Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a conveyer that conveys a developer image or a transfer medium to which the developer image is transferred; an image carrier that carries the developer image transferred to the conveyer or the transfer medium which the conveyer conveys; a latent image forming unit that forms the latent image on the image carrier; a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the image carrier and forms the a developer image; a transfer unit that transfers the developer image formed on the image carrier; and a restricting unit that restricts the movement of the image carrier and the latent image forming unit in at least two directions and a rotational direction of the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detaching and pressing mechanism for releasing developing rollers of developer cartridges mounted in a drum unit from photosensitive drums and pressing the developing rollers on the photosensitive drums. The detaching and pressing mechanism includes a pair of translation members, intermediate members provided on the translation members, cam holders for holding the translation members in such a manner as to be linearly movable in an anteroposterior direction, and a synchronous movement mechanism for allowing the pair of translation members to linearly move in synchronization.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus to which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted, including: main body side positioning portions provided on an apparatus main body; a cartridge supporting member detachably supporting the cartridges having cartridge side electric contacts and cartridge side positioned portions, and movable among a first position for forming images, a second position retracted from the first position, and a third position where the cartridges are pulled out of the main body; a pressing member pressing the positioned portions on the positioning portions; and main body side electric contacts provided on the main body, wherein the electric contacts are directly and electrically connected to the electric contacts when the positioned portions are pressed on the positioning portions by the pressing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a body; a transport belt that includes a transport face, and that transports the sheet while supporting the sheet on a transport face; a developer-image forming portion that forms a developer image on the sheet transported by transport belt; and a fixing device that includes a contact portion disposed lower position than the transport face, and that fixes the developer image on the sheet by the contact portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a tandem type photosensitive unit, retaining photosensitive drums, mounted in the body and movable along the arrangement direction of the drums; and a developer cartridge provided for each drum, retaining a developing roller and detachably mounted on the unit. The apparatus also includes a translation member provided in the body and movable in the arrangement direction; and a link member corresponding to each cartridge and displaced to a position where a first end portion opposed to a prescribed portion of each cartridge, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion and pressed by the translation member so the first end portion presses the prescribed portion to separate the roller from the drum and a position where the translation member is released from pressing the second end portion and the first end portion is released from pressing the prescribed portion.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units, each provided with an image bearing member, detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an opening, provided in a side surface of the main assembly, for permitting insertion of the plurality of image forming units into the opening; a guide portion for guiding the plurality of image forming units toward the opening; and a projected portion, provided on the guide portion, for positioning a part of an associated image forming unit outside the opening by contacting the associated image forming unit when the associated image forming unit is inserted into the opening with an attitude different from the attitude of the associated image forming unit at the time when the associated image forming unit is disposed in the main assembly.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus usable with process cartridges detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridges each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and means actable on the drum, includes a movable member which is movable between an inside of the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the drum while carrying the cartridges; a main assembly electrical contact provided inside the main assembly along a movement path of the movable member; and an intermediary electrical contact including a first electrical contact portion which is disposed inside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a cartridge electrical contact of the cartridge and a second electrical contact portion which is disposed outside the movable member and which is electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly, wherein

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an apparatus body, and a photosensitive-member unit slidably attached to the apparatus body and retaining a plurality of photosensitive members. The apparatus body includes side wall portions opposing each other with a unit receiving section sandwiched therebetween, and a plurality of apparatus-body-side electrode members provided on the side wall portions, and each urged inward in an opposing direction of the side wall portions. The photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of unit-side electrode members each protruding outward in the opposite direction and a guide path comprising a flat surface formed in a flat shape so that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacts to the flat surface during attachment of the photosensitive-member unit with respect to the unit receiving section, and that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacted maintains a constant inward and outward position in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main frame, and a tray being movable between an inner side position located inside of the main frame and an outer side position located outside of the main frame while supporting process cartridges. The tray has, in its interior, hollow portions through which outside air passes, an inlet that introduces the outside air into the hollow portions, and outlets through which the outside air introduced into the hollow portions is discharged so as to impinge on the process cartridges.

