Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a frame body having an accommodating portion for accommodating developer, and a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion integrally molded. The first conductive portion includes a first electrode portion exposed from the frame body inside the accommodating portion and a first electrical contact portion electrically connected to the first electrode portion and exposed from the frame body outside the accommodating portion. The second conductive portion includes a second electrode portion exposed from the frame body inside the accommodating portion and a second electrical contact portion electrically connected to the second electrode portion and exposed from the frame body outside the accommodating portion. The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are disposed so as to face each other with a space therebetween and function as a capacitor.

Abstract: A downstream-side end of an electrical contact of the second unit is a first end and an upstream-side end thereof is a second end in a direction around the pivot axis when the second unit rotates from a spaced-apart position where a photosensitive drum and a developing roller are spaced apart from each other to a contact position where they come into contact with each other, a body contact of an apparatus body comes into contact with the electrical contact at a position between the first end and a midpoint between the first and the second ends in the contact position, and maintains the contact between the spaced-apart position and the contact position. When a distance from the pivot axis to the first end, the second end, and the middle point is D1, D2, and Dc, respectively Dc?D1 and Dc?D2 are satisfied.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes a container and a stirring member. The container includes first and second frames mutually bonded to constitute an accommodating space for a developer. The stirring member stirs the developer by being rotated in a rotational direction and includes a sheet fixed to a rotational shaft. The first frame includes a recessed portion provided along an edge of the first frame and opening toward an upstream side in the rotational direction. The second frame includes a projection provided along an edge of the second frame, projects toward a downstream side in the rotational direction and engages with the recess, and so as to prevent the sheet from contacting an end surface, on the upstream side, of an inner end of the recess and includes a part of an inner wall constituting the accommodating space, a visor provided on a position opposite to the end surface.

Abstract: A cartridge unit configured to be detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a first unit including a photosensitive drum, a frame, a developing roller, and a driving-force transmission portion, and a second unit including a memory and a holder, the second unit being detachably attached to the first unit and configured to accommodate developer. The frame includes a bottom surface that extends in an axis direction, and a first side wall that extends from the bottom surface in an intersecting direction that intersects the axis direction, and that is positioned, in the axis direction, inside with respect to the driving-force transmission portion and outside with respect to the second unit attached to the first unit. The memory is disposed outside with respect to the first side wall in the axis direction when the second unit is attached to the first unit.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a side surface at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end positioned at the side of the process cartridge and a second end opposite to the first end in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum. A projection is positioned coaxial with the photosensitive drum and at the side of the process cartridge, with the projection projecting from the side surface of the frame in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum with at least a tip of the projection being exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes a container and a stirring member. The container includes first and second frames mutually bonded to constitute an accommodating space for a developer. The stirring member stirs the developer by being rotated in a rotational direction and includes a sheet fixed to a rotational shaft. The first frame includes a recessed portion provided along an edge of the first frame and opening toward an upstream side in the rotational direction. The second frame includes a projection provided along an edge of the second frame, projects toward a downstream side in the rotational direction and engages with the recess, and so as to prevent the sheet from contacting an end surface, on the upstream side, of an inner end of the recess and includes a part of an inner wall constituting the accommodating space, a visor provided on a position opposite to the end surface.

Abstract: A photosensitive member unit is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, a rotatable first helical gear portion; and a second helical gear portion integrally rotatable with the first helical gear portion. A twisting direction of a tooth of the second helical gear portion is the same as a twisting direction of a tooth of the first helical gear portion, and a helix angle of the tooth of the second helical gear portion is greater than a helix angle of the tooth of the first helical gear portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a side surface at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end positioned at the side of the process cartridge and a second end opposite to the first end in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum. A projection is positioned coaxial with the photosensitive drum and at the side of the process cartridge, with the projection projecting from the side surface of the frame in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum with at least a tip of the projection being exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: An aspect is to provide a prebiotic for growing a butyrate-producing bacterium. A prebiotic composition for a butyrate-producing bacterium includes alginic acid and/or a salt thereof having an average molecular weight of 10000 or less.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, the movable member movable relative to the photosensitive drum to control an inclination angle of a drive transmission member. The movable member is movable between a first position for reducing an inclination angle of the drive transmission member relative to the photosensitive drum and a second position retracted from the first position. By this, driving connection can be smoothly carried out.

