Abstract: An electrode of an image bearing unit and an electrode of a power supply are positioned in the front, rather than far inside of the main body of the image forming apparatus. A holder opposes these electrodes in an openable/closable manner. The holder includes an electric conductor that electrically connects the electrode of an image bearing unit and an electrode of a power supply when the holder is closed. The image bearing unit can be detached or attached when the holder is open.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that has improved usability, while maintaining good positional relationship of units detachably installed inside the apparatus body. The image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of rotatable image carriers, each incorporated in a respective image producing unit, and an intermediate transfer unit comprising an intermediate transfer body which is installed between a plurality of roller members and to which transfer toner images formed on each image carrier are transferred. The shaft of each image carrier and the shaft of each roller are disposed on a positioning plate, and the each image carrier and the intermediate transfer body are fixed in normal positions by applying pressure independently to each shaft.

Abstract: An electrode of an image bearing unit and an electrode of a power supply are positioned in the front, rather than far inside of the main body of the image forming apparatus. A holder opposes these electrodes in an openable/closable manner. The holder includes an electric conductor that electrically connects the electrode of an image bearing unit and an electrode of a power supply when the holder is closed. The image bearing unit can be detached or attached when the holder is open.

Abstract: A drive device includes a first shaft, a second shaft disposed at a position deviated from a shaft line of the first shaft, a drive source that drives the first shaft to rotate, and a drive force transmitting unit connecting the first shaft to the second shaft via the drive force transmitting unit to transmit a drive force of the drive source from the first shaft to the second shaft. The drive force transmitting unit includes a reverse preventing mechanism that prevents the first shaft from being rotated in a reverse direction. The reverse preventing mechanism includes a one-way clutch, and the drive force transmitting unit further includes a reduction mechanism that reduces a rotational speed of the one-way clutch to be lower than a rotational speed of the first shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, an image development mechanism, and a toner container holder. The toner container has a longitudinal length with first and second longitudinal ends, is driven for rotation to move the toner. The image development mechanism develops an electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The toner container holder includes a base plate onto which the toner container is inserted in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner container. The toner container holder further includes first and second supporters. The first and second supporters are mounted in traversal edge sides of the base plate and support the first and second longitudinal ends of the toner container, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including at least one image bearing member configured to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, and a transferring member arranged close to or in contact with the at least one image bearing member and configured to rotate in substantially synchronism with the at least one image bearing member to transfer the toner image born on the at least one image bearing member onto a recording medium. The apparatus further includes at least one first motor rotating the at least one image bearing member, a second motor rotating the transferring member, and a control mechanism configured to control a rotation number of at least one of the at least one first motor and the second motor during at least one of rise and fall time periods with a command clock signal and a feedback signal in accordance with a predetermined velocity curve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that holds its detachably attached constituent units at predetermined positions for operations, and releases the hold when exchanging and inspecting the constituent units. The image forming apparatus includes a main body having an opened portion on one side, one or more devices detachably attached to the main body through the opened portion, and a holding unit that is capable of being opened and closed relative to the opened portion. The holding unit is engaged with the devices and holds the devices at the predetermined positions when the holding unit is closed relative to the opened portion. A fixing unit arranged on the holding unit fixes the holding unit when the holding unit is closed.

Abstract: To suppress vibration and percussive noises generally created by a separation pad and pressure spring in a sheet feeding apparatus, a sheet feeding tray stacks and maintains sheets, a sheet feeding roller launches sheets stacked on the sheet feeding tray, and a separation pad separates sheets from each other. In particular, when feeding a last sheet of one job, the sheet feeding roller stops rotating while pinching an uppermost sheet of a next job in cooperation with the separation pad.

Abstract: A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed, that includes multiple imaging units, a loading unit formed on the top face of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a discharging unit disposed at the operation side of the main body. The image forming apparatus further includes multiple developer containing members disposed in the main body for providing the corresponding imaging units with developer, the developer containing members being arranged in a direction extending from the operation side of the main body. The developer containing members are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and can be handled in a space above the image forming apparatus, the space being limited to the width of the main body.

