Abstract: A transfer unit, provided in an image forming apparatus having an image bearing member to bear a toner image, includes an endless belt, a transfer member, a collecting member, a storage container, a conveyance member, and a detection unit. The transfer member transfers the toner image from the image bearing member to the endless belt. The collecting member recovers toner remaining on the endless belt. The conveyance member rotates to convey toner from an inflow port inside the storage container. The detection unit detects a load which the conveyance member receives when rotating. The rotational axis direction is a direction which is perpendicular to neither a movement direction of the endless belt nor a width direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the endless belt. The conveyance member includes a force receiving portion configured to receive a force from the toner conveyed in a state the conveyance member is rotating.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame, a photosensitive drum supported by the frame, a developing roller supported by the frame, and a coupling operatively connected to the photosensitive drum. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. A stopper is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the stopper having a surface extending in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum and facing the axis of the photosensitive drum. As measured in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, at least a part of exposed teeth of the helical gear is positioned farther an end of the photosensitive drum than a tip of the projection of the coupling is positioned from the end of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A container to store residual transfer toner remaining on an intermediate transfer belt is disposed in a region of a transfer unit, where the region is defined by an inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt. A single conveyance member, which rotates to convey toner conveyed from an inlet toward the container, is disposed in the inside of the container. An end portion of the conveyance member that is opposite to an end portion on a side of the inlet is located in a central region of the container.

Abstract: Provided is a driving force transmitting mechanism including: a first rotating member which rotates around a first rotation axial; a driving force transmitting member which rotates together with the first rotation member, and to which driving force is transmitted from the first rotating member; a cylindrical shaft which contacts with the first rotating member in a diameter direction, and which includes an engaging portion to engage with the driving force transmitting member, and is coaxially rotated with the first rotating member by the driving force from the driving force transmitting member at the engaging portion; and a second rotating member which is rotated around a second rotation axial, disposed next to the first rotation axis in an axial direction, by the driving force transmitted from the cylindrical shaft. The first rotating member includes at least one contacting portion that contacts with the second rotating member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion and a replenishment port, a transfer portion configured to transfer a developer image on an image bearing member onto a recording material, a supporting tray including a supporting surface configured to support the recording material thereon, and a discharge portion configured to discharge the recording material, onto which the developer image has been transferred, on the supporting surface, wherein the supporting surface has an opening portion opening such that the replenishment port is exposed through the supporting surface, and wherein an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position where the opening/closing member covers the replenishment port and serves as a part of the supporting surface and an open position where the replenishment port is exposed is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which a replenishment container is attachable and detachable, the developer container including an accommodating portion, and a supporting portion, wherein the developer container includes a projection portion that is provided at one end portion thereof in the rotation axis direction of the developer bearing member and projects toward the supporting portion more than a center portion of the developer container in a crossing direction crossing the rotation axis direction, the projection portion communicates with the accommodating portion and includes, at a distal end portion thereof, an attachment portion configured such that the replenishment container is attachable thereto in a state of being exposed to the outside of the apparatus, and a replenishment port for replenishing the accommodating portion with developer from the replenishment container is defined in the attachment portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer container to and from which the replenishment container is attachable and detachable and which includes an accommodating portion that accommodates developer and a replenishment port, an agitation, an opening/closing member configured to be movable between a closed position and an open position, a drive source for driving the agitation member, and a control portion configured to control the drive source, wherein the apparatus is configured such that image formation is not possible when the opening/closing member is at the open position, and the agitation member is capable of driving in a case where the opening/closing member is at the open position.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a conveyance member, an agitation member, and an accommodation unit. The conveyance member extends in a width direction of an image bearing member orthogonal to a moving direction of the image bearing member, and conveys toner in the width direction by rotation. The accommodation unit includes a wall portion located inside a rotation orbit of an outermost peripheral portion of the agitation member, downstream of the collection member and upstream of the conveyance member in a rotation direction of the agitation member when viewed in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance member.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a gear portion having gear teeth configured to receive a driving force from outside of the process cartridge. The gear portion includes an exposed portion exposed to outside of the process cartridge. A shortest distance from an axis of the photosensitive drum to a tooth tip of the exposed portion of the gear portion measured along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive drum is no less than 90% and no more than 110% of a radius of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a frame having a slit and a recess formed therein at a side of the process cartridge. A photosensitive drum is supported by the frame, with the photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof, the photosensitive drum including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A developing roller is also supported by the frame, the developing roller being rotatable about an axis thereof. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling being rotatable about an axis thereof. A helical gear is positioned at the side of the process cartridge, with the helical gear being rotatable about an axis thereof. The helical gear has a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge.

Abstract: A container to store residual transfer toner remaining on an intermediate transfer belt is disposed in a region of a transfer unit, where the region is defined by an inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt. A single conveyance member, which rotates to convey toner conveyed from an inlet toward the container, is disposed in the inside of the container. An end portion of the conveyance member that is opposite to an end portion on a side of the inlet is located in a central region of the container.

Abstract: A container to store residual transfer toner remaining on an intermediate transfer belt is disposed in a region of a transfer unit, where the region is defined by an inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt. A single conveyance member, which rotates to convey toner conveyed from an inlet toward the container, is disposed in the inside of the container. An end portion of the conveyance member that is opposite to an end portion on a side of the inlet is located in a central region of the container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a belt, a development unit having a development member in contact with the image bearing member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member using toner, and a collection unit having a contacting member in contact with the belt to collect toner remaining on the belt adjacent to the contacting member. If condensation is detected inside the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus performs predetermined control to separate the development member from the image bearing member and drive the belt in such a manner that the belt moves at a second surface speed different from a first surface speed while driving the image bearing member in such a manner that the image bearing member rotates at the first surface speed in a state where the image bearing member is in contact with the belt.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a conveyance member, an agitation member, and an accommodation unit. The conveyance member extends in a width direction of an image bearing member orthogonal to a moving direction of the image bearing member, and conveys toner in the width direction by rotation. The accommodation unit includes a wall portion located inside a rotation orbit of an outermost peripheral portion of the agitation member, downstream of the collection member and upstream of the conveyance member in a rotation direction of the agitation member when viewed in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a stacking member, a feeding unit, and a detachable separation unit. The feeding unit feeds sheets stacked from the stacking member. The separation unit separates the fed sheets one by one. The separation unit includes a rotating member to abut and separate from the feeding unit and to rotate, a biasing member to bias the rotating member toward the feeding unit, and an engaged member to be engaged with an engagement member included in the sheet feeding device. The engagement member can move to a first position where the engagement member is engaged with the engaged member, and a second position away from the engaged member. Where the engagement member moves from the first to the second position when the separation unit is attached to the sheet feeding device, the separation unit moves in a detachment direction using the biasing member.

Abstract: A driving-force transmission member includes a coupling portion that includes a driving-force transmission surface and that transmits a driving force to a cartridge coupling, a first helical gear portion that engages with a driven gear of a cartridge to transmit the driving force, and a second helical gear portion that engages with a drive gear to receive the driving force. The portions rotate integrally with each other when the driving-force transmission member rotates about the axis of rotation. The driving-force transmission surface is shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission member. Helical teeth of the first helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission surface. Helical teeth of the second helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the helical teeth of the first helical gear portion.