Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a main body including a front wall and a rear wall, a feeding tray, and a pickup roller. A photosensitive member cartridge includes a photosensitive drum that is configured to feed recording sheets upward, and a photosensitive member cartridge grip. A developing cartridge has a developing roller that is disposed below the photosensitive drum and faces the photosensitive drum, and a developing cartridge grip. An exposing unit is closer to the front wall than to the rear wall and is disposed above the feeding tray. When the photosensitive member cartridge is disposed at a mounting position, the photosensitive member cartridge grip extends toward an opening beyond the rear end of the exposing unit, and when the developing cartridge is disposed at a mounting position, the developing cartridge grip extends toward the opening beyond the rear end of the exposing unit.

Abstract: A system and method for passively cooling electrostatic process units includes a thermally conductive housing and a doctor bar. The thermally conductive housing is disposed over the developer roller of the electrostatic process unit and conducts heat from inside the electrostatic process unit to a plurality of ribs disposed on along the length of the electrostatic process unit. Heat transferred to the plurality of ribs is dissipated through convection with surrounding air. Heat from the thermally conductive housing is also transferred through conduction to a printer chassis through contact of the thermally conductive housing with the printer chassis. The doctor bar conducts heat from the junction of the doctor blade and the developer roller to a plurality of ribs disposed on the doctor bar where the heat is dissipated through convection with the surrounding air.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to devices and systems and methods comprising virtual negative beveled facets including to isolate adjacent devices from one another. Aspects hereof are directed to integrated photon detectors or photodetector devices incorporating implant isolation mesas and resistors, and in particular to methods and structures for isolating such detectors or devices from neighboring detectors or devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a toner cartridge to accommodate toner, a developing unit comprising a developing roller, and a drum unit. The developing unit has a toner supply member supplying the toner to the developing roller, and a frame. The toner supply member has a shaft, and flexible sheets provided at the shaft. The frame has a first chamber accommodating the developing roller, a second chamber next to the first second chamber for accommodating the toner supply member, an inlet opening for introducing the toner from the toner cartridge to the second chamber, and an adjustment member positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber. The adjustment member allows the toner to move from the second chamber to the first chamber when the sheets move from a lower edge to an upper edge of the adjustment member with contacting the adjustment member by rotating the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit, and a replenishment control unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed adjacently to each other in a vertical direction in an apparatus body. When the upper toner container becomes empty, the replenishment control unit controls the toner replenishing unit so as to replenish the developing device with the toner from the lower toner container.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a frame and a developing roller rotatably supported by the frame. A guide member is provided at a side of the cartridge, with the guide member being rotatable between a first position relative to the frame and a second position relative to the frame. A restricting lever is movably provided between a restricting position and a non-restricting position. The restricting lever is operatively connected to the guide member such that (i) when the restricting lever is in the restricting position, movement of the guide member relative to the frame is restricted, and (ii) when the restricting lever is in the non-restricting position, movement of the guide member relative to the frame is unrestricted. The cartridge also includes a spring configured to urge the restricting lever toward the restricting position from the non-restricting position.

Abstract: A developer carrying member is disposed below a storage chamber of a frame and has a surface configured such that a plurality of dielectric portions are dispersed on a conductive portion, an upper region of the storage chamber of the frame is enlarged further in a horizontal direction than a lower region in which the developer carrying member is disposed, and the frame has a lower guide surface and includes a curved surface having a tangent plane inclined at a first angle equal to or greater than a degree of an angle of repose of the developer and less than 90 degrees, in an inner wall of the lower region, and an upper guide surface includes a curved surface having a tangent plane inclined at a second angle that is less than the first angle relative to a horizontal plane in an inner wall of the upper region.

Abstract: A link mechanism includes a rotatable link having a fulcrum pin on which the rotatable link rotates, and a connecting pin provided at a different position from the fulcrum pin; and a supporting member having a guiding groove along which the connecting pin of the rotatable link that is moved between two positions is guided, and a supporting groove in which the fulcrum pin of the rotatable link is rotatably supported. The guiding groove of the supporting member includes a long-side guiding portion shaped with a curvature that is greater than a curvature of a substantially arc shape defined by a radius corresponding to a distance between the fulcrum pin and the connecting pin of the rotatable link. The supporting groove of the supporting member is a substantially oblong groove extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the long-side guiding portion of the guiding groove extends.

