and second direction opposite to the first direction. The developing units are arrayed in the first and second direction, and the process unit is formed with communication ports displaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the first and second direction. An inlet shutter mechanism is provided to open the communication ports when the drawer is assembled to an operable position for image formation. The main body has abutment portions to open each shutter of the inlet shutter mechanism in accordance with the movement of the drawer to the operable position.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main casing, a cartridge accommodating portion, a detection unit and a determination unit. The cartridge accommodating portion is configured to detachably accommodate a first cartridge and a second cartridge that is able to be detachably combined with the first cartridge, the first cartridge being provided with a pressing member movable between a first position and a second position, the pressing member being in the first position when the second cartridge is removed from the first cartridge, the pressing member being in the second position when the second cartridge is combined with the first cartridge. The detection unit is provided on the main casing and is configured to perform non-contact position detection of the pressing member. The determination unit is configured not to start image forming operations until the detection unit detects that the pressing member is in the second position.

Abstract: An image forming device facilitating fluid communication between developer cartridges supported in a main body frame and a process unit in which developing units are accommodated in a drawer movable in a first direction and second direction opposite to the first direction. The developing units are arrayed in the first and second direction, and the process unit is formed with communication ports displaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the first and second direction. An inlet shutter mechanism is provided to open the communication ports when the drawer is assembled to an operable position for image formation. The main body has abutment portions to open each shutter of the inlet shutter mechanism in accordance with the movement of the drawer to the operable position.

Abstract: A developing device including a first frame including first welding surface and a second frame including second welding surface, wherein the first frame and the second frame are welded so that the first welding surface and the second welding surface are opposite to each other, and wherein the developing device further including: a seal member that is adhered to a first adhesion surface of the first frame and a second adhesion surface of the first frame, wherein the seal member covers a first side end portion from a first side in a orthogonal direction at a opposite part, where the first welding surface and the second welding surface are disposed opposite one another; and a filling agent that is filled between the seal member and the first side end portion in the orthogonal direction at the opposite part.

Abstract: A developing apparatus comprising: a housing; a developing roller; a seal member, and a layer thickness regulating member that contacts a circumferential surface of the developing roller via developer and regulates a thickness of a developer layer on the circumferential surface of the developing roller, wherein the seal member has a sliding contact portion made of fiber having elasticity and sliding-contacting the circumferential surface of the developing roller, wherein the layer thickness regulating member has one end portion that is supported by the housing and the other end portion to which a bent portion is formed to face the seal member, and wherein the bent portion is configured to enter the sliding contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming device has a cartridge accommodating portion in which a combined unit of a first cartridge and a second cartridge can be loaded. The first cartridge is provided with a pressing member movable between a first position and a second position and is in the first position when the second cartridge is removed from the first cartridge, and in the second position when the second cartridge is perfectly combined with the first cartridge. A moving member is supported on the main casing of the image forming device to be movable between a third position and a fourth position, and is in the third position when the combined unit is unloaded from the main casing and in the fourth position when the combined unit is loaded in the main casing. The pressing member disposed in the second position presses the moving member to move to the fourth position. A position detector is provided on the main casing and is configured to perform position detection of the moving member.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main casing, a cartridge accommodating portion, a detection unit and a determination unit. The cartridge accommodating portion is configured to detachably accommodate a first cartridge and a second cartridge that is able to be detachably combined with the first cartridge, the first cartridge being provided with a pressing member movable between a first position and a second position, the pressing member being in the first position when the second cartridge is removed from the first cartridge, the pressing member being in the second position when the second cartridge is combined with the first cartridge. The detection unit is provided on the main casing and is configured to perform non-contact position detection of the pressing member. The determination unit is configured not to start image forming operations until the detection unit detects that the pressing member is in the second position.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer agitating member having a plurality of vanes that are disposed in a developer containing chamber and that are rotatable about an axis parallel to an axis of a supply roller. Each of the vanes has a peripheral edge, and a trailing end of the peripheral edge in a vane rotation direction is located more inside than a leading end of the peripheral edge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a mounting part configured to be detachably mountable therein plural types of cartridges having different initial capacities of developing agent; a light emitting device configured to emit light into the cartridge mounted in the mounting part; a light receiving device configured to receive light emitted from the light emitting device and passed through an inside of the cartridge; a determining unit configured to determine that a replacement time of the cartridge has been reached when a ratio of time, during which an output value of the light receiving device exceeds a light reception reference value, exceeds a determination threshold value. The image forming apparatus or the cartridges are configured such that the determination of the replacement time changes according to the initial capacity of the cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming device facilitating fluid communication between developer cartridges supported in a main body frame and a process unit in which developing units are accommodated in a drawer movable in a first direction and second direction opposite to the first direction. The developing units are arrayed in the first and second direction, and the process unit is formed with communication ports displaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the first and second direction. An inlet shutter mechanism is provided to open the communication ports when the drawer is assembled to an operable position for image formation. The main body has abutment portions to open each shutter of the inlet shutter mechanism in accordance with the movement of the drawer to the operable position.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer agitating member having a plurality of vanes that are disposed in a developer containing chamber and that are rotatable about an axis parallel to an axis of a supply roller. Each of the vanes has an peripheral edge, and a trailing end of the peripheral edge in a vane rotation direction is located more inside than a leading end of the peripheral edge.