Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sensing body is disposed at a first position when a cartridge has been removed from an apparatus body, is disposed at a second position when a first part of the sensing body contacts a housing of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body, and is disposed at a third position when a second part of the sensing body contacts a movable member of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body. A judging unit determines that the cartridge has been removed from the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the first position, determines that the cartridge has been mounted in the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the second position, and determines that the cartridge is a new product if the sensing body is at the third position.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a main casing of an image forming apparatus; a plurality of types of developing cartridges including first and second developing cartridges; and a plurality of types of image carrier cartridges including first and second image carrier cartridges each capable of accommodating selected one of the developing cartridges. The first developing cartridge includes a first cover member. The second developing cartridge includes a second cover member different from the first cover member. The first image carrier cartridge includes a first engaging portion engageable with the first cover member, and a first restriction portion. The second image carrier cartridge includes a second engaging portion engageable with the second cover member. The first restriction portion is configured to restrict the second cover member from engaging the first engaging portion.

Abstract: To facilitate replacing photosensitive drums and/or developing devices in an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members is loaded in a main casing. A developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices is also loaded in the main casing. Both an intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive member unit are configured to be movable toward and away from the developing device unit. Further, when the photosensitive member unit is separated from the developing device unit, the intermediate transfer belt and the plurality of photosensitive members are also separated from each other.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sensing body is disposed at a first position when a cartridge has been removed from an apparatus body, is disposed at a second position when a first part of the sensing body contacts a housing of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body, and is disposed at a third position when a second part of the sensing body contacts a movable member of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body. A judging unit determines that the cartridge has been removed from the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the first position, determines that the cartridge has been mounted in the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the second position, and determines that the cartridge is a new product if the sensing body is at the third position.

Abstract: A process cartridge comprises: a developing cartridge; and a photosensitive member cartridge receiving the developing cartridge. The photosensitive member cartridge comprises a photosensitive member, and a pressing member configured to press the developing cartridge. The developing cartridge is configured to be located at a first position at which it is pressed by the pressing member and at a second position at which it is separable from the photosensitive member cartridge. The developing cartridge comprises: a driving mechanism including a detected member, and a covering member configured to cover the driving mechanism. The covering member comprises: a receiving part protruding configured to receive at least a part of the detected member; and an abutting part continuing to the receiving part, the abutting part being configured to abut on a member in the image forming apparatus main body and to move the developing cartridge to the first position.

Abstract: A cartridge may include a conveyor roller extending along a rotational axis and a bearing member for rotatably supporting the conveyor roller. The conveyor roller may include a larger-diameter portion for conveying a sheet, and a smaller-diameter portion. The bearing member may rotatably support the smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller, and engage the housing. In one or more arrangements, the entire smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller may be located at a more outward position, relative to a midpoint of the larger-diameter portion, than a portion of the bearing member supporting the smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller.

Abstract: A vibration actuator includes: a coil having a vibration space along an axial direction; an outer case that covers the coil and that extends the vibration space in the axial direction; a movable element that comprises a magnet that vibrates within the coil and a weight unit that vibrates within the outer case and that is connected to one end side, in the axial direction, of the magnet; and an elastic member that supports elastically the vibration of the movable element in the axial direction. A resin layer is secured to an outer peripheral surface of the weight unit that faces an inner surface of the outer case. An oil film is interposed between the resin layer and the inner surface of the outer case.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a main casing of an image forming apparatus; a plurality of types of developing cartridges including first and second developing cartridges; and a plurality of types of image carrier cartridges including first and second image carrier cartridges each capable of accommodating selected one of the developing cartridges. The first developing cartridge includes a first cover member. The second developing cartridge includes a second cover member different from the first cover member. The first image carrier cartridge includes a first engaging portion engageable with the first cover member, and a first restriction portion. The second image carrier cartridge includes a second engaging portion engageable with the second cover member. The first restriction portion is configured to restrict the second cover member from engaging the first engaging portion.

