| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080260419 | UNIT DRAWING MECHANISM AND IMAGE RECORDER - A unit drawing mechanism according to the present invention includes a drawing unit, a lever, a fixture, a preventer, a linkage, and a lever holder. The drawing unit can move along a movement path between a retracted position in an apparatus and an exposed position outside the apparatus. The lever is supported pivotably on the front side of the drawing unit. The fixture locks the drawing unit in the retracted position. The preventer prevents the drawing unit from moving from the exposed position. The linkage links the lever to the fixture and the preventer. The lever holder holds the lever in a first angular position, a second angular position, and a third angular position when the drawing unit is locked by the fixture, positioned on the movement path, and prevented by the preventer from moving from the exposed position, respectively. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080260420 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus that includes at least one process cartridge having a photosensitive element, a development unit, a toner storage unit, a driven shaft and a driven gear mounted thereon and which is detachably attachable to the apparatus from a top front side thereof, a drive shaft, a drive gear mounted on the drive shaft to couple with and drive the driven gear to transmit a driving force to the process cartridge, an upper cover opening and closing with respect to the apparatus, a front cover opening and closing with respect to the apparatus, and at least one block component to block coupling of the drive gear and the driven gear by contacting the driven shaft while interlocked with opening and closing of the upper cover. The process cartridge is detachably attachable to the apparatus from the front top side thereof by opening and closing the upper cover. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080292355 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge which is mounted on a pull-out type cartridge tray to enable front access. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an urging unit for urging and moving the cartridge tray toward a front of a main assembly of the apparatus and a clocking member for locking the cartridge tray in a proper position so that the cartridge tray is returned back to an outside position of the apparatus when the cartridge tray is pushed to the proper position. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080304859 | Imaging Cartridge Drive with an External Ramp - Provided is an improved drive mechanism for an imaging machine. At least one external ramp is disposed along the outer perimeter of the drive dog whereby a tooth of the imaging machine drive mechanism is centered and directed into the drive dog seat. The leading edge of the drive dog seat contacts the base of the imaging machine drive mechanism thus making full contact between the drive dog seat and the imaging machine drive mechanism tooth. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080304860 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of process units each including a photoconductor drum are arranged in tandem; a plurality of exposure units configured to expose the photoconductor drum to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon are each disposed above and opposite to the corresponding photoconductor drum; an output tray configured to receive an ejected recording sheet on which an image has been formed is disposed above the plurality of exposure units; and an image reader unit configured to read an image of a source document is disposed above the output tray with a predetermined space provided between the image reader unit and the output tray. At least one of the exposure units and at least a part of the output tray are movable together into the predetermined space, whereby the plurality of process units are allowed to be pulled out in a direction of tandem arrangement thereof. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080317498 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus including an image forming section; an upper unit located over the image forming section with a space therebetween and slidable in a direction of from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus and the opposite direction; a sheet discharger configured to discharge a sheet bearing an image in the first or opposite direction; a sheet stacker receiving the sheet from the sheet discharger; a support arranged outside of both side ends of the sheet stacker in the first direction and slidably supporting the upper unit; and at least one of a release preventing member for preventing releasing of the upper unit from the support, and a covering member movable from a first position to a second position in conjunction with sliding of the upper unit and covering an opening formed at an end portion of the support when acquiring the first position. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090010677 | COVER OPENING AND CLOSING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF REMOVING AND MOUNTING COVER - A cover opening and closing unit for an image forming apparatus, includes a cover removably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus mounting therein a developer cartridge, a developing unit, a transferring unit and a waste-developer receptacle, and a locking device fixing the cover to the main body of image forming apparatus. The locking device is released from the main body only after the waste-developer receptacle is removed from the main body. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090052938 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a latent-image forming device; a developing device; a latent-image forming device contacting/separating mechanism; and a developing device contacting/separating mechanism, and the latent-image forming device contacting/separating mechanism allows the latent-image forming device to be movable to the latent-image forming device contacting position in a state where the developing device is moved to the developing device contacting position. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090092412 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the process cartridge can be positioned with high accuracy in a simple construction in an apparatus main body. The process cartridge is put on a cartridge tray, and the process cartridge is replaced by a front access. Furthermore, the process cartridge is moved in conjunction with opening/closing operations of a door member so that a photosensitive drum and a transfer belt are brought in contact with each other. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090154954 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE ARCHITECTURE FOR MEDIA OUTPUT OPTION USABILITY AND INTERCHANGEABILITY - An electrophotographic device is provided for transferring a copy of an image from at least one first media sheet to at least one second media sheet. The device has a height, a width, and a depth defining a device external dimension, and also a width and depth defining a horizontal footprint of the device. The device includes a body adapted to receive therein at least one interchangeable media output module, which module when placed at a predetermined operating position is integrated into the path of travel of a media sheet passing through the device. A variety of interchangeable media output modules may be provided, including without limitation a multi-bin mailbox module, an automated media fastener module, an offset media stacker module, and combinations thereof. Advantageously, inclusion of one or more of the interchangeable media output modules does not alter the electrophotographic device external dimension and/or footprint. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090169244 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO CONTROL ACCESS TO AN INTERIOR OF AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - The present application is directed to systems and methods to control access to an interior of an image forming device. The image forming device may include a body with a door that is movable between open and closed positions. In the open position, access is gained to an interior of the body. A controller controls a latch through a motor arrangement to lock and unlock the door. A user interface may be positioned on an exterior of the body to allow a user to enter commands to lock and unlock the door. Additional elements may also be included within the interior of the image forming device and operated with the motor arrangement. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090175649 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus disclosed includes a body, a cover to open and close an opening of the body, a plurality of photosensitive members provided in the body, a light scanning device to irradiate a light beam to the plurality of photosensitive members, the light scanning device including a plurality of passage windows corresponding to the plurality of photosensitive members, and a shutter device to open and close the respective passage windows in accordance with opening and closing movements of the cover. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090180797 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes a belt unit, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a cartridge, a casing, a cartridge holding unit and a first guide unit. The looped belt has a first surface outside of the loop, and is stretched to form a substantially straight portion on the loop that extends in a first direction. The casing has a base surface. The cartridge holding unit holds the cartridge at a first predetermined position in the casing. Each circumferential surface of the plurality of photosensitive drums contacts the straight portion of the first surface when the cartridge is held by the cartridge holding unit at the first predetermined position. The first guide unit guides the cartridge into the first predetermined position, and allows the plurality of photosensitive drums to move apart from the straight portion of the first surface when the cartridge is detached from the first predetermined position. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090297209 | Image Forming Device Having Detachable Process Unit - An image forming device facilitating fluid communication between developer cartridges supported in a main body frame and a process unit in which developing units are accommodated in a drawer movable in a first direction and second direction opposite to the first direction. The developing units are arrayed in the first and second direction, and the process unit is formed with communication ports displaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the first and second direction. An inlet shutter mechanism is provided to open the communication ports when the drawer is assembled to an operable position for image formation. The main body has abutment portions to open each shutter of the inlet shutter mechanism in accordance with the movement of the drawer to the operable position. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090297210 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording unit; a reading unit rotatably supported to the upper portion of the recording unit so as to be openable and closable about one end as a fulcrum and reads an original; an L-shaped guide groove which is provided for the recording unit and in which a long groove portion and a short groove portion are connected by a bending portion; and a stay at one end is fitted into the guide groove and coupled therewith, the other end is swingably coupled with the reading unit. The guide groove has a restricting mechanism configured to alternately guide the projecting portion to the long groove portion and the short groove portion when the projecting portion moves from the bending portion. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090317125 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device having a frame, a door, and a movable image forming unit to be assembled in the frame when the door is open. The image forming unit has a support shaft, and frame has a hole on which the support shaft abuts for positioning of the image forming unit relative to the frame when the door is closed. A lock unit formed with a recessed portion is movable in association with the movement of the door. When the door is open, the lock unit is at its abutment position so that the support shaft abuts the recessed portion. When the door is closed the lock unit is moved so that the support shaft is brought into abutment with the hole. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090317126 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device having a frame, a door, and a movable image forming unit to be assembled in the frame when the door is open. Positioning of the image forming unit relative to the frame and a closing position of the door are maintainable when the door is closed. When the door is closed, a hook at the door side is engaged with a hook of a lock unit at the frame side. The lock unit is movable in association with the movement of the door to its closed position to move a pressure portion, so that a part of the image forming unit is pressed by the pressure portion for positioning. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090317127 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Movable Drawer Detachably Supporting a Plurality of Process Cartridges - An image forming apparatus capable of easily performing exchange in a process cartridge with a new cartridge and performing removal of a jammed sheet without detachment of a drawer from a casing. The drawer detachably holds a plurality of process cartridges, and is movable in frontward/rearward direction to one of an operable position where each photosensitive drum is in direct confrontation with a conveyer belt, a cartridge exchangeable position where all of the cartridges are positioned out of the casing, and a jammed sheet processing position ahead of the cartridge exchangeable position for removing a jammed sheet. A regulation mechanism is provided for selectively regulating the movement of the drawer dependent on detachment of a rearmost process cartridge from the drawer. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090317128 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus in which an exposing unit is mounted on a cover unit for improved space utilization. The image forming apparatus includes a body, a plurality of developing units arranged in the body along vertical direction of the body, a cover unit that opens or closes a side of the body an exposing unit provided at the cover unit so as to move in association with the closing or opening movement of the cover unit. The image forming apparatus may also include an engagement member to limit the movement of the exposing unit and a shutter unit to selectively open an optical path of the exposing unit upon closure of the cover unit. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100034555 | CART WITH XERO MODULE LIFT ASSIST - This involves a cart that can be used in changing a marking module in a xerographic color marking system. The cart has a lifting mechanism securely attached to its upper surface. When the marking module is to be changed and a new replacement module installed, the lifting mechanism is used to support the marking module during each of these procedures. Since the marking modules are relatively heavy (30-35 lbs.), to prevent accidental damage to the module, the cart and its attached lifting mechanism are conveniently used by the customer. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100061758 | ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE OF AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER, AND IMAGE-READING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An attachment structure is provided that includes a hinge unit for supporting a document feeder and a hinge attachment for fixing the hinge unit having an engagement pin and a retainment hook. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100067944 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device includes a main body, an image forming unit configured to be attached to and detached from the main body, the image forming unit being configured to move among first, second, and third positions, a shaft member configured to rotate around an axis line thereof between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, a first regulator provided to the shaft member so as to, when the shaft member is in the first rotational position, engage with the image forming unit and forbid the image forming unit to move between the second position and the third position, and a second regulator provided to the shaft member so as to, when the shaft member is in the second rotational position, engage with the image forming unit and forbid the image forming unit to move between the first position and the second position. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100086327 | SYSTEM FOR INSTALLING A CONTINUOUS BELT IN A MARKING SYSTEM - This invention involves a kit or cartridge useful in installing an endless belt into a belt-containing system such as a xerographic marking system. The cartridge has a sheath to house all of the components of the cartridge. These components are:
| 04-08-2010 |
| 20100098456 | ACCOMMODATING VESSEL AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE USING THE SAME - An accommodating vessel, which is detachably attached to a vessel receiving part of a casing of an image forming device to accommodate an image forming material, the accommodating vessel including: a vessel main body that includes a tubular part; a cover member that includes a fitted part; at least one positioned protrusion; and at least one positioned positioning protrusion, wherein the at least one positioned protrusion includes: a guide protrusion that extends in a rotating direction of the cover member; and a plurality of rotation stop protrusions that extends in opposite directions to each other relative to the guide protrusion along a pushing and pulling direction of the cover member, and Wherein the positioning protrusion includes a stop wall that abuts on the guide protrusion and the plurality of rotation stop protrusions of the at least one positioned protrusion to be stopped. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100124432 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING MEMBER - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly including a preventing portion; a supporting member for supporting a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive members, the supporting member being movable between an inside position inside the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly in a state in which the supporting member is supported by the main assembly and being disengageable from the main assembly at the outside position; a handle portion, provided to the supporting member, to be touched for disengaging the supporting member from the main assembly; and a portion to be prevented, provided to the supporting member, being movable between a preventing position in which the portion to be prevented contacts the preventing portion in order to prevent the supporting member from being disengaged from the main assembly and a retracted position in which the portion to be prevented is retracted from the preventing position in order to disengaging the supporting member from the main assembly. The portion to be prevented is moved from the preventing position to the retracted position by the touch of the handle portion. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100158559 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to an apparatus main body to form an image on a recording medium, including: a cartridge supporting member, which moves between an inside position that is positioned inside the apparatus main body and a pullout position pulled out from the inside position to an outside of the apparatus main body, while detachably supporting the plurality of cartridges; in which the plurality of cartridges are arranged side-by-side and supported on the cartridge supporting member so that a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of cartridges is orthogonal to a pullout direction in which the cartridge supporting member moves from the inside position to the pullout position, and a cartridge, which is heaviest among the plurality of cartridges, is supported most upstream in the pullout direction. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100158560 | Image Forming Device Including Lock Member That Locks Cover Member with Respect to Casing - An image forming device includes a casing, a cover member pivotable with respect to the casing between an open position and a closed position, a lock member that selectively locks and unlocks the cover member in the closed position, and a knob movable from an original position toward the open position of the cover member. The lock member is moved to an unlocking position as the knob is moved from the original position toward the open position. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100189462 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A unit detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly s provided with a coupling for receiving a rotational driving force from the apparatus main assembly. Also the apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling to be engaged with the coupling of the unit. At least one of these couplings can be pushed in a direction parallel to a rotation shaft and one of the couplings is provided with an inclined surface. During mounting and demounting of the unit, the engagement between the couplings is released by the pushing-in of one of the couplings pushed by the inclined surface. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100196046 | Image Forming Device Facilitating Replacement of Belt Unit - An image forming device includes, a main casing, a drawer unit, and a transfer unit. The main casing has a first frame formed with a first opening and a second frame formed with a second opening. The main casing has a first inner space in communication with the first opening and the second opening. The drawer unit is movable between a first position and a second position. The drawer unit is accommodated in the first inner space when the drawer unit is in the first position. The drawer unit is partially drawn out from the first inner space through the first opening when the drawer unit is in the second position. When the drawer unit is moved to the second position, a mounting space is formed for allowing the first transfer unit to be mounted in the second inner space. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100215395 | REMOVABLE MEMBER-HOLDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A removable member-holding device is provided and includes: a pull-out member being movably between an accommodating position and a pull-out position; a holding member supported on the pull-out member and having a holding member body, the holding member being extended in a moving direction of the pull-out member and holding a removable member which is removed from the image forming apparatus body, the holding member being movable between an insertion enabling position and a removing position; and a pull-out regulating member provided on a downstream end of the holding member in the pull-out direction and regulating a movement of the removable member to a downstream side in the pull-out direction. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100215396 | Cartridge - A cartridge is detachably mountable in a receiving area of an image forming apparatus in a first direction. The receiving area is partitioned by partition surfaces opposing each other in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cartridge includes first and second side surfaces in the opposing direction. In a part of the case, both ends of which are contactable with the partition surfaces, respectively, when mounted in the receiving area, outlines of the first and second side surfaces are provided on or inside first and second circular arcs, respectively, as seen in a second direction orthogonal to the opposing direction and the first direction. Each circular arc has a center, in the part, at corresponding end in the opposing direction and at a most upstream end in a mounting direction, and a radius corresponding to a line segment connecting the both ends in the opposing direction. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100215397 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a plate. The image forming unit is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. The image forming unit includes a convex portion. The plate includes a hole configured to receive the convex portion. The image forming unit further includes a lever which is provided at a front side of a unit case of the image forming unit and is configured to move between a working position and a storing position. When the lever is moved from the storing position to the working position, the convex portion is removed from the hole. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100221036 | CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge mountable and dismountable by moving in the direction crossing with an axial direction of the drive shaft of a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable member rotatable by receiving a rotational force from the apparatus; a coupling engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a force for rotating said rotatable member, said coupling including a coupling member rotatable about an axis, a first rotational force receiving portion, provided at one end portion of said coupling member, for receiving the rotational force from the driving shaft, a rotational force transmission member engaged with the other end portion of said coupling member and having opposite ends projected out in a crossing wherein said coupling member is pivotable between a transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force from the driving shaft to said rotatable member and a mounting-and-dismounting angular position which is inclined relative to the axis of said rotatable member; a flange mounted to said rotatable member and rotatable about an axis, said flange including an opening accommodating said transmission member with a gap, a regulating portion, provided in said opening, for regulating movement of said transmission member in the crossing direction when said coupling takes the transmitting angular position, a second rotational force receiving portion for being abutted by said transmission member to receive the rotational force from said coupling, an opposing portion opposing to said second receiving portion, wherein in a state that said coupling is in the transmitting angular position and that one end of said transmission member contacts to said regulating portion to be confined in movement, when said coupling inclines relative to said flange such that a side in which a projection distance of said rotational force transmission member is relatively smaller moves away from said first receiving portion, an engagement depth between said side of said transmission member and said second receiving portion and an engagement depth between said side of said transmission member and said opposing portion are larger than zero. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100226683 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an operating portion provided at a front part of a main assembly of the apparatus; a rear cover covering at least a part of a rear part of the main assembly; a holding mechanism for holding the rear cover relative to the main assembly; an opening and closing mechanism for upwardly moving the rear cover from a close position for covering the part of the rear part of the main assembly to an open position for exposing the part of the rear part and for downwardly moving the rear cover from the open position to the close position; a stabilizer for keeping the rear cover at the open position; an electrical component provided inside the rear cover at a position accessible from a front side of the main assembly when the rear cover takes the open position. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100232828 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING STRUCTURE - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body; and an image forming structure attached/removed in/from the image forming apparatus main body. In a state where the image forming structure is attached in the image forming apparatus main body, a concave part is formed in a position opposite to another concave part formed in an adjacent image forming structure. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100232829 | IMAGE FORMING AGENT STORAGE CONTAINER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF MOUNTING IMAGE FORMING AGENT STORAGE CONTAINER, AND METHOD OF REMOVING IMAGE FORMING AGENT STORAGE CONTAINER - An image forming agent storage container includes a container body, a driven transmission member, and a guide part. The container body stores an image forming agent. The container body is configured to be mounted to an image forming apparatus body. The driven transmission member is provided along a side face of the container body. A driving force is transmitted to the driven transmission member. The guide part guides mounting of the container body to the image forming apparatus body. The guide part is located in a position anterior to the driven transmission member in a mounting direction in which the container body is mounted to the image forming apparatus body. The guide part is provided so as to project in a direction away from the side face of the container body. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100239308 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a transfer member for transferring a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum onto the recording material, and mounting portions for demountably mounting cartridges arranged substantially in a vertical direction, the unit being movable, in a state that the cartridge is demountably mounted to the mounting portions, between a transfer position for transferring the developed image from the transfer member onto the recording material in a main assembly of the apparatus, and a mounting and demounting position, different from the transfer position, for mounting and demounting the cartridges relative to the mounting portion; a first path for mounting and demounting the cartridge relative to such a mounting portion of the mounting portions as is provided at a topmost position; and a second path, different from the first path, for mounting and demounting the cartridge relative to the mounting portion. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100247137 | DETACHABLE BODY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus defined herein, in case the opening/closing member is rotationally moved from the opened position toward the normal position, when the detachable body main unit is at a restricted position between the attached position and the separated position, the restricting portion is contacted with the restricted portion to be moved between the opening/closing member and the detachable body main unit, so as to restrict a rotational movement of the opening/closing member to the normal position, and, when the detachable body main unit is at the attached position, the restricting portion and the restricted portion that is being rotated are separated from each other to enable the opening/closing member to be rotationally moved to the normal position, and, in case the opening/closing member is moved to the normal position, the restricted portion is housed in a space between the detachable body main unit and the opening/closing member. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100247138 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in which a drawer supporting a cartridge is mounted in an apparatus main body, and an impact when a drawer is mounted into the apparatus main body may be suppressed to prevent a developer from scattering within a developer container. The drawer supporting the cartridge is movable between an inside position in the apparatus main body and a pullout position at which the cartridge is mounted and removed. On a forward side of the inside position, a force giving portion for giving a force to the drawer in a direction opposite to a mounting direction is provided. The force giving portion gives the force gradually to the drawer along with movement of the drawer in the mounting direction. With this structure, it is possible to suppress the scattering of the developer in the cartridge caused by the impact on mounting. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100266311 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a device that is positioned within a main body casing and having a function, a displacement member positioned in a main body casing and capable of displacement between an initial position and a stop position which causes the device to perform an action, a string-like connection that is connected between the displacement member and a cover member and that displaces the displacement member from the initial position to the stop position in synchronization with the opening operation of the cover member. The string-like connection, and the displacement member in the stop position, constitute an opening restricting device capable of restricting the opening angle of a cover member to a prescribed angle. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100272466 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR INSTALLING IMAGE FORMING STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING IMAGE FORMING STRUCTURE - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body; an opening/closing part provided in the image forming apparatus main body; an image forming structure including an image holder that holds an image and an image holder covering member that moves between a protective position over the image holder and a moved-aside position beside the image holder, the image forming structure being installed and removed in/from the image forming apparatus main body through an open space which is opened by opening the opening/closing part; a displacement mechanism that moves the image holder covering member to the protective position in conjunction with opening of the opening/closing part and moves the image holder covering member to the moved-aside position in conjunction with closing of the opening/closing part; and a push mechanism that releases the image forming structure mechanically pushed and fit in the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with opening of the opening/closing part and pushes the image forming structure to be fit in the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with closing of the opening/closing part. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100272467 | Image Forming Device and Image Bearing Member Unit - An image forming device includes: a housing; a conveying belt; and a retaining member. The retaining member retains a plurality of image bearing members such that the image bearing members are juxtaposed with one another and that are arranged spaced apart from one another, the retaining member being slidingly movable relative to the housing in a direction that the image bearing members are juxtaposed. The retaining member retains the image bearing members such that the image bearing members confront the conveying belt and such that the image bearing members and the conveying belt are arranged in a reference direction, the image bearing members being configured to form images on the recording medium that is conveyed by the conveying belt. The retaining member includes: a cleaning member that is configured to remove a residual developing agent from the conveying belt; and a guide unit that is configured to guide the recording medium to the conveying belt. The guide unit and the cleaning member are arranged in the reference direction such that the guide unit is located on the image bearing member side and the cleaning member is located on the conveying belt side with respect to the reference direction, at least part of the guide unit overlapping at least part of the cleaning member when projected in the reference direction. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100272468 | Image Forming Apparatus - An apparatus includes: a main body; a supporting member having a first side wall and a second side wall, the supporting member configured to be movable between an accommodation position and a withdrawn position, the supporting member configured to be removable from the apparatus main body by being withdrawn further from the withdrawn position; a first frame facing the first side wall and a second frame facing the second side wall; a lock member configured to be movable between a lock position and a release position; and a restriction unit provided on the second side wall and the second frame, the restriction unit configured to restrict a rotation of the supporting member by coming contact with the supporting member when the supporting member, which is locked into the withdrawn position, rotates to the first frame side of the apparatus main body. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100329728 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an imaging device, a top cover, a moving device, and a state holding device. The housing has a top opening formed on a top face of the housing and a side opening formed on a side face of the housing. The imaging device is housed in the housing and includes a photosensitive body, an exposure device which exposes the photosensitive body to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body, and a developing device which develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer on the photosensitive body. The top cover is movable between an open state opening the top opening and a close state closing the top opening, the exposure device being attached to an inner face of the top cover. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100329729 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an apparatus including a fixing device configured to be rotated by receiving a driving force from a main body of the apparatus and a drawer configured to draw out of the main body while holding the fixing device, a storage position of the drawer is adjusted to adjust an alignment between a transfer unit and a fixing nip. With the alignment so adjusted, meshing of gears that transmit force to rotate a fixing roller from a driving source of the main body of the apparatus may deteriorate, thus causing a rotational unevenness of the fixing roller. Therefore, an alignment unit configured to adjust an alignment is provided between a fixing support member configured to support a fixing unit and a fixing driving unit driving the fixing unit and a transfer support member configured to support a support member supporting the fixing support member. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100329730 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cover configured to open/close with respect to an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, a pullout unit, a locking member configured to lock the pullout unit according to an operation of inserting the pullout unit into the apparatus main body, and an abutting member movable between a position where the abutting member regulates the closure of the cover by abutting against the cover and a position where the abutting member does not regulate the closure of the cover. When the locking member does not lock the pullout unit, the abutting member is positioned at the position where the abutting member regulates the closure of the cover. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110013931 | LID DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A lid device includes a main body, an opening/closing member, a support portion and a fall preventing member. The opening/closing member is attached to the main body so as to be opened and closed. The support portion is provided on the main body, and supports the opening/closing member in such a manner which the opening/closing member is disengaged from the main body when receiving force of opening the opening/closing member beyond a predetermined opening/closing angular range. The fall preventing member prevents the opening/closing member disengaged from the support portion from coming off the main body. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110013932 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a cartridge, detachably mountable to the main assembly, for being operated so as to form a toner image on a sheet material in a state in which the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly; a fixing unit, detachably mountable to the main assembly, for fixing the toner image on the sheet material; and an opening for exposing an inside of the main assembly. The fixing unit and the cartridge are mountable into and demountable from the main assembly in a mounting and demounting direction in which the fixing unit and the cartridge are disposed side by side. When the fixing unit and the cartridge are mounted into and demounted from the main assembly, the fixing unit passes through the opening, and the cartridge passes through a space in which the fixing unit is to be mounted and passes through the opening. When the fixing unit and the cartridge at the time of passing through the opening are projected onto a surface perpendicular to the mounting and demounting direction, a contour of a projected area of the cartridge is at least partly inside a contour of a projected area of the fixing device, and the cartridge passes through the inside of the contour of the projected area of the fixing device when passes through the opening. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110026966 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material. A plurality of cartridges is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member for supporting the cartridges. The cartridge supporting member is movable between an inside position inside the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly. The apparatus also includes a shutter member movably provided on the cartridge supporting member. The shutter member is movable between an open position in which a photosensitive member supported by the cartridge supporting member is exposed and a closed position in which the photosensitive member is protected. The apparatus further includes a shutter moving device for moving the shutter member to the closed position when the cartridge supporting member is moved from the inside position to the outside position and for moving the shutter member to the open position when the cartridge supporting member is moved from the outside position to the inside position. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110033201 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge accommodating a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member, a supporter detachably mounting the cartridge, and a preventor. The supporter moves between an inside position where the cartridge forms an image inside a main assembly of the apparatus and an outside position where the cartridge is mounted and demounted outside the main assembly. The preventor moves between a first position in which it prevents, when the cartridge is not mounted, movement of the supporter from the outside position to the inside position by contacting a portion thereof, and a second position, retracted from the first position, in which the it permits, when the cartridge is mounted, the movement of the supporter from the outside position to the inside position. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110052253 | OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - When closing a front cover opened in a case where a fixing lever is placed in a fixing position, a guide plate portion formed on the front cover raises the fixing lever together with a support shaft. When a connection pin of the fixing lever enters a cam groove provided in the front cover, the fixing lever obtains a closed state in which the fixing lever is connected to the cam groove. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110052254 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body, a drawer, an image carrier, a developing unit which is provided to be movable with respect to the drawer, a contacting and spacing mechanism which is provided to at least one of the apparatus main body and the drawer, and which is configured to move the developing unit between a contacting position and a spacing position, a driving unit which is configured to drive the contacting and spacing mechanism, a cover, an interlocking mechanism which is configured to interlock with opening of the cover, wherein when the cover is opened, the interlocking mechanism performs a first operation of releasing the coupled state between the driving unit and the contacting and spacing mechanism, and a second operation of moving the developing unit to a drawn position while interlocking with the first operation. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110058847 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a transfer material, and a photosensitive body that catches the transfer material between the photosensitive body and the transfer belt and that transfers a toner image to the transfer material. The transfer belt is driven in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover, and the photosensitive body is separated from the transfer belt in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110064457 | Image Forming Apparatus and Tandem Type Photosensitive Unit - An image forming apparatus is described. An image forming apparatus may include an image forming apparatus body and a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable with respect to the body, wherein the unit includes: a frame; a plurality of photosensitive bodies; a plurality of developer cartridges, including developer carriers, detachably mountable on the frame; and a pressing portion provided on the frame for pressing each of the cartridges so that the developer carrier thereof is directed toward the corresponding photosensitive body, each of the cartridges is pivoted to be movable to an imaging position pressed by the pressing portion and a detached position released from the pressing by the pressing portion, and the body is provided with an abutting portion abutting the cartridge located on the detached position thereby pivoting the cartridge and moving the same to the imaging position when the unit is mounted on the body. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110064458 | Image-Forming Apparatus - An image-forming apparatus includes: a housing; a first cover attached to the housing; a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body; a rotating member; a support member that contacts an inner surface of the intermediate transfer body at a position opposed to the rotating member to form an image transfer portion where an image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium; a first supporting unit provided to the housing to support a first end of the support member, a positioning mechanism that determines a position of the first cover relative to the housing when the first cover is closed; and a second supporting unit provided to the first cover to support a second end of the support member, such that a pressure generated between the support member and the rotating member is increased when the first cover is closed than when the first cover is opened. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110076054 | DRAWER LATCH FLEXURE MECHANISM - A latch apparatus has a latch base, a latch frame, and at least one flexible bracket connecting the latch frame to the latch base. Connectors are used to connect the flexible bracket to the latch frame and connect the flexible bracket to the latch base. The connectors prevent the outer surface of the flexible bracket from moving along the surface of the latch frame or the surface of the latch base. A biasing member is connected to the latch base and the latch frame. The flexible bracket maintains a gap between the latch base and the latch frame and prevents the latch base from contacting or sliding along the latch frame. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110076055 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a body housing having an opening and a cover covering the opening, a body frame in the body housing for supporting thereon various component parts of the image forming apparatus, an image forming cartridge receivable into the body housing through the opening to be detachably supported on the body frame and a support assembly supporting the mounted image forming cartridge. The support assembly includes a locking member movable between a locking position at which the image forming cartridge is limited in its movement along the direction of separating away from the body frame and a releasing position at which the image forming cartridge is allowed to move away from the body frame. The support assembly further includes an elastic member elastically biasing the locking member to the releasing position and a pressing member provided on the cover for pressing the locking member to remain in the locking position when the covered is closed to cover the opening. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110081163 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus to achieve stable attachment/detachment of a developing device and stable power transmission while preventing contamination of the surroundings due to leakage of developer. The image forming apparatus includes a cover to be opened away from or closed to an upper surface of a body, and a drive device provided at a side of the developing device so as to be coupled with or released from the developing device and be moved in linkage with opening/closing of the cover. The developing device includes driven coupling members to be rotated upon receiving drive power from the drive device. The drive device includes driving coupling members engaged with the driven coupling members, and a moving member to horizontally move the driving coupling members according to the opening/closing of the cover and to control the engagement/disengagement of the driving coupling members and the driven coupling members. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110085821 | Image Forming apparatus - 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. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110091238 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In one embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing cover that is supported so as to be capable of moving relative to an image forming apparatus main body and opens/closes an opening portion of the image forming apparatus main body; and a unit installed so as to be capable of swinging on an image forming apparatus main body side of the opening/closing cover, in which when the opening/closing cover is opened/closed, the unit moves in a track that moves around a guide shaft of the unit, and in a track that moves so as to follow opening/closing of the opening/closing cover. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110103824 | RECLAIMED MATERIAL CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A reclaimed material container includes a container body that is removably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, and that accommodates a reclaimed material existing after forming an image, a receiving portion that is provided at a bottom portion of the container body, and that is supported by a support of the mounting portion from therebelow, and a mounting member that mounts the container body to the mounting portion as a result of rotation of the container body with the receiving portion as a fulcrum while the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow. In the container, the container body has a first recess that provides a field of view for the support when the receiving portion is supported by the support from therebelow. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110110682 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110116831 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an operating portion that moves between a first operating position in which each of positioning members is moved to each of positioning positions and a second operating position in which each of the positioning members is moved to each of releasing positions through each of transmitting members and each of transmitted members when a first transmitting member and a first transmitted member are coupled to each other, and that carries out the movement to a first operating position to move a second positioning member to a second positioning position through a second transmitting member and a second transmitted member and carries out the movement to a second operating position to move the second positioning member to a second releasing position when the first transmitting member and the first transmitted member are decoupled from each other. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110123221 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming device includes a casing having a guide, image forming portions configured to form images on a recording medium, and a drawer configured to be installed in and withdrawn from the casing along the guide in a first direction for installation and in a second direction for withdrawal opposite the first direction. The drawer may include a housing configured to house each image forming portion, a projecting portion coupled to the housing and protruding in the first direction, and a support portion coupled to the projecting portion. An engagement of the support portion with the guide regulates movement of the drawer upward or downward during installation and withdrawal. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110142488 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a sheet includes a plurality of cartridge mounting portions for demountably mounting a cartridge each of which includes a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum into a developed image and a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used for development of the electrostatic latent image; a single intermediary transfer member which is provided opposed to the drums and onto which the developed images are transferred from the drums; an image forming unit containing the cartridge mounting portions and the intermediary transfer member and movable between a first position for transferring, onto the sheet, the developed images transferred onto the intermediary transfer member from the drums and a second position for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridges relative to the cartridge mounting portion; an opening for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridges relative to the cartridge mounting portions of the unit taking the a second position; and an opening-closing member movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening, wherein when the unit takes the first position, the cartridges take attitudes in which the developer is supplied to the developing roller by the weight thereof, and when the unit takes the a second position, the cartridges take attitudes in which the developer is not supplied to the developing roller by the weight thereof. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110142489 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a cartridge including process means actable on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the process cartridge being detachably mountable relative to the main assembly; an opening, provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge; an openable member, provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, for openably closing the opening; an exposure device, provided on the openable member, for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive member; the cartridge including a first unit, and a second unit pivotably connected with the first unit; a first positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein the exposure device is provided with a second positioning portion for positioning between the exposure device and the second unit of the cartridge by engagement with the cartridge by closing the openable member. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110158680 | OPENING-AND-CLOSING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An aspect of the invention is an opening-and-closing mechanism including: an opening-and-closing member that open-and-closes an body; a holding member rotatably coupled to the body; a sliding member disposed slidable to the holding member along a longitudinal-direction of the holding member, whose end portion is coupled to the opening-and-closing member, and sliding to the holding member in accompaniment with rotation of the opening-and-closing member; a braking member of an elastic material whose coefficient of friction with one of the sliding member or the holding member is larger than that between the other of the sliding member or the holding member and the one, the braking member sliding to the one in accompaniment with the sliding member sliding to the holding member to generate a braking-force by a frictional-force; and a pressing member disposed on the other, the braking member being mounted thereat, pressing the braking member against the one. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110170904 | Printer - Provided is a printer capable of reliably combining a main unit and a detachable unit with each other, performing smooth attachment/detachment operation of the detachable unit, easily achieving miniaturization, and suppressing interference with fingertips during the attachment/detachment operation, to thereby increase safety. The printer includes: a main unit ( | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110176829 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING UNIT - An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body formed with an opening; a cover capable of opening and closing the opening of the apparatus body; an image forming unit accommodated in the apparatus body; an exposure device provided at the cover; a first fit part provided at one of the image forming unit and the exposure device and having a first reference line; a second fit part provided at the other of the image forming unit and the exposure device and configured to be fit to the first fit part in a state where the cover is closed and having a second reference line; and a mechanism configured to, as the exposure device gets closer to the image forming unit upon closing the cover, make the first reference line of the first fit part closer to the second reference line of the second fit part by changing the inclination of the first fit part. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110182612 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING RETAINING MEMBER THAT CAN BE PULLED OUT THEREFROM - An image forming device includes a casing, photosensitive bodies, developing devices, developer accommodating devices, and a retaining member. The developer accommodating devices includes a first developer accommodating device that is individually replaceable and separable from the corresponding developing device and a second developer accommodating device that is replaceable together with the corresponding developing device. The retaining member retains the photosensitive bodies arranged in an arrangement direction, the developing devices, and the developer accommodating devices at fixed positions within the casing. The retaining member is capable of being pulled out from the casing and is movable between a housed position and a withdrawn position. One of the developer accommodating devices located at a most upstream side in the arrangement direction is the first developer accommodating device, and each of the developer accommodating devices other than the one of the developer accommodating devices is the second developer accommodating device. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110182613 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING RETAINING MEMBER THAT CAN BE PULLED OUT THEREFROM - An image forming device includes a casing, photosensitive bodies, developing devices, developer accommodating devices, and a retaining member. The developer accommodating devices includes a first developer accommodating device that is individually replaceable and separable from the corresponding developing device and a second developer accommodating device that is replaceable together with the corresponding developing device. The retaining member retains the photosensitive bodies arranged in an arrangement direction, the developing devices, and the developer accommodating devices at fixed positions within the casing. The retaining member is capable of being pulled out from the casing and is movable between a housed position and a withdrawn position. One of the developer accommodating devices located at a most downstream side in the arrangement direction is the first developer accommodating device, and each of the developer accommodating devices other than the one of the developer accommodating devices is the second developer accommodating device. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110182614 | Interlock System And Image Forming Apparatus Incorporating Interlock System - An interlock system includes first and second racks movable in parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction between opening and closing positions in conjunction with opening and closing of the first cover, respectively. A housing is provided to slidably accommodate the first and second racks in the longitudinal direction. A pinion unit is provided and is sandwiched by the first and second racks. The first and second racks have meshing sections respectively meshing with the pinion unit at one side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction facing each other. The pinion unit slides in the longitudinal direction by a prescribed length in conjunction with movement of at least one of the first and second racks. The interlock switch is turned on and off in accordance with a sliding length of the pinion unit in the longitudinal direction. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110188884 | CARTRIDGE INSTALLING UNIT AND IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS - A cartridge installing unit on which a plurality of types of liquid cartridges are to be installed, includes: a plurality of cartridge installing portions on which the plurality of types of liquid cartridges are installed; a plurality of liquid infusing portions each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of types of liquid cartridges, and each of which is provided to be movable between the plurality of cartridge installing portions to communicate with corresponding liquid cartridge; and a plurality of moving mechanisms each of which moves one of the plurality of liquid infusing portions, and when a liquid cartridge among the liquid cartridges is installed on a cartridge installing portion among the cartridge installing portions, a moving mechanism among the moving mechanisms moves a liquid infusing portion corresponding to the liquid cartridge to the cartridge installing portion on which the liquid cartridge is installed. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110188885 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a transfer roller configured to be opposite to an image carrier when the housing is rotated around a rotation fulcrum, a transfer roller pressing member configured to urge the transfer roller toward the image carrier, a guide configured to feed transfer paper, a fixing hook configured to be urged in a direction to lock the housing about the main body, a transfer roller releasing lever configured to separate the transfer roller from the image carrier against urging performed by the transfer roller pressing member, a transfer roller positioning part that is disposed in a main body and configured to position the transfer roller, and an operation part configured to cause the fixing hook to rotate in a direction to unlock the housing roller such that the transfer roller releasing lever rotates in a direction to release the transfer roller from the image carrier. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110188886 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing apparatus is used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Developing units form corresponding developer images. A frame holds the developing units therein in position so that the developing units are movable independently by a distance relative to the frame. An urging member is disposed across the frame and each developing unit and urges each developing unit against the frame. An elastic sealing member secured to the frame and in intimate contact with each of the developing units when the corresponding developing unit is attached to the frame. The sealing member seals a gap between the frame and each of the developing unit. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110200355 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus may include a removable/attachable belt unit. In operation, the belt unit may be secured to a main body of the image forming apparatus using a lock mechanism to prevent extraneous or unexpected shifts and/or other movements. The lock mechanism may be located closer to a rotation pivot than to a midpoint between the rotation pivot and a rotation axis of a driven roller. This positioning of the lock mechanism may allow easier attachment and removal of the belt unit. Additionally, the lock mechanism may include an urging member configured to sandwich a protruding member of the belt unit against a contact surface in a front-rear direction. This reduces the potential for elastic or creep deformation of the belt unit. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110