Abstract: A image forming unit includes an image forming unit including an image bearing body that bears a latent image, a developer bearing body that develops the latent image, a developer supplying portion that supplies the developer to the developer bearing body, an agitating portion provided in the vicinity of the developer supplying portion and including a plate member for agitating the developer in the vicinity of the developer supplying portion and a rotation shaft that holds the plate member, and a driving mechanism that causes the plate member of the agitating portion to reciprocatingly swing about the rotation shaft.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image bearing body, a rotating body disposed in contact with or disposed facing the image bearing body, a supporting member that supports a rotation shaft of the rotating body, an insertion hole provided on the supporting member, a bearing inserted into the insertion hole and supporting the rotation shaft of the rotating body, and three or more contact portions provided on the bearing or the insertion hole. The contact portions contact the insertion hole or the bearing.

Abstract: A developing device is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developing device includes a first frame member; a second frame member disposed to face the first frame member; a shaft member for connecting the first frame member and the second frame member; a first engagement member disposed at one end portion of the shaft member for engaging the first frame member; a second engagement member disposed at the other end portion of the shaft member for engaging the second frame member; and a fixing member for fixing at least one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member.

Abstract: A toner container (101) is detachably attached to a developing device (104). A toner (120) stored in the toner container (101) is supplied through a supply opening (104a) to a hopper (105) of the developing device (104). A movable shutter (123) is provided below the supply opening (104a). The shutter (123) opens the supply opening (104a) when the amount of the toner (121) in the hopper (105) is less than a predetermined amount, and closes the supply opening (104a) when the amount of the toner (121) in the hopper (105) is greater than or equals to the predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image bearing body, a rotating body disposed in contact with or disposed facing the image bearing body, a supporting member that supports a rotation shaft of the rotating body, an insertion hole provided on the supporting member, a bearing inserted into the insertion hole and supporting the rotation shaft of the rotating body, and three or more contact portions provided on the bearing or the insertion hole. The contact portions contact the insertion hole or the bearing.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing body that partially faces the inside of a developer storing chamber, a first developer carrying member disposed in the chamber together with the body, and a second developer carrying member disposed in the chamber together with the first carrying member. The body is rotatable and bears a developer. The first carrying roller rotates to carry the developer in an axial direction, and the second carrying member rotates to carry the developer in an axial direction. The first carrying member carries the developer from end portions of the chamber toward a center portion of the chamber, and the second carrying member carries the developer from the center portion toward the end portions. An amount of the developer carried by the first carrying member is greater than an amount of the developer carried by the second carrying member.

Abstract: A developing device is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developing device includes a first frame member; a second frame member disposed to face the first frame member; a shaft member for connecting the first frame member and the second frame member; a first engagement member disposed at one end portion of the shaft member for engaging the first frame member; a second engagement member disposed at the other end portion of the shaft member for engaging the second frame member; and a fixing member for fixing at least one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide an image recording apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in remaining toner detection accuracy and further to prevent toner from getting damages.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is used for cleaning the surface of a photoconductive body. Residual toner on a rotating photoconductive body is collected after transferring a toner image from the photoconductive body onto a print medium, the apparatus includes a first cleaning member, a second cleaning member, and a toner transporting member. The first cleaning member engages the photoconductive body to brush away the residual toner. The second cleaning member is disposed downstream of the first cleaning member with respect to rotation of the photoconductive body. The second cleaning member scrapes the residual toner off the photoconductive body. The toner transporting member is disposed between the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member along a circumferential surface of the photoconductive body. The toner transporting member is positioned with a gap between the photoconductive body and the toner transporting member and transporting the residual toner removed from the photoconductive body.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a mechanism that controls the replenishment amount of toner to a predetermined value. A toner cartridge holds toner therein. The toner cartridge is detachably attached to a process cartridge. The process cartridge has a toner reservoir that holds the toner supplied from the toner cartridge, a photoconductive drum and a developing roller that supplies the toner to the photoconductive drum. A valve is located between the toner cartridge and the process cartridge and supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge. When the valve rotates, the valve supplies a volume of toner in such a way that the toner in the toner reservoir fills a volume not more than a predetermined fraction of a maximum capacity of the toner reservoir.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing body that partially faces the inside of a developer storing chamber, a first developer carrying member disposed in the developer storing chamber together with the developer bearing body, and a second developer carrying member disposed in the developer storing chamber together with the first developer carrying member. The developer bearing body is rotatable and bears a developer. The first developer carrying roller rotates to carry the developer in an axial direction, and the second developer carrying member rotates to carry the developer in an axial direction. The first developer carrying member carries the developer from end portions of the developer storing chamber toward a center portion of the developer storing chamber, and the second developer carrying member carries the developer from the center portion toward the end portions.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide an image recording apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in remaining toner detection accuracy and further to prevent toner from getting damages.

Abstract: A toner container (101) is detachably attached to a developing device (104). A toner (120) stored in the toner container (101) is supplied through a supply opening (104a) to a hopper (105) of the developing device (104). A movable shutter (123) is provided below the supply opening (104a). The shutter (123) opens the supply opening (104a) when the amount of the toner (121) in the hopper (105) is less than a predetermined amount, and closes the supply opening (104a) when the amount of the toner (121) in the hopper (105) is greater than or equals to the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A toner container 40 includes a fresh toner chamber 46 and a waste toner chamber 47 separated by a partition wall 45. A width “a” of the interior of the fresh toner chamber 46 at an arbitrary vertical position VP along the partition wall 45 is substantially equal to or less than a corresponding width “b” at another position below the vertical position VP. The waste toner chamber 47 has a waste toner collection opening 55 through which a toner discharging mechanism 32 is inserted. A guide member 56 guides a discharging lid 57 for opening and closing the waste toner collection opening 55. The guide member 56 extends inwardly from the vicinity of an upper periphery of the waste toner collection opening 55, so that the toner discharging mechanism 32 that has entered in the waste toner chamber 47 is covered by the guide member 56 from above.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a mechanism that controls the replenishment amount of toner to a predetermined value. A toner cartridge holds toner therein. The toner cartridge is detachably attached to a process cartridge. The process cartridge has a toner reservoir that holds the toner supplied from the toner cartridge, a photoconductive drum and a developing roller that supplies the toner to the photoconductive drum. A valve is located between the toner cartridge and the process cartridge and supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the process cartridge. When the valve rotates, the valve supplies a volume of toner in such a way that the toner in the toner reservoir fills a volume not more than a predetermined fraction of a maximum capacity of the toner reservoir.

Abstract: A multidimensional equalizer and cross talk canceller for a communication network that simultaneously removes far end cross talk NEXT) and intersymbol interference (ISI) from a received signal. A multidimensional-pair channel is treated as a single multidimensional channel and a receiver in the communication network equalizes received signals through the use of the multidimensional equalizer. A decision feedback equalizer determines a multidimensional steepest descent gradient to adjust matrix coefficients.