Abstract: An electrode of an image bearing unit and an electrode of a power supply are positioned in the front, rather than far inside of the main body of the image forming apparatus. A holder opposes these electrodes in an openable/closable manner. The holder includes an electric conductor that electrically connects the electrode of an image bearing unit and an electrode of a power supply when the holder is closed. The image bearing unit can be detached or attached when the holder is open.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus using a tandem-drum development, an indirect image-transfer method, and a vertical sheet supply path. An intermediate image-transfer member is angled relative to a horizontal line such that a rear side of the intermediate image-transfer member away from a recording sheet is lifted and a front side of the intermediate image-transfer member closer to the recording sheet is lowered. Further, image creating mechanisms of the tandem-drum development are aligned and arranged in parallel to a moving image transfer bed of the intermediate image-transfer member, such that one of the image creating mechanisms firstly forming an image faces the rear side of the moving image transfer bed and another one of the image creating mechanisms lastly forming an image faces the front side.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a drive roller having a shaft, a driven roller having a shaft, a biasing member that rotatably supports one of the drive roller and the driven roller and biases one of the drive roller and the driven roller against the other one of the drive roller and the driven roller, and a holding member that pivotally holds the biasing member. The sheet conveying device conveys a sheet while rotating the drive roller and the driven roller and passing the sheet through a nip part formed between the drive roller and the driven roller.

Abstract: A gear molding method for molding a plurality of plastic gears having a different number of ribs without changing costly gates uses a mold having a prescribed gear shape including a prescribed number of grooves substantially radially arranged in the mold. A prescribed number of gates is provided for pouring molten plastic into the mold. When a plastic gear is molded and separated from the mold, a prescribed number of grooves are additionally cut at a middle angular position between each of the pair of neighboring grooves without changing the gates. Then, another gear having increased number of ribs is molded using the same gates.

Abstract: A gear molding method for molding a plurality of plastic gears having a different number of ribs without changing costly gates uses a mold having a prescribed gear shape including a prescribed number of grooves substantially radially arranged in the mold. A prescribed number of gates is provided for pouring molten plastic into the mold. When a plastic gear is molded and separated from the mold, a prescribed number of grooves are additionally cut at a middle angular position between each of the pair of neighboring grooves without changing the gates. Then, another gear having increased number of ribs is molded using the same gates.

Abstract: To suppress vibration and percussive noises generally created by a separation pad and pressure spring in a sheet feeding apparatus, a sheet feeding tray stacks and maintains sheets, a sheet feeding roller launches sheets stacked on the sheet feeding tray, and a separation pad separates sheets from each other. In particular, when feeding a last sheet of one job, the sheet feeding roller stops rotating while pinching an uppermost sheet of a next job in cooperation with the separation pad.

Abstract: A rotating apparatus for rotating, by transferring a driving force generated by a motor disposed in a body to a rotation member detachable from the body. A driving shaft disposed in the body transfers the driving force by rotating itself in a prescribed direction. A driving force receiving device has a receiving joint and is in the rotation member to receive the driving force. A transferring device engages the driving shaft and transfers the driving force to the rotation member. The transferring device includes transferring joint for engaging with the receiving joint. A moving member moves the transferring device back and forth along the driving shaft so as to engage and disengage the transmitting joint respectively with the receiving joint when the receiving device contacts the transferring device. A guiding member is provided at least one of the driving shaft and the transferring device. A camshaft is provided on the driving shaft and the transferring device and fits into the guiding member.

Abstract: A gear molding method for molding a plurality of plastic gears having a different number of ribs without changing costly gates uses a mold having a prescribed gear shape including a prescribed number of grooves substantially radially arranged in the mold. A prescribed number of gates is provided for pouring molten plastic into the mold. When a plastic gear is molded and separated from the mold, a prescribed number of grooves are additionally cut at a middle angular position between each of the pair of neighboring grooves without changing the gates. Then, another gear having increased number of ribs is molded using the same gates.