Abstract: A photosensitive member unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a first main assembly side helical gear portion and a second main assembly side helical gear portion which are coaxially rotatable, the photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member rotatable about a rotational axis thereof; a first unit side helical gear portion for meshing engagement with the first main assembly side helical gear portion; and a second unit side helical gear portion for meshing engagement with the second main assembly side helical gear portion, wherein a twisting direction of a tooth of the second unit side helical gear portion is the same as the twisting direction of a tooth of first unit side helical gear portion, wherein a helix angle of the tooth of the second unit side helical gear portion is larger than a helix angle of the tooth of the first unit side helical gear portion, and wherein the first unit side helical gear portion and the se

Abstract: A drum unit for a cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a flange positioned at an end of the photosensitive drum coaxially with the photosensitive drum to transmit a driving force to the photosensitive drum. A first coupling is supported by the flange such that at least a part of the first coupling is exposed from the flange to receive the driving force, with the first coupling being inclinable relative to the flange. A second coupling operatively connected to the first coupling and the flange to transmit the driving force from the first coupling to the flange.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, the movable member movable relative to the photosensitive drum to control an inclination angle of a drive transmission member. The movable member is movable between a first position for reducing an inclination angle of the drive transmission member relative to the photosensitive drum and a second position retracted from the first position. By this, driving connection can be smoothly carried out.

Abstract: To accomplish engagement between a coupling member and a drive transmission member of main assembly. A drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and a coupling member which is provided adjacent to an end portion of the photosensitive drum and which is connected with the photosensitive drum so as to be capable of drive transmission. the coupling member is inclinable relative to a rotational axis of the photosensitive drum, and an inclination angle relative to photosensitive drum is reduced with rotational driving operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensing portion that has a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion that receives light from the light-emitting portion, the light from inside of a toner accommodating portion to outside of the toner accommodating portion via a light-transmitting portion. The light-transmitting portion has a first lightguide portion that guides the light to the inside of the toner accommodating portion, and a second lightguide portion that guides the light to the light-receiving portion. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover member that covers the first lightguide portion and the second lightguide portion. A part of the second lightguide portion that is closest to a passage region of laser light is at a position closer to the passage region than any of parts of the first lightguide portion, and a cover member is configured so as not to cover the part that is closest.

Abstract: [Task] To further develop the photosensitive member unit. [SOLUTION] A photosensitive member unit capable of being mounted to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, a first gear portion, and a second gear portion having a plurality of teeth. The first gear portion is a helical gear portion including a helical tooth which is twisted in a first circumferential direction about the rotational axis of the photosensitive member as a distance from the photosensitive member measured along the rotational axis of the photosensitive member increases. Between the first gear portion and the photosensitive member with respect to a direction of the rotational axis of the photosensitive member, the second gear portion is disposed.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a side surface at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end positioned at the side of the process cartridge and a second end opposite to the first end in a direction of the axis of the photosensitive drum. A projection is positioned coaxial with the photosensitive drum and at the side of the process cartridge, with the projection projecting from the side surface of the frame in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum with at least a tip of the projection being exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller, with the developing roller being configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner. The cartridge also includes a first electrical contact electrically connected to the charging roller and the second electrical contact electrically connected to the developing roller. As viewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned on opposite sides with respect to a line that passes through an axis of the photosensitive drum and an axis of the developing roller.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a container, a light guide including incident and emergent portions, and a cover including outer and inner surfaces. When a direction directing from the outer surface toward the inner surface is a first direction, and a direction in which the incident and emergent portions are arranged is a second direction, (i) the outer surface is recessed toward a downstream side of the first direction between the incident and emergent portions, (ii) a first end of a bottom of the recessed portion on an incident portion side is positioned on a side downstream with respect to the first direction, of a second end of the bottom on an emergent portion side, and (iii) the bottom is curved so as to be recessed toward the downstream side of the first direction between the first and second ends relative to an imaginary rectilinear line connecting these ends.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller, with the developing roller being configured to develop a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with toner. The cartridge also includes a first electrical contact electrically connected to the charging roller and the second electrical contact electrically connected to the developing roller. As viewed along the axis of the photosensitive drum, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are positioned on opposite sides with respect to a line that passes through an axis of the photosensitive drum and an axis of the developing roller.