Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of cleaning contact members by using developer leakage preventing components includes a photosensitive member, a developer feeding member which feeds a developer to supply the developer to the photosensitive member, contact members which keep a development gap or a development nip constant between the photosensitive member and the developer feeding member, and a sealing member which contacts the developer feeding member to prevent the developer from leaking. The sealing member may include cleaning portions which contact the contact members to clean a surface of the contact members. The sealing member may further include a sealing portion for preventing leakage of the developer, and cut portions which section the sealing portion from the cleaning portions. The cleaning portions may extend in a direction different from the sealing portion and contact the contact members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member, on which an electrostatic image is formed; a development unit which is provided with a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying a developer, so as to develop the electrostatic image; a storage place which can store therein the developer spattering from the development unit; a shielding member which is disposed in a region outside of a development region in the storage place; and a foreign material collecting member which is disposed in a region farther outside of the shielding member in the storage place.

Abstract: A lubricant application device includes a lubricant, a lubricant supplier, a lubricant smoother, and a sealing member. The lubricant is supplied to a surface of an image carrier for carrying a toner image. The lubricant supplier is provided downstream from a cleaning blade for removing residual toner after the toner image is transferred from the image carrier in a direction of movement of the image carrier and supplies the lubricant onto the surface of the image carrier. The lubricant smoother is provided downstream from the lubricant supplier in the direction of movement of the image carrier and slidably contacts the image carrier to smooth the supplied lubricant. The sealing member seals a space between the cleaning blade and the lubricant smoother at both ends of the lubricant supplier in an axial direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a rotatable image-carrier; a charging unit that contacts and charges a surface of the image-carrier; an exposing unit that exposes the surface and forms a latent-image; a developing unit that develops the latent-image with a developer; a transfer unit that transfers a developed-toner-image onto a transfer-receiving member; a cleaning unit that is provided with a plate shaped cleaning member having a free end that faces upwards a corner portion of the free end contacting the surface, the cleaning member cleaning off developer remaining on the surface after transfer, and a developer pooling member provided between the cleaning member and the transfer unit, that temporarily pools the cleaned off developer at the free end; and a friction-coefficient reducing unit that reduces a friction-coefficient at the surface, and that reduces the friction-coefficient during non-image forming period to less than that during image forming period is provided.

Abstract: A layer-thickness regulating member includes a thin plate member and a projection member provided on a free edge portion of the thin plate member. A leak preventing members include a first seal member and a second seal member. The first seal member includes a first downstream portion disposed adjacent to the projection member on a front surface of the thin plate member, and a first upstream portion extending upstream of the first downstream portion. The second seal member includes a second downstream portion, and a second upstream portion which extends upstream of the second downstream portion. The second upstream portion includes a covered portion covered with the first upstream portion, an opposed portion disposed adjacent to the covered portion and opposed to the adjacent portion of the projection member and an exposed portion extending upstream of the covered portion and the opposed portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a spacer roller that contacts a photosensitive drum outside a running region of a transfer member. The spacer roller forms a gap between a developing roller and the photosensitive drum. A cleaning device is positioned at downstream side of a nip position formed between the photosensitive drum and the transfer member. A toner removing blade is disposed between the downstream side of the nip and an upstream side of the cleaning device. The toner removing blade has a contact portion that contacts a contact region between the photosensitive drum and the spacer roller. The rotation axis of the photosensitive drum extends along an inner end of the contact portion. This inner end of the contact portion is positioned within a toner collecting region in which toner is scraped off by the cleaning device.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade, a receiving member, an inlet seal, an adhering member, and an end seal. The cleaning blade is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum to remove residual toner therefrom. The receiving member receives the residual toner. The inlet seal guides the residual toner to the receiving member. The adhering member adheres the inlet seal to the receiving member. The end seal is arranged along the end portions of the cleaning blade and the inlet seal. The inlet seal covers the end seal and extends out from the end seal in its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device, a developer container and a hole connection member. The developing device is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which it comes close to and goes away from the image carrier. And, the developing device develops a latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a visible image. The hole connection member is supported so as to be movable relative to an inlet of the developing device in the movable direction of the developing device and connects the inlet and an outlet of the developer container.

Abstract: In this invention, the charging units are in the separate construction for the main chargers and for the ozone ducts. When installing the process units, the ozone ducts are placed on the elastic sheets of the duct cases that are fixed to the main frame. The process units are slid while slanting the ozone ducts to the duct cases by the main chargers against the bias force of the elastic sheets. Fluctuation in manufacturing accuracy is absorbed by the elastic sheets and the maintenance efficiency when installing/removing the process units is improved by sliding the process units smoothly. Further, the charging units are supported certainly by the main frame.

Abstract: An image-forming device has a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on a cleanable region, which has a second width which is greater than the first width. The cleanable region is placed with respect to the thin layer forming region so that each widthwise end of the second width is positioned outside of each widthwise end of the first width in the widthwise direction.

Abstract: A layer-thickness regulating member may include a thin plate member and a projection member. The projection member includes a first pressure contact portion that comes into pressure-contact with each of seal areas, a second pressure contact portion that comes into pressure-contact with each of side end areas, and a third pressure contact portion that comes into pressure-contact with a central area. A notched portion is formed at a position of the distal end of the thin plate member where each of the second pressure contact portions is formed, by cutting the thin plate member from an end edge of the distal end toward a downstream side of the rotation direction of the developing agent carrier.

Abstract: A seal member 264 prevents leakage of developer to the side of a photosensitive drum 10 when cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 of a color printer 1, and has a contact portion 264a and a movement control portion 264b. The contact portion 264a, through which developer is unable to pass, is able to deform elastically in a direction, and to approach and to separate from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, able to be in line contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 such that developer is unable to pass between the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and the contact portion 264a. The movement control portion 264b is connected to the contact portion 264a, and configured to control the movement of the seal member 264 with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10 of the contact portion 264a.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided with a cleaning unit (35) disposed downstream from a position at which a toner image is transferred to a paper. The cleaning unit (35) is provided with a cleaning blade (35c) for scraping off residual toner attached to an image bearing member and a toner catching sheet (35e) for preventing the residual toner or paper dust which have been scraped off from falling outside the cleaning unit. The free length in the toner catching sheet (35e) between affixed positions of a first end portion which is affixed to the cleaning unit (35) and a second end portion which abuts an outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member is determined by an amount of paper dust buildup on the outer circumferential portion of the image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning device is disclosed which includes a cleaning member to clean the surface of a charging roll that charges an image carrier. The cleaning member is fixed at one end thereof and contacts at a free end side surface with the surface of the charging roll. The free end of the cleaning member is inserted in between the image carrier and the charging roll. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the cleaning device.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a plurality of developer cartridges, a developer moving member and a conveying belt. Each of the developer cartridges includes a casing, a developing roller and a leakage restraining member. The peripheral surface of the developer cartridge has a first peripheral part to convey the developer accommodated in the casing and a second peripheral part. The leakage restraining member is disposed between the casing and the second peripheral part and slidingly contacts the second peripheral part so as to restrain the developer from leaking out of the first peripheral part. The developer moving member moves developer leaked from between the second peripheral part and the leakage restraining member out of a predetermined region at a position opposing the leakage restraining member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the apparatus, includes (a) a plurality of mounting portions for detachably mounting process cartridges, respectively, the process cartridges each including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer for use by the developing roller to develop the electrostatic latent image, a developer supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing roller from the developer accommodating portion, a sealing member for unsealably sealing the developer supply opening, and unsealing means for unsealing the developer supply opening by removing the sealing member from the developer supply opening; (b) a motor; and (c) driving force transmitting means for selectively transmitting a driving f

Abstract: A developing agent leakage preventing member is provided that is attached to the developer housing and that has a housing attaching face which contacts with the developer housing, a front side face which opposes the housing attaching face, and two side faces each of which connects to each other end portions of the housing attaching face and the front side face in the longitudinal direction of the opening of the developer housing. At least one of the side faces of the developing agent leakage preventing member is formed as an inclined side face that is inclined in a predetermined direction relative to the housing attaching face when pressed from the front side face side. In a developing apparatus, developing agent (toner) leakage is avoided.

Abstract: A sealing member which is compressed by a contactless temperature sensor and a cover member of a fixing unit is provided between the sensor and the cover member. An opening portion for temperature detection is shut off from a space around the fixing unit by the sealing member, thereby preventing the air from flowing from the opening portion into the fixing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image bearing member for bearing a toner image while rotating, a developing device including a developing roller for supplying toner to a surface of the image bearing member and a pair of gap rollers held in contact with opposite end portions of the image bearing member to define a specified gap between the developing roller and the surface of the image bearing member, and a lubricant applicator for applying a lubricant to parts of the opposite end portions of the image bearing member where the gap rollers are in contact.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a sheet member, and a plurality of seal members. The casing accommodates developer and is formed with an opening for communicating inside of the casing with outside thereof. The developing roller is disposed on the opening and is rotatably supported on the casing. The sheet member is disposed between the casing and the developing roller. The plurality of seal members is attached to the sheet member in order to prevent the developer from leaking through the opening.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cleaning device of the image forming apparatus, the method includes: applying a liquid material to an area outer than an edge located at an end portion of a toner accommodating portion in the longitudinal direction of a toner removing member, wherein the liquid material is applied so as to satisfy one of the predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A developer container for an image forming apparatus, said developer container including a rotatable member; a container body for containing a developer; a sealing member, provided in the container body, for preventing leakage of the developer out of the container body; a sheet, provided in the container body, for contacting the rotatable member to guide the developer into the container body; a gap provided between the container body and the sealing member and covered by the sheet; a communication hole provided in the container body in fluid communication with the gap; packing material filled in the gap through the communication hole for preventing leakage of the developer through the gap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to seals which may be used in an image forming apparatus. The seals may prevent the leakage of image forming materials, e.g. as between a blade or a roll and an image forming apparatus housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus suppresses the deposition of transfer-residual toner on a sealing sheet and also suppresses the dropping of deposited toner therefrom, at a high temperature and in a high humidity environment. The apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade for removing toner, a housing portion for housing the toner removed by the cleaning blade, and a sealing sheet for preventing the leakage of toner and performs charge elimination upstream of the sealing sheet in the direction of movement of the photosensitive drum, wherein a work function difference between the sealing sheet and the photosensitive drum is equal to or greater than 0.25 eV.

Abstract: A development device includes a plurality of soft members, wherein at least one of the plurality of soft members has an end portion having a shape section of which width is smaller toward a tip end of the end portion; and wherein the end portion is placed on another one of the soft members.

Abstract: A transfer device includes: a transfer belt hung around a roller; and a transfer belt sealing member in contact with a transfer surface and a circumferential end surface of the transfer belt and in contact with the circumferential end surface of the transfer belt diagonally relative to a thickness direction of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A transfer device has a cleaning means for preventing any leakage of the toner and the liquid carrier remaining on a transfer belt. The transfer device includes a transfer belt onto which liquid developer images are transferred, the transfer belt being wound around a roller having an axial length of L1, a transfer belt cleaning blade to be brought into contact with the roller by way of the transfer belt, the transfer belt cleaning blade having a length L2 in the axial direction of the roller, and cleaning blade seal members arranged at the opposite lateral ends of the transfer belt cleaning blade in the axial direction of the roller and having a length of L3.

Abstract: In this invention, the charging units are in the separate construction for the main chargers and for the ozone ducts. When installing the process units, the ozone ducts are placed on the elastic sheets of the duct cases that are fixed to the main frame. The process units are slid while slanting the ozone ducts to the duct cases by the main chargers against the bias force of the elastic sheets. Fluctuation in manufacturing accuracy is absorbed by the elastic sheets and the maintenance efficiency when installing/removing the process units is improved by sliding the process units smoothly. Further, the charging units are supported certainly by the main frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for a printing device includes a roller, a sealing member defining a generally C-shaped indentation, and a cleaning blade positioned against the roller. The cleaning blade includes an end portion positioned in the generally C-shaped indentation.

Abstract: Toner remaining on a photosensitive drum may be prevented from being given out after a toner image is transferred, by causing a seal member to abut on both a photosensitive portion of the photosensitive drum and a flange disposed on each of ends of the photosensitive portion and having less hardness than the photosensitive portion, further a flange being configured to be smaller in outer diameter than the photosensitive portion so that a contact pressure of the seal member on the flange may be reduced, and accordingly, in an image formation apparatus, this may allow flange galling to reduce without seal characteristic degradation.

Abstract: A sealing member which is compressed by a contactless temperature sensor and a cover member of a fixing unit is provided between the sensor and the cover member. An opening portion for temperature detection is shut off from a space around the fixing unit by the sealing member, thereby preventing the air from flowing from the opening portion into the fixing unit.

Abstract: A cartridge mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a molded resin complex in which a first resin molded product and a second resin molded product are engaged with each other so as to be separable. The first resin molded product is obtained by molding a first resin pervious to laser light, and the second resin molded product is obtained by molding a second resin absorptive to laser light. The first resin molded product and the second resin molded product are engaged with each other so as to be separable, by one or more protrusions of the second resin molded product which is formed by applying laser light from the first resin molded product side while placing the first resin molded product and the second resin molded product either in a close state or in a contact state.