Abstract: A photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of photosensitive members arranged in a first direction. The photosensitive-member unit is movable in the first direction to be mounted to or dismounted from a mount position in an apparatus main body. A positioning member is fixed to the apparatus main body and is configured to contact the photosensitive-member unit when the photosensitive-member unit is mounted at the mount position, thereby positioning the photosensitive-member unit at the mount position relative to the apparatus main body. A friction applying member is provided to one side of the apparatus main body with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The photosensitive-member unit is configured to slidingly contact the friction applying member when the photosensitive-member unit moves to the mount position, allowing the friction applying member to apply a frictional force to the photosensitive-member unit.

Abstract: Supply items, such as toner bottles for laser printers, include substantially identical housings amongst the many different colors of toners. To distinguish the items and prevent improper installation, a keying structure attaches per each bottle and is indexed relative to adjacent items. In one aspect, indexing includes rotating a knob of the keying structure about a central axis to provide different keying orientations to an imaging unit in the printer. During installation, users mate the knob with variously arranged channels in a wall defining a slot for receiving the bottles. A lengthy flange on the bottle mates with a lengthy slit of the wall to provide installation stability. Other embodiments contemplate delaying engagement of a shutter on the bottle that prevents the toner from communicating with the imaging unit until the mating of the keying structure is assuredly made relatively proper. This prevents inadvertent mixing of toner colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a process unit including image formation units, each of the image formation units having an image carrier, a charger, and a developing device, a scanner unit disposed facing the process unit and configured to expose the image carrier in each of the image formation units to light, and a fixing device disposed in the first direction with respect to the process unit. Also, the image forming device includes a first passage configured to channel air between the process unit and the scanner unit to an outlet in the first direction and a second passage configured to channel air in the vicinity of the fixing device to the outlet in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus including: a cartridge supporting member supporting a plurality of cartridges and moving between an inside position in the main body and a mounting and detaching position for mounting and detaching the cartridges; an engaging portion provided to one of the supporting member and the main body at a position corresponding to the mounting and detaching position for at least one cartridge; and a pressure member provided to the other and elastically urged to disengageably engage with the engaging portion, wherein when the supporting member is moved from the inside position to the mounting and detaching position, a load required for movement of the supporting member at the mounting and detaching position is made larger than a load required for the movement at other positions than the mounting and detaching position, by engagement of the pressure member with the engaging portion.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material, the apparatus includes an image forming unit rotatable relative to a main assembly of the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the image forming unit including a plurality of mounting portions for demountably mounting cartridges each provided with a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum with a developer, and a transfer member for transferring the developed image on the recording material, wherein the image forming unit is rotatable between a transfer position for transferring the developed image from the transfer member onto the recording material and a mounting and demounting position, different from the transfer position, for mounting and dismounting the cartridge relative to the mounting portion in a state in which cartridges containing different color developers are mounted to the mounting portion; and a gr

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member for supporting the cartridges, the cartridge supporting member being movable between an inside position which is in the main assembly the outside position which is out of the main assembly; a belt unit including a feeding belt for feeding a recording material on which the image is to be formed; and locking means for locking the cartridge supporting member and the belt unit in the state that the feeding belt and the cartridge are contacted to each other, wherein the belt unit and the cartridge supporting member in the state of being locked by the locking means are movable from the inside position to the outside position, and the feeding belt and the cartridge are capable of being spaced from each other by releasing the locking means

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein a plurality of cartridges are detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position inside the main assembly of the apparatus while supporting the cartridge and an outside position outside the main assembly of the apparatus; an opening for permitting the cartridge supporting member between the inside position and the outside position; an openable member movable between a close position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening; positioning urging device for urging in the of positioning the cartridge to a positioning portion of the main assembly of the apparatus by closing the openable member and for releasing the cartridge from the urging by opening the openable member; and spacing urging device for urging the cartridge in a direction of spacing from the positioning portion; wherein an ur

