Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer roller, and a metallic roller in contact with the transfer roller to form a current path through which a current flows between itself and the transfer roller. The apparatus further includes a first bearing member to rotatably support the transfer roller, a holding member to movably hold the first bearing member, a first pressing member to press the first bearing member, a second bearing member movably held by the first bearing member and to rotatably support the metallic roller and a second pressing member provided between a bearing surface provided in the first bearing member and the second bearing member to press the second bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer belt, a transfer roller, a metallic roller in contact with the transfer roller to form a current path through which a current flows between itself and the transfer roller. The apparatus includes a first bearing member to rotatably support the transfer roller, a holding member to movably hold the first bearing member, a first pressing member to press the first bearing member, a second bearing member movably held by the first bearing member and to rotatably support the metallic roller and a second pressing member provided between a bearing surface provided in the first bearing member and the second bearing member to press the second bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cover configured to be pivotal between a closed position and an open position to open an opening portion through which an intermediate transfer unit is removable, wherein when the cover is moved from an intermediate position to the open position, a secondary transfer unit is changed by using a self-weight of the secondary transfer unit from a first relative position to a second relative position, and wherein when the cover is located in the open position and the intermediate transfer unit is supported in a first position by a guiding portion, a secondary transfer unit interferes with the intermediate transfer unit if located in the first relative position, but does not interfere with the intermediate transfer unit if located in the second relative position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cover configured to be pivotal between a closed position and an open position to open an opening portion through which an intermediate transfer unit is removable, wherein when the cover is moved from an intermediate position to the open position, a secondary transfer unit is changed by using a self-weight of the secondary transfer unit from a first relative position to a second relative position, and wherein when the cover is located in the open position and the intermediate transfer unit is supported in a first position by a guiding portion, a secondary transfer unit interferes with the intermediate transfer unit if located in the first relative position, but does not interfere with the intermediate transfer unit if located in the second relative position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, includes: a first roller; an opening-closing member that is movable between an open position and a close position; a second roller; an urging member; a restraint member switching between a restraint state in which a rotation shaft of the second roller is restrained and a release state in which the rotation shaft is released from the restraint, by being moved, wherein, during the movement of the opening-closing member from the open position to the close position, the restraint member keeps the rotation shaft in the restraint state; and a releasing member that is moved by driving force from the drive source when the opening-closing member is in the close position and the rotation shaft is in the restraint state, the releasing member switching the rotation shaft to the release state by moving the restraint member as being engaged with the restraint member.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, includes: a first roller; an opening-closing member that is movable between an open position and a close position; a second roller; an urging member; a restraint member switching between a restraint state in which a rotation shaft of the second roller is restrained and a release state in which the rotation shaft is released from the restraint, by being moved, wherein, during the movement of the opening-closing member from the open position to the close position, the restraint member keeps the rotation shaft in the restraint state; and a releasing member that is moved by driving force from the drive source when the opening-closing member is in the close position and the rotation shaft is in the restraint state, the releasing member switching the rotation shaft to the release state by moving the restraint member as being engaged with the restraint member.

Abstract: A collected toner container includes a container with a collecting port receiving a collected toner on one end in a longitudinal direction and a conveying member convey the toner collected from the collecting port from the one end toward the other end. The conveying member includes a plurality of forward conveyance sections and a plurality of reverse conveyance sections configured to convey the toner in a direction opposite to the forward conveyance section. The reverse conveyance sections are arranged alternately with the forward conveyance sections in an axial direction and a length of a downstreammost reverse conveyance section, in the direction of conveyance of the forward conveyance sections, is formed to be longest among the plurality of reverse conveyance sections.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner container for containing toner recovered from a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt. The waste toner container has a stirring screw for conveying the toner in the waste toner container. The stirring screw is driven by a waste toner motor. A CPU determines whether the waste toner container is in need of replacement depending on a rotation speed or driving current of the waste toner motor. If the waste toner container is in need of replacement, the CPU displays such on a display unit to provide a notification to a user.

Abstract: Provided are a collecting toner container that is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus so as to collect and store toner; an opening portion through which toner flows from the main body of the image forming apparatus into the collecting toner container; and a stirring/conveying member that conveys the toner flowing from the opening portion into the collecting toner container in the downstream direction of the collecting toner container, wherein a discharge opening used to discharge the toner inside the collecting toner container is formed in each of two adjacent surfaces as a bottom surface and a side surface of the collecting toner container, and the discharge openings provided in the respective surfaces are formed so as to share a ridge line portion of the two surfaces.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a waste toner container for containing toner recovered from a photosensitive drum and an intermediate transfer belt. The waste toner container has a stirring screw for conveying the waste toner in the waste toner container. The stirring screw is driven by the waste toner motor. A CPU determines whether the waste toner container is in time of replacement depending on the rotation speed or driving current of a waste toner motor. If the waste toner container is in time of replacement the CPU displays that on a display unit to provide the notification to the user.

Abstract: Provided are a collecting toner container that is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus so as to collect and store toner; an opening portion through which toner flows from the main body of the image forming apparatus into the collecting toner container; and a stirring/conveying member that conveys the toner flowing from the opening portion into the collecting toner container in the downstream direction of the collecting toner container, wherein a discharge opening used to discharge the toner inside the collecting toner container is formed in each of two adjacent surfaces as a bottom surface and a side surface of the collecting toner container, and the discharge openings provided in the respective surfaces are formed so as to share a ridge line portion of the two surfaces.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette provided drawably into/out of an apparatus body and storing recording media, a waste toner container being provided drawably into/out of the apparatus body along a pull-out direction of the cassette, a cover member movable between a close position where an opening portion enabling the waste toner container to be drawable into/pulled out of the apparatus body is closed and an open position where the opening portion is opened, and a moving portion. The moving portion engages with the cover member located at the open position and moves the cover member from the open position to the close position along with an insertion of the cassette into the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette provided drawably into/out of an apparatus body and storing recording media, a waste toner container being provided drawably into/out of the apparatus body along a pull-out direction of the cassette, a cover member movable between a close position where an opening portion enabling the waste toner container to be drawable into/pulled out of the apparatus body is closed and an open position where the opening portion is opened, and a moving portion. The moving portion engages with the cover member located at the open position and moves the cover member from the open position to the close position along with an insertion of the cassette into the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a collecting container, provided detachably mountable to a casing of the image forming apparatus, capable of collecting a developer; a locked portion provided on the collecting container; a locking portion, provided on the casing, for locking the collecting container to prevent the collecting container from moving in a demounting direction by being locked with the locked portion when the collecting container is mounted in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in an empty state; and a supporting portion for supporting the collecting container, the supporting portion being provided so as to be displaceable, by a weight of the developer collected by the collecting container, in a direction such that locking with the locking portion is released.

Abstract: A toner supplying device includes a toner storing portion for storing toner, a toner feeding path in which the toner fed from the toner storing portion is to be fed, and a toner feeding member for feeding the toner in the toner feeding path. An executing portion executes an operation in a filling mode in which the toner is filled in the toner feeding path by intermittently driving the toner feeding member in a preparatory period before image formation.

Abstract: A collected toner container includes a container with a collecting port receiving a collected toner on one end in a longitudinal direction and a conveying member convey the toner collected from the collecting port from the one end toward the other end. The conveying member includes a plurality of forward conveyance sections and a plurality of reverse conveyance sections configured to convey the toner in a direction opposite to the forward conveyance section. The reverse conveyance sections are arranged alternately with the forward conveyance sections in an axial direction and a length of a downstreammost reverse conveyance section, in the direction of conveyance of the forward conveyance sections, is formed to be longest among the plurality of reverse conveyance sections.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a collecting container, provided detachably mountable to a casing of the image forming apparatus, capable of collecting a developer; a locked portion provided on the collecting container; a locking portion, provided on the casing, for locking the collecting container to prevent the collecting container from moving in a demounting direction by being locked with the locked portion when the collecting container is mounted in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in an empty state; and a supporting portion for supporting the collecting container, the supporting portion being provided so as to be displaceable, by a weight of the developer collected by the collecting container, in a direction such that locking with the locking portion is released.

Abstract: A developer supply apparatus includes a buffer portion for storing a developer supplied from a developer container, a feeding device for feeding the developer, stored in the buffer portion, toward a developing device, and a pair of light transmitting members which permit light transmission for detecting the developer in the buffer portion. In addition, a vibrating device vibrates the pair of light transmitting members in an optical axis direction.

Abstract: A developer supply apparatus includes an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for discharging developer from the accommodating portion; a first feeding member, provided in the accommodating portion, for feeding the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion from one end of the accommodating portion toward the other end; and second feeding member, provided at a position remoter from the discharge opening than the first feeding member, for feeding the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion from the one end of the accommodating portion toward the other end; wherein a feeding power of the second feeding member per unit drive time is higher than that of the first feeding member.

Abstract: A developer supply apparatus includes a buffer portion for storing a developer supplied from a developer container; a feeding device for feeding the developer, stored in the buffer portion, toward a developing device; a pair of light transmitting members, which permit light transmission, for detecting the developer in the buffer portion; and a vibrating device for vibrating the pair of light transmitting members in an optical axis direction.