Abstract: Movement and/or urging of a developer carrying member is carried out with high precision. A cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part. The movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An image forming unit attachable and detachable with respect to an image forming apparatus includes a developer container in which a plurality of developer containing parts for containing respective developers are arranged on an arrangement line; and a detachable part that detachably supports the developer container wherein the developer container is mounted to the detachable part by sliding in mounting or detaching directions, wherein the detachable part has an engaging member that is rotatably supported, a downstream end part that is positioned at a downstream side of the developer container in the mounting direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member unit and a supporting member supporting a developer cartridge and movable between an inside position, wherein the supporting member is movable to the outside position independently from the photosensitive member unit. When the supporting member is in the inside position, the photosensitive member unit and the cartridge are disposed at positions overlapping with each other, and by the cartridge rotating about a coupling during the supporting member moving to the outside position, the cartridge is displaced from a first position taken when the supporting member is in the inside position to a second position in which the cartridge does not interfere with the photosensitive member unit when the supporting member is moved the outside position independently from the photosensitive member unit which remains inside the main assembly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a drum cartridge, and an electric contact. The developing cartridge includes a holder having a resilient member. In a state where the holder is positioned at a first position, the resilient member has a first length and the electric contact surface is in contact with the electric contact. In a state where the holder is positioned at a second position, the resilient member has a second length in the third direction longer than the first length and the electric contact surface is in contact with the electric contact. In a state where the holder moves from the first position to the second position, the holder pivots in a state where the holder is in contact with the first contact surface.

Abstract: A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member provided which couples with a force output member of an image forming apparatus to receive a driving force, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member; a detectable rotary member having a first detectable portion and a second detectable portion and rotates by the driving force from a first rotational position where the first detectable portion is detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus to a second rotational position where the second detectable portion is detected by the detection member, and a cut-off mechanism which cuts off a transmission of the driving force from the receiving member to the detectable rotary member in a state where the detectable rotary member is positioned in the second rational position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge; a developer container, in which the cartridge allows the developer container to be movable between first and second positions; an apparatus main body including an opening through which the cartridge passes when the cartridge is attached and an opening and closing member movable between an open position to open the opening and a close position to close the opening; and a moving member moving to be at different positions between a case where the developer container is attached at the first position and a case where it is attached at the second position, and when the developer container is attached at the first position, the moving member is at a position of preventing movement from the open position to the close position, and when it is attached at the second position, the moving member is at a position of allowing the movement.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier, a blade and a cover. The developer carrier carries a developer containing a toner. The blade regulates a thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrier. The cover includes a cover main body covering an outer side of the blade and a facing rib protruding from an inner face of the cover main body and facing the developer carrier at an interval. A storage space to store the toner which contacts the facing rib and falls is formed below the facing rib.

Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit, and a replenishment control unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed adjacently to each other in a vertical direction in an apparatus body. When the upper toner container becomes empty, the replenishment control unit controls the toner replenishing unit so as to replenish the developing device with the toner from the lower toner container.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member to bear developer containing toner and carrier to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, a first chamber to supply developer to the developer bearing member, a second chamber to communicate with the first chamber to circulate developer, and a partition wall to separate the first and second chambers. An opening portion, through which an airflow from the second chamber toward the first chamber passes, is provided to the partition wall, and a length of the opening portion is equal to or longer than a length of a plurality of pitches of blades of a conveyance screw provided in the second chamber. A length, in the vertical direction, of the opening portion at a first position is longer than a length, in the vertical direction, of the opening portion at a second position.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating chamber capable of accommodating developer, a storage portion provided in the developer accommodating chamber and capable of storing a predetermined amount of the developer to be discharged through a discharge opening, and a pump portion actable on the storage portion. A suppressing portion is provided, with the suppressing portion being capable of suppressing air directed toward the developer accommodating chamber from the pump portion, and with the suppressing portion permitting supply of air from the pump portion to the storage portion in a discharge operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a photosensitive drum, a developing cartridge and a frame. The developing cartridge comprises a casing, a developing roller, a storage medium having an electrical contact surface and a holder holding the electrical contact surface on the first external surface. The frame has an electrical contact. The electrical contact is contact with the electrical contact surface of the developing cartridge in a state that the developing cartridge is attached to the frame. The casing is movable relative to the holder in a separating direction in which the developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum in a state that the electrical contact surface is in contact with the electrical contact.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a housing, a developing roller positioned at one end of the housing in a second direction, a storage medium having an electric contact surface, a resilient member and a first holder positioned at one end of the housing in a first direction, and a second holder holding the electric contact surface. The resilient member can expand and contract in a third direction crossing the electric contact surface. The resilient member has one end connected to the first holder, and another end connected to the second holder. The second holder is movable relative to the first holder in the third direction between a first position and a second position. As the second holder moves from the first position to the second position, the resilient member expands to generate contraction force functioning as pressing force acting in a direction from the second position toward the first position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device includes a replaceable unit having a housing that includes a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear positioned between a first side and a second side of the housing. The housing has a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A magnet in the reservoir is movable in response to rotation of the shaft. An engagement member is positioned on an exterior of the top of the housing. The engagement member is aligned with a point in a path of movement of the magnet in the reservoir. The engagement member has a front surface that is unobstructed to contact and push a housing in the image forming device supporting a magnetic sensor to an operating position of the magnetic sensor during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a rotational body; a joint member having a first joint-side engagement part configured to be engaged to a rotational body-side engagement part with a predetermined moving range in a rotational direction, and a press member, wherein the joint member has a second joint-side engagement part configured to be engaged with a transfer-side engagement part with central axes of the joint member and the driving force transfer member being substantially matched, and wherein when the second joint-side engagement part is contacted to the driving force transfer member at a position at which the central axes of the joint member and the driving force transfer member are not matched, the joint member is rotated within the predetermined range and the second joint-side engagement part is thus moved, so that the second joint-side engagement part is engaged with the transfer-side engagement part in the rotational direction.

Abstract: A developer storage container (30) includes: a container body (31); a lid (32); a stirring member (34); and an input gear (36). The container body includes: a bottom portion (310); an opening (31P) extending in a longitudinal direction thereof; a first sidewall (31R) and a second sidewall (31L); and a storage space (30S) for storing developer therein. The second sidewall includes a bearing portion (312) disposed to face the storage space. The first sidewall includes: a shaft hole (313S) communicating between an outside of the container body and the storage space; and a support portion (313T) supporting a distal end of a coupling (342) of the stirring member from therebelow to prevent the stirring member from falling onto the bottom portion, in a state in which a distal pivot portion (341) of the stirring member is inserted into the bearing portion, and the coupling is disposed facing the shaft hole.

Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a plurality of transmitted surfaces, at least one of the transmitted surfaces being configured to contact a first protrusion of the image forming, apparatus, the first protrusion being rotatable and protruding toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The transmitted surfaces stand outward from an outer circumference of the powder container so that one of the transmitted surfaces is connected to another transmitted surface adjacent to the one of the transmitted surfaces by an inclined surface.

Abstract: A cartridge mountable to a printer, said printer including a coupling guide contactable to a coupling of the cartridge to guide the coupling member. A case of the cartridge is provided with a hole for exposing a free end portion of the coupling to an outside of the cartridge, and a retracted portion provided in downstream of the hole with respect to the mounting direction of the cartridge. When the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the printer, the coupling guide enters the retracted portion from which the coupling member has retracted.