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus including: an opening in a main body; a door opening and closing the opening; a first tray movable between an inside position and an outside position through the opening while removably supporting drum cartridges having photosensitive drums; a second tray movable between the inside position and the outside position through the opening while removably supporting developing cartridges having developing rollers; a transfer member to which toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums; and a positioning member, which releases, when the door is opened, an engagement between engaging portions of the developing cartridges and engaged portions of the drum cartridges to hold the developing cartridges so that the second tray can be pulled out, and which engages, when the door is closed, the engaging portion with the engaged portion to position the developing cartridges for image formation.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material includes a plurality of cartridge mounting portions for demountably mounting cartridges; a single intermediary transfer member provided opposed to the electrophotographic photosensitive member drums, wherein developed images formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member drums are to be transferred; an image forming unit including the cartridge mounting portions and the intermediary transfer member, wherein the image forming unit is movable between a transfer position for transferring to the recording material a developed image transferred onto the intermediary transfer member from the electrophotographic photosensitive member drums and a mounting and demounting position for mounting and demounting the cartridge relative to the cartridge mounting portion; and a mounting and demounting position locking member for locking the image forming unit to the mounting and demounting position relative to a main

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detaching and pressing mechanism for releasing developing rollers of developer cartridges mounted in a drum unit from photosensitive drums and pressing the developing rollers on the photosensitive drums. The detaching and pressing mechanism includes a pair of translation cam members, intermediate members provided on the translation cam members, cam holders for holding the translation cam members in such a manner as to be linearly movable in an anteroposterior direction, and a synchronous movement mechanism for allowing the pair of translation cam members to linearly move in synchronization.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus comprises: an image formation apparatus main body; plural image formation units being provided detachably in the image formation apparatus main body, each of the image formation units including an image carrier and an exposure device that applies light to the image carrier for writing a latent image onto the image carrier; and a positioning section that positions the exposure device of each of the image formation units relative to the image formation apparatus main body.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a movable member supporting a plurality of process cartridges in juxtaposition and movable between positions inside and outside a main assembly in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of a drum of the cartridge when cartridges are supported, a common electroconductive member extended on the movable member in the movement direction thereof and being provided adjacent to longitudinal ends of the supported cartridges, an electrical contact provided on the movable member, connected with the common electroconductive member, and electrically connectable with a cartridge electrical contact provided on each of the cartridges, and a main assembly electrical contact electrically connectable with the common electroconductive member to supply electric power to the common electroconductive member and each of the cartridges from the main assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a housing, a series of photoconductors on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and developing devices, which each include a developing agent carrier for holding a developing agent. Also, the apparatus may include a holder, which is removable from the housing, for supporting the photoconductors and the developing devices, and an image reader provided at a top portion of the housing, which is configured to read an image on a document.

Abstract: A pressing member applies a pressing force to a trailing end in a direction which intersects a predetermined reference direction, allowing the pressing force to have both a first component in the predetermined reference direction and a second component perpendicular to the predetermined reference direction. A trailing end is pressed in the predetermined reference direction by the first component. In the mounted state, the leading end is in contact with the reference member at two contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface defines a first positioning direction being perpendicular to the first contact surface and intersecting the predetermined reference direction.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usable with process cartridges detachably mountable to the apparatus. The cartridges include an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes: a movable member movable between the inside and outside of the apparatus while carrying the cartridges; a first electrical contact inside the apparatus along a movement path of the movable member; and a second electrical contact including a first portion inside the movable member and connectable to a cartridge electrical contact and a second portion outside the movable member and connectable to an electrical contact provided in the apparatus. A space is provided between the movable member and the first contact to prevent the movable member from contacting the first electrical contact when moving from outside to inside. The second portion is connected to the first electrical contact when the movable member is lowered after moving linearly from the outside to the inside.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of a tandem system includes a main body and a drum unit attachable to and detachable from the main body. The drum unit includes photosensitive drums, a housing for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drums, and for each photosensitive drum, a drum gear arranged at an end of the photosensitive drum for transmitting a drive force to the photosensitive drum, and a rotating member having a protrusion rotating with the drum gear, the protrusion being arranged at a position away from a center axis of the rotation of the photosensitive drum. Also, the image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit for transferring developer color images from respective photosensitive drums onto a medium and a guide arranged in the main body for contacting each protrusion and guiding each rotating member during attachment of the drum unit to cause each drum gear to move to a respective predetermined position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an apparatus body, and a photosensitive-member unit slidably attached the apparatus body and retaining a plurality of photosensitive members. The apparatus body includes side wall portions opposing each other with a unit receiving section sandwiched therebetween, and a plurality of apparatus-body-side electrode members provided on the side wall portions, and each urged inward in an opposing direction of the side wall portions. The photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of unit-side electrode members each protruding outward in the opposite direction and a guide path comprising a flat surface formed in a flat shape so that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacts to the flat surface during attachment of the photosensitive-member unit with respect to the unit receiving section, and that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacted maintains a constant inward and outward position in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, an endless belt, and a drum unit. The drum unit is detachably mounted on the main body. The drum unit is inserted in a mounting direction to mount on the main body. The drum unit has a first end and a second end that is disposed downstream in the mounting direction. The drum unit supports a plurality of photosensitive drums including a black photosensitive drum and color photosensitive drums. The black photosensitive drum has a first axis extending in an axial direction perpendicular to the mounting direction. Each of the color photosensitive drums has a second axis extending in a direction parallel to the axial direction. The black and color photosensitive drums are arranged in the mounting direction. The black photosensitive drum is disposed at a position nearest to the first end. The second end is pivotable about the first axis to be movable between an initial position and a pivot position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members protrudes towards the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member protrudes towards the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein cartridges are detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, includes a supporting member for supporting the cartridge, movable between an inside position and an outside position; an outer wall; an opening provided in the outer wall, the opening being passed through by the supporting member, when the supporting member moves between the inside position and the outside position; a guiding member for supporting the supporting member movably so that the supporting member moves linearly between the inside position and the outside position, wherein when the supporting member is in the outside position, the guiding member supports the supporting member, so that a downstream side thereof is pivotable downwardly about an upstream side of the supporting member with respect to a movement direction to the outside position from the inside position, wherein in the state that the downstream side is pivoted downwardly about an upstream side