Abstract: A developer container for an image forming apparatus, said developer container including a rotatable member; a container body for containing a developer; a sealing member, provided in the container body, for preventing leakage of the developer out of the container body; a sheet, provided in the container body, for contacting the rotatable member to guide the developer into the container body; a gap provided between the container body and the sealing member and covered by the sheet; a communication hole provided in the container body in fluid communication with the gap; packing material filled in the gap through the communication hole for preventing leakage of the developer through the gap.

Abstract: A coupling member of a toner supply container in a toner supply system detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a rotatable engagement portion provided with a hook portion which is hook-engageable with an engagement member provided in the image forming apparatus to receive a rotational force for discharging the developer in the container; a release portion for receiving a force, for displacing the hook portion inwardly in a radial direction, from a hollow release member provided in the image forming apparatus so as to release engagement of the hook portion with the engagement member; and a regulation portion provided with a hollow cylindrical portion in which a regulation shaft provided in the image forming apparatus is insertable to regulate an inclination of the coupling member by contact with the regulation shaft when the coupling member is moved away relative to the engagement member in an axial direction of the engagement portion in a state in which the release portion receives the fo

Abstract: A powder conveyance device is disclosed that enables plural powder conveyance paths to be easily and reliably attached and detached. The powder conveyance device includes a first housing including a first powder conveyance path, and a second housing including a second powder conveyance path, the first housing and the second housing being detachably attached to each other. A projection portion is provided in the first housing, the projection portion having a hole in communication with the first powder conveyance path, and a hole portion is provided in the second housing, the hole portion being in communication with the second powder conveyance path. When attaching the first housing to or detaching the first housing from the second housing, the projection portion is inserted into or drawn out of the hole portion.

Abstract: A toner container which is mountable and removable at a main body of an image forming apparatus, the toner container comprising: at least one toner filling port provided in a casing body of the toner container; and a sealing member which covers the toner filling port and a predetermined range of surroundings of the toner filling port, from an outer side of the casing body, for sealing toner inside the casing body, is provided.

Abstract: A marking system includes at least one image applying component for applying a marking material to a substrate in forming an image on the substrate. The marking material includes a radiation sensitive material. An addressable irradiation device receives the marked substrate from the image applying component. The irradiation device provides an array of addressable irradiation elements which irradiate the marked substrate. At least some of the irradiation elements are selectively actuable. The irradiation device emits radiation within a range of wavelengths to which the radiation sensitive material is sensitive.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus may include photoconductors, developing rollers, and cases, each configured to hold developer to be supplied to a corresponding photoconductor from a corresponding developing roller, and each having an elongated opening in which the developing roller is disposed. Also included are a side seal member disposed at each end of the elongated opening in a longitudinal direction of the opening, each side seal member contacting a peripheral surface of the developing roller at each end of an axial direction of the developing roller, and a belt configured to move in a transporting direction parallel to an arrangement direction of the photoconductors, the belt being disposed below the developing rollers. The belt can be disposed to avoid contacting the photoconductors in an area defined by the side seal members being projected onto a plane on a surface of the belt parallel to an axis of the photoconductors.

Abstract: This invention provides an organic photoconductor which does not experience end-seal wear in normal use. This invention provides charge transport formulation that is easily prepared and coated by standard, dip-coating methods. This is realized by addition of a small amount of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate). Commercially available, 8? spherical particles are used. These microspheres are insoluble in common organic solvents, but are readily dispersed into polycarbonate-based charge transport formulations. A photoconductor roller is mounted in pressure engagement with two end seals, each on opposite side of the roller.

Abstract: A seal member 264 prevents the leakage of toner to the side of a photosensitive drum 10 when cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 of a color printer 1, and has a contact portion 264a and a movement control portion 264b. The contact portion 264a, through which developer is unable to pass, is able to deform elastically in a direction, and to approach and to separate from the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, able to be in line contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 such that developer is unable to pass between the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and the contact portion 264a. The movement control portion 264b is connected to the contact portion 264a, and configured to control the movement of the seal member 264 with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 10 of the contact portion 264a.

