Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first unit having a first container and a first roller; a second unit having a second container and a second roller; a first section to which a first container is attachable and having a first frame with a first inlet; a second section to which a second container is attachable and having a second frame with a second inlet; a first receptacle provided below the first mount section and communicating with the first inlet; a second receptacle provided below the second mount section and communicating with the second inlet; a first passage extending from the first receptacle to the first container; first means for conveying toner through the first passage; a second passage extending from the second receptacle to the second container; and second means for conveying toner through the second passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus on which a first toner container and a second toner container are mountable, includes an apparatus body, and a moving unit including a first developing unit and a second developing unit, the moving unit being configured to move with respect to the apparatus body between an internal position and an external position. The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured to be replenished with the toner from the first toner container and the second toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus, respectively, in a state in which the moving unit is at the external position and supported by the apparatus body. The moving unit is configured not to be movable from the external position to the internal position in a state in which the first toner container and the second toner container are mounted on the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driving unit having a first drum gear, a first coupling member, a second drum gear, and a second coupling member. The first coupling member is provided at a first position of the first drum gear. The second coupling member is provided at a second position of the second drum gear and is configured to rotate together with the second drum gear. A first angle from a first meshing position to a first transfer position in a first direction and a second angle from a second meshing position to a second transfer position in a second direction are different from each other. The second position of the second drum gear is shifted from a position corresponding to the first position of the first drum gear by a difference between the first angle and the second angle in a direction opposite of the second direction.

Abstract: A driving device for photosensitive members and developing rollers includes a clutch for selectively transmitting a rotational force from a driving source to the rollers. The clutch includes a rotatable driving member having a first engaging portion together with the first portion, a follower having a second engaging portion engageable with the first portion, and a rotatable member changeable, by rotation in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the driving member, from a first state in which the driving force from the driving source is not transmitted without engagement between the first portion and the second engaging portion to a second state in which the rotor rotates by engagement therebetween. The rotor urges the follower in the opposite direction when the first engageable member and the second engageable member are not engaged with each other, by the opposite rotation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driving unit having a first drum gear, a first coupling member, a second drum gear, and a second coupling member. The first coupling member is provided at a first position of the first drum gear. The second coupling member is provided at a second position of the second drum gear and is configured to rotate together with the second drum gear. A first angle from a first meshing position to a first transfer position in a first direction and a second angle from a second meshing position to a second transfer position in a second direction are different from each other. The second position of the second drum gear is shifted from a position corresponding to the first position of the first drum gear by a difference between the first angle and the second angle in a direction opposite of the second direction.