Abstract: There is provided a cartridge, including: a casing including an inlet portion configured to be filled with a developer; and a lid member configured to close the inlet portion by being installed to the inlet portion from an installation direction, wherein the casing includes a first protruding portion which projects inward beyond an inner surface of the inlet portion in a direction perpendicular to the installation direction; and the lid member includes a recessed portion which is recessed from an outer surface of the lid member in the direction perpendicular to the installation direction and is configured to be engaged with the first protruding portion in a case that the lid member is installed to the inlet portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a toner cartridge to accommodate toner, a developing unit comprising a developing roller, and a drum unit. The developing unit has a toner supply member supplying the toner to the developing roller, and a frame. The toner supply member has a shaft, and flexible sheets provided at the shaft. The frame has a first chamber accommodating the developing roller, a second chamber next to the first second chamber for accommodating the toner supply member, an inlet opening for introducing the toner from the toner cartridge to the second chamber, and an adjustment member positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber. The adjustment member allows the toner to move from the second chamber to the first chamber when the sheets move from a lower edge to an upper edge of the adjustment member with contacting the adjustment member by rotating the shaft.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a plurality of development sections arranged in an axis direction of a developer bearing member; a communication section disposed at a boundary of adjacent two development sections of the development sections, and configured to communicate between the two development sections; and a control section configured to perform an operation of moving the developer between the two development sections through the communication section to equalize degradation states of the developer in the two development sections.

Abstract: A developing device, including a casing and a seal member is provided. The casing includes a divider wall, dividing a space inside the casing into a container chamber and a developing chamber, and a developing roller. The divider wall includes an opening. The container chamber accommodates a developing agent. The seal member is configured to seal the opening. The seal member includes a ventilation section configured to allow air to pass there-through but restrict the developing agent from passing there-through at least at a part of an area that seals the opening.

Abstract: A developing device includes a casing to contain developer, a developer bearer disposed in the casing and opposite a latent image bearer in a developing range, at least one developer contact face to which the developer adheres in image formation, and a vibrator to give vibration to the developer contact face in a non-image formation period. The developer bearer is to rotate to supply the developer to the latent image bearer in the developing range.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotatable developer carrying member enclosing a magnetic field generating portion including a plurality of magnetic poles and configured to carry a developer; and a resinous regulating portion provided at a position opposing the developer carrying member and configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried by the developer carrying member. The regulating portion is formed of a resin material containing magnetic powder, and at least a free end portion, opposed to the developer carrying member, of the regulating portion has relative permeability of 10 or more and 60 or less.

Abstract: A process unit has an image carrying unit having an image carrying member configured to be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, and a developing agent removing member, a developing unit having a developing agent carrying member configured to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a waste developing agent collecting unit configured to collect the developing agent removed by the removing member from the image carrying member. The waste developing agent collecting unit is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the developing unit such that the waste developing agent collecting unit faces the developing unit, and the developing unit is connected to the waste developing agent collecting unit such that the developing unit being movable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the waste developing agent collecting unit.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a first gear rotatable about a first axis extending in an axial direction, and a second gear rotatable in a rotation direction about a second axis extending in the axial direction. The second gear includes: an engagement portion engageable with gear teeth of the first gear; a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding in the axial direction. The first and second protrusions extend to be spaced apart from each other in the rotation direction. The first protrusion has first end and a second end defining a first angle therebetween about the second axis. The second protrusion has a third end and a fourth end farther away from the first protrusion than the third end is in the rotation direction. The second end and the third end define a second angle therebetween about the second axis. The first angle is smaller than the second angle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a cartridge including a supported portion, a moving member configured to move to the apparatus main body and thereby move the cartridge, the moving member moving to the apparatus main body so as to be in an external position and an internal position, a main body side positioning portion provided on the apparatus main body and configured to, when the moving member is in the internal position, support the supported portion, and an upward inclination portion provided on the apparatus main body and inclined upwardly from a movement direction in which the moving member moves from the external position to the internal position. The upward inclination portion causes the cartridge to move upward with respect to the moving member in a process in which the moving member moves from the external position to the internal position.

Abstract: An end member (30) comprises: a tubular bearing member (40); and a shaft member (50), wherein the shaft member comprises: a shaft-like rotating shaft (51) which is disposed coaxially to the bearing member, and moves in the shaft line direction by rotating around a shaft line with respect to the bearing member; and a tip end member (55) which is disposed coaxially to the rotating shaft, and where a rotating force receiving member (58) provided with an engaging member (60) which engages with a driving shaft (70) of the image forming apparatus main body is disposed at a tip end, wherein a rotating force around the shaft line is transmitted to the rotating force receiving member, the rotating shaft, and the bearing member, in this order, and the rotating force receiving member moves to be inclined with respect to the shaft line.

Abstract: An end member (40) is disposed in an end portion of a columnar rotating body (20, 306), comprises: a bearing member (41); and a shaft member (70), in which the bearing member includes a main body (45) having a tubular body (46) and a holding portion (50) disposed on an inner side of the tubular body, and an intermediate member (60) held by the holding portion of the main body, in which one end side of the shaft member is held by the intermediate member, the intermediate member is snap-fit jointed to the holding portion of the main body to be rotatable around one axis, and the shaft member is snap-fit jointed to the intermediate member to be rotatable around an axis which is different from the axis of rotation of the intermediate member.

Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a drive-force receiving member includes: a first cylindrical part having a gear part transmitting drive force to a developing roller; a second cylindrical part disposed radially inward of the first cylindrical part and in contact with a support part; and a receiving part receiving drive force from outside of the developing cartridge. The receiving part is disposed outward of the first and second cylindrical parts in an axial direction in which a rotational axis extends. The receiving part has an internal space in communication with a gap between the first and second cylindrical parts. The receiving part is disposed to overlap the gap between the first and second cylindrical parts when the receiving part is viewed in the axial direction. The receiving part has an outward end in the axial direction, at least part of the outward end of the receiving part being closed.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer on a surface, a regulating member that regulates layer thickness of the developer on the developer bearing member, and a developer conveying member. In addition, a frame has a development chamber in which the developer bearing member and the regulating member are provided, a storage chamber in which the conveying member is provided and the developer is stored, and an opening through which the developer passes into the development chamber. The developing apparatus collects the developer remaining on the developer bearing member into the storage chamber after the developer on the developer bearing member is transferred onto a transfer material. The regulating material includes a step portion that forms a gap between the regulating member and the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry, by rotation, developer including toner and magnetic carrier to a developing range facing a latent image bearer; a casing including a developer container and an opening to expose a part of the developer bearer disposed in the casing; an opposing face of the casing including a conductive material and opposing to a surface of the developer bearer downstream from the developing range in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer; a developing bias source to apply a developing bias to the developer bearer; and an insulation layer disposed on the opposing face of the casing. The opposing face is disposed across, from the developer bearer, a casing gap sized to allow the developer borne on the developer bearer to contact the opposing face.

Abstract: In a developing cartridge, a developing roller extends in a first direction. A developing roller gear, a coupling, and first and second idle gears are positioned at an outer surface of a casing. An agitator gear has an end face in the first direction facing the outer surface. A first protrusion is positioned between the end face and the outer surface, and at a position outside of addendum circles of the developing roller gear, coupling, and first and second idle gears. The first protrusion is pivotally movable about an axis extending in the first direction between a first position and a second position. A first protruding portion has, at the first position, a first length in a second direction connecting the developing roller and the first protruding portion, and has, at the second position, a second length different from the first length in the second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a drum frame detachably attached to the main casing and including a photosensitive drum, a developing device supporting structure having a groove at an inner surface thereof, and a developing device detachably attached to the main casing and including a developing roller and a protruding portion. The developing device supporting structure is configured to support the developing device such that the protruding portion of the developing device is inserted into the groove of the developing device supporting structure and the developing device is guided between a first position close to the photosensitive drum and a second position far from the photosensitive drum. When the developing device is in the first position, the developing device is disposed below the photosensitive drum and is swingable with respect to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container and a shutter mechanism. The toner container is attached to or detached from an apparatus main body along an attachment/detachment direction. The toner container has a passing port. The shutter mechanism has a container mount, a shutter plate and an opening/closing hook. The container mount is attached to the toner container. The shutter plate is supported on the container mount so as to be slidable along the attachment/detachment direction. The opening/closing hook is supported on the apparatus main body on one side in a direction crossing the attachment/detachment direction. The opening/closing hook disengages the shutter plate with the container mount.

Abstract: A developing cartridge may include a housing configured to hold toner. The cartridge may further include a developing roller including a developing roller shaft, a supply roller including a supply roller shaft, a developing electrode and a supply electrode. The developing electrode and supply electrode may be configured to guide an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus in one or more directions. In some examples, the developing electrode and supply electrode may have angled surfaces that extend toward one another.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller; a developing pressing member for pressing the developing cartridge; a first developing guide; and a second developing guide. The developing cartridge is movable among a detachable position; a contact position at which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum; and a separated position at which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum. The developing pressing member presses the developing cartridge to place the developing cartridge at the contact position. The developing pressing member is disabled from pressing the developing cartridge to place the developing cartridge at the separated position lower than the contact position. The first developing guide can guide movement of the developing cartridge between the detachable position and the contact position.

Abstract: A waste toner storing container includes a container main body, a first conveyance portion, and a second conveyance portion. The container main body includes a plurality of reception ports, and stores the waste toner carried in from the reception ports. The first conveyance portion, by being rotated when an image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward one side in a rotation axis line direction. The second conveyance portion, by being rotated when the image forming operation is performed, conveys the waste toner toward another side that is opposite to the one side. The second conveyance portion does not have a conveyance force with regard to waste toner stored in a side-end storage portion, the side-end storage portion corresponding to a side-end reception port among the plurality of reception ports that is located closest to the one side in the rotation axis line direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge including an erroneous attaching prevention unit and a protruding portion as a holding unit, can be inserted to an attached position. The image forming apparatus includes a frame, an inclined surface on which the protruding portion is placed, the inclined surface being provided to the frame, a guide portion defining with the inclined surface a gap through which the protruding portion is able to pass, and a movable member configured to engage with the erroneous attaching prevention unit on a downstream side of the guide portion in an insertion direction.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a body having a toner reservoir. A drive element on a rear end of the body is unobstructed to mesh with a corresponding drive element in the image forming device. A toner outlet port is positioned on a bottom of the body near the rear end of the body. A latch catch is positioned on a first side of the body to receive a corresponding latch when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A latch actuator at the front end of the body is movable between a home position and a releasing position. A release handle at the front end of the body is operatively connected to the latch actuator such that actuation of the release handle causes the latch actuator to move from the home position to the releasing position to unlatch the body.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum and a drum drive input member; a developing cartridge configured to be movably mounted to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge comprising a developing roller disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum and a developing drive input member; a drum drive transmission member configured to engage with the drum drive input member and configured to transmit drum driving force to the drum drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the drum drive input member within a predetermined range; and a developing drive transmission member configured to engage with the developing drive input member and configured to transmit developing driving force to the developing drive input member while permitting a positional gap of the developing drive input member within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, a transfer section, a developer container, and a main unit. The image carrier has a surface for allowing an electrostatic latent image to be formed thereon, and carries a developed image. The developer container includes a container body having a side wall extending in a first direction, a container shutter, and a developer discharge port. The container shutter covers or exposes the developer discharge port. The main unit includes a housing and a guide mechanism. The developer container is mounted into the mounting section while being guided by the guide mechanism, and subsequently the container body of the developer container is rotated in a first rotational direction so that the developer discharge port communicates with the developer supply port and the side wall of the developer container is oblique to the vertical plane at an angle.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier by using developer includes a developing bias output unit configured to output a developing bias generated by superimposing an AC bias on a DC bias, a developing sleeve supplied with the developing bias output from the developing bias output unit, and a prevention bias generator unit configured to generate a prevention bias by holding a peak value of the developing bias of the superimposed AC bias and DC bias, with the prevention bias suppressing scattering of developer carried by the developing sleeve. In addition, an electrode is disposed at a position opposing the developing sleeve and configured to output the prevention bias.