Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which, while image formation is prevented from being performed, scattered toner that has dropped from a filter and adhered to an outer peripheral surface of a developer carrying member is recovered. A fixed magnet of the developer carrying member has a first pole that is arranged to face the filter, and a second pole and a third pole on a downstream side relative to the first pole. The first pole and the second pole have polarities opposite to each other, and the second pole and the third pole have a same polarity. A length of a gap between the developing container and an area where the developing sleeve faces the second pole among areas of the developing sleeve is smaller than a length between the developing sleeve and the filter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charging portion that charges a surface of the photoconductor; an exposure portion including a substrate including a plurality of light emitting portions for exposing the photoconductor; a developing portion that develops a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor with toner; a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and a duct that communicates with the fan and communicates with the support portion, the duct guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate; in which a part of the duct is formed by a charging support portion that supports the charging portion, a developing support portion that supports the development, and a duct portion, and a space between the duct portion and the charging support portion and a space between the duct portion and the developing support portion are sealed by a sealing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member, a developing member that forms a toner image with a toner including a metal soap having a polarity opposite to that of the toner, a supply member that supplies the toner to the developing member, and a control unit that executes a metal soap supply operation of supplying the metal soap from the developing member to the image bearing member when an operation other than the image forming operation is executed, wherein the metal soap supply operation includes a first mode and a second mode, and a potential difference between the supply member and the developing member, which causes an electrostatic force in the direction from the supply member to the developing member to act on the metal soap, is smaller in the metal soap supply operation in the second mode than in the first mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, to which a supply container storing a developer is detachably attachable and which forms an image on a recording material, includes a photosensitive member that rotates, an optical box, a developer bearing member, and a developer container including a supply port for receiving the developer to be supplied from the supply container. The optical box irradiates the photosensitive member with light and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. The developer bearing member bears the developer and develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying the developer to the photosensitive member. The developer container stores the developer to be borne by the developer bearing member. When viewed in a rotation axial direction of the photosensitive member, a region where the optical box is located and at least a part of a region where the supply port is located overlap each other in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A rotating device includes: an opening-closing portion supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to a support body; a drive unit provided on the support body; a first rotating body provided on the support body and rotated by a drive force of the drive unit; a driven portion provided in the opening-closing portion; a second rotating body provided in the opening-closing portion, rotated by a transmitted rotational force, and transmitting the rotational force to the driven portion; and an annular body formed in an annular shape, wound around the first rotating body and the second rotating body, maintaining the winding state in both an open state and a closed state of the opening-closing portion, and transmitting the rotational force of the first rotating body to the second rotating body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first frame member, a second frame member opposing the first frame member, a cartridge, a cartridge holding member, an air blowing portion, a first opening, a second opening opposing the first opening, an air discharge passage member, and an outer casing member provided so as to cover an outside of the second frame member and permitting discharge of the air to an outside of the image forming apparatus through the air discharge passage member.

Abstract: A driving unit is controlled so that a driving state where an image bearing member is driven with a first potential difference formed between a brush member and the image bearing member at a contact portion where the image bearing member is in contact with the brush member transitions to a stopped state where the image bearing member stops being driven with a second potential difference formed, the second potential difference having an absolute value less than that of the first potential difference.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a rotary member and an opposing member to convey a sheet in a conveyance nip, and an abutting member abutting a surface of the rotary member, which is supported between a first position and a second position with respect to the abutting member. When the sheet is not passing through the conveyance nip the rotary member is positioned at the first position and abuts the opposing member, and when the sheet is passing through the conveyance nip the rotary member is positioned at the second position which is more separated from the opposing member than the first position. The abutting member abuts the rotary member regardless of which of the first position and the second position the rotary member is positioned at, and the opposing member and the abutting member are supported so they do not move in a radial direction of the rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, to which a supply container storing a developer is detachably attachable and which forms an image on a recording material, includes a photosensitive member that rotates, an optical box, a developer bearing member, and a developer container including a supply port for receiving the developer to be supplied from the supply container. The optical box irradiates the photosensitive member with light and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. The developer bearing member bears the developer and develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying the developer to the photosensitive member. The developer container stores the developer to be borne by the developer bearing member. When viewed in a rotation axial direction of the photosensitive member, a region where the optical box is located and at least a part of a region where the supply port is located overlap each other in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a housing that houses an optical system for generating a light ray for optical scanning, and has a dustproof glass for emitting the light ray to an outside, and a cleaning system that is assembled to the housing and cleans the dustproof glass. The cleaning system includes a cleaning member, and a holder that holds the cleaning member, and with the holder moved in a specified movement direction relative to the dustproof glass, the cleaning member cleans the dustproof glass. The cleaning member includes a cleaner member that is adapted to contact a surface of the dustproof glass, and a pressing member that has a pressing surface for pressing the cleaner member toward the dustproof glass and is formed of an elastic body. In the movement direction, a width of the cleaner member is wider than a width of the pressing surface.

Abstract: In an optical scanning device, an outer wall closest to a circumscribed circle of a rotating polygon mirror has a space in a position facing to a position of a reflection surface of the rotating polygon mirror in an axial direction of a rotating shaft. A part of a cover is provided in a position farther from the circumscribed circle than the outer wall so as to close the space, when the optical scanning device is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes forming a print agent pattern on an image forming surface and transferring the print agent pattern from the image forming surface to an intermediate transfer member. In a first mode of operation in which a printable substrate is not between the intermediate transfer member and a cleanable medium, the print agent pattern may be transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the cleanable medium and then cleaned from the cleanable medium. In a second mode of operation, the printable substrate may be provided between the intermediate transfer member and the cleanable medium, and the same print agent pattern or a different print agent pattern may be transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the printable substrate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a paper feeding unit on which paper is placed; an image forming unit that forms an image on the paper supplied from the paper feeding unit; a paper conveying roller that conveys the paper from the paper feeding unit by rotation in contact with the paper; a reservoir that contains paper dust removed from the paper conveying roller and includes a bottom portion; a waste toner container that is disposed below the reservoir in a vertical direction, is detachable from the image processing apparatus, and contains a waste toner discharged from the image forming unit; and a transfer path that connects an inside portion of the reservoir and an inside portion of the waste toner container.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer transport path through which a developer is agitated and transported, a developing roller mounted in the developer transport path, a discharging unit extending from the developer transport path in a length direction of the developing roller, the discharging unit including an air outlet from which air is discharged and a developer discharge outlet from which the developer is discharged, and a separating member mounted in the discharging unit to separate an inner portion of the discharging unit into an air discharge path, connecting the developer transport path and the air outlet, and a developer discharge path, connecting the developer transport path and the developer discharge outlet.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier, a development housing, and a guide member. The image carrier forms an electrostatic latent image. The developer carrier is in contact with the image carrier while rotating about a rotation axis and facing the image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image. The development housing accommodates a developer and rotatably supports the developer carrier at one end with an opening portion that is open to the image carrier. The development housing includes an agitation path in which the developer is agitated and a feed path through which the developer is fed to the developer carrier.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling electrostatic process units includes an impeller in communication with a shaft associated with a rotating component of the electrostatic process unit such as a toner mixer, a waste auger, a developer, or a photoconductive drum. When the shaft rotates, the impeller rotates and causes air to be directed into a cooling duct. The cooling duct directs the air over one or more components of the electrostatic process unit such as the developer or a doctor blade. The air directed over the components cools the electrostatic process unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a movable optical print head including a light emitting element and a lens array, and a portion-to-be-contacted. The photosensitive drum and a light emergent surface of the lens array are spaced from each other to permit insertion of a cleaning member therebetween from outside of the main assembly. The portion-to-be-contacted is provided in the main assembly and configured to be contacted by the cleaning member to prevent further insertion of the cleaning member after the cleaning member cleans the light emergent surface by sliding on the light emergent surface from one end side toward the other end side of the light emergent surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lens array.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a paper dust collecting unit which collects, by application of a voltage, paper dust attached to a sheet, an optical detection unit provided on a downstream side of the paper dust collecting unit in a sheet conveyance direction, which irradiates the sheet with light and receives light via the sheet, a guide member which comes into contact with the sheet to be conveyed to guide the sheet, at least one of light directed toward the sheet from the optical detection unit and light directed toward the optical detection unit from the sheet passing through the guide member, and a control unit which switches a polarity of the voltage to be applied to the paper dust collecting unit and causes the sheet charged through the paper dust collecting unit to be conveyed to the guide member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing portion, a transport portion a medium support portion disposed on an upstream side of a recording head, and a removal portion that includes a first contact portion, which comes into contact with the printing surface when a medium is supported by the medium support portion. The removal portion is spatially separated from the medium support portion at both a section on the upstream side of the first contact portion and a section on the downstream side of the first contact portion. An interval between the removal portion and the medium support portion becomes wider in tandem with progression toward a direction opposite to the transport direction on the upstream side in the transport direction of the first contact portion, and becomes wider in tandem with progression toward the transport direction on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first contact portion.

Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for exiting toner from the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force in a frontward direction of the housing at the rear of the housing. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface moves in the frontward direction and protrudes from the front of the housing with at least a portion of the front of the second engagement surface unobstructed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive member, a developing unit, an exposure member including a light emitting element array, a covering member, and a cover operation mechanism. The developing unit includes a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer supplied to the photosensitive member. The exposure unit is configured to expose the photosensitive member to form a latent image on the photosensitive member. The covering member is configured to move between a cover position where the covering member covers the exposure member between the photosensitive member and the exposure member and a retracted position where the covering member is retracted from between the photosensitive member and the exposure member. The cover operation mechanism is configured to hold the covering member in the retracted position at least when the exposure member forms the latent image on the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning apparatus, the optical scanning apparatus includes a dust-proof shutter having an opening portion. The opening portion has a side-surface opening portion and a top-surface opening portion. The side-surface opening portion is formed in a side surface of the dust-proof shutter. A cleaning member used for cleaning a dust-proof glass is inserted through the side-surface opening portion. The top-surface opening portion guides a moving direction of the cleaning member inserted through the side-surface opening portion, to a direction along a longitudinal direction of the dust-proof glass. When the dust-proof shutter is located at a first position, a light beam passed through the dust-proof glass passes through the top-surface opening portion.

Abstract: A solar blind corona camera designed specifically for use on 60 Hz or 50 Hz AC power distribution equipment is based on the fact that electrical discharge corona only occurs above some voltage threshold level on the positive and negative voltage peaks of the AC power waveform. Between these peaks, when the AC voltage is below the discharge corona voltage threshold, the electrical discharge and resulting corona are extinguished. An image sensor is used to both capture the corona-plus-ambient light image during the corona period and the ambient light image during the non-corona period. The ambient light image is then subtracted from the corona-plus-ambient light image leaving only the corona light image which is annunciated and displayed along with the ambient light image. This process effectively renders the corona camera solar blind so it can be used both at night and during daylight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotational force driving assembly and a process cartridge used for being engaged with a rotational force driving head inside an electrophotographic image forming device. The rotational force driving assembly can comprise a hub, a rotational force receiving component, a side plate, and an axis offset adjusting mechanism. When the axis offset adjusting mechanism is not subjected to external force, the axis offset adjusting mechanism enables the axis of the rotational force receiving component to be parallel and offset to the axis of the hub. When the axis offset adjusting mechanism is subjected to external force, the rotational force receiving component extends out to be engaged with the rotational force driving head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing excess paper dust from paper fed from a high capacity feeder module that includes blades positioned after an exit of the high capacity feeder module that are configured to physically remove paper dust from sheets generated during feeding of the sheets by a fully active retard feeder from the high capacity feeder module.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes: first and second rotatable member configured to heat-fix, at a nip therebetween, an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a casing, configured to accommodate the first and second rotatable member, including a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening; and a suppressing portion configured to suppress diffusion, toward the sheet discharging opening, of particles having a predetermined diameter resulting from a parting agent in the neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening, wherein the suppressing portion is provided in a position of 0.5 mm or more and 3.5 mm or less from a surface of the first rotatable member in a space in the casing from the sheet introducing opening to the sheet discharging opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a unit supporting member for supporting the image forming unit, and an exposure device, wherein the unit supporting member includes a first contact supporting portion for supporting the image forming unit, and a second contact supporting portion disposed on a downstream side of the first contact supporting portion in a taking out direction of the image forming unit with a step portion. The image forming unit includes a first contact supported portion contacting and being supported by the first contact supporting portion, a second contact supported portion contacting and being supported by the second contact supporting portion, and a cleaner for cleaning the exposure device. Because the cleaner cleans the exposure device when the image forming unit is taken out from the unit supporting member, light from the exposure device is surely radiated to an image carrier surface.

Abstract: When image formation is not performed, an image forming apparatus performs a toner collection mode that includes a first positive rotation step of rotating a developer carrying member and a toner carrying member in the same direction as a direction at the time of image formation, in a state where a second bias applied to the toner carrying member is set at a higher voltage on the same polarity side as a toner than a first bias, and a reverse rotation step of rotating the developer carrying member and the toner carrying member in a direction reverse to the direction at the time of image formation after the first positive rotation step is performed, in a state where the first bias is set at a higher voltage on the same polarity side as the toner than the second bias.

Abstract: A driving force transmitting device includes a first gear that rotates about the same rotational shaft as that of a small wheel portion and a second gear that engages with the small wheel portion and to which a rotational driving force is transmitted from the first gear. A rib member that rotatably supports the second gear is provided at a rotational center of the second gear. A first end portion of a rotational shaft is pivotally supported by an attachment plate within a root circle of the first gear. The annular rib member is provided on a web face of the first gear. The rib member has the same rotational shaft as the first gear and co-rotates with the first gear while supporting a second end portion of the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position.

Abstract: A collecting member that collects suspended particles vaporized from wax includes a flow path and a space, where gas passes along the flow path. The space is connected to the flow path through an opening formed in the flow path. The space extends upstream with respect to a direction of travel of the gas that passes along the flow path. By virtue of this structure, dew condensation in a fixing unit is suppressed while efficiently collecting the suspended particles.

Abstract: A static eliminating device includes: a housing; a substrate mounted to the housing; a light-emitting part mounted on a mounting surface of the substrate; a partition member connected to the housing to cover the substrate and the light-emitting part and face a portion of the housing to which the substrate and the light-emitting part are mounted so that an opening facing the surface of the image carrier is formed in a light-emitting region across which light is delivered from the light-emitting part to the surface of the image carrier; and a restricting protrusion abutting at a distal end thereof against the partition member to support the partition member and restricting the position of the partition member to ensure the formation of the opening. A distal side portion of the restricting protrusion located within the light-emitting region has a tapered shape narrowing with approach toward the partition member.

Abstract: An improved laser print cartridge having a reduced defect rate. The improved laser print cartridge includes a printing assembly, a primary cleaning assembly, and a paper cleaning assembly. The printing assembly includes a drum, a primary charge roller, and a toner roller for applying toner to printer paper. The primary cleaning assembly includes a wiper blade for removing large debris particles from the drum into a large particle receiving volume. The paper cleaning assembly provides a wicking flange for removing smaller particles of debris not removed by the wiper blade. As such, the wicking flange is positioned in between the wiper blade and the primary charge roller and is mounted to the wiper blade. A cleaning portion of the wicking flange is pressed against the drum and either absorbs the debris or wipes the debris into a small particle receiving volume delineated by the drum, wicking flange, and wiper blade.

Abstract: This sheet feeding device is provided with a fixed frame having a first feed roller, and a turning frame which, through rotation from a closed position to an open position, exposes a sheet feed path. The turning frame includes: a second feed roller with an integrally rotatable feed gear which forms a nip together with the first feed roller; a cleaning member configured to wipe the second feed roller; and a transmission gear. The fixed frame includes a fixed gear for engaging the transmission gear. The transmission gear, through turning of the turning frame to the open position, engages the feed gear, and rotates the second feed roller.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning member that includes a cleaning portion that cleans a light transmission member, which has a substantially elongated shape and which transmits light, and a support portion that supports the cleaning portion and a wall portion that is disposed on one end side of the light transmission member in a longitudinal direction of the light transmission member and that has a surface that is formed along a direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the light transmission member. The cleaning member and the wall portion each have a configuration in which when an end of the cleaning member makes contact with the wall portion and is pressed, the support portion is bent in a convex manner toward a side opposite to a side on which the light transmission member is disposed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having a pinch roller; a supporting member configured to support a plurality of cartridges; and a cleaning unit provided on the supporting member. The supporting member is movable, relative to the main body, between an internal position located inside the main body and an external position located outside the main body. The cleaning unit includes: a paper dust roller for removing paper dust from recording sheets; a paper dust removing member for removing the paper dust; and a storing section for string the paper dust. The paper dust roller is movable relative to the supporting member and positioning of the paper dust roller relative to the pinch roller is independent of positioning of the supporting member relative to the main body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a roller pair, a paper dust collecting member, a scraping member, and a paper dust receiver. The paper dust collecting member can be drawn out from the apparatus main body and is disposed along an axis direction of the roller pair so as to collect paper dust adhered to one roller of the roller pair. The scraping member scrapes off paper dust adhered to the paper dust collecting member when the paper dust collecting member is moved in a draw-out direction. The paper dust receiver is disposed below the scraping member so as to receive the paper dust scraped off by the scraping member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing module which develops a toner image on a printing medium, a fixing module which fixes the toner image onto the printing medium, and a toner neutralization module arranged on a travel path of the printing medium between the developing module and the fixing module to electrically neutralize the toner image on the printing medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second rollers forming an image fixing nip, said second roller being disposed below said first roller; a casing accommodating said first and second rollers and having a sheet introduction opening and a sheet discharge opening; a suppression portion provided at a position, away by not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 3.5 mm, from a surface of the first roller in a space from said sheet introduction opening to said sheet discharge opening and configured to suppress scattering of particles of predetermined particle sizes resulting from parting material adjacent said sheet introduction opening; and a substantially closed chamber provided above said casing and having an entrance for permitting entering of said particles guided to a outside of said casing by said suppression portion to stagnate the particles.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an outline surrounded by a casing. The casing has an opening. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit configured to fix an image formed on a recording medium, and a control unit. The fixing unit includes a heating fixing member. The control unit is configured to control an opening degree of the opening based on temperature of a surface of or in the vicinity of the heating fixing member, so as to prevent emission of a substance by an air current to outside of the casing through the opening, during an image forming operation.

Abstract: A development device includes a case, a developer carrier, an antiscattering part and a movement mechanism. The case has a supply port supplying developer to an image carrier in which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developer carrier is rotatably positioned in the case, and develops the electrostatic latent image through the supply port by the developer. The antiscattering part prevents the developer from scattering from the supply port. The movement mechanism makes the developer carrier movable, in the case, between a developing position adjacent to the supply port and a housing position at a depth side from the developing position with respect to the supply port. The antiscattering part is moved, in conjunction with movement of the developer carrier, between an opening position adjacent to the developing position and a withdrawal position far from the opening position, while separating from the developer carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating transfer streaks in a printing system is provided and comprises a hollow transfer backer bar including sealed ends. The transfer backer bar further includes a plurality of holes with the holes spaced along the photoreceptor supporting surface of the transfer backer bar. Air pressure can be applied within a hollow transfer backer bar thereby creating an air flow outward through the holes. The air flow contacts the underside of a photoreceptor and floats the photoreceptor on a thin cushion of air flow during transfer of an image to paper.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus including a deflection unit configured to deflect a light beam emitted from a light source so that the light beam scans on a photosensitive member, a casing which is configured to house the light source and the deflection unit inside the casing and which is provided with an aperture that transmits the light beam deflected by the deflection unit out from the casing, a first light transmission member provided on the aperture for dust-proofing an interior of the casing, which is configured to transmit the light beam incident on the aperture, and a support member configured to support a second light transmission member for transmitting a light beam that has been transmitted through the first light transmission member and dust-proofing the first light transmission member, wherein the second light transmission member is detachable from the support member.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of minimizing the adhesion of a mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating a toner image to components excluding a fixing device inside the image forming apparatus. The mold release wax vaporized at the time of heating and fixing a toner image to a recording material is collected by a collection member, which is provided between a nip portion forming member and the frame of the fixing device, and kept at a temperature between the melting point and the sublimation point of the mold release wax.

Abstract: This sheet feeding device is provided with a fixed frame having a first feed roller, and a turning frame which, through rotation from a closed position to an open position, exposes a sheet feed path. The turning frame includes: a second feed roller with an integrally rotatable feed gear which forms a nip together with the first feed roller; a cleaning member configured to wipe the second feed roller; and a transmission gear. The fixed frame includes a fixed gear for engaging the transmission gear. The transmission gear, through turning of the turning frame to the open position, engages the feed gear, and rotates the second feed roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner image holding member, a transfer unit, and a supply unit. The toner image holding member holds a toner image. The transfer unit transfers the toner image held by the toner image holding member to a recording medium. The supply unit supplies powder such that the powder is interposed between an end portion of the recording medium and the toner image holding member and/or the transfer unit if the recording medium includes an intermediate adhesive layer.

Abstract: The developing device of the present disclosure comprises a developing container, toner carrier, developer carrier, regulating member, and air outflow channel. The developing container accommodates a two-component developer. The toner carrier supplies toner to an image carrier. The developer carrier rotates so that a surface facing the toner carrier moves in the opposite direction of the toner carrier, and a toner layer is formed on the toner carrier. The regulating member regulates the amount of developer carried on the developer carrier. The air outflow channel communicates an airflow outlet formed in the top end of the developing container facing the toner carrier with the interior of a duct placed above the developing container, and the air outflow channel is inclined downstream in the rotational direction of the toner carrier relative to a straight line passing through the rotational axis center of the toner carrier and the airflow outlet.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry by rotation developer to a development range facing a latent image bearer, a developer container to contain developer and having a pressure-release vent to discharge air from the developer container to outside the developing device, and a filter provided to the pressure-release vent to inhibit developer from being discharged through the pressure-release vent. The filter includes a porous fluoroplastic film.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the image forming apparatus; at least one image forming unit disposed in the main body; a light scanning unit that is disposed in the main body and scans light to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive medium of the at least one image forming unit; a window open-closing shutter that is disposed to slidably move on a surface of the light scanning unit from which light emits, and moves between an open position where a light moving path is opened and a blocking position where the light moving path is blocked; a shutter operating lever that is disposed in the main body, and activates the window open-closing shutter to be positioned at either of the open position and the blocking position; and a pressure member that is disposed in the main body and presses the shutter operating lever.