Abstract: A developer cartridge has a rotatable body, a casing, a conveying guide structure, and a cover. The cover includes a facing part and a first covering part. The conveying guide structure includes a first conveying guide extending in the second direction, and a second conveying guide connected from the first conveying guide at an end on the other side of the second direction and extends toward the other side of the second direction so as to curve in the first direction with respect to the first conveying guide. The first covering part includes a first contacting part configured to contact the first conveying guide, and a second contacting part configured to curve in the first direction with respect to the first contacting part so as to extend toward the other side in the second direction, and contact the second conveying guide.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing configured to store a developing agent, a developing agent carrying member disposed rotatably in the casing and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent. The casing includes an attachment portion to which the layer-thickness regulating member is attached, a receiving portion configured to receive pressing force for pressing the developing agent carrying member toward an image carrying member in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developing agent carrying member, and a wall portion disposed between the attachment portion and the receiving portion. The receiving portion is disposed to overlap with at least a portion of the attachment portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the developing agent carrying member.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image carrying member cartridge and a developing cartridge. The image carrying member cartridge includes a first handle. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. In a state where the developing cartridge is attached to the image carrying member cartridge, a one edge of the first handle is located at substantially the same position as a one edge of the second handle in a direction, and the second handle is spaced apart from the first handle.

Abstract: A cartridge may include a conveyor roller extending along a rotational axis and a bearing member for rotatably supporting the conveyor roller. The conveyor roller may include a larger-diameter portion for conveying a sheet, and a smaller-diameter portion. The bearing member may rotatably support the smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller, and engage the housing. In one or more arrangements, the entire smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller may be located at a more outward position, relative to a midpoint of the larger-diameter portion, than a portion of the bearing member supporting the smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sensing body is disposed at a first position when a cartridge has been removed from an apparatus body, is disposed at a second position when a first part of the sensing body contacts a housing of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body, and is disposed at a third position when a second part of the sensing body contacts a movable member of the cartridge that has been mounted in the apparatus body. A judging unit determines that the cartridge has been removed from the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the first position, determines that the cartridge has been mounted in the apparatus body if the sensing body is at the second position, and determines that the cartridge is a new product if the sensing body is at the third position.

Abstract: Provided are a transporter gene involved in the promotion or inhibition of Cd absorption by roots, a mutant gene thereof and a transporter protein thereof, as well as a rice plant in which Cd absorption is inhibited and a method for selecting and raising a Cd absorption-inhibiting rice plant, which are a gene encoding a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the DNA nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, a gene encoding a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the DNA nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3, a gene encoding a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the DNA nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4, and a transporter protein involved in the regulation of cadmium absorption, which contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: To facilitate replacing photosensitive drums and/or developing devices in an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members is loaded in a main casing. A developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices is also loaded in the main casing. Both an intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive member unit are configured to be movable toward and away from the developing device unit. Further, when the photosensitive member unit is separated from the developing device unit, the intermediate transfer belt and the plurality of photosensitive members are also separated from each other.

Abstract: To facilitate replacing photosensitive drums and/or developing devices in an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members is loaded in a main casing. A developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices is also loaded in the main casing. Both an intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive member unit are configured to be movable toward and away from the developing device unit. Further, when the photosensitive member unit is separated from the developing device unit, the intermediate transfer belt and the plurality of photosensitive members are also separated from each other.

Abstract: To facilitate replacing photosensitive drums and/or developing devices in an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members is loaded in a main casing. A developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices is also loaded in the main casing. Both an intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive member unit are configured to be movable toward and away from the developing device unit. Further, when the photosensitive member unit is separated from the developing device unit, the intermediate transfer belt and the plurality of photosensitive members are also separated from each other.

Abstract: To facilitate replacing photosensitive drums and/or developing devices in an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members is loaded in a main casing. A developing device unit including a plurality of developing devices is also loaded in the main casing. Both an intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive member unit are configured to be movable toward and away from the developing device unit. Further, when the photosensitive member unit is separated from the developing device unit, the intermediate transfer belt and the plurality of photosensitive members are also separated from each other.