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of cartridges is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position which is inside the main assembly and an outside position which is outside the main assembly, supporting the cartridges, wherein the cartridges are mounted to and dismounted from the cartridge supporting member placed in the outside position, and wherein the cartridge supporting member is movable between the inside position and the outside position intersecting a feeding path of a recording material.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in the state that cartridge is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising an opening; a cartridge supporting member linearly movable through the opening between an inside position, in the main assembly of the apparatus, for forming an image using the cartridge and an outside position which is outside the main assembly of the apparatus; retracting means for retracting the cartridge supporting member from a region in which the cartridge supporting member faces the opening, in the state that cartridge supporting member is in the outside position; and locking means for releasably locking the cartridge supporting member at the retracted position.

Abstract: The pressed area mounted on the developer cartridge case is pressed towards a developer cartridge pressing direction. The developer roller and the photosensitive drum are in contact at a contact position. Electric potential is supplied to the developer cartridge when the electrical connection protrusion connected electrically to the developer roller rotation drive axis and the electrical connection part mounted on the outside of the developer cartridge are pushed together in the electrical connection pressing direction. Here, the electrical connection pressing direction is semi-orthogonal to the pressing action line that connects the pressing position and the contact position. Furthermore, the electrical connection protrusion crosses the pressing action line.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having removable/replaceable process cartridges is provided. One of the removable/replaceable process cartridges may be removed/replaced from a panel which is different than a panel from which the other removable/replaceable process cartridges may be removed/replaced. One of the removable/replaceable process cartridges may be associated with an exposure device which is only used to expose a portion of that process cartridge while the other removable/replaceable process cartridges may be associated with at least one other exposure device. An image forming apparatus may include two or more different types of exposure devices (e.g., laser based, light emitting diode based, etc.). An image forming apparatus may include a plurality of guide members for guiding portions of an exposure device arranged on a panel of the image forming apparatus such that when the door or panel is arranged on the image forming apparatus, the exposure device is guided into position by the guide members.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame.

