Abstract: A photosensitive unit is described. A photosensitive unit may include a developer cartridge including a developing agent carrier and a casing for supporting the developer carrier; a photosensitive body disposed so that the developing agent carrier is brought into contact therewith by pressing; and a cartridge attaching portion to which the developer cartridge is detachably attached. The casing includes an elastic member, a pressing member for pressing the elastic member so that the developing agent carrier is pressed toward the photosensitive body, and a fitting member provided on the pressing member. The cartridge attaching portion includes a fit portion which is fitted by the fitting member so that the pressing member presses the elastic member toward the developing agent carrier for maintaining the pressing state of the pressing member to the elastic member by the fitting.

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 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 developer cartridge that is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive body cartridge that includes a photosensitive member is provided. The developer cartridge includes a frame that includes a first side wall and a second side wall. The developer cartridge also includes a developer supplying section for supplying a developer to the photosensitive body cartridge and a developer housing section for housing the developer. The developer housing section includes an open end at which the developer housing section adjoins the developer supplying section, and a closed end substantially opposite from the open end. The closed end includes an exterior surface that extends from a substantially bottommost portion of the developer housing section to a top portion of the developer housing section. At least one engaging portion of the developer cartridge extends outward from the exterior surface of the developer housing section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image carrier unit configured to move along a first direction between a first position and a second position in the housing and to hold image carriers, developing cartridges configured to be removably mounted in the image carrier unit, and an exposure unit disposed in the housing and for generating light to irradiate each image carrier. Each developing cartridge includes a developer carrier for supplying developer to the image carrier, a case configured to contain the developer and having a support portion for supporting the developer carrier at a first side of the case and a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and an urging mechanism disposed at a second side of the case opposite to the first side for contacting the exposure unit when the image carrier unit is in the first position.

Abstract: A fixing unit is disposed at a position closer to a rear side wall than to a front side wall of a casing. A top wall is formed with a depressed portion depressed toward inside the casing. The depressed portion serves as a sheet discharge tray for receiving a recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit. The sheet discharge tray includes a tray member detachably disposed at the top wall. The rear side wall is formed with an opening through which the fixing unit is removed. When the tray member is disposed at the top wall, the tray member is positioned above and adjacent to the fixing unit and overlaps the fixing unit when viewed through the opening, thereby preventing the fixing unit from being removed from the casing. The fixing unit is removable through the opening when the tray member is detached from the top wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developer cartridge detachably attachable to a casing of an image carrier unit, includes a developing roller and a first rotation body that rotates the developing roller by coupling to a second rotation body provided in an image forming apparatus body with the developer cartridge attached in the casing. The first rotation body is configured to advance and retract with respect to a side wall of the casing which extends along an attachment/detachment direction of the developer cartridge, and is normally urged in an advance direction. A downstream end portion of the first rotation body in the advance direction is arranged downstream in the advance direction from an upstream end of the side wall in the advance direction with the developer cartridge attached in the casing.

Abstract: A developer cartridge is detachably mountable in an image-forming device having a driving rotator. The developer cartridge includes a developing roller and a driven rotator. The driven rotator is movable in an advancing direction parallel to an axial direction of the developing roller toward the driving rotator and in a retracting direction opposite the advancing direction. The driven rotator receives a driving force from the driving rotator when coupled with the driving rotator, thereby rotating the developing roller.

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: A fixing unit is disposed at a position closer to a rear side wall than to a front side wall of a casing. A top wall is formed with a depressed portion depressed toward inside the casing. The depressed portion serves as a sheet discharge tray for receiving a recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit. The sheet discharge tray includes a tray member detachably disposed at the top wall. The rear side wall is formed with an opening through which the fixing unit is removed. When the tray member is disposed at the top wall, the tray member is positioned above and adjacent to the fixing unit and overlaps the fixing unit when viewed through the opening, thereby preventing the fixing unit from being removed from the casing. The fixing unit is removable through the opening when the tray member is detached from the top wall.