Abstract: It is an object to suppress the deposition of transfer-residual toner on a sealing sheet and also to suppress the dropping of deposited toner therefrom, at a high temperature and high humidity environment. An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum 100, a cleaning blade 601 for removing toner, a housing portion 603 for housing the toner removed by the cleaning blade 601, and a sealing sheet 602 for preventing the leakage of toner and performs charge elimination upstream of the sealing sheet 602 in the direction of movement of the photosensitive drum 100, wherein the work function difference between the sealing sheet 602 and the photosensitive drum 100 is equal to or greater than 0.25 eV.

Abstract: A waste toner collecting container which is used in a color image forming apparatus and can be removed from the machine and stores waste toner particles which have not been transferred to recording paper and have been collected, is constructed such that an air sealing member is disposed at the coupling between the waste toner collecting container and a conveying member for conveying the collected waste toner into the waste toner collecting container to prevent the waste toner from seeping out at the coupling when the waste toner is conveyed and to seal the collecting port so that no waste toner will spill out from the waste toner collecting container which has been removed for replacement after the waste toner collected and conveyed therein has reached the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt, a plurality of rollers around which the endless belt is wound, and a foreign material entry preventing member disposed on at least one side of the endless belt in the width direction. The foreign material entry preventing member prevents the entry of the foreign material into a region surrounded by the endless belt.

Abstract: A sealing member for an image forming device as well as an apparatus and method of locating components within a printing device. The image forming device may include laser printers, ink-jet printers, copiers, faxes, all-in-one devices or multifunctional devices.

Abstract: A developing unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer accommodating portion accommodating developer to be used by the developing member and having a supply opening for supplying the developer to the developing member, a mover sealing member movable between supply-opening sealing and unsealing positions, a mover for moving the sealing member from the sealing to the unsealing position by receiving a driving force transmitted from the main assembly, and a memory for storing sealing information indicative of a sealed state of the supply opening. When the main assembly detects the sealing information upon mounting of the developing unit, the driving force is transmitted to the mover to move the sealing member from the sealing to the unsealing position, and then, the memory stores the unsealing information.

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: A cleaning unit includes a cabinet, a cleaning blade, a toner drop preventive sheet, and an auxiliary member. The cabinet has an opening facing an outer periphery of a photosensitive drum. The cleaning blade is operative to scrape down residual toner adhering to the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum. The toner drop preventive sheet is operative to prevent the residual toner scraped down by the cleaning blade from dropping between the photosensitive drum and the cabinet. The auxiliary member is disposed below the toner drop preventive sheet and is movable between a first position for receiving a bulk substance dropping from the toner drop preventive sheet and a second position for dropping the bulk substance received from the toner drop preventive sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a toner accumulating member disposed nearer to the housing than the cleaning blade and the lower seal are, wherein the toner accumulating member accumulates the toner at a tip of the cleaning blade, the toner accumulating member has at least one opening, and the following condition is satisfied: 0%<S(O)/S(C)?50%, wherein S(O) is a total opening area obtained by summing areas of all openings, and S(C) is an area of a rectangle defined by two sides having the same length as a length of the cleaning blade in its longitudinal direction and two sides having the same length as a distance between the lower end of the toner accumulating member and a position at the same height on the toner accumulating member as the lower end of the cleaning blade.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved elastic material which is free of roller abrasion when used in development rollers and overcomes disadvantages of the conventional silicone rollers of deterioration in the abrasion resistance, an elastic roller employing such elastic materials, and an electrophotographic apparatus and electrostatic recording apparatus incorporating such rollers. The elastic material satisfies a relationship represented by the following equation: log{(Tb·Eb)?1}??0.0011(Hd)2+0.1154(Hd)?5.6 where Tb is the tensile strength (N/mm2), Eb is the tension fracture elongation (%) and Hd is the Asker C hardness (°). Further, the present invention provides a novel developer carrier for use with an imaging apparatus and an imaging apparatus incorporating the developer carrier. The developer carrier includes an electrically conductive elastic layer and is arranged in contact with, or in the proximity of, an imaging body.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer container for containing developer; a developer bearing body for bearing the developer; a charging member for charging the developer bore by the developer bearing body by abutting against the developer bearing body; a supporting member for supporting the charging member; and a sealing member that is for preventing the developer from spilling from the developer container and that is provided in a state in which the side of one end thereof is compressed by the developer container and the charging member and the side of the other end thereof is compressed by the developer container and the supporting member, wherein a degree of compression of the sealing member on the side of the other end is smaller than a degree of compression of the sealing member on the side of one end.