Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material includes a frame body, an image forming unit, a first electric component unit, a first electric component board, a second electric component unit, and a second electric component board. The second electric component board communicates with the first electric component board and controls the image forming unit. The first electric component unit pivots about a first pivot axis positioned on a first side in a width direction. The second electric component unit pivots about a second pivot axis positioned on a second side in the width direction. When the first electric component unit and the second electric component unit are in closed states, the second electric component unit is positioned between the first electric component unit and the image forming unit in a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material includes a frame body, an image forming unit, a first electric component unit, a first electric component board, a second electric component unit, and a second electric component board. The second electric component board communicates with the first electric component board and controls the image forming unit. The first electric component unit pivots about a first pivot axis positioned on a first side in a width direction. The second electric component unit pivots about a second pivot axis positioned on a second side in the width direction. When the first electric component unit and the second electric component unit are in closed states, the second electric component unit is positioned between the first electric component unit and the image forming unit in a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material includes a frame body, an image forming unit, a first electric component unit, a first electric component board, a second electric component unit, and a second electric component board. The second electric component board communicates with the first electric component board and controls the image forming unit. The first electric component unit pivots about a first pivot axis positioned on a first side in a width direction. The second electric component unit pivots about a second pivot axis positioned on a second side in the width direction. When the first electric component unit and the second electric component unit are in closed states, the second electric component unit is positioned between the first electric component unit and the image forming unit in a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image comprising a liquid developer on a recording material includes a feeding belt for feeding the recording material; a plurality of air vents, provided in a region of the feeding belt on which the recording material is fed, for sucking the recording material onto the feeding belt; a fan for sucking the recording material toward the feeding belt; and a heating source for heating the image on the recording material fed by the feeding belt, by radiant heat, and satisfies the following equation: db·?b·K<44.9, wherein K: ?b·cb/?p·?p·dp·cp cp: specific heat of developer and recording material (J/g·K) ?p: density of developer and recording material (g/cm3) dp: thickness of developer and recording material (mm) ?p: thermal conductivity of developer and recording material (W/(m·K)) cb: specific heat of belt (J/g·K) ?b: density of belt (g/cm3) db: thickness of belt (mm) ?b: diameter of air vent of belt (mm).

Abstract: An infrared irradiating portion is turned on in accordance with power-on of an image forming apparatus 10, and an air sucking operation of an air sucking portion 300 is started after a temperature of an infrared radiation member 305 of an IR irradiating portion 13 reaches a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electric board extending to a first direction and a second direction, a board accommodating portion cover the electric board, a recording medium accommodating portion to cover a recording medium and a connecting portion. The recording medium accommodating portion is arranged side by side with the board accommodating portion in the first direction. The connecting portion is arranged to overlap with the board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion as seen in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and connects the board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion. The board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion are directly fixed to the connecting portion, respectively.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing an image comprising a liquid developer on a recording material includes a feeding belt for feeding the recording material; a plurality of air vents, provided in a region of the feeding belt on which the recording material is fed, for sucking the recording material onto the feeding belt; a fan for sucking the recording material toward the feeding belt; and a heating source for heating the image on the recording material fed by the feeding belt, by radiant heat, and satisfies the following: db·?b·K<44.9, K: ?b·cb/?p·?p·dp·cpcp: specific heat of developer and recording material (J/g·K) ?p: density of developer and recording material (g/cm3) dp: thickness of developer and recording material (mm) ?p: thermal conductivity of developer and recording material (W/(m·K)) cb: specific heat of belt (J/g·K) ?b: density of belt (g/cm3) db: thickness of belt (mm) ?b: diameter of air vent of belt (mm).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electric board extending to a first direction and a second direction, a board accommodating portion cover the electric board, a recording medium accommodating portion to cover a recording medium and a connecting portion. The recording medium accommodating portion is arranged side by side with the board accommodating portion in the first direction. The connecting portion is arranged to overlap with the board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion as seen in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and connects the board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion. The board accommodating portion and the recording medium accommodating portion are directly fixed to the connecting portion, respectively.

Abstract: An infrared irradiating portion is turned on in accordance with power-on of an image forming apparatus 10, and an air sucking operation of an air sucking portion 300 is started after a temperature of an infrared radiation member 305 of an IR irradiating portion 13 reaches a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable belt, a driving source, a heating portion, a heat shielding member, a shielding member moving mechanism, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the moving mechanism so that the shielding member is in a shielding position and rotation of the belt is at rest in a stand-by state in which the image heating apparatus waits for input of an image forming signal for forming the image.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable belt, a driving source, a heating portion, a heat shielding member, a shielding member moving mechanism, a controller configured to control the moving mechanism so that the shielding member is in a shielding position, and rotation of the belt is at rest in a stand-by state in which the image heating apparatus waits for input of an image forming signal for forming the image.