Abstract: A developer cartridge that is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive drum cartridge and includes a frame, a developer housing section, a developer supplying section, and a guide member is provided. The frame includes a first side wall and a second side wall, and the first side wall and the second side wall extend substantially in a length direction. The developer housing section, for housing a developer, extends from the first side wall to the second side wall in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction. The developer supplying section, for supplying the developer to a photosensitive member, extends from the first side wall to the second side wall in the width direction. The guide member is provided over an outer surface of the developer supplying section, and the guide member being detachable from the developer supplying section.

Abstract: A fixing unit is disposed at a position closer to a rear side wall than to a front side wall of a casing. A top wall is formed with a depressed portion depressed toward inside the casing. The depressed portion serves as a sheet discharge tray for receiving a recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit. The sheet discharge tray includes a tray member detachably disposed at the top wall. The rear side wall is formed with an opening through which the fixing unit is removed. When the tray member is disposed at the top wall, the tray member is positioned above and adjacent to the fixing unit and overlaps the fixing unit when viewed through the opening, thereby preventing the fixing unit from being removed from the casing. The fixing unit is removable through the opening when the tray member is detached from the top wall.

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 developer cartridge including a frame, a developer housing section, a developer supplying section, and at least one projecting portion is provided. The frame includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a third side wall. The developer housing section houses a developer and the developer supplying section supplies the developer to a photosensitive member and houses a developer carrying member that extends in the width direction and is rotatably supported by the first side wall and the second side wall. The at least one projecting portion is located above the developer carrying member and extends from the frame beyond the back end substantially in the length direction, and the at least one projecting portion is provided integrally on the frame.

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: A photosensitive unit is described. A photosensitive unit may include a developer cartridge including a developing agent carrier and a casing for supporting the developer carrier; a photosensitive body disposed so that the developing agent carrier is brought into contact therewith by pressing; and a cartridge attaching portion to which the developer cartridge is detachably attached. The casing includes an elastic member, a pressing member for pressing the elastic member so that the developing agent carrier is pressed toward the photosensitive body, and an fitting member provided on the pressing member. The cartridge attaching portion includes a fit portion which is fitted by the fitting member so that the pressing member presses the elastic member toward the developing agent carrier for maintaining the pressing state of the pressing member to the elastic member by the fitting.

Abstract: The blade back seal, which integrally comprises the side portions extending in the vertical direction at the longitudinal end portions of the leaf spring member and the connecting portion for connecting the side portions at the longitudinal center portion of the leaf spring member, is interposed between the leaf spring member of the blade unit and the front attachment portion of the blade attachment member. At the opening of the case, the upper seal is interposed between the plate-like upper attachment portion, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the opening and has a width in the anteroposterior direction, and the extended portion of the bend preventing member of the blade unit, for sealing the space therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention provides a developer cartridge detachably attachable to a casing of an image carrier unit, includes a developing roller and a first rotation body that rotates the developing roller by coupling to a second rotation body provided in an image forming apparatus body with the developer cartridge attached in the casing. The first rotation body is configured to advance and retract with respect to a side wall of the casing which extends along an attachment/detachment direction of the developer cartridge, and is normally urged in an advance direction. A downstream end portion of the first rotation body in the advance direction is arranged downstream in the advance direction from an upstream end of the side wall in the advance direction with the developer cartridge attached in the casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image carrier unit configured to move along a first direction between a first position and a second position in the housing and to hold image carriers, developing cartridges configured to be removably mounted in the image carrier unit, and an exposure unit disposed in the housing and for generating light to irradiate each image carrier. Each developing cartridge includes a developer carrier for supplying developer to the image carrier, a case configured to contain the developer and having a support portion for supporting the developer carrier at a first side of the case and a pair of sidewalls facing each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and an urging mechanism disposed at a second side of the case opposite to the first side for contacting the exposure unit when the image carrier unit is in the first position.

Abstract: A handle for a toner cartridge is described. The handle may include an opening and be constructed of one or 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.