Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that is opposed to and contacts a charged body, the charging member extending axially and rotating in response to rotation of the charged body, a cleaning member that extends axially along the charging member, and contacts a surface of the charging member to clean the charging member, a holding member that holds the charging member and the cleaning member in a manner allowing their displacement by a substantially constant amount while maintaining a distance between their axes, multiple bearing members provided to the holding member with their rotation being arrested, the bearing members individually supporting the shafts of the charging member and cleaning member in a manner allowing their rotation, the bearing members being displaced to follow a change in orientation of the shafts, and an urging member that urges the holding member to press the charging member onto the charged body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding body, a developing device, a transfer device, a collection device, a container, and a transport member. The image holding body includes a surface on which a latent image is formed. The developing device develops the latent image into a visual image with developer. The transfer device transfers the visual image onto a transfer medium. The collection device collects the developer remaining on the surface of the image holding body after the visual image has been transferred. The container contains new developer supplied to the developing device. The image forming apparatus has a channel that has a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel. The developer flows into the first sub-channel from one of the collection device and the container and the second sub-channel from the other of the collection device and the container.

Abstract: A charging device includes a charging member that is opposed to and contacts a charged body, the charging member extending axially and rotating in response to rotation of the charged body, a cleaning member that extends axially along the charging member, and contacts a surface of the charging member to clean the charging member, a holding member that holds the charging member and the cleaning member in a manner allowing their displacement by a substantially constant amount while maintaining a distance between their axes, multiple bearing members provided to the holding member with their rotation being arrested, the bearing members individually supporting the shafts of the charging member and cleaning member in a manner allowing their rotation, the bearing members being displaced to follow a change in orientation of the shafts, and an urging member that urges the holding member to press the charging member onto the charged body.

Abstract: A connector includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member retains an integrated circuit having multiple first electrodes in a secured state and is externally contactable with the multiple first electrodes. The second connector member is attachable to and detachable from the first connector member and has a connection unit that is directly connected to the multiple first electrodes of the integrated circuit when the first connector member is attached to the second connector member.

Abstract: A connector includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member retains an integrated circuit having multiple first electrodes in a secured state and is externally contactable with the multiple first electrodes. The second connector member is attachable to and detachable from the first connector member and has a connection unit that is directly connected to the multiple first electrodes of the integrated circuit when the first connector member is attached to the second connector member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding body, a developing device, a transfer device, a collection device, a container, and a transport member. The image holding body includes a surface on which a latent image is formed. The developing device develops the latent image into a visual image with developer. The transfer device transfers the visual image onto a transfer medium. The collection device collects the developer remaining on the surface of the image holding body after the visual image has been transferred. The container contains new developer supplied to the developing device. The image forming apparatus has a channel that has a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel. The developer flows into the first sub-channel from one of the collection device and the container and the second sub-channel from the other of the collection device and the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developer transport device including a recovery chamber where a developer is recovered, an accommodation chamber that accommodates the developer, a transport unit that transports the developer into the accommodation chamber by rotation, a hollow guiding path that guides the developer in the recovery chamber into the accommodation chamber, and a transport assisting member disposed inside the hollow guiding path and deformed and restored by rotation of the transport unit to assist transport of the developer. The transport assisting member includes a first part extending along an inner wall of the hollow guiding path from a discharge port of the recovery chamber to a position for contact with the transport unit, and a second part intersecting with a front surface of the first part and extending from an intermediate position of the first part to a position for contact with the transport unit.

Abstract: A detachable unit to be attached to a unit-receiving apparatus includes a unit body, a rotary member, an urging member urging the rotary member toward a downstream side in a detachable-unit-attaching direction, a contact-receiving portion provided on the rotary member, first and second support-receiving portions provided at respective ends of the rotary member, first and second supports provided at respective positions of the unit body corresponding to the positions of the first and second support-receiving portions, and first and second rotary support members provided between the first support-receiving portion and the first support and between the second support-receiving portion and the second support, respectively, and supporting the respective ends of the rotary member such that the rotary member is rotatable. The first and second rotary support members are supported in such a manner as to be movable in a detachable-unit-attaching-and-detaching direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a developer transport device including a recovery chamber where a developer is recovered, an accommodation chamber that accommodates the developer, a transport unit that transports the developer into the accommodation chamber by rotation, a hollow guiding path that guides the developer in the recovery chamber into the accommodation chamber, and a transport assisting member disposed inside the hollow guiding path and deformed and restored by rotation of the transport unit to assist transport of the developer. The transport assisting member includes a first part extending along an inner wall of the hollow guiding path from a discharge port of the recovery chamber to a position for contact with the transport unit, and a second part intersecting with a front surface of the first part and extending from an intermediate position of the first part to a position for contact with the transport unit.

Abstract: A collection device includes: a collection container that collects output material; a storage box that is opened upward to store a lower part of the collection container; and a support member that is fixed to a housing and supports the storage box so that the collection container is stored in the storage box and is freely drawn to the outside of the housing. The collection container includes a handle located frontward in a pulling direction and at an upper part of the collection container. The storage box includes a notch formed in a rear surface in the pulling direction. When the handle of the collection container is pressed backward in the pulling direction, a part of the collection container, which part is located backward in the pulling direction, protrudes from the storage box through the notch, so that the collection container inclines backward in the pulling direction.