Abstract: A developing device is usable with a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus which include respective image bearing members movable at different rotational speeds during an image forming operation, and includes a rotatable developer bearing member that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, a developer container that accommodates a developer, and a feeding member to feed the developer in the developing container. In addition, a discharge opening is provided in the developer container and permits discharging of the developer from the developer container, and a covering member is movable relative to the developer container and capable of changing a lower end of the discharge opening between a first level for discharging toner and a second level for discharging toner, depending on which image forming apparatus the developing device is used with, wherein the first and second levels are different from each other.

Abstract: A process unit includes an image bearing body, a flange provided on an end portion of the image bearing body, and a supporting portion that rotatably supports a rotational axis portion provided on the flange. A seal is provided that to seal at least a part of a space formed between the supporting portion and the flange.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image developer unit to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, using toner, and a toner container detachably mounted to a main assembly. The toner container includes a toner discharging portion having a toner discharge opening, and a storage container to store the discharge toner and to supply the stored toner. The toner discharging portion extends at least partly in the storage container through an opening of the storage container, and a cover covers the toner discharging portion and extends inwardly from an inside of a wall of the storage container, at least below the toner discharging portion. A length L1 by which the cover extends from the wall inwardly of the storage container, and a length L2 by which the toner discharging portion extends from the opening inwardly of the storage container satisfy L1<L2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a rotatable image bearing member, a first support side plate, and a second support side plate; a development device; a transfer device; a rotatable stay; an operation portion; and a toner containing portion. The rotatable stay is disposed at a position downstream of the development device and upstream of the transfer device with respect to a rotation direction of the image bearing member to face the image bearing member and to connect the first support side plate and the second support side plate. The operation portion is provided at an end portion of the stay to rotate the stay. The toner containing portion contains the toner accumulated on the stay.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device; a developer supply container including an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer, a projected portion projected from the accommodating portion, and a discharge opening for discharging the developer; and a developer supplying device for storing the developer to be supplied to the developing device. The developer supply container is mounted to the developer supplying device. The developer supplying device includes i) a storage portion configured to store the developer, ii) an opening configured to insert the projected portion into the storage portion, iii) an abutting portion abutting to the developer supply container to set the projected portion at a predetermined position relative to the storage portion, iv) a shield portion at least a part of which is vertically below the projected portion of the developer supply container.

Abstract: A process unit (10) which is detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, including: a photosensitive drum (20); a flange (211); a rotational axis for rotating integrally with the photosensitive drum (20) (the outer diameter of the rotating axis is less than the outer diameter of the photosensitive drum (20); a drum supporting (43) portion which rotatably supports the rotational axis; and a seal brush (100) which seals at least a part of a space formed between the drum supporting portion (43) and the flange (211).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit includes a rotatable image bearing member, a first support side plate, and a second support side plate; a development device; a transfer device; a rotatable stay configured to be disposed at a position on a downstream side from the development device and on an upstream side from the transfer device in a rotation direction of the image bearing member to face the image bearing member and to connect the first support side plate and the second support side plate; an operation portion configured to be provided at an end portion of the stay to rotate the stay; and a toner containing portion configured to contain the toner accumulated on the stay.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable image-bearing member, a sensor opposed to the image-bearing member, a shutter member arranged between the image-bearing member and the sensor and capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, a rotatable cam configured to move the shutter member, and an execution portion configured to selectively execute a first mode in which the shutter member is opened or closed by rotating the cam within a first phase range and a second mode in which the shutter member is vibrated by rotating the cam at least through a second phase range different from the first phase range.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing container for accommodating a developer including magnetic particles; a developer feeding member, provided in the developing container and having a magnetic shaft, for feeding the developer; a bearing rotatably supporting the shaft; a bearing accommodating portion; and a magnet, provided around the shaft at a position inside the bearing in the bearing accommodating portion, for forming a magnetic seal of magnetic particles by a magnetic field formed between itself and the shaft. The bearing accommodating portion includes a first space between the magnet and the bearing and a second space which is provided outside of the bearing with respect to a diametrical direction and which is in fluid communication with the first space to receive the developer from the first space.