Abstract: An image forming device that forms an image through exposure of any one of a plurality of photosensitive members to light, image developing, and image transfer. The image forming device includes a holder, a conveyance unit, a first developer unit, and a second developer unit. The holder holds one or more containers of developer and causes the developer to flow out from a container selected from the held containers. The conveyance unit conveys the developer from the container to a destination and can switch the destination between at least the first developer unit and the second developer unit. The first developer unit uses the developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a first photosensitive member. The second developer unit uses the developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a second photosensitive member. The image is the same color regardless of which developer unit is used.

Abstract: An image forming device that forms an image through exposure of any one of a plurality of photosensitive members to light, image developing, and image transfer. The image forming device includes a holder, a conveyance unit, a first developer unit, and a second developer unit. The holder holds one or more containers of developer and causes the developer to flow out from a container selected from the held containers. The conveyance unit conveys the developer from the container to a destination and can switch the destination between at least the first developer unit and the second developer unit. The first developer unit uses the developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a first photosensitive member. The second developer unit uses the developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a second photosensitive member. The image is the same color regardless of which developer unit is used.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a light source, a light guide plate, a diffusion sheet, and a lens. The light source is configured to perform partial light emission. The light guide plate is configured to guide light from the light source. The diffusion sheet is stacked over the light guide plate with a gap defined between the light guide plate and the diffusion sheet, and is configured to diffuse the light guided by the light guide plate. The lens is stacked on the diffusion sheet and has an upper surface serving as a light emitting surface.

Abstract: An air cleaner having a filter, causing air to pass through the filter and discharging the filtered air. The air cleaner includes: an air duct having an inlet via which air is received and an outlet facing a first part of a main surface of the filter and via which the received air is output towards the first part of the main surface; a fan causing air to be received by the air duct via the inlet, to be output from the air duct via the outlet, and to pass through the filter; and a flow distributer disposed between the outlet and the filter. The flow distributer changes a direction of flow of air output from the air duct from towards the first part of the main surface to towards a second part of the main surface of the filter that does not facing the outlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an exhaust fan which has a pipe portion; and a duct. One of the pipe portion and the exhaust duct is inserted and fitted into the other such that they are connected to each other. A band-shaped seal member is attached to the entire outer circumference of the pipe portion. Both end portions of the seal member overlap each other in the circumferential direction of the pipe portion and are located a predetermined gap apart in an axial direction. The end portion of the seal member on the side of connection of the pipe portion has a non-fixed portion which is extended a predetermined length from a tip end in the circumferential direction and which is not fixed to the pipe portion, to reliably prevent an air leakage from a connection portion in a fan and a duct.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an exhaust fan which has a pipe portion; and a duct. One of the pipe portion and the exhaust duct is inserted and fitted into the other such that they are connected to each other. A band-shaped seal member is attached to the entire outer circumference of the pipe portion. Both end portions of the seal member overlap each other in the circumferential direction of the pipe portion and are located a predetermined gap apart in an axial direction. The end portion of the seal member on the side of connection of the pipe portion has a non-fixed portion which is extended a predetermined length from a tip end in the circumferential direction and which is not fixed to the pipe portion, to reliably prevent an air leakage from a connection portion in a fan and a duct.

Abstract: A sheet is discharged from between a discharge roller and a feeding roller as pinched between the rotating discharge roller and feeding roller. In this arrangement, a guide is arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side in a sheet discharge direction. The guide is arranged to contact the discharge roller at a downstream position in the discharge direction from a position where the discharge roller contacts the feeding roller.

Abstract: An air cleaner having a filter, causing air to pass through the filter and discharging the filtered air. The air cleaner includes: an air duct having an inlet via which air is received and an outlet facing a first part of a main surface of the filter and via which the received air is output towards the first part of the main surface; a fan causing air to be received by the air duct via the inlet, to be output from the air duct via the outlet, and to pass through the filter; and a flow distributer disposed between the outlet and the filter. The flow distributer changes a direction of flow of air output from the air duct from towards the first part of the main surface to towards a second part of the main surface of the filter that does not facing the outlet.

