Abstract: The developer container includes a rotator that is rotated in the container body, a sequence of gears disposed outside the developer container that transmits a torque to the rotator, and a container guiding portion that fits with a main body side guiding portion and guides the developer container in a direction in which the developer container is attached to a mounting portion of an image forming device main body. A first gear included in the sequence of the gears is movable between an operating position where the first gear engages with a second gear and a retracted position where the first gear is retracted. On a surface on which the container guiding portion is disposed, a part of the container guiding portion is disposed within a projected area of the first gear being disposed at the operating position.

Abstract: A process unit includes a photosensitive member that carries an image; a developing device that has a developer carrying member carrying a developer to be supplied to the photosensitive member; a rotating shaft that supports the developing device rotatably for approaching and separating from the photosensitive member; a photosensitive member gear provided to the photosensitive member; and a developing gear provided to the developer carrying member. The photosensitive member gear and the developing gear engage together and driving force can be transmitted, and the rotating shaft is placed on a driving force vector between the gears or on an extended line thereof, the driving force vector being generated from engagement between the photosensitive member gear and the developing gear.

Abstract: A first developer container delivers developer to a second developer container, the first developer container including a first opening to be engaged with the second developer container and to deliver the developer; and a conveyor to convey the developer and to deliver the developer through the first opening.

Abstract: A charger adapted to uniformly charge a surface of an image bearing member is provided. The charger includes a charging roller, a charging roller cleaning member, and a cleaning member moving device. The charging roller is in contact with a surface of the image bearing member and is rotatable. The charging roller cleaning member is in uniform contact with the charging roller in a longitudinal direction. The cleaning member moving device is adapted to reciprocate the charging roller cleaning member in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the charging roller while keeping the charging roller cleaning member in contact with the charging roller.

Abstract: A semiconductive member including an alkali metal salt having the formula (M)n.X in a surface layer thereof. M represents Na+, K+, or Li+; X represents Cl?, Br?, I?, F?, CH3COO?, CF3COO?, CH(COOH)CHCOO?, (CHCOO?)2, CH2(COOH)CH2COO?, (CH2COO?)2, (HOOC)Ar(COO?), Ar(COO?)2, (HOOC)2Ar(COO?), (HOOC)Ar(COO?)2, Ar(COO?)3, (HOOC)3Ar(COO?), (HOOC)2Ar(COO?)2, (HOOC)Ar(COO?)3, Ar(COO?)4, Ar—SO3?, Ar(SO3?)2, an oligomer or a polymer having an acrylic acid anion unit, or an oligomer or a polymer having an methacrylic acid anion unit; Ar represents a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, or a biphenyl ring; and n is a numeral equivalent to the anionic valence of X.

Abstract: A development device includes a development housing, a first developer conveyance member, a developer bearer, and a developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in the development housing. The developer amount detector includes a light-emitting element, a right-receiving element, a first light guide including a first end from which light enters and a second end disposed inside the development housing, and a second light guide including a first end positioned inside the development housing across a predetermined distance from the second end of the first light guide and a second end from which the light exits. The second end of the first light guide and the first end of the second light guide are arranged in an axial direction of the first developer conveyance member with a light transmission path therebetween partly inside a locus of rotation of the first developer conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a exposure device as a light source, a developer container storing developer and attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the photoconductor, a developing unit and a photoconductor unit having a photoconductor for bearing a latent image thereon each detachably attached to the main body substantially in the same direction as the developer container. An exposure device displacing mechanism displaces the exposure device between a first position enabling the exposure device to function as the light source and a second position disabling the exposure device to function as the light source. The photoconductor unit is detached when the developer container is either displaced from an initially attached position or is removed from the main body and the exposure device displacing device has displaced the exposure device to the second position.

Abstract: A toner transport screw that is capable of maintaining a smooth and stable transport function. The toner transport screw, in which a helical blade is disposed on the circumference of a rotating shaft, has at least one spiral direction reversal part formed by connecting the respective ends of a first blade part and a second blade part, the directions of spiral of the first blade part and the second blade part being in opposite directions. A passage, which allows the toner to pass through the blades in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, is formed in the spiral direction reversal part.

Abstract: A semiconductive member including an alkali metal salt having the formula (M)n·X in a surface layer thereof. M represents Na+, K+, or Li+; X represents Cl?, Br?, I?, F?, CH3COO?, CF3COO?, CH(COOH)CHCOO?, (CHCOO?)2, CH2(COOH)CH2COO?, (CH2COO?)2, (HOOC)Ar(COO?), Ar(COO?)2, (HOOC)2Ar(COO?), (HOOC)Ar(COO?)2, Ar(COO?)3, (HOOC)3Ar(COO?), (HOOC)2Ar(COO?)2, (HOOC)Ar (COO?)3, Ar(COO?)4, Ar—SO3?, Ar(SO3?)2, an oligomer or a polymer having an acrylic acid anion unit, or an oligomer or a polymer having an methacrylic acid anion unit; Ar represents a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring, or a biphenyl ring; and n is a numeral equivalent to the anionic valence of X.

Abstract: A toner transport screw that is capable of maintaining a smooth and stable transport function. The toner transport screw, in which a helical blade is disposed on the circumference of a rotating shaft, has at least one spiral direction reversal part formed by connecting the respective ends of a first blade part and a second blade part, the directions of spiral of the first blade part and the second blade part being in opposite directions. A passage, which allows the toner to pass through the blades in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, is formed in the spiral direction reversal part.