Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming apparatus main unit; an image carrier provided in the image forming apparatus main unit; at least one developing device supported retractable from the image carrier; and a developer supply portion adapted to supply developer to the developing device, wherein: a developer inlet port provided in the developing device is slidably joined with a developer supply port provided in the developer supply portion; a seal portion is provided between the developer inlet port and the developer supply port; the seal portion includes a seal portion body made of an elastic material, a sliding portion provided on at least one of surfaces of the seal portion body, and a drawing-out portion connected to the seal portion body and to the sliding portion; and the seal portion is enabled to be drawn out by using the drawing-out portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image forming apparatus main unit; an image carrier provided in the image forming apparatus main unit; at least one developing device supported retractable from the image carrier; and a developer supply portion adapted to supply developer to the developing device, wherein: a developer inlet port provided in the developing device is slidably joined with a developer supply port provided in the developer supply portion; a seal portion is provided between the developer inlet port and the developer supply port; the seal portion includes a seal portion body made of an elastic material, a sliding portion provided on at least one of surfaces of the seal portion body, and a drawing-out portion connected to the seal portion body and to the sliding portion; and the seal portion is enabled to be drawn out by using the drawing-out portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body having a space in which a cartridge is mounted, a developer residual amount sensor having a cartridge confronting face, a supported face, a sensor head and an inclination regulating projection member and serves to detect the amount of developer, a sensor holder having a sensor supporting face for supporting the supported face and a sensor holding portion for holding the developer residual amount sensor, and a fulcrum member which is rotatable with respect to the tip portion thereof as a fulcrum.

Abstract: An apparatus for discriminating different kinds of cartridges includes a first discriminating unit which discriminates a positional relation between a fitting portion provided at a predetermined position at a side of the cartridge and a fitted portion provided at a predetermined position at a side of the image forming apparatus on a fitting surface when in a loaded state to determine characteristics of the cartridge and characteristics of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a second discriminating unit which discriminates mechanical compatibility by defining a positional relation between the fitting portion and the fitted portion in the loaded state in a fitting direction according to the characteristics of the cartridge and the characteristics of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device which can withstand resistance at a time a coagulated toner is scraped off is provided merely by providing a rotating shaft with a strength needed for agitating and conveying toner during normal operation. When the coagulated toner is scraped off, a large load is applied to the rotating shaft through an agitator. The rotating shaft bends, and a crank portion of the rotating shaft moves off of an axis. As a result, the crank portion is supported in a cut portion in a support plate. Therefore, strength of the rotating shaft becomes apparently greater. During normal operation, the crank portion of the rotating shaft moves out of the cut portion so as to be set in a state of non-contact with the cut portion. Therefore, no unnecessary load is applied to the rotating shaft, and the crank portion and the cut portion are not worn.

Abstract: An error detection apparatus for use with an image forming apparatus prevents damage to the image forming apparatus that results from toner sensor error. The image forming apparatus includes a developer housing positioned opposite to a photosensitive body; a toner box for supplying monocomponent toner to the developer housing; a developer roller for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body in the developer housing; a toner transport and supply member for transporting and supplying the monocomponent toner to the developing roller; and a toner sensor for detecting either the presence or the absence of the monocomponent toner in at least one of the developer housing and the toner box.

Abstract: An electrophotographic single-component developing device including a development roller; a toner storing portion provided in parallel relationship to an axis of the development roller, for storing a single-component toner; and a toner feeding unit provided in the toner storing portion, for feeding the single-component toner stored in the toner storing portion in a direction parallel to the axis of the development roller and supplying the single-component toner to the development roller. The toner feeding unit has a spiral agitator formed from a wire. Accordingly, the ability of toner feed along the development roller and the ability of toner supply to the development roller can be improved without deterioration of the toner.

Abstract: A single-component developing apparatus comprising a developer holding member having a peripheral surface, a power supply section applying an AC developing bias voltage to the developer holding member, the AC developing bias voltage having a waveform with predetermined minimum value, maximum value and period, an electrostatic latent image receiving member opposing the developer holding member across a gap having predetermined width, a developer supplying section supplying a developer to the developer holding member, and a developer regulating member forming developer into a thin layer on the peripheral surface of the developer holding member by pressing on the developer holding member.

Abstract: A developing apparatus having: a developing roll for carrying a developing agent, a stirring chamber for feeding the developing agent, and a partition board arranged upright therebetween along the length of the developing roll within a space which the magnetic force of the developing roll can reach. Accordingly, the charged amounts of the developing agent can be kept substantially uniform within the developing apparatus to allow recorded images whose densities are uniform and satisfactory to be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and controlling a the exhaustion of toner in a developing unit of an image recording device which forms an electrostatic latent image on a latent image carrier by exposure in response to image signals and develops the electrostatic latent image to a toner image to be recorded. The apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting a presence or absence of toner in the developing unit under a condition that a power of the image recording equipment is turned on and an interlock is released, and a drive unit for driving the developing unit and the toner supplying mechanism for a predetermined period of time when the toner is exhausted as is detected by the detection unit, wherein the detection unit detects again a presence or absence of toner in the developing unit after the drive unit drives the developing unit and the toner supplying mechanism.

Abstract: In a apparatus for detecting toner shortage in a developing unit for use in an image recording system which forms a latent electrostatic image on a carrier by exposure based on an image signal and which develops the latent image to record the image, provided are a toner shortage sensor in a container for checking as to the presence or absence of a toner in the container at the location of the toner shortage sensor, a counter section for counting in a cumulative manner the number of image prints and the number of pixels produced by the image recording system when the toner shortage sensor detects a toner shortage, the counter section for successively subtracting the number of image prints and the number of pixels from the associated cumulative totals when the sensor detects the presence of toner in the container, and a control section for stopping at least the operation of the image recording system when the sumulative counting value of either the number of image prints or the number of pixels has reached a pr

Abstract: A developing apparatus comprises a developing roll for carrying single-component toner to a developing area facing an electrostatic latent image carrier; a toner agitation chamber provided along an axis of the developing roll; a toner carry-in path projectingly provided on one end of the toner agitation chamber; and a toner carry and supply member for carrying the toner from the toner carry-in path into the toner agitation chamber along the axis of the developing roll and for supplying the toner from the toner agitation chamber onto the developing roll, the toner carry and supply member being established so that the quantity of toner carrying per unit time at the toner agitation chamber on the toner carry-in path side is larger than the quantity of toner carrying per unit time in the toner carry-in path.