Abstract: A sheet is discharged from between a discharge roller and a feeding roller as pinched between the rotating discharge roller and feeding roller. In this arrangement, a guide is arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side in a sheet discharge direction. The guide is arranged to contact the discharge roller at a downstream position in the discharge direction from a position where the discharge roller contacts the feeding roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a transport device including a pair of timing rollers, operable to cause a leading edge of a recording sheet to abut a nip portion of the non-rotating timing rollers, and then initiate rotation to transport the sheet toward a transfer position, the transport device comprising: a motor transmitting rotational force to the timing rollers via a power transmission mechanism such that the timing rollers rotate; and a control unit controlling motor rotation, wherein the control unit activates the motor, causes the timing rollers to transport a first recording sheet at a first speed, and stops the motor once transportation is complete, and when a second recording sheet is to be subsequently transported at a different second speed, the control unit causes the timing rollers to execute an idle rotation at the second speed or at another speed, and then stopping, before beginning second sheet transportation.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a light source, a light guide plate, a diffusion sheet, and a lens. The light source is configured to perform partial light emission. The light guide plate is configured to guide light from the light source. The diffusion sheet is stacked over the light guide plate with a gap defined between the light guide plate and the diffusion sheet, and is configured to diffuse the light guided by the light guide plate. The lens is stacked on the diffusion sheet and has an upper surface serving as a light emitting surface.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a housing to cover a specified region of an image carrier. A first cleaning section and a second cleaning section are respectively placed in upper and lower parts of the housing partitioned by a partition member. The first cleaning section includes a first cleaning brush and a first regulating member. The second cleaning section includes a second cleaning brush and a second regulating member. The partition member substantially extends in a continuous manner with respect to a horizontal direction from the specified region to at least a position equivalent to an end portion on a housing sidewall side of the first or the second regulating member. A clearance exists between the housing sidewall and an end portion on the housing sidewall side of the partition member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of photoreceptors; a plurality of developing devices for forming toner patterns on the plurality of photoreceptors; an intermediate transfer medium for receiving the toner patterns transferred from the plurality of photoreceptors; a controller for controlling the plurality of developing devices to form first toner patterns that are lines extending in a main-scanning direction and second toner patterns that are lines slanting from the main-scanning direction on the plurality of photoreceptors such that the first toner pattern and the second toner pattern transferred from the same photoreceptor will be arranged on the intermediate transfer medium at an interval in a sub-scanning direction of a circumferential length of the photoreceptor from which the first toner pattern and the second tone pattern are transferred; and a sensor for detecting the toner patterns transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: In an intermediate transfer belt unit, elastic bodies are provided on respective inner circumferences of side edge portions of an intermediate transfer belt along with the circumferential direction. Rotating members are attached to respective opposite ends of a follower roller rotatably and concentrically with the follower roller, so as to face respective elastic bodies of the intermediate transfer belt. Each of the rotating members is composed of a tapered section, a bottom receiving section to keep bending of the intermediate transfer belt within a certain amount, a small diameter section forming an escape groove for receiving the elastic body of the intermediate transfer belt, and a large diameter section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a transport device including a pair of timing rollers, operable to cause a leading edge of a recording sheet to abut a nip portion of the non-rotating timing rollers, and then initiate rotation to transport the sheet toward a transfer position, the transport device comprising: a motor transmitting rotational force to the timing rollers via a power transmission mechanism such that the timing rollers rotate; and a control unit controlling motor rotation, wherein the control unit activates the motor, causes the timing rollers to transport a first recording sheet at a first speed, and stops the motor once transportation is complete, and when a second recording sheet is to be subsequently transported at a different second speed, the control unit causes the timing rollers to execute an idle rotation at the second speed or at another speed, and then stopping, before beginning second sheet transportation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of photoreceptors; a plurality of developing devices for forming toner patterns on the plurality of photoreceptors; an intermediate transfer medium for receiving the toner patterns transferred from the plurality of photoreceptors; a controller for controlling the plurality of developing devices to form first toner patterns that are lines extending in a main-scanning direction and second toner patterns that are lines slanting from the main-scanning direction on the plurality of photoreceptors such that the first toner pattern and the second toner pattern transferred from the same photoreceptor will be arranged on the intermediate transfer medium at an interval in a sub-scanning direction of a circumferential length of the photoreceptor from which the first toner pattern and the second tone pattern are transferred; and a sensor for detecting the toner patterns transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: In an intermediate transfer belt unit, elastic bodies are provided on respective inner circumferences of side edge portions of an intermediate transfer belt along with the circumferential direction. Rotating members are attached to respective opposite ends of a follower roller rotatably and concentrically with the follower roller, so as to face respective elastic bodies of the intermediate transfer belt. Each of the rotating members is composed of a tapered section, a bottom receiving section to keep bending of the intermediate transfer belt within a certain amount, a small diameter section forming an escape groove for receiving the elastic body of the intermediate transfer belt, and a large diameter section.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device for removing residual toner on an image carrier. The cleaning device includes a housing to cover a specified region of an image carrier. A first cleaning section and a second cleaning section are respectively placed in upper and lower parts of the housing partitioned by a partition member. The first cleaning section includes a first cleaning brush and a first regulating member. The second cleaning section includes a second cleaning brush and a second regulating member. The partition member substantially extends in a continuous manner with respect to a horizontal direction from the specified region to at least a position equivalent to an end portion on a housing sidewall side of the first or the second regulating member. A clearance exists between the housing sidewall and an end portion on the housing sidewall side of the partition member.