Abstract: A developing device includes a development roller, a toner supply roller, a casing having an inner wall portion facing toward the development roller, a flexible film member, an urging member, a linkage member, and a linkage member driving mechanism. The flexible film member is disposed on the inner wall portion and has ends in a direction of an axis of the development roller that are opposite to each other. The urging member is connected with one of the ends of the film member and pulls the film member. The linkage member is connected with the other of the ends of the film member. The linkage member driving mechanism drives the linkage member in accompaniment to rotation of a gear to intermittently pull the film member, so that the film member reciprocates in directions parallel to the axis of the development roller.

Abstract: A drive-side coupling part of a drive transmission mechanism includes: a base including a first opposed surface facing a driven-side coupling part of the drive transmission mechanism in an attached state; a semispherical projection from the first opposed surface at a rotational center of the drive-side coupling part; and a cylindrical projection including an arcuate first projection centered on the rotational center, an arcuate second projection having a shorter inside diameter than the first projection, and a stepped portion between the first and second projections. The driven-side coupling part includes: a base including a second opposed surface facing the drive-side coupling part in the attached state; a columnar projection from the second opposed surface at a rotational center of the driven-side coupling part; a radially-extended peripheral projection on a periphery of the columnar projection; and a recess depressed from a top surface of the columnar projection at the rotational center.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer storage container, a remaining amount detecting portion, an agitating portion, a contact member, and a support portion. The agitating portion is configured to be rotated to thereby agitate the developer. The contact member is attached to the agitating portion, and is configured to, when the agitating portion is rotated in a predetermined first rotational direction, move in the first rotational direction and make contact with a sensing surface. The support portion is attached to the agitating portion, and is configured to, when the agitating portion is rotated in the first rotational direction, support the contact member in a first position where the contact member can make contact with the sensing surface, and, when the agitating portion is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, support the contact member in a second position distant from the sensing surface.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller; a toner supplying roller; a regulation blade; a casing; a film member; a bias member; and a protrusion. The casing includes an inner wall portion which opposes the developing roller between the blade roller and the image carrier. The film member is flexible, disposed to oppose an upper surface of the inner wall portion over a predetermined gap and vibratile in a direction to approach or leave the inner wall portion. The bias member is connected to at least one end in a longitudinal direction of the film member and gives tension to the film member. The protrusion is disposed on a gear composing a group of drive gears of the developing roller or the toner supplying roller and intermittently contacts an end edge of the film member thanks to rotation of the gear to vibrate the film member.

Abstract: A developing device includes developer storage container, remaining amount detecting portion, agitating portion, contact member, and support portion. Developer storage container has sensing surface therein. Remaining amount detecting portion is configured to detect, via the sensing surface, amount of developer remaining. Agitating portion is configured to be rotated to thereby agitate developer. Contact member is attached to agitating portion, and is configured to, when agitating portion is rotated in predetermined first rotational direction, move in first rotational direction and make contact with sensing surface.

Abstract: A cleaning device of the present invention includes: a housing with an opening that is open toward a photoreceptor drum; a cleaning roller that is contained inside the housing and disposed in contact with the photoreceptor drum; a sealing member for preventing toner leakage, detachably fixed to the housing; a separation claw that separates paper from a surface of the photoreceptor drum; and a positioning member that is integrated with the separation claw, in which the sealing member is positioned and fixed on the housing by the positioning member.

Abstract: The photosensitive conductor unit includes a casing, and a protective cover, wherein: the casing includes an engaging portion on an insertion-side end and a guide portion slidably guiding the protective cover in proximity to an opposite end to the insertion-side end of the photosensitive conductor unit; the protective cover includes a hook portion engaging with the engaging portion, a positioning portion determining the position of the protective cover, a side wall covering an exposed portion of the surface by extending along an axial direction of the photosensitive conductor drum, and a rail portion extending in the insertion direction of the photosensitive conductor unit in proximity to both ends of the side wall in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive conductor drum and engaging with the guide portion such that the guide portion slidably guides the protective cover.

Abstract: A cleaning device of the present invention includes: a housing with an opening that is open toward a photoreceptor drum; a cleaning roller that is contained inside the housing and disposed in contact with the photoreceptor drum; a sealing member for preventing toner leakage, detachably fixed to the housing; a separation claw that separates paper from a surface of the photoreceptor drum; and a positioning member that is integrated with the separation claw, in which the sealing member is positioned and fixed on the housing by the positioning member.

Abstract: The photosensitive conductor unit includes a casing, and a protective cover, wherein: the casing includes an engaging portion on an insertion-side end and a guide portion slidably guiding the protective cover in proximity to an opposite end to the insertion-side end of the photosensitive conductor unit; the protective cover includes a hook portion engaging with the engaging portion, a positioning portion determining the position of the protective cover, a side wall covering an exposed portion of the surface by extending along an axial direction of the photosensitive conductor drum, and a rail portion extending in the insertion direction of the photosensitive conductor unit in proximity to both ends of the side wall in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive conductor drum and engaging with the guide portion such that the guide portion slidably guides the protective cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member and a main body with an internal conveyance path for conveying a transfer material. An opening/closing member is attached to the main body and is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position where the conveyance path is exposed. A cover is set to cover a part of the image bearing member facing the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is open and is retracted from the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is closed. A moving mechanism slides the cover. Front and rear frames are held movably by the moving mechanism and are attached respectively to front and rear edges of the cover in a sliding direction. A tension applying mechanism acts on the frames to apply tension to the cover in the sliding direction during a sliding movement of the cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member and a main body with an internal conveyance path for conveying a transfer material. An opening/closing member is attached to the main body and is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position where the conveyance path is exposed. A cover is set to cover a part of the image bearing member facing the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is open and is retracted from the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is closed. A moving mechanism slides the cover. Front and rear frames are held movably by the moving mechanism and are attached respectively to front and rear edges of the cover in a sliding direction. A tension applying mechanism acts on the frames to apply tension to the cover in the sliding direction during a sliding movement of the cover.