Abstract: The sponge sealing member of the side seal is arranged on the roller opposed face of the seal arrangement portion so that the lower end face at the upstream side in the rotating direction of the developing roller is positioned to have the same face as the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and the upper end face at the downstream side is connected with the lower end face of the side portion of the blade back seal. The felt sealing member is arranged so that the upper end portion at the downstream side in the rotating direction of the developing roller is formed astride the lower end portion of the leaf spring member and the sponge sealing member, extends along the sponge sealing member, through the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and around to the lower face of the seal arrangement portion.

Abstract: A developing device including: a developer carrying member that is rotatably supported and carries a developer; and a layer thickness regulating member that extends in an axial direction of the developer carrying member and is provided with a pressing part that is in pressure contact with a surface of the developer carrying member to form a thin layer of the developer on the surface of the developer carrying member. The pressing part includes a center portion and two end portions. The center portion of the pressing part is formed of a first elastic material. The end portions of the pressing part are formed of a second elastic material that is different from the first elastic material.

Abstract: The sponge sealing member of the side seal is arranged on the roller opposed face of the seal arrangement portion so that the lower end face at the upstream side in the rotating direction of the developing roller is positioned to have the same face as the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and the upper end face at the downstream side is connected with the lower end face of the side portion of the blade back seal. The felt sealing member is arranged so that the upper end portion at the downstream side in the rotating direction of the developing roller is formed astride the lower end portion of the leaf spring member and the sponge sealing member, extends along the sponge sealing member, through the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and around to the lower face of the seal arrangement portion.

Abstract: The sponge sealing member of the side seal is arranged on the roller opposed face of the seal arrangement portion so that the lower end face at the upstream side in the rotating direction of the developing roller is positioned to have the same face as the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and the upper end face at the downstream side is connected with the lower end face of the side portion of the blade back seal. The felt sealing member is arranged so that the upper end portion at the downstream side in the rotating direction of the developing roller is formed astride the lower end portion of the leaf spring member and the sponge sealing member, extends along the sponge sealing member, through the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and around to the lower face of the seal arrangement portion.

Abstract: The blade back seal and the sponge sealing member are interposed between the leaf spring member and the blade attachment unit and seal arrangement portion while being compressed to have the same thickness, by applying the blade back seal having a relatively small elastic modulus and a large thickness to the blade attachment unit and the seal arrangement portion, applying the sponge sealing member having a relatively large elastic modulus and a small thickness onto the roller opposed face of the seal arrangement portion and pressing them by the leaf spring member of the blade unit.

Abstract: The blade back seal, which integrally comprises the side portions extending in the vertical direction at the longitudinal end portions of the leaf spring member and the connecting portion for connecting the side portions at the longitudinal center portion of the leaf spring member, is interposed between the leaf spring member of the blade unit and the front attachment portion of the blade attachment member. At the opening of the case, the upper seal is interposed between the plate-like upper attachment portion, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the opening and has a width in the anteroposterior direction, and the extended portion of the bend preventing member of the blade unit, for sealing the space therebetween.

Abstract: The blade back seal, which integrally comprises the side portions extending in the vertical direction at the longitudinal end portions of the leaf spring member and the connecting portion for connecting the side portions at the longitudinal center portion of the leaf spring member, is interposed between the leaf spring member of the blade unit and the front attachment portion of the blade attachment member. At the opening of the case, the upper seal is interposed between the plate-like upper attachment portion, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the opening and has a width in the anteroposterior direction, and the extended portion of the bend preventing member of the blade unit, for sealing the space therebetween.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image thereon; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrier; a developing unit having a toner hopper that receives toner, and a contact portion that contacts with a surface of the image carrier, the contact portion being provided to be displaceable relatively along the surface of the image carrier so as to transfer the toner received in the toner hopper to the electrostatic latent image formed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit; and a guide mechanism that supports the developing unit to be displaceable in a predetermined direction so as to bring the contact portion of the developing unit into contact with an upper portion of the image carrier due to a weight of the developing unit.

Abstract: A developing device including: a developer carrying member that is rotatably supported and carries a developer; and a layer thickness regulating member that extends in an axial direction of the developer carrying member and is provided with a pressing part that is in pressure contact with a surface of the developer carrying member to form a thin layer of the developer on the surface of the developer carrying member. The pressing part includes a center portion and two end portions. The center portion of the pressing part is formed of a first elastic material. The end portions of the pressing part are formed of a second elastic material that is different from the first elastic material.

Abstract: The sponge sealing member of the side seal is arranged on the roller opposed face of the seal arrangement portion so that the lower end face at the upstream side in the rotative direction of the developing roller is positioned to have the same face as the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and the upper end face at the downstream side is connected with the lower end face of the side portion of the blade back seal. The felt sealing member is arranged so that the upper end portion at the downstream side in the rotative direction of the developing roller is formed astride the lower end portion of the leaf spring member and the sponge sealing member, extends along the sponge sealing member, runs through the back end face of the seal arrangement portion and runs round to the lower face of the seal arrangement portion.