Abstract: A detachable unit to be attached to a unit-receiving apparatus includes a unit body, a rotary member, an urging member urging the rotary member toward a downstream side in a detachable-unit-attaching direction, a contact-receiving portion provided on the rotary member, first and second support-receiving portions provided at respective ends of the rotary member, first and second supports provided at respective positions of the unit body corresponding to the positions of the first and second support-receiving portions, and first and second rotary support members provided between the first support-receiving portion and the first support and between the second support-receiving portion and the second support, respectively, and supporting the respective ends of the rotary member such that the rotary member is rotatable. The first and second rotary support members are supported in such a manner as to be movable in a detachable-unit-attaching-and-detaching direction.

Abstract: A developer recovering unit is provided with a recovery vessel that contains a developer to be recovered, a transporting device that includes a transporting member that transports the developer through a tubular transport path connecting a portion where the developer is generated to the recovery vessel, and a detecting device that detects an amount of the developer contained in the recovery vessel, wherein the transporting member is formed as a conductive member and is grounded at least in a most downstream section of the transport path connected to the recovery vessel.

Abstract: The developer delivering device includes a first delivering path, a second delivering path, a helical delivering blade disposed in the second delivering path, and a developer breaking member disposed in a connecting portion of the first delivering path and the second delivering path. The developer breaking member includes a breaking portion disposed opposite to a side wall of the second delivering path in a developer delivering direction of the second delivering path, a contact portion that is in contact with the helical delivering blade and extended in the developer delivering direction between the breaking portion and a center of the rotation of the helical delivering blade, and a coupling portion. The breaking portion has a first breaking portion and a second breaking portion. The contact portion has a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The coupling portion couples the first contact portion to the second contact portion.

Abstract: The developer delivering device includes a first delivering path, a second delivering path, a helical delivering blade disposed in the second delivering path, and a developer breaking member disposed in a connecting portion of the first delivering path and the second delivering path. The developer breaking member includes a breaking portion disposed opposite to a side wall of the second delivering path in a developer delivering direction of the second delivering path, a contact portion that is in contact with the helical delivering blade and extended in the developer delivering direction between the breaking portion and a center of the rotation of the helical delivering blade, and a coupling portion. The breaking portion has a first breaking portion and a second breaking portion. The contact portion has a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The coupling portion couples the first contact portion to the second contact portion.

Abstract: A collection device includes: a collection container that collects output material; a storage box that is opened upward to store a lower part of the collection container; and a support member that is fixed to a housing and supports the storage box so that the collection container is stored in the storage box and is freely drawn to the outside of the housing. The collection container includes a handle located frontward in a pulling direction and at an upper part of the collection container. The storage box includes a notch formed in a rear surface in the pulling direction. When the handle of the collection container is pressed backward in the pulling direction, a part of the collection container, which part is located backward in the pulling direction, protrudes from the storage box through the notch, so that the collection container inclines backward in the pulling direction.

Abstract: A developer recovering unit is provided with a recovery vessel that contains a developer to be recovered, a transporting device that includes a transporting member that transports the developer through a tubular transport path connecting a portion where the developer is generated to the recovery vessel, and a detecting device that detects an amount of the developer contained in the recovery vessel, wherein the transporting member is formed as a conductive member and is grounded at least in a most downstream section of the transport path connected to the recovery vessel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade that keeps a front end of rubber material in contact with the surface with a pressure so as to scrape residual toner left on the surface of the photoreceptor and a fiber body having multiple fibers in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor in the upstream in the cyclic moving direction of the surface of the photoreceptor with respect to the cleaning blade, the cleaning blade satisfying A??2.5×B+102 and 6.3?B?19.6, where A designates a contact angle (°) with pure water under 23° C., 55% RH and B designates 100% modulus (MPa) at 23° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cleaning unit comprising: a cleaning blade that keeps a front end of rubber material in contact with the surface with a pressure so as to scrape residual toner left on the surface of the photoreceptor and a fiber body having multiple fibers in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor in the upstream in the cyclic moving direction of the surface of the photoreceptor with respect to the cleaning blade, wherein the cleaning blade satisfies conditions A??2.5×B+102 and 6.3?B?19.6, where A designates a contact angle (°) with pure water under 23° C., 55% RH and B designates 100% modulus (MPa) at 23° C.

Abstract: A tandem type image forming apparatus having plural image forming bodies and an intermediate transfer belt is provided, in which the intermediate transfer belt can be spaced from the image carrying bodies without causing any damage on the intermediate transfer belt. A retracting unit is provided which retracts a belt module along with a secondary transfer module such that a belt-shaped intermediate transfer belt is spaced from all of image carrying bodies.

Abstract: An apparatus and techniques for reducing the electrostatic sticking of a transfer member to the image carrying body of an image forming apparatus. The visible image on the image carrying body is formed by charged participles. A collective transfer unit collectively transfers the visible image from the image carrying body to a transfer member. A transfer member judging unit judges whether a transfer member exists downstream of and in the vicinity of a transfer position of the collective transfer unit. A pre-stop processing unit for preventing, if the transfer member presence judging unit judges that a transfer monitor exists when the stopping unit stops the device, the transfer member from electrostatically sticking to the image carrying body.