Abstract: A surface heating type heating unit for a fixing device, and a fixing device and an image forming apparatus including the same. The surface heating type heating unit includes a planar heating element on an outer circumferential surface of a supporter having cylindrical shape, a power feeding terminal at each end of the supporter, and a connector disposed between the planar heating element and the power feeding terminal. The connector is formed on a first region on the power feeding terminal, and includes an adhesive material for adhering the planar heating element and the power feeding terminal, and a conductive material formed on a second region of the power feeding terminal excluding the first region.

Abstract: A heating device includes a first rotating member and a second rotating member revolving in contact with the first rotating member. The second rotating member heats a passing recording medium having a toner image and held between the first and second rotating members, thereby fixing the toner image on the recording medium. The heating device further includes a pair of supporting plates supporting the first and second rotating members by being arranged on both sides across the first and second rotating members in a width direction crossing the passing direction of the recording medium. The supporting plates each have a tabular section with a first surface facing the first and second rotating members. The heating device further includes a resistance element arranged on a second surface side opposite to the first surface of the tabular section, and representing the type of a fixing device by using resistance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a moving unit configured to support a cartridge and to slide in a generally horizontal direction between multiple positions. For example, the positions may include a first position where the moving unit is located inside the main body and a second position where the moving unit is located outside the main body. Additionally or alternatively, the moving unit being may also move between the first position and a third position located below the first position. The moving unit may also be configured to electrically connect electrodes based on its movement.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt with a resistance heating layer, a pressure roller fitting loosely in a belt circulation path, and a pressing roller pressing the pressure roller through the belt to form a fixing nip with a belt surface, and thermally fixes an unfixed image by passing a recording sheet through the fixing nip, comprises: a pair of annular electrodes provided circumferentially and sandwiching a sheet-passing region of the belt surface; a first power supply member pressurizing a given one of the electrodes; and a second power supply member positioned closer to the fixing nip than the first power supply member, also pressurizing the given one of the electrodes, and supplying power to the resistance heating layer in cooperation with the first power supply member, wherein the pressing force applied by the first power supply member is weaker than that applied by the second power supply member.

Abstract: A charge roller conductive film and a developer cartridge. The conductive film has an input contacting an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus main assembly, an output electrically connecting with a charge roller and a transmission section connecting with the input and the output. The input has a middle contact plate shaped like a bent strip. A side contact plate is formed on at least one side of the middle contact plate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that includes plural devices, a device control unit associated with each of the devices for controlling a power status of each of the devices according to a relevant power mode, and power mode setting unit for setting the relevant power mode to the device control unit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an imaging forming device having a retainer for holding a circuit board having processing circuitry with a plurality of contacts. A reference datum point in the retainer aligns the circuit board with the retainer while an alignment device aligns the retainer with respect to the supply item that is inserted into a frame within the image forming device having an electrical connector with a plurality of connecting pins. When the retainer and circuit board are mounted on the supply item and the supply item is inserted into the frame, a pair of cam surfaces and a corresponding pair of supports spaced apart and extending from an outer surface of the housing, align the connector with the retainer with the retainer aligning the connecting pins of the connector with corresponding contacts of the circuit board for electrical interconnection therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device for thermally fixing an unfixed image onto the recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a fixing belt; and a meander regulation member provided adjacent to an edge of the fixing belt in a width direction thereof, and operable to prevent meandering of the fixing belt, wherein the fixing belt includes: a resistive heat layer that is tubular and generates heat when an electric current is applied thereto; and first and second electrodes that are provided circumferentially on an outer circumferential surface of the resistive heat layer, and that receive and apply the electric current to the resistive heat layer, and the first electrode is provided closer to the meander regulation member than to the second electrode, and is at a distance from the edge of the fixing belt in the width direction thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a configuration in which an electrically connected condition can further be stabilized in electrical-connection zones between a body of an image-forming apparatus, and an image-forming unit and a plurality of image-forming cartridges. Developing electrode members and wire power-feed electrodes are attached to a slide frame. Each of the developing electrode members has a first body-side contact. The developing electrode members are electrically connected with the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are electrically connected with wire output terminals through contact with the wire output terminals. The developing electrode members are elastically deformed as a result of their first body-side contacts being pressed in a direction, which is along a slide direction, by the developing-roller output terminals. The wire power-feed electrodes are pressed in a paper width direction by the wire output terminals.

Abstract: The circuit board includes a contact for supplying power, in which the contact includes plural copper foil patterns each having a predetermined width, the plural copper foil patterns being formed radially from a center of the contact and connected to each other at the center of the contact. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance contact reliability of the contact while suppressing cost for connecting a high-voltage board to an image forming unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a processing unit that performs an image forming process on a sheet; a housing that defines a housing space in which the processing unit is housed; a high-voltage board that generates a high voltage to be supplied to the processing unit; a wire that electrically connects the high-voltage board and the processing unit with each other; and a wire holding plate that holds the wire. The housing includes a pair of a first sheet-metal frame and a second sheet-metal frame which oppose each other and a sheet-metal coupling piece which couples these sheet-metal frames, and the first sheet-metal frame and the second sheet-metal frame support the processing unit between the first sheet-metal frame and the second sheet-metal frame. The wire holding plate extends over substantially the entire dimension of the coupling piece in an extending direction thereof and is fixed to the coupling piece.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearer bearing a toner image; a transferer transferring the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording material and including a transfer member forming a transfer nip between itself and the image bearer; and a fixer fixing portion for fixing on the recording material the transferred toner image and including a fixing sleeve, a heater contacting an inner surface of the fixing sleeve, and a pressing roller for forming a fixing nip between itself and the heater through the fixing sleeve. At least one of the fixing sleeve and the pressing roller is grounded through a first series circuit consisting of a rectifying element and a first resistance element and is grounded through a second series circuit, which is connected to the first series circuit in parallel, consisting of a capacitive element and a second resistance element.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a housing including first and second sidewalls; a developing roller, received by the sidewalls, and rotatable about a first axis line; a coupling rotatable about a second axis line parallel with the first axis line, wherein the coupling transfers rotational force to the developing roller, the rotational force being input by an drive input part, which advances and retreats, in a direction along the second axis line; and a moving member received so that the moving member can be moved along the advancing and retreating direction. The moving member has a pushing part, which is pushed toward the second sidewall, and an electrode part, which applies developing bias, and wherein when the pushing part is pushed, the moving member moves toward the second sidewall, so that the electrode part protrudes more from the second sidewall than before the pushing part was pushed.

Abstract: An electrical connection structure includes a holder that holds an electric terminal provided with an electrical contact portion having elasticity and held such that the electrical contact portion is elastically deformable; a guiding member fitted to the holder and capable of guiding the holder in first and second directions, which are substantially orthogonal to each other, to move the electrical contact portion to a predetermined contact position on a conductive member, the first direction being a direction in which the electrical contact portion is elastically deformed by being pressed against the conductive member; and a restraining member that comes into contact with the holder that has been guided by the guiding member to move the electrical contact portion to the contact position, the restraining member restraining the holder from being moved in a direction opposite to the first direction by an elastic reaction force applied to the holder.

Abstract: An image foaming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer unit, and a pressing mechanism. The image bearing member bears a toner image. The transfer unit is disposed opposite the image bearing member and is swingably and detachably held within a main body of the image forming apparatus. The transfer unit includes a transfer member and a power receiving electrode. The transfer member is disposed opposite the image bearing member, to contact the image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween and transfer the toner image on the image bearing member onto a recording medium in the transfer nip. The power receiving electrode receives power from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The pressing mechanism presses the transfer unit against the image bearing member and includes a power supply electrode that contacts the power receiving electrode of the transfer unit to supply power thereto.

Abstract: A consumables storage container has an opening through which consumables are supplied. The consumables storage container includes a seal detachably attached to the opening to seal the opening, a part ID storage disposed on the seal, and a positioning holder to position and hold the seal at a prescribed position where the part ID storage is readable after the opening is unsealed.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, comprising a heater including a substrate, a first electrode provided on one side of the substrate and a second electrode provided on the other side of the substrate; and a connector, connected with the heater, for receiving electric power, the connector including an electrically insulative housing, and a contact terminal provided inside the housing and having first spring contact contacted to the first electrode and a second spring contact contacted to the second electrode, wherein the contact terminal is swingable relative to the housing.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an image carrier unit which is equipped with an image carrier, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developer supply unit which supplies developer to the image carrier unit 11. The image carrier unit and the developer supply unit are configured to be attached and detached with respect to an apparatus main body in which the units are accommodated. Electrical contacts are provided to form electrical connection between the image carrier unit 11 and the developer supply unit 9 in a mounted state in the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a heating rotary member having a heating layer generating heat upon current application; a pressurizing rotary member brought into pressure-contact with an outer circumferential surface of the heating rotary member to form fixing nip, through which a sheet on which unfixed toner image is formed passes for heat fixing; circular electrodes that are circumferentially formed at two respective positions sandwiching a sheet passing region therebetween, on the outer circumferential surface, and feed electrical power to the heating layer, the electrodes are each metallic and formed of at least two electrode layers including a first electrode layer layered directly on the heating layer and a second electrode layer as an outermost layer, linear expansion coefficient difference between the first layer and the heating layer is smaller than that between the second layer and the heating layer, and the second layer is more oxidation-resistant than the first layer.

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 is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to 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 developing device includes a developing unit having a developing frame defining therein a developing chamber and a developing roller rotatably disposed in the developing chamber, and a developing agent unit including a developing agent container that accommodates therein a developing agent, and an agitator disposed in the developing agent container and rotatable about a rotation axis in a rotational direction to agitate the developing agent. The developing agent container includes an arcuate bottom wall whose center of radius of a curvature is coincident with the rotation axis, and an arcuate protruding wall protruding from the bottom wall toward the developing chamber and positioned downstream of the bottom wall in the rotational direction. The protruding wall is formed with an opening providing a fluid communication between an interior of the developing agent container and the developing chamber. The opening has a downstream end in the rotational direction in an operational state.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing including a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber; a developing roller including a developing roller shaft; a supply roller including a supply roller shaft; a developing electrode, which is provided on an outer side of one sidewall of the housing, which is electrically connected to the developing roller shaft, and which includes a developing protrusion protruding parallel to the developing roller shaft at a position different from the developing roller shaft; and a supply electrode, which is provided on the outer side of the one sidewall, which is electrically connected to the supply roller shaft, and which includes a supply protrusion protruding parallel to the supply roller shaft at a position different from the supply roller shaft. The developing protrusion and the supply protrusion are arranged in an arrangement direction of the developing chamber and the developer accommodating chamber.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a case, a developer carrying member, a developer supplying member, a cap, an electrode, and a fixing member. The case has a first side wall formed with a toner fill-hole and a second side wall facing the first side wall in a particular direction. The cap is configured to seal the toner fill-hole. The electrode is configured to supply a bias voltage to at least one of the developer carrying member and the developer supplying member. The fixing member is configured to fix the electrode to the cap such that the electrode is disposed in superposed relation to the cap in the particular direction.

Abstract: At least one of driving motors that drive a developing device independently of each other is provided on a door capable of opening and closing to allow the developing device to be attached to or detached from a main body of an apparatus. An electrical contact portion that can be electrically connected to or disconnected from an electrical circuit provided in the main body is provided for the driving motor provided on the door.

Abstract: A roll supporting mechanism rotatably supports an electrically-conducted roll. The roll supporting mechanism includes an electrically-conducting portion that contacts with a circumferential portion of an outer periphery of the electrically-conducted roll to conduct electricity to the electrically-conducted roll, and an insulating portion that contacts with the other circumferential portion of the outer periphery of the electrically-conducted roll at a contact portion smaller than a contact portion of the electrically-conducting portion and that is formed by an insulating material.

Abstract: A developer cartridge according to one aspect of the invention is attachable to a photoconductor unit that comprises a photoconductive drum. The developer cartridge may comprise a developing frame defining a developer container configured to contain developer, the developing frame having a first side and a second side; a developing roller located at the first side of the developing frame so as to receive developer conveyed from the developer container in a first direction; a contact terminal located at the second side of the developing frame; and a memory electrically connected to the contact terminal, wherein the first side is downstream in the first direction from the second side.

Abstract: The intermediate transfer unit removably mounted to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, includes a contact roller is disposed so as to come into contact with an intermediate transfer belt correspondingly to a photosensitive drum, an opposing member, and a voltage maintaining element which is connected to the opposing member and the contact roller. The number of electric contacts between the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus main body is decreased so that the apparatus can be downsized, and its cost can be lowered.

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: A developing cartridge includes: a housing; a developing roller; a supply roller including a supply roller shaft; a bearing member, which rotatably holds the supply roller shaft, and which allows the supply roller shaft to move in an axial direction thereof; a supply electrode, which is disposed opposite to an end face of the supply roller shaft at a first end side of the supply roller shaft, and which is electrically connected to the supply roller shaft; a supply gear, which is attached to the supply roller shaft so as to not be rotatable relative to the supply roller shaft, and which is arranged at an outer side of the sidewall of the housing at a second end side of the supply roller shaft; and a gear cover which covers the supply gear. The supply roller shaft is axially restrained by the supply electrode and the gear cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: one or a plurality of photosensitive drums; a plurality of chargers each having a grid, a voltage applying unit generating a charging voltage; a plurality of grid constant voltage circuits, each of the plurality of grid constant voltage circuits including: a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage based on a grid voltage which is generated in the grid; a first current detecting unit detecting a first current; a voltage control line making the grid voltage constant; and an operation control device performing a feedback control such that the detected voltage has a predetermined voltage value; at least one of a second current detecting units detecting a second current flowing; and a controller controlling the voltage applying unit such that a sum of the first current and the second current corresponding to one of the plurality of chargers becomes a predetermined current value.

Abstract: An image formation device is provided with an image formation unit configured to form an image on a recording sheet, a first frame arranged to support the image formation unit, a second frame connected to the first frame, flexure rigidity of the second frame being smaller than flexure rigidity of the first frame, an electric substrate electrically connected with the image formation unit. With the above configuration, the electric substrate is arranged to extend from the first frame to the second frame and is secured onto the first frame with the position on the first frame being adjusted.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a first portion-to-be-positioned for being positioned to a first main assembly side positioning portion provided in the main assembly of an apparatus, a second portion-to-be-positioned for being positioned to a second main assembly side positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, and a longitudinal positioning portion to be positioned by a main assembly side longitudinal positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus. The apparatus still further includes a portion-to-be-urged for receiving an inclined downward elastic force of a first main assembly side elastic member provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to urge the longitudinal positioning portion and the second portion-to-be-positioned.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a contact member supplied with voltage by a voltage application device, to contact an object; a rotary member rotatable about a rotation fulcrum shaft fixed to an image forming apparatus, to support the contact member; an biasing member to urge the rotary member to press the contact member against the object; a rotary conductive member fixed to the rotary member and connected electrically to the contact member; a main body side conductive member fixed to the rotation fulcrum shaft at the main body side and connected electrically to the voltage application device; and a conductive connector provided along the rotation fulcrum shaft to contact the rotary conductive member in an axial direction to connect electrically the main body side conductive member and the rotary conductive member. A contact of the conductive connector and a contact of the rotary conductive member are unfixed.

Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a connection member including a coil spring part and made by a conductor, a holding member that is configured to hold the coil spring part in a compressed state, and a relay member that is electrically connectable to the connection member. Wherein, the relay member is sandwiched between adjacent winding wires of the coil spring part to establish electrical connection.

Abstract: A color multifunction printer as an example of an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges each containing a photoconductor; a support frame configured to support the cartridges arranged in tandem, the support frame being allowed to be pulled out horizontally from a casing of the apparatus to a position in which each of the cartridges is detachable from the support frame; and a plurality of exposure units mounted to the support frame, wherein each of the exposure units is disposed opposite to a corresponding photoconductor and is configured to expose the photoconductor to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. Each of the cartridges is configured to be detachable in such a direction that the photoconductor in the cartridge moves away from the corresponding exposure unit upon detachment.

Abstract: There is provided a power supply unit, comprising: a converter transformer; a first low voltage generation unit to generate a first voltage on a secondary side of the converter transformer and output the first voltage; a first controller that controls an activation state of a primary side of the converter transformer based on the first voltage; an inactivation unit to inactivate operation of the first controller based on the first voltage to let the first low voltage generation unit to suspend output of the first voltage; a high voltage supply unit to output a high voltage higher than the first voltage by using the first voltage; a detection unit to detect an anomalous state concerning output of the high voltage of the high voltage supply unit. The high voltage supply unit inactivates the operation of the first controller through the inactivation unit when the anomalous state is detected.

Abstract: A shield case includes a cabinet main body and a lid. The cabinet main body accommodates a board for mounting electronic components. The cabinet main body includes a main body side wall and a main body outer edge portion. The lid includes an opposed outer edge portion, a recessed portion and a plurality of contact points. The recessed portion includes opposed side wall portions that are disposed in an opposed configuration in relation to the main body side wall, and a lid bottom portion. A plurality of contact points is formed on the opposed side wall portions. The plurality of contact points is biased toward the main body side wall to form an electrical connection between the cabinet main body 401 and the lid.

Abstract: An electrode for an image forming apparatus, the electrode including: an elastically deformable spring portion that is formed in a cylindrical shape by spirally winding a wire; a ring portion that is an electrical contact portion having an annular shape and provided to one end side of the spring portion in an axial direction of the spring portion, the ring portion being formed by winding the wire around a center line, which intersects with the axial direction of the spring portion, at least twice; an inner portion that is formed by the wire forming the ring portion and is positioned at an inside of the ring portion; and an outer portion that is formed by the wire forming the ring portion and is positioned at an outside of the ring portion.

Abstract: Inside a charger for uniformly charging a surface of a photosensitive drum, a wire to which high voltage is applied is stretched. The duration of life of the wire is shorter than that of the photosensitive drum. Therefore, even when other parte are normal, a process cartridge needs to be replaced. In view or this, the charger is removably mounted to the process cartridge, and further, a plurality of wires are arranged inside the charger. Thus, power is selectively fed to the wires depending on the mounting position to the process cartridge. Power is fed only to the selected wire, and hence replacement with a new charger is unnecessary.

Abstract: A cartridge is detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main assembly electrical contact. The cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a memory; a cartridge electrical contact electrically connectable to the main assembly electrical contact; a contact including the cartridge electrical contact; and a support supporting the contact. The support includes first and second regulators of the contact member in widthwise and thickness directions, respectively, with a gap therebetween. Also provided is an opening permitting insertion of the contact into the support that opens in one direction perpendicular to the widthwise and thickness directions. The main assembly electrical contact includes a spring movable by a stroke in the contact thickness direction, and the gap of the second regulator W1, a length W2 of the contact in the thickness direction, the stroke U satisfy, W2<W1, and (W1?W2)<U.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a fixing belt including, on an inner circumference side thereof, a resistance heating layer, extending over entire circumference of the fixing belt, operable to emit heat upon flowing of an electric current therethrough; a pressing member operable to press an outer circumference of the fixing belt to form a fixing nip therebetween so that, while the recording sheet passes through the fixing nip, the toner image is fixed onto the recording sheet; and a pair of power supply members arranged inside the fixing belt along the circumferential direction with a predetermined distance therebetween, the power supply members being in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the resistance heating layer in an electrically conductive state along a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body having an opening, and a consumable article separably installed in the main body through the opening. The consumable article includes a connector to perform a connection. The main body includes a connection terminal protruding toward the connector and a guide protrusion to prevent the connection terminal from coming into contact with a portion adjacent to the connector. The consumable article is provided with a guide groove into which the guide protrusion is inserted when the connection terminal and the connector are positioned to correspond to each other. When the connection terminal and the connector reach positions corresponding to each other, the guide protrusion is into the guide groove to perform the connection between the connection terminal and the connector, which prevents friction between the connection terminal and a portion adjacent to the connector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a cassette attaching section and a media cassette. The media cassette includes a loading plate, a pushing up member, a projecting portion and a plate holding portion that engages the loading plate. In a first position, the plate holding portion releases its hold on the loading plate so that the media contacts the media supplying roller. A release portion engages the plate holding portion to cause the plate holding portion to release its hold on the loading plate. A first ground conducting route is formed by electrically connecting the projecting portion with a ground portion. A second ground conducting route has a ground portion formed at a position to which the media contacts after the media cassette is attached to the first position and after the media is conveyed by the media supply roller.

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 is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to 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: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising an electric energy receiving member; a frame of resin material; an electrode member which is molded by injecting electroconductive resin material into the frame which provides an electroconductive path between the electric energy receiving member and a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the electrode member having a projected portion projected from a surface of the frame for contacting the main assembly electrical contact, the projected portion being provided by changing a direction of flow of the injected electroconductive resin material by the metal mold or the frame.

Abstract: A protruding portion that protrudes further toward a process cartridge than a contact portion coming in contact with a recording medium is provided at a contact terminal. A slide contact surface portion of the process cartridge is in a state of being in sliding contact with the protruding portion of the contact terminal by action of inserting the process cartridge, and the protruding portion is pressed in a direction being apart from the recording medium to limit contact between the contact terminal and the recording medium. The protruding portion fits in a fitting concave portion at a predetermined mounted position to make the contact terminal come in contact with the recording medium. The protruding portion is pulled out from the fitting concave portion by action of taking out the process cartridge to be in sliding contact with the slide contact surface portion.

Abstract: An electronic device and image forming apparatus include a main body and an attachment unit. The main body includes a main-body side connector. The attachment unit includes a unit-side connector connectable with the main-body side connector and is mounted detachably on the main body. The main body includes a static electricity prevention member and a biasing member. The static electricity prevention member is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position. The static electricity prevention member partially or completely covers an outer periphery of a terminal of the main-body side connector at the first position and exposes this terminal at the second position. The attachment unit presses the static electricity prevention member from the first position to the second position against a biasing force applied by the biasing member, such that the main-body side connector is connected with the unit-side connector.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet. The fixing device includes a tubular flexible member, a heater, a nip member and a backup member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space. The heater is disposed within the internal space and is configured to generate a radiant heat. The nip member is disposed within the internal space and is configured to receive the radiant heat from the heater, the inner peripheral surface being in sliding contact with the nip member, and the nip member being electrically conductive and the tubular flexible member being grounded via the nip member. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device that forms a toner image on the surface of the image carrier, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer material such as paper, a neutralizing unit that neutralizes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier by light radiation, a cleaning unit that cleans toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred. The image carrier, the developing device, the transfer unit, the neutralizing unit, and the cleaning unit are provided to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further includes a withdrawal mechanism that withdraws at least the image carrier, the cleaning unit, and the neutralizing unit integrally from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heating roller including a resistive heating layer and a fusing device including the heating roller. By separately disposing a plurality of electrodes in an axis direction of the heating roller, and by independently controlling each electrode, the heating roller may correspond to various papers having different sizes. Accordingly, the temperature of the heating roller may be stably controlled.