Abstract: A plurality of chambers are adapted to accommodate a plurality of cartridges each containing toner to be used for printing. A mode changer is operable to change an operation mode of the printing apparatus in accordance with a combination of respective colors of toner in the cartridges accommodated in the chambers. A first detector is operable to detect a residual amount of toner in each of the cartridges. A second detector is operable to detect the respective colors of toner in the cartridges when the operation mode is changed. A controller is operable to generate an image data including a plurality of first identifiers each indicative of the residual amount of toner in one of the cartridges and a plurality of second identifiers each indicative of one of the colors of toner and associated with one of the first identifiers. A display is adapted to display the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a main assembly, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, for forming a color image on a recording material. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The apparatus includes an opening provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, a movable member which is linearly movable between an inside and an outside of the opening in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum while carrying plurality of such process cartridges, an accommodating portion for accommodating the process cartridges and an urging member, provided above a movement path of the process cartridges, while being carried on the movable member, from the opening to the accommodating portion, for contacting the process cartridge passing therebelow to urge the process cartridge toward the movable member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, a unit containing portion, driving units, driving sources, and a phase change matching unit. The image carrier unit integrally has image carriers that respectively carry images, and respectively have rotational shafts. The unit containing portion removably contains the image carrier unit. Each of the driving units includes at least one driving gear, and transmits driving force by the driving gear to the rotational shaft of one of the image carriers that corresponds thereto. The driving sources apply the driving force to the driving gears of the driving units. The phase change matching unit matches phase changes in the driving gears of the driving units when no image is formed.

Abstract: A developer cartridge that is attachable to and detachable from a photosensitive body cartridge that includes a photosensitive member is provided. The developer cartridge includes a frame that includes a first side wall and a second side wall. The developer cartridge also includes a developer supplying section for supplying a developer to the photosensitive body cartridge and a developer housing section for housing the developer. The developer housing section includes an open end at which the developer housing section adjoins the developer supplying section, and a closed end substantially opposite from the open end. The closed end includes an exterior surface that extends from a substantially bottommost portion of the developer housing section to a top portion of the developer housing section. At least one engaging portion of the developer cartridge extends outward from the exterior surface of the developer housing section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detaching and pressing mechanism for releasing developing rollers of developer cartridges mounted in a drum unit from photosensitive drums and pressing the developing rollers on the photosensitive drums. The detaching and pressing mechanism includes a pair of translation cam members, intermediate members provided on the translation cam members, cam holders for holding the translation cam members in such a manner as to be linearly movable in an anteroposterior direction, and a synchronous movement mechanism for allowing the pair of translation cam members to linearly move in synchroniztion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carrying members and an image carrier. Each of the plurality of image carrying members is configured to form and carry a toner image. The image carrier cassette is configured to be detachably installed to the image forming apparatus and includes an image carrier holder. The image carrier holder is configured to rotatably hold the plurality of image carrying members and to allow each of the plurality of image carrying members to be independently removed therefrom.

Abstract: A pressing member applies a pressing force to a trailing end in a direction which intersects a predetermined reference direction, allowing the pressing force to have both a first component in the predetermined reference direction and a second component perpendicular to the predetermined reference direction. A trailing end is pressed in the predetermined reference direction by the first component. In the mounted state, the leading end is in contact with the reference member at two contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface defines a first positioning direction being perpendicular to the first contact surface and intersecting the predetermined reference direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a mainframe; a photoreceptor; an exposing unit that exposes a surface of the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image; and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying a charged developer on the surface of the photoreceptor having the electrostatic latent image formed thereon. The photoreceptor is loadable in and unloadable from the mainframe separately from the developing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge, a toner storage, and a toner supplying unit. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a pair of side plates. The developer container includes a toner inlet mounted at a predetermined position on one of its top surface. The pair of side plates are arranged in parallel and separated by a predetermined distance which determines a predetermined longitudinal width of the process cartridge and configured to support the components in the process cartridge.

Abstract: A process cartridge of the present invention includes a casing capable of accommodating a plurality of units positioned one above the other in a space such that one unit is spaced, in the horizontal direction, from a vertical line extending through the other unit positioned below the one unit. The casing has a bottom wall inclined relative to a horizontal plane and oriented such that when the bottom wall is placed on a horizontal surface, the one unit is shifted toward the vertical line.

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: An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include a developer cartridge and a photosensitive unit. The developer cartridge may include a first casing accommodating a developing agent, a developing agent carrier supported by the first casing and carrying the developing agent, a memory element storing predetermined information, and a first terminal electrically connected with the memory element. The photosensitive unit may include a second casing to which the developer cartridge is detachably attached, a photosensitive member, with which the developing agent carrier is brought into pressure contact when the developer cartridge is attached to the second casing, supported by the second casing, and a second terminal electrically connected with the first terminal when the developing agent carrier is brought into pressure contact with the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame.