Abstract: A developer storing vessel includes a supplied developer storing portion including: a first supply storing portion which is stored a developer to be supplied to a developer unit; a second supply storing portion which is provided under the first supply storing portion and formed with a horizontal width narrower than that of the first supply storing portion; and a supply outlet from which the developer stored in the second supply storing portion flows out; and a recovered developer storing portion including: a recovery inlet which is disposed above the supply outlet in a direction of gravity, in a position displaced therefrom horizontally and within the horizontal width of the first supply storing portion, and from which recovered developer flows in, and a recovery storing portion which is provided under the recovery inlet and in which the developer flowing from the recovery inlet is stored.

Abstract: A visible image forming device is provided with an image carrier and a developing device that develops a latent image on the image carrier surface to form a visible image includes, a developer container that contains developer therein, a developer carrier carries the developer on a surface of the developer carrier and rotates oppositely to the image carrier, a first stirring member that is rotatably supported to be adjacent to the developer carrier inside the developer container and conveys the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier while stirring the developer, and a second stirring member that is rotatably supported to be adjacent to the first stirring member inside the developer container and circulates the developer by conveying the developer in the developer container oppositely to a conveyance direction of the first stirring member.

Abstract: A developer storing vessel includes a supplied developer storing portion including: a first supply storing portion which is stored a developer to be supplied to a developer unit; a second supply storing portion which is provided under the first supply storing portion and formed with a horizontal width narrower than that of the first supply storing portion; and a supply outlet from which the developer stored in the second supply storing portion flows out; and a recovered developer storing portion including: a recovery inlet which is disposed above the supply outlet in a direction of gravity, in a position displaced therefrom horizontally and within the horizontal width of the first supply storing portion, and from which recovered developer flows in, and a recovery storing portion which is provided under the recovery inlet and in which the developer flowing from the recovery inlet is stored.

Abstract: A visible image forming device is provided with an image carrier and a developing device that develops a latent image on the image carrier surface to form a visible image includes, a developer container that contains developer therein, a developer carrier carries the developer on a surface of the developer carrier and rotates oppositely to the image carrier, a first stirring member that is rotatably supported to be adjacent to the developer carrier inside the developer container and conveys the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier while stirring the developer, and a second stirring member that is rotatably supported to be adjacent to the first stirring member inside the developer container and circulates the developer by conveying the developer in the developer container oppositely to a conveyance direction of the first stirring member.

Abstract: An image forming unit is detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and includes a first unit including an image bearing member, and a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which is transferred a toner image on the image bearing member. The toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and at least either of the first and second units is detachable from and attachable to the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming unit comprising a first unit including an image bearing member, a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which transferred is a toner image on the image bearing member, wherein the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and at least either of the first and second units is detachable from and attachable to the image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive member and a support portion for detachably supporting a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member. The support portion supports the developing unit in a pivotable manner. A driving force transmitting portion disposed on an axis substantially the same as a pivot axis of the developing unit supported by the support portion is adapted to transmit a driving force to the developing unit supported by the support portion.

Abstract: An image forming unit is detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus and includes a first unit including an image bearing member, and a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which is transferred a toner image on the image bearing member. The toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and at least either of the first and second units is detachable from and attachable to the image forming unit.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mounted and which is adapted to form an image on a recording medium includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a mounting device capable of detachably mounting a process cartridge including a process device acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a shaft coupling member secured to a drum support shaft for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A shaft coupling member of an apparatus body is adapted to be engaged by and disengaged from the shaft coupling member of the process cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising a photosensitive member, a support portion for detachably supporting a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, the support portion supporting the developing unit in a pivotable manner, and a driving force transmitting portion disposed on an axis substantially the same as a pivot axis of the developing unit supported by the support portion and adapted to transmit a driving force to the developing unit supported by the support portion.

Abstract: An image forming unit detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the image forming unit comprising a first unit including an image bearing member, a second unit including an intermediate transfer member to which transferred is a toner image on the image bearing member, wherein the toner image on the intermediate transfer member is transferred to a recording material, and at least either of the first and second units is detachable from and attachable to the image forming unit.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the apparatus includes mounting member for mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including: a.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member for bearing an image, an image forming means for forming the image on the image bearing member, a movable member which can be shifted along a transfer station of the image bearing member and onto which a first image and a second image on the image bearing member are successively transferred in a superimposed fashion, and a shifting speed switching means for switching a shifting speed of the movable member between a first shifting speed during a transferring operation and a second shifting speed slower than the first shifting speed, after the first image was transferred to the movable member and before the second image is transferred onto the movable member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus has a rotatable developing unit having a plurality of developing devices each provided with a containing portion for containing a developer and a carrying member carrying the developer, a light emitting element for applying light toward the containing portion, and a light receiving element provided discretely from the developing unit and common to the plurality of developing devices and for receiving the light transmitted through the containing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a cartridge includes an image forming device acting on an image bearing member and a driving force transmitting device which is adapted to transmit a driving force from an apparatus side to a cartyridge side and which is separable from the image forming device. The apparatus also includes a drive source. The image forming device and the driving force transmitting device are integrally mountable to the apparatus.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality of developing devices for supplying a developer to the image bearing member, the developing devices each having a first electric contact; a second electric contact for establishing electric connection with the apparatus when the cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus; and a selector for selecting one of the first electric contacts, the selector being effective to electrically connecting the selected first electric contact and the second contact.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing device having a containing portion containing developer and a bearing member for bearing the developing device, a support member adapted to rotatably support the developing device and having an opening portion, and a lock for locking a rotation of the developing device with respect to the support member at a position there the bearing member is not aligned with the opening portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising an image bearing member, plural development means for effecting image development by acting on said image bearing member, and drive means for enabling drive force transmission to selected one among said plural development means by rotation in a direction, and driving said selected development means by rotation in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first rotatable member for bearing an image, the first rotatable member having a first driving gear; a second rotatable member rotatable in synchronism with the first rotatable member, the second rotatable member having a second driving gear; a transfer device for transferring the image from the first rotatable member onto the second transfer member; and driving source for driving the first driving gear and the second driving gear; wherein the second driving gear is driven not through the first driving gear.

Abstract: The present invention provides the image forming system in which, when an image bearing member or a process cartridge including an image bearing member therein is mounted within an image forming system having a shiftable image forming device, the image bearing member can receive a driving force from the image forming device. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the number of positioning locations between the image forming system and the image bearing member.