Abstract: The blade back seal and the sponge sealing member are interposed between the leaf spring member and the blade attachment unit and seal arrangement portion while being compressed to have the same thickness, by applying the blade back seal having a relatively small elastic modulus and a large thickness to the blade attachment unit and the seal arrangement portion, applying the sponge sealing member having a relatively large elastic modulus and a small thickness onto the roller opposed face of the seal arrangement portion and pressing them by the leaf spring member of the blade unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image thereon; an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image carrier; a developing unit having a toner hopper that receives toner, and a contact portion that contacts with a surface of the image carrier, the contact portion being provided to be displaceable relatively along the surface of the image carrier so as to transfer the toner received in the toner hopper to the electrostatic latent image formed by the electrostatic latent image forming unit; and a guide mechanism that supports the developing unit to be displaceable in a predetermined direction so as to bring the contact portion of the developing unit into contact with an upper portion of the image carrier due to a weight of the developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of sufficiently removing paper dusts on a sheet thereby providing high quality image. A sheet transport path 38 is defined between a sheet supply section 7 provided with a separation pad 13 and a sheet supply roller 12 and an image forming section 5. Along the sheet supply section 7, at least a first paper dust removing roller 9b having a width slightly greater than the width of the separation pad 13 and a second paper dust removing roller 10b having a width slightly greater than the sheet width are disposed. Paper dusts generated upon friction against the separation pad 13 are removed by the first paper dust removing roller 9b, and paper dusts spreading over entire surface of the sheet are removed by the second paper dust removing roller 10b.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of sufficiently removing paper dusts on a sheet thereby providing high quality image. A sheet transport path 38 is defined between a sheet supply section 7 provided with a separation pad 13 and a sheet supply roller 12 and an image forming section 5. Along the sheet supply section 7, at least a first paper dust removing roller 9b having a width slightly greater than the width of the separation pad 13 and a second paper dust removing roller 10b having a width slightly greater than the sheet width are disposed. Paper dusts generated upon friction against the separation pad 13 are removed by the first paper dust removing roller 9b, and paper dusts spreading over entire surface of the sheet are removed by the second paper dust removing roller 10b.

Abstract: A first paper-dust removing device is provided to mainly remove pulp fibers of the paper dust. The first paper-dust removing device is located downstream from a transfer position in the photosensitive drum rotating direction. A second paper-dust removing device is provided to mainly remove talc in the paper dust. The second paper-dust removing device may be located downstream from the first paper dust removing device in the photosensitive drum rotating direction or upstream from the transfer position in the sheet conveying direction along the sheet transport path. An additional first paper-dust removing device may be located upstream from the transfer position in the sheet conveying direction along the sheet transport path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing 2 and a process cartridge 20, which is mounted removably in the casing. A powder retaining box 53 is supported pivotally by the bottom of the process cartridge 20, and supports a pinch roller 52 for contacting with a sheet of paper 3 to collect paper powder from it. The retaining box 53 has an opening through which the collected powder enters it. The pinch roller 52 substantially closes the box opening, and prevents the paper powder in the retaining box 53 from scattering out when the process cartridge 20 is dismounted from the casing 2. If the a retaining box 53 were fixed to the process cartridge 20, and the pinch roller 52 moved relative to the retaining box when the process cartridge is dismounted, paper powder might scatter out of the retaining box.

Abstract: A first paper-dust removing device is provided to mainly remove pulp fibers of the paper dust. The first paper-dust removing device is located downstream from a transfer position in the photosensitive drum rotating direction. A second paper-dust removing device is provided to mainly remove talc in the paper dust. The second paper-dust removing device may be located downstream from the first paper dust removing device in the photosensitive drum rotating direction or upstream from the transfer position in the sheet conveying direction along the sheet transport path. An additional first paper-dust removing device may be located upstream from the transfer position in the sheet conveying direction along the sheet transport path.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a brush member is formed from a brush made from acrylic resin that has not been subjected to conductivity-enhancing processes. The brush member is attached to a conductive plate. A resistor is provided in series with the conductive plate and a fixed power source. The fixed power source applies a predetermined high voltage to the conductive plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing 2 and a process cartridge 20, which is mounted removably in the casing. A powder retaining box 53 is supported pivotally by the bottom of the process cartridge 20, and supports a pinch roller 52 for contacting with a sheet of paper 3 to collect paper powder from it. The retaining box 53 has an opening through which the collected powder enters it. The pinch roller 52 substantially closes the box opening, and prevents the paper powder in the retaining box 53 from scattering out when the process cartridge 20 is dismounted from the casing 2. If the retaining box 53 were fixed to the process cartridge 20, and the pinch roller 52 moved relative to the retaining box when the process cartridge is dismounted, paper powder might scatter out of the retaining box.

Abstract: In a first paper-dust removing device, a brush is supported by a support member that is attached to the interior of a casing. The first paper-dust removing device mainly removes pulp fibers of the paper dust, and is located downstream from a transfer position in the photosensitive drum rotating direction. A second paper-dust removing device is additionally provided. The second paper-dust removing device includes a support member that is attached to a casing of a developing cartridge. The support member supports a non-woven fabric that is lined by a sponge. The second paper-dust removing device mainly removes talc in the paper dust. The second paper-dust removing device is located downstream from the first removing device in the photosensitive drum rotating direction. In the second device, the non-woven fabric is contacted with the photosensitive drum at substantially zero contact pressure.