Abstract: A driving device for photosensitive members and developing rollers includes a clutch for selectively transmitting a rotational force from a driving source to the rollers. The clutch includes a rotatable driving member having a first engaging portion together with the first portion, a follower having a second engaging portion engageable with the first portion, and a rotatable member changeable, by rotation in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the driving member, from a first state in which the driving force from the driving source is not transmitted without engagement between the first portion and the second engaging portion to a second state in which the rotor rotates by engagement therebetween. The rotor urges the follower in the opposite direction when the first engageable member and the second engageable member are not engaged with each other, by the opposite rotation.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a rubbing member provided in contact with a transfer belt, a supporting member supporting the rubbing member, and a damping member configured to damp vibration of the transfer device. The damping member is fastened to the supporting member, and an end of the damping member in a width direction that is orthogonal to a direction of rotation of the transfer belt is a free end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a supporting member supporting multiple cartridges and movable between an inside position inside an apparatus main body and an outside position, in which the cartridges are supported arrayed in a direction of extracting the supporting member from the inside position to the outside position, with the multiple cartridges being detachably attachable at the outside position; a first cartridge; a second cartridge adjacent to the first cartridge; and a third cartridge adjacent to the second cartridge. The first cartridge has a greater protrusion amount from the supporting member compared to the second cartridge and the third cartridge, in a direction orthogonal to the extracting direction and to a longitudinal direction of the cartridges. When viewed from the orthogonal direction, the amount of overlapping between the first cartridge and the second cartridge is greater than the amount of overlapping between the second cartridge and the third cartridge.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a rubbing member provided in contact with a transfer belt, a supporting member supporting the rubbing member, and a damping member configured to damp vibration of the transfer device. The damping member is fastened to the supporting member, and an end of the damping member in a width direction that is orthogonal to a direction of rotation of the transfer belt is a free end.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes: a toner seal member for unsealably sealing an opening of the developer accommodating container; an unsealing member, connected to an end portion of the toner seal member, for unsealing the opening by moving at least a part of the toner seal member; and an auxiliary unsealing member for assisting unsealing by changing a pulling direction of the toner seal member by the unsealing member. The auxiliary unsealing member includes a shaft portion or a projected portion. The shaft portion or the projected portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating container.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a rubbing member provided in contact with a transfer belt, a supporting member supporting the rubbing member, and a damping member configured to damp vibration of the transfer device. The damping member is fastened to the supporting member, and an end of the damping member in a width direction that is orthogonal to a direction of rotation of the transfer belt is a free end.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the frame member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a supporting member supporting multiple cartridges and movable between an inside position inside an apparatus main body and an outside position, in which the cartridges are supported arrayed in a direction of extracting the supporting member from the inside position to the outside position, with the multiple cartridges being detachably attachable at the outside position; a first cartridge; a second cartridge adjacent to the first cartridge; and a third cartridge adjacent to the second cartridge. The first cartridge has a greater protrusion amount from the supporting member compared to the second cartridge and the third cartridge, in a direction orthogonal to the extracting direction and to a longitudinal direction of the cartridges. When viewed from the orthogonal direction, the amount of overlapping between the first cartridge and the second cartridge is greater than the amount of overlapping between the second cartridge and the third cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the frame member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a supporting member supporting multiple cartridges and movable between an inside position inside an apparatus main body and an outside position, in which the cartridges are supported arrayed in a direction of extracting the supporting member from the inside position to the outside position, with the multiple cartridges being detachably attachable at the outside position; a first cartridge; a second cartridge adjacent to the first cartridge; and a third cartridge adjacent to the second cartridge. The first cartridge has a greater protrusion amount from the supporting member compared to the second cartridge and the third cartridge, in a direction orthogonal to the extracting direction and to a longitudinal direction of the cartridges. When viewed from the orthogonal direction, the amount of overlapping between the first cartridge and the second cartridge is greater than the amount of overlapping between the second cartridge and the third cartridge.

Abstract: A roller is provided includes a cylindrical shaft supported by a main assembly of an image forming apparatus or a detachable cartridge. The cylindrical shaft includes a separation region on a circumference of the cylindrical shaft, where a pair of end portions of the cylindrical shaft oppose each other or are in contact with each other with respect to a circumferential direction relative to the circumference of the cylindrical shaft, and wherein the separation region extends in an axial direction of the cylindrical shaft. In addition, a rotatable cylindrical member is mounted around an outer circumference of the cylindrical shaft and is rotatable about the cylindrical shaft while an inner peripheral surface of the rotatable cylindrical member is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical shaft in a region of the cylindrical shaft other than the separation region with respect to the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes: a toner seal member for unsealably sealing an opening of the developer accommodating container; an unsealing member, connected to an end portion of the toner seal member, for unsealing the opening by moving at least a part of the toner seal member; and an auxiliary unsealing member for assisting unsealing by changing a pulling direction of the toner seal member by the unsealing member. The auxiliary unsealing member includes a shaft portion or a projected portion. The shaft portion or the projected portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating container.

Abstract: Provided is a remanufacturing method of a developer accommodating unit including a flexible container provided with an opening and configured to accommodate developer, and a frame member configured to accommodate the flexible container. The remanufacturing method includes refilling the developer into the frame member.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes: a developer accommodating member, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer, for accommodating the developer; a sealing member including a connecting portion for being connected to the developer accommodating member so as to seal the opening; and an unsealing member for exposing the opening by moving the sealing member to peel the connecting portion from the developer accommodating member. The connecting portion includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof. When the connecting portion is peeled from the developer accommodating member, the unsealing member is flexed so that the first connecting portion is peeled earlier than the second connecting portion.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes: a toner seal member for unsealably sealing an opening of the developer accommodating container; an unsealing member, connected to an end portion of the toner seal member, for unsealing the opening by moving at least a part of the toner seal member; and an auxiliary unsealing member for assisting unsealing by changing a pulling direction of the toner seal member by the unsealing member. The auxiliary unsealing member includes a shaft portion or a projected portion. The shaft portion or the projected portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating container.