Abstract: A process cartridge includes a charging wire for charging a photosensitive member and a cleaning member for cleaning the charging wire. When the cleaning member moves from a first position to a second position while sliding on the charging wire, a moving member in a third position is moved to a fourth position. However, the moving member remains in the fourth position when the cleaning member moves from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: A process unit includes a drum frame supporting a photoconductor drum and a development frame supporting a development roller. The development cartridge is swingably supported by the drum frame at a coupling joint provided at a first side of the development frame and a support portion provided at a second side of the development frame. A center of rotation of the development roller is located in a position shifted from a line segment connecting a center of rotation of the coupling joint and a center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to an upstream side with respect to a direction of rotation of the coupling joint as viewed in an axial direction of the development roller, such that the development roller is pressed against the photoconductor drum by the action of the rotatory force received by the coupling joint.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an accommodating member configured to accommodate developer; a supply member configured to supply the developer of the accommodating member; a developer holding member configured to supply the developer from the supply member to an image holding member; and a voltage controller configured to apply a first predetermined voltage to the supply member and apply a second predetermined voltage to the developer holding member so as to supply the developer from the accommodating member to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image holding member through the supply member and the developer holding member. The voltage controller, when starting to apply a voltage to the supply member, applies an excessive voltage to the supply member, the excessive voltage having a polarity same as the first predetermined voltage and being larger in an absolute value than the first predetermined voltage.

Abstract: An image-forming device can include an image acquiring unit that acquires image data, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data, a determining unit that determines whether the image data includes a part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density, and a controller. The image forming unit can include a developing roller, a supply roller for supplying developer to the developing roller, and a bias applying unit that applies first and second voltages between the developing roller and the supply roller in first and second modes, respectively. The controller can control the bias applying unit to apply one of the first and second voltages when the determining unit determines whether the image data includes the part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density.

Abstract: A developing device including a flexible agitating blade attached to an agitating member is described. The developing device may receive developer from a developer cartridge via a replenishing port. The replenishing port may be configured to prevent the flexible agitating blade from flinging toner outside of the developing device. In one example, an upstream opening of the replenishing port may be located such that, when a free end of the flexible agitating blade rotates to the opening, the surface of the agitating member has rotated to vertical or inclined downward.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: a photosensitive drum having a circumferential surface, on which a developer image is formed; a transfer member configured to transfer the developer image from the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum to a recording medium conveyed along the conveying path in a conveying direction; a collecting member; and a motor capable of performing a forward rotation and a reverse rotation; wherein, based on a timing when a portion of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum faces an upstream side edge of the developer image on the recording medium in the conveying direction, a time elapsed until the motor is stopped to change from performing the forward rotation to the reverse rotation is longer than a time elapsed until the portion of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum that faced the upstream side edge of the developer image faces the collecting member.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a sheet housing unit which houses a recording sheet and which includes an opening portion formed on an upper end side thereof; a cover member configured to open and close the opening portion; a feed roller which feeds the recording sheet housed in the sheet housing unit; a push member provided in the sheet housing unit configured to push the recording sheet housed in the sheet housing unit toward the feed roller while moving between a distal position spaced apart from the feed roller and a proximal position closer to the feed roller than the distal position; a force application mechanism which provides a push force to the push member; and a cooperation mechanism which displaces the push member from the proximal position to the distal position cooperatively with the cover member being opened.

Abstract: A processing unit is provided. He processing unit comprises: a housing; a developing roller that carries developer on a surface thereof, the developing roller including, a hollow roller body, and a covering layer covering an outer circumferential surface of the roller body; a photosensitive drum that contacts the developing roller, wherein an end face of the photosensitive drum at a first side in an axial direction of the developing roller is located at an outer side in the axial direction compared to an end face of the developing roller at the first side in the axial direction, and wherein the developer on the developing roller is supplied to the photosensitive drum; and a supporting member that contacts an inner circumferential surface of the roller body at the first side in the axial direction, and supports the developing roller rotatably in the housing.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a housing made of resin; a developer carrier, which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which is configured to carry developer on a circumferential surface thereof; a receiving-side coupling member, which is provided rotatably to one of end portions of the developer carrier and is configured to couple with a driving-side coupling member in the rotational axial direction to transmit driving force to the developer carrier; a blade, which is provided along the rotational axial direction, and which configured to contact the circumferential surface of the developer carrier to regulate a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface; and a support member, which is bent into an L-shape as viewed from the rotational axial direction, and which supports the blade, wherein the receiving-side coupling member is overlapped with a bending portion of the support member, as viewed from the rotational axial direction.

Abstract: An image-forming device can include an image acquiring unit that acquires image data, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data, a determining unit that determines whether the image data includes a part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density, and a controller. The image forming unit can include a developing roller, a supply roller for supplying developer to the developing roller, and a bias applying unit that applies first and second voltages between the developing roller and the supply roller in first and second modes, respectively. The controller can control the bias applying unit to apply one of the first and second voltages when the determining unit determines whether the image data includes the part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image acquiring unit, an image forming unit, a determining unit, and a controller. The image acquiring unit acquires image data for one page. The image forming unit forms an image based on the image data. The image forming unit includes a developing roller, a supply roller, and a bias applying unit. The developing roller carries a developer. The supply roller supplies the developer to the developing roller. The bias applying unit applies a first voltage between the developing roller and the supply roller in a first mode, and applies a second voltage between the developing roller and the supply roller in a second mode. The determining unit determines whether the image data includes a part having density greater than or equal to a prescribed density.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly detachably mounted on a main casing of an image forming device includes a first cartridge, a second cartridge, and a lock member. The first cartridge has a first handle. The second cartridge has a second handle. The first handle and the second handle are configured to provide a relative position capable of realizing simultaneous access to the first handle and the second handle in case of an assembled state between the second cartridge and the first cartridge for integral attachment to or detachment from the main casing. The lock member has a lock section and an operation section. The lock section is movable between a lock position and an unlock position. The operation section is configured to move the lock section between the lock position and the unlock position.

Abstract: A photosensitive unit is described. The photosensitive unit may include a developer cartridge including a developing agent carrier and a casing, a photosensitive member, and a side wall. The casing is provided with a pivoting member including a pressuring portion applied with an external pressing force and a fitting projection fitted to the side wall. The pivoting member is configured to be pivoted along a pressing direction for pressing the developing agent carrier toward the photosensitive member when a pressing force is applied to the pressuring portion, or along a pressure releasing direction opposite to the pressing direction. The side wall is formed with a fit portion to which the fitting projection is loosely fitted so that a movement of the fitting projection along a pivoting direction of the pivoting member is allowed.

Abstract: An elastic member for urging a developer carrier in the direction of an image carrier is located in a casing of a developer cartridge. Since the elastic member will be new whenever the developer cartridge is replaced, an urging force of the elastic member will not deteriorate over time. Thus, a proper pressing state of the developer carrier on the image carrier is maintained. Thus, the amount of toner supplied from the developer carrier to the image carrier is stable. Thereby, a picture of high quality can be formed continuously without poor development by poor pressure between the developer carrier and the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an accommodating member configured to accommodate developer; a supply member configured to supply the developer of the accommodating member; a developer holding member configured to supply the developer from the supply member to an image holding member; and a voltage controller configured to apply a first predetermined voltage to the supply member and apply a second predetermined voltage to the developer holding member so as to supply the developer from the accommodating member to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image holding member through the supply member and the developer holding member. The voltage controller, when starting to apply a voltage to the supply member, applies an excessive voltage to the supply member, the excessive voltage having a polarity same as the first predetermined voltage and being larger in an absolute value than the first predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge that has a photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge that is detachably mounted on the photosensitive cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, and a transmission gear. The developing gear supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. The input gear includes a contact portion that is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force and a gear portion. The input gear rotates about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The gear portion has a pitch circle defined by being meshingly engaged with the transmission gear. The pitch circle of the gear portion is arranged to overlap with the contact portion in the axial direction of the input gear.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge and a developing cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, a transmission gear, and a supporting cover. The input gear includes a contact portion, an outer circumferential wall, and a gear portion. The contact portion is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force. The outer circumferential wall and the gear portion rotate about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The outer circumferential wall has a curved surface whose center of radius of a curvature is coincident with the rotational axis. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The supporting cover covers the curved surface of the outer circumferential wall to rotatably support the outer circumferential wall.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a charging wire for charging a photosensitive member and a cleaning member for cleaning the charging wire. When the cleaning member moves from a first position to a second position while sliding on the charging wire, a moving member in a third position is moved to a fourth position. However, the moving member remains in the fourth position when the cleaning member moves from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: A handle for a toner cartridge may include an opening and be constructed of elastically deformable materials. The handle may deform when inside of an image forming device to provide at least some force to press an image carrier against a developer carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller, a toner supply roller, and a charging member. The toner supply roller supplies single-component non-magnetic toner to the developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. In a toner cleaning mode, the toner supply roller removes the toner from the developing roller. To this effect, the charging member charges up the toner held on the developing roller. A bias circuit and a controller are further provided, wherein the bias circuit applies bias voltages to the developing roller, supply roller, and charging member, and the controller controls the bias circuit to produce the bias voltages such that a potential difference between the charging member and the supply roller is greater than a potential difference between the developing roller and the supply roller in the toner cleaning mode.