Abstract: A metal plate includes: a recessed portion provided at one end surface by cutting out the metal plate in a planar direction of the metal plate, the recessed portion having an engaging portion inside the recessed portion; and a protruding portion provided at a position on another end surface, the position corresponding to that of the recessed portion, the protruding portion protruding in the planar direction, the protruding portion being engaged with the engaging portion by applying a bending process such that the engaging portion is hooked by the protruding portion, wherein a length from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the protruding portion before the bending process is applied is equal to or less than a depth of the recessed portion at a position of the recessed portion, the position facing an end surface of the proximal end portion of the protruding portion.

Abstract: A holding mechanism to be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first metal plate provided with a through-hole communicating a first side and a second side, and a second metal plate including a first protruding portion, a second protruding portion, and a third protruding portion being inserted into the through-hole from the first side of the first metal plate, a rim of the through-hole being provided with a first end face and a second end face for regulating movement of the second metal plate in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction and a through-thickness direction, regulation portions for regulating movement of the second metal plate in the through-thickness direction, and a slope which elastically deforms the first protruding portion to rotate the first protruding portion with the insertion direction as a rotation axis to engage an engagement portion with the second side of the first metal plate.

Abstract: A holding mechanism to be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first metal plate provided with a through-hole communicating a first side and a second side, and a second metal plate including a first protruding portion, a second protruding portion, and a third protruding portion being inserted into the through-hole from the first side of the first metal plate, a rim of the through-hole being provided with a first end face and a second end face for regulating movement of the second metal plate in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction and a through-thickness direction, regulation portions for regulating movement of the second metal plate in the through-thickness direction, and a slope which elastically deforms the first protruding portion to rotate the first protruding portion with the insertion direction as a rotation axis to engage an engagement portion with the second side of the first metal plate.

Abstract: A metal plate includes: a recessed portion provided at one end surface by cutting out the metal plate in a planar direction of the metal plate, the recessed portion having an engaging portion inside the recessed portion; and a protruding portion provided at a position on another end surface, the position corresponding to that of the recessed portion, the protruding portion protruding in the planar direction, the protruding portion being engaged with the engaging portion by applying a bending process such that the engaging portion is hooked by the protruding portion, wherein a length from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion of the protruding portion before the bending process is applied is equal to or less than a depth of the recessed portion at a position of the recessed portion, the position facing an end surface of the proximal end portion of the protruding portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image bearing member, a conveyance member configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording material and to convey the recording material, a detection member configured to detect the toner image on the conveyance member, and a control portion configured to set a position of a toner image, to be formed by the image forming unit, relative to the recording material based on a result obtained by forming a test toner image so as to extend over the conveyance member and an end portion of the recording material, transferring the formed test toner image onto the conveyance member and the recording material, and causing the detection member to detect the test toner image transferred onto the conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on the image bearing member, a conveyance member configured to transfer the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording material and to convey the recording material, a detection member configured to detect the toner image on the conveyance member, and a control portion configured to set a position of a toner image, to be formed by the image forming unit, relative to the recording material based on a result obtained by forming a test toner image so as to extend over the conveyance member and an end portion of the recording material, transferring the formed test toner image onto the conveyance member and the recording material, and causing the detection member to detect the test toner image transferred onto the conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detachably mountable cartridge having a developing unit, and a developer receiving opening is provided on the developing unit for receiving developer. The image forming apparatus also includes a detachably mountable developer supplying container that includes a discharge opening for discharging developer. A developer supplying mechanism is provided for supplying developer to the developer receiving opening through the discharge opening. The developer supplying mechanism is provided such that the developer receiving opening is disposed below the discharge opening.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The developer supply cartridge includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer, and a discharging opening for discharging the developer to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer. A shutter member is provided movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening. An engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge receives a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply cartridge and the developer receiving cartridge toward each other in a mounting-and-demounting direction of the developer supply cartridge.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply c

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply c

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply c

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a rotatable image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member which makes contact with the image bearing member and bears a toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a first driving means which transmits driving to the intermediate transfer member; and a second driving means which transmits driving to the image bearing member when rotating speed of the image bearing member is lower than a predetermined speed, wherein the rotatable image bearing member rotates faster than the predetermined speed by receiving rotating friction force from the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply c

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply c

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller for controlling, when a developer is accommodated in a developing container, a discharging device such that an amount of developer in a first accommodating portion is not less than a first amount, in accordance with a detection result of a first detecting device and such that an amount of developer in a second accommodating portion is not less than a second amount, in accordance with a detection result of a second detecting device, and for permitting, when the developing container is substantially empty, and the amount in the first accommodating portion is less than the first amount, an image forming operation to continue until the amount in the second developer portion becomes less than the second amount.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer accommodator accommodating a developer; a discharging opening discharging the developer accommodated in the accommodator to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, and being detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus; a shutter movable between an opening position opening the discharging opening and a closing position closing the discharging opening; an engager engaging the developer receiving cartridge to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter from the closing to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply cartridge and the developer receiving cartridge toward each other in a mounting-and-demounting direction of the developer supply cartridge relative to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member which makes contact with the image bearing member and bears a toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a first driving means which transmits driving to the intermediate transfer member; and a second driving means which transmits driving to the image bearing member when a rotating speed of the image bearing member is lower than a predetermined speed, wherein a rotating speed of the rotatable image bearing member is faster than the predetermined speed by receiving a rotating friction force from the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply c

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: a rotatable image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member which makes contact with the image bearing member and bears a toner image transferred from the image bearing member; a first driving means which transmits driving to the intermediate transfer member; and a second driving means which transmits driving to the image bearing member when rotating speed of the image bearing member is lower than a predetermined speed, wherein the rotatable image bearing member rotates faster than the predetermined speed by receiving rotating friction force from the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply c