Abstract: A photoconductor is provided. The photoconductor includes a cylindrical conductive support, a water-repellent resin film, a coating film, and a flange. The cylindrical conductive support has an end part having an inner circumferential surface having a surface roughness Rz of from 3 to 10 ?m. The water-repellent resin film is on the inner circumferential surface of the end part of the cylindrical conductive support. The coating film is on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical conductive support. The flange has a cylindrical fitting part having an outer circumferential surface secured to the inner circumferential surface of the end part of the cylindrical conductive support.

Abstract: Electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate, an organic photosensitive layer on an outer peripheral surface of the conductive substrate, and an inorganic protective layer on an outer peripheral surface of the organic photosensitive layer, the inorganic protective layer containing gallium and oxygen. A volume resistivity of an inner region of the inorganic protective layer, the inner region extending 0.2 ?m or about 0.2 ?m from an inner peripheral surface of the inorganic protective layer in a thickness direction, and a volume resistivity of an outer region of the inorganic protective layer, the outer region extending 0.2 ?m or about 0.2 ?m from an outer peripheral surface of the inorganic protective layer in the thickness direction, are both 6.0×107 ?·cm or more and 4.0×108 ?·cm or less or about 6.0×107 ?·cm or more and about 4.0×108 ?·cm or less.

Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive support, a photosensitive layer, and a surface protective layer disposed in sequence. The surface protective layer includes a cured product of a composition containing a polymerizable compound, a charge transporting material, and at least two polymerization initiators. The polymerization initiators include an acyl phosphine oxide and an O-acyl oxime.

Abstract: A toner is provided. The toner includes an amorphous resin, a crystalline resin dispersed in the amorphous resin, and a release agent. The toner satisfies the following inequality: B/A<0.8 where A represents a perimeter of the crystalline resin and B represents a length of a part of the perimeter A of the crystalline resin at which the crystalline resin is in contact with the amorphous resin, A and B being measured from a cross-sectional image of the toner observed with transmission electron microscope.

Abstract: An object of the embodiments herein is to provide a toner having excellent visibility upon irradiation with UV light, a toner cartridge, and an image forming apparatus. According to one embodiment, a toner contains at least two or more fluorescent coloring agents selected from the group consisting of a first fluorescent coloring agent, a second fluorescent coloring agent, and a third fluorescent coloring agent, and a binder resin. The first fluorescent coloring agent has a fluorescence peak in a wavelength region of 400 nm or more and less than 500 nm. The second fluorescent coloring agent has a fluorescence peak in a wavelength region of 500 nm or more and less than 600 nm. The third fluorescent coloring agent has a fluorescence peak in a wavelength region of 600 nm or more and less than 650 nm.

Abstract: A developer according to an embodiment includes a toner having a color erasable by heating and a carrier. The carrier includes a core portion and a coating portion covering at least 50% of the core portion. The coating portion includes a white-colored additive agent which suppresses an increase in electrification due to friction between the toner and the carrier, a mass of the additive agent being between 20% and 60% of a total mass of the coating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a high-voltage generating circuit which applies to a charging member an oscillation voltage in which a DC voltage and an AC voltage are superimposed, a voltage controller which controls the DC voltage and a peak-to-peak voltage value Vpp of the AC voltage, and a current detector which detects a DC current value Idc between the charging member and an image carrier. The voltage controller detects an Idc(O?) when an oscillation voltage having a Vpp(O?) at an intersection point of a straight line L1 passing through coordinates A(Vpp(A), Idc(A)) and coordinates B(Vpp(B), Idc(B)) and a straight line passing through coordinates C(Vpp(C), Idc(C)) and parallel to a coordinate axis representing Vpp. Vpp(O) at an intersection point O of a straight line L2 passing through coordinates C and coordinates O?(Vpp(O?), Idc(O?)) and the straight line L1 is determined as an appropriate peak-to-peak voltage value.

Abstract: The present invention performs inplane uneven density correction that suppresses a number of tone correction properties and has few correction residuals. Accordingly, a correction unit corrects pixel data D based on a plurality of tone correction properties respectively corresponding to a plurality of spot diameters of a light to expose on a surface of a photoreceptor, and to generate a plurality of pieces of correction data D1 and D2. A setting unit sets a ratio Rb based on a spot diameter on the photoreceptor of a pixel corresponding to the pixel data D. A blending unit generates tone correction data Dc by blending the plurality of pieces of correction data D1 and D2 based on the ratio Rb.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a light source, an optical scanning device, an image bearer, an image density sensor, an image processing circuit, and a light source driver. The plurality of images are formed with a plurality of light intensities and a plurality of image area rates on the image bearer. The image density sensor detects a plurality of image densities of the plurality of images at a plurality of positions in a main scanning direction. The image processing circuit determines a light intensity correction value to correct an image density of a target image in the main scanning direction based on the plurality of light intensities, image area rates, image densities, and positions, and the image area rate of the target image, and outputs a control signal to adjust a light intensity. The light source driver adjusts the light intensity based on the control signal.

Abstract: An exposure unit comprises a polygon mirror configured to include a plurality of reflection surfaces; first to fourth light sources arranged at different angle positions along a rotation direction of the polygon mirror; two photo detectors configured to selectively detect first laser light and fourth laser light respectively at a scanning start end side of a main scanning direction among first to fourth laser light which are emitted from the respective light sources and reflected by the polygon mirror to be scanned in the main scanning direction; and a control section configured to control light emitting timing of the first to the fourth light sources on the basis of detection results of these photo detectors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a control unit. The control unit sets the toner-layer-forming electric potential difference lower than an electric potential when forming the image on the print medium, forms a combined patch for calibration by the set toner-layer-forming electric potential difference for calibration, so as to adjust the developing-bias potential by measuring a print density of the formed combined patch. The combined patch includes a first patch and a plurality of second patches. The plurality of second patches have a width within a range of 0.2 mm to the predetermined value in the peripheral-velocity direction of the photoreceptor, extend with a length equal to or more than the predetermined value in the rotation-shaft direction of the photoreceptor, and are arranged at a predetermined interval in the peripheral-velocity direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying roller rotatable in a first rotating direction, and a developer regulating member which controls a thickness of a developer layer carried on a surface of the developer carrying roller. The developer regulating member has a developer layer thickness regulating part abutting with the surface of the developer carrying roller and a projecting part. The projecting part extends towards an upstream side in the first rotating direction from the abutting part, and a non-contacting gap is formed between the projecting part and the surface of the developer carrying roller. The projecting part has a concave shape at a side facing the developer carrying roller that follows an arc-shaped surface of the developer carrying roller and forms a portion having a gap width H and a continuous length L.

Abstract: A toner case includes a case main body, a rotator, a transmitter and a moving mechanism. The case main body stores a toner. The rotator is stored in the case main body and rotates around a rotation axis. The transmitter is arranged outside the case main body and transmits rotation to the rotator. The moving mechanism moves the transmitter between a first position and a second position which is arranged at an outside of the first position in a rotation axis direction of the rotator. The moving mechanism includes a holder holding the transmitter. As the holder moves with respect to the case main body, the transmitter moves between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller, a developer bag, a housing, and a shaft. The developer bag stores a developer therein. The housing includes a developer storage chamber accommodating the developer bag therein. The housing supports the developing roller. The shaft is fixed to the developer bang and movable pull the developer bag theretoward.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes: a housing including a developer outlet; a conveying member configured to convey a developer to the developer outlet and including a spiral member rotatably installed in the housing; and a developer bag configured to accommodate the developer, be installed in the housing, and rotate in connection with the conveying member, the developer bag including an opening for discharging the developer into the housing.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a developing device includes a developing container that accommodates a two-component developer, a toner concentration detecting unit that detects a toner concentration of the developer by a detecting unit exposed to an inner wall of the developing container, a transport member that is disposed within the developing container and stirs and transport the developer with a transport blade having a pitch that is equal to or less than a size of the detecting unit of the toner concentration detecting unit, and a plurality of gap holding members that is provided at a position facing the toner concentration detecting unit of the transport member and holds a gap such that a tip thereof is abutted against the inner wall of the developing container.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding developer includes a first feeding member for feeding the developer in a feeding direction and including a drive transmitting portion, and a second feeding member including a drive receiving portion and a helical blade as a feeding portion. In addition, a bearing portion rotatably supports the second feeding member in a portion between the drive receiving portion and the helical blade, wherein the drive transmitting portion and the drive receiving portion engage with each other so as to enable delivery of the developer from the first feeding member to the second feeding member while transmitting a driving force of the first feeding member to the second feeding member. The bearing portion is provided on one side of a second rotational axis of the second feeding member with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: In the image forming device, the main body has a loading port. The image bearing unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The toner unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The developer unit is configured to be detachably attached to the main body thorough the loading port. The toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are located in this order from the loading port to an inside of the main body, when the toner unit, the developer unit, and the image bearing unit are attached in the main body. The toner unit is configured to be independently detached from the main body, when the image bearing unit and the developer unit are attached to the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer member that secondarily transfers a developer image primarily transferred to a intermediate transfer medium, to a recording medium; a charging member that charges residual developer remaining on the intermediate transfer medium after the developer image is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium; and a storage portion that stores information on a image bearing member. A bias applied to the charging member is changed based on the information when the residual developer charged by the charging member is collected by being transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a discharging device for discharging the drum at a discharging portion opposing the surface of the drum; and a control unit for executing, during non-image formation, a cleaning operation for transferring the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum by applying a voltage from transfer voltage source to the transfer member. The control unit does not effect discharge by the discharging device for at least a region of the drum where a transfer voltage for transferring a normal-polarity toner of the toner deposited on the transfer member onto the drum is applied to the transfer member in the cleaning operation, and then passes the region of the drum through the charging portion in a state in which a voltage larger than a surface potential of the drum in a normal polarity side is applied to the charging member.

Abstract: In an example, a method of controlling the temperature of a print blanket within a printing device includes printing a print job. During the printing, a pause phase start trigger is sensed. In response to sensing the pause phase start trigger, a set-point of a print blanket heating lamp is changed from a print set-point to a pause set-point to control the print blanket temperature during the pause phase.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a pressing member arranged on an inner circumferential surface of an intermediate transfer belt, configured to correct a position of the intermediate transfer belt in the width direction to be fit within a movable region, positions of both ends of the pressing member in the width direction are respectively arranged outside positions of both ends of the movable region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearer; a nip forming member, a nip width changing device, a power source; and a controller. The controller switches between a first mode and a second mode according to a predetermined condition. In the first mode, a duty of the transfer bias is a first duty and a width of a transfer nip is a first width. In the second mode, the duty of the transfer bias is a second duty lower than the first duty and the width of the transfer nip is a second width greater than the first width. The duty is (T?Tt)/T×100% where T denotes one cycle of the transfer bias, and Tt denotes a time period, in which the transfer bias is on a transfer-directional side relative to a time-averaged value of the transfer bias, in the one cycle.

Abstract: A method for forming a fixed toner image includes maintaining a fixing device temperature at a standby temperature, and after wake-up from the standby state, forming an unfixed toner image on a sheet using a low melting point toner. The difference between temperatures that cause a viscosity of the toner in first and second conditions to be 1.0 (105 Pa·s) is within a range of 30° C. to 60° C., the toner in the first condition not having been maintained in a 160° C. environment for 24 hours and the toner in the second condition having been maintained in a 160° C. environment for 24 hours. The method further comprises increasing the fixing device temperature to a fixing temperature of the toner, which is higher than the standby temperature, and after the fixing device temperature has reached the fixing temperature, passing the sheet with the unfixed toner image through the fixing device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of bushes, a pair of bearing members, a support plate, and a fixing frame. The pair of bushes are attached to both end parts of a rotation shaft of a heating rotating member. The pair of bearing members supports the bushes in a rotatable manner. The support plate has insertion hole into which the bearing member is inserted so that the bearing member is fastened, and a positioning pin. The fixing frame has a positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted. The support plate is provided with a distortion prevention part for preventing occurrence of distortion around the insertion hole when the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole. At least a part of the distortion prevention part is positioned within a first area.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium includes: an endless belt that is configured to be able to rotate; a pressure member that is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt; and a sliding member that has a sliding surface in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the belt and is arranged to face the pressure member with the belt interposed between the sliding member and the pressure member, wherein a direction in which the belt rotating slides on the sliding surface is referred to as a direction of conveyance, a plurality of first grooves as well as a plurality of second grooves each allowing two of the plurality of first grooves adjacent to each other to communicate with each other are formed on the sliding surface, and the first grooves and the second grooves are formed in a non-grid pattern.

Abstract: A fixing member includes a base material, an elastic layer, and a surface layer, all of which are laminated in the order in a thickness direction, wherein the surface layer has a porous structure formed by a plurality of pores, each of which has a pore size of less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing belt with no ends configured to stretch rotatably; a heating unit configured to heat the fixing belt; a fixing member disposed outside the fixing belt and configured to be in contact with the fixing belt by pressurizing; a pressing member disposed inside the fixing belt and configured to press the fixing member with the fixing belt involved; and a lubricant supply unit configured to supply a lubricant to the inner periphery of the fixing belt so as to supply the lubricant between the pressing member and the fixing belt, wherein the lubricant supply unit is disposed inside the fixing belt, configured to hold the lubricant, and includes a holding unit provided with a lubricant ejection port having a longitudinal shape and extending along a width direction of the fixing belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a transfer unit that transfers an image carried by the image carrier to a continuous medium; a fixing device including a first fixing member that contacts the continuous medium and heats the image transferred to the continuous medium and a second fixing member that is disposed so as to face the first fixing member with the continuous medium therebetween and presses the image, the fixing device fixing the image transferred to the continuous medium, the fixing device being configured so that the first fixing member and the second fixing member are capable of contacting or separating from each other; and a separation member that contacts the continuous medium and separates the continuous medium from the first fixing member when the first fixing member and the second fixing member separate from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires rendering information including one or both of a text and an illustration; a first image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet material based on the rendering information that has been acquired; and a second image forming unit that forms an electrostatic attraction toner image on the sheet material, the electrostatic attraction toner image being for imparting an electrostatic attraction function to the sheet material, the electrostatic attraction function allowing the sheet material to be attracted to an object surface by using static electricity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an information obtainer, a memory, a candidate determining unit, and an image forming device. The information obtainer obtains feature information from the target recording medium. The memory stores at least one set of recording medium information regarding the target recording medium associated with the feature information and at least one set of image forming condition information corresponding to the recording medium information. The recording medium information is identification information. The candidate determining unit determines a candidate recording medium information from the recording medium information stored in the memory based on the feature information of the target recording medium obtained by the information obtainer. The image forming device forms an image on the target recording medium based on the image forming condition information in the memory according to the candidate recording medium information determined by the candidate determining unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image, an intermediate transfer member for a measuring image, a measurement unit that measures the measuring image, a conversion unit that converts a measurement result of the measuring image on a basis of a conversion condition, a determination unit that determines an image forming condition on a basis of the converted measurement result, and an update unit that updates the conversion condition while forming and measuring first measuring images, converting the measurement results of the first measuring images, determining a measuring image forming condition on a basis of the converted measurement results, forming second measuring images on a basis of the measuring image forming condition, obtaining measuring results of the second measuring images output from another measuring unit, and updating the conversion condition on a basis of the measurement results of the second measuring images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes optical sensor units provided opposed to an image bearing member; light blockers provided between the image bearing member and the optical sensor units, respectively, the blockers being movable between locking and exposing positions, respectively; calibration members provided where the light is incident when the blockers are in the blocking positions, respectively, the calibration members calibrating data acquired by the optical sensor units; a movable link connected with the blockers; a switching portion for switching the blockers between the exposing and blocking positions; and a positioning portion for determining the blocking position, the positioning portion being disposed at a position where at least one of the blockers is contacted to the positioning portion when the blockers are switched from the exposing positions to the blocking positions.

Abstract: Example systems and related methods may provide replenishment services for a plurality of printing devices. An example method includes receiving, at a replenishment server, information indicative of at least one aspect of a printing device. The printing device includes a sensor configured to obtain the information about the at least one aspect. The method includes, based on the received information, accumulating historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of a plurality of printing devices. The method further includes receiving, at the replenishment server, information indicative of the at least one aspect of a target printing device. The method yet further includes determining a trigger based on a comparison of the information received from the target printing device with the historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of the plurality of printing devices and taking an action based on the trigger type.

Abstract: An image formation device includes: an image formation section configured to develop, using toner, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier based on job image information, thereby transferring a first image onto continuous paper; a hardware processor configured to determine whether or not a serial printing distance is equal to or shorter than a first threshold, wherein the serial printing distance is a distance at which the first image is printed on the continuous paper, and control the image formation section to print the first image on the continuous paper when the serial printing distance is equal to or shorter than a first threshold, and to decrease the proportion of deteriorated toner in a developer by printing the first image and a second image on the continuous paper when the serial printing distance exceeds a first threshold, wherein the second image is based on an image information.

Abstract: A post processing apparatus is attachable to an image forming apparatus. In a state in which a concavely curled recording material is placed on a second placement unit, when a plurality of the recording materials which are convexly curled are discharged to the second placement unit, a control unit causes a post processing unit to perform specified post processing on at least one recording material of the plurality of recording materials, causes a discharging unit to discharge the at least one recording material to the second placement unit, and after the discharge, causes the post processing unit to perform the specified post processing on the recording material or the recording materials of the plurality of recording materials other than the at least one recording material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus has an image forming device, a discharge port of a recording medium, a conveying device of the recording medium, and a controller. The controller judges a kind of the recording medium and the discharge port that is a conveying destination of the recording medium. The controller controls a conveying speed of the recording medium to be discharged from the discharge port by the conveying device, in accordance with the kind of the recording medium and the conveying destination of the recording medium which have been judged.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus that includes: first to third image formation units provided in this order in a traveling direction of a transfer target medium; a detector configured to detect first to third correction patterns formed on the transfer target medium by the first to third image formation units, respectively; and a control unit programed to control image misregistration correction based on a result of detection by the detector. The control unit causes the first and third image formation units to form the first and third correction patterns on the transfer target medium, respectively. When an amount of image misregistration between the first correction pattern and the third correction pattern is less than a predetermined value, the control unit neither causes the second image formation unit to form the second correction pattern, nor executes the image misregistration correction.

Abstract: The curl correction device includes a first guide that guides a sheet to a nip portion between a first rotation member and a second rotation member, a support portion that rotatably supports the first guide about a fulcrum on the downstream side of the first guide, and a restriction portion that restricts a rotation of the first guide rotating about the fulcrum by being in contact with the first guide. The first guide is rotatable about the fulcrum so as to become separated from the restriction portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photoreceptor that includes an electroconductive substrate, an undercoat layer which is provided on the electroconductive substrate and has electrostatic capacitance per unit area of from 2.5×10?11 F/cm2 to 2.5×10?10 F/cm2, and a photosensitive layer provided on the undercoat layer; a charging unit; an electrostatic latent image forming unit; a developing unit; an intermediate transfer member; a primary transfer unit that primarily transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, onto the surface of an intermediate transfer member, while providing a primary transfer current value of from 80 ?A to 160 ?A; and a secondary transfer unit that secondarily transfers the toner image transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member, onto a surface of a recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a moving part supported movably relative to the main body, a support portion provided in the main body to support the moving part movably, a rack provided in one of the main body and the moving part and having a rack gear, a damper gear provided in the other of the main body and the moving part to be meshed with the rack gear, a damper configured to apply resistance force to rotation of the damper gear, and a restricting portion provided in the other of the main body and the moving part to be in contact with an abutting portion extending along the rack gear in the rack, the restricting portion restricting a position of the rack to prevent the rack gear from separating from the damper gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover and a hinge portion. The hinge portion couples the cover with an apparatus main body in openable/closable manner. The hinge portion includes an inner rail member, an intermediate rail member, and a movable rail member. The inner rail member is provided on an inner side of an opening in the apparatus main body, and is arc-shaped. The intermediate rail member is slidably supported by the inner rail member and displaced between a first position and a second position. The movable rail member includes a coupling portion and a supported portion, is slidably supported by the intermediate rail member, and when the cover is opened, is slid from a third position to a fourth position which is further outward of the opening than the third position and at which the coupling portion is disposed below a lower edge of the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a development unit including a developing member, a pressing member configured to press the development unit mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member or bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and an urging member configured to urge the pressing member, wherein, when mounting the development unit on the mounting unit, the development unit moves in a first direction from the pressing member toward the development unit, parallel to a direction in which the pressing member and the development unit are arranged side by side, wherein the pressing member is movable in the first direction, and wherein the urging member urges the pressing member to move the pressing member in the first direction.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing including an outer surface, a small-diameter gear, a large-diameter gear, a first gear, and a moving member. The small-diameter gear may include a first engaging portion positioned on at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the small-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear may be positioned farther from the outer surface than the small-diameter gear from the outer surface. The large-diameter gear may be rotatable together with the small-diameter gear. The first gear may include a second engaging portion, a first end surface, a second end surface, and at least one protrusion. The moving member may include a contact portion configured to move the moving member from one position to another position in a state where the contact portion is in contact with the protrusion.

Abstract: A replaceable imaging unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes an electrical contact positioned within a pocket of an electrical connector of the imaging unit that has an opening facing toward the front of a housing of the imaging unit to permit a corresponding electrical connector of the image forming device to enter the pocket and contact the electrical contact when the replaceable imaging unit is installed in the image forming device. A guide wall on a first side of the housing is spaced toward the front of the housing from the opening of the pocket of the electrical connector. The guide wall is unobstructed to contact the corresponding electrical connector of the image forming device during insertion of the replaceable imaging unit into the image forming device for aligning the corresponding electrical connector of the image forming device along a vertical dimension of the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge including a rotatable photosensitive drum or a rotatable developing sleeve; and a supporting member for detachably supporting the cartridge, the supporting member and being movable between an inside position for permitting mounting of the cartridge to the apparatus and an outside position in direction along an axial direction of the drum or the sleeve. The cartridge is mountable to the supporting member from above. When the supporting member is in the outside position with the cartridge mounted thereon, an upstream end of the supporting member with respect to a moving direction from the inside position toward the outside position is inside the forming apparatus. When the supporting member is in the outside position, a downstream portion thereof is lower than that when the supporting member is in the inside position.

Abstract: A process cartridge, including a process cartridge housing, a photosensitive drum driving component, a driving force receiver, a flange component and a control mechanism. Opening parts are arranged on the driving force receiver and a retaining component is arranged on the process cartridge. When the control mechanism controls the driving force receiver to retract, the retaining component keeps the driving force receiver at a position non-interferential with a driving head of an image forming device. The driving force receiver and the flange component of the process cartridge are disengaged in a retracting state. In this state, the driving force receiving protrusion do not interfere with the front end column body of a machine driving head, and the process cartridge can be mounted and dismounted more smoothly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an air blowing device, an apparatus body, and at least one developer container that has an outer periphery, that is disposed in the apparatus body, and that contains developer. The image forming apparatus has a first transport path that allows a recording medium having undergone heat fixing is transported therethrough and a second transport path that extends in a different direction from a direction of the first transport path and that allows the recording medium to be transported along the outer periphery of the at least one developer container. A space is formed between the at least one developer container and the second transport path. The air blowing device is disposed between the first transport path and the at least one developer container, causes air to flow through the space so as to blow the air toward the first transport path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer unit configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the printer unit including a fixing portion configured to heat-fix the toner image on the recording material; a reader unit provided above the printer unit and configured to read an image of an original, the reader unit including an image sensor configured to optically read the original; wherein in a side of the reader unit opposed to the printer unit, there are provided a suction opening configured to suck air from an outside of the reader unit and a discharging opening configured to discharge the air to an outside of the reader unit, and wherein an air flow path connecting the suction opening and the discharging opening overlaps with an entirety of the image sensor in a main scan direction which is an axial direction of the image sensor.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing unit, a rotating member that rotates in a predetermined direction to generate an airflow in a space that accommodates the developing unit, and first and second partitioning members. The first partitioning member is disposed between the developing unit and the rotating member, and has first and second openings that are each provided with an opening-closing mechanism and respectively disposed at upstream and downstream sides in a direction of the airflow generated when the rotating member rotates in the predetermined direction. The second partitioning member is disposed between the developing unit and an external space, and has third and fourth openings that are each provided with an opening-closing mechanism and respectively disposed at downstream and upstream sides in the direction of the airflow generated when the rotating member rotates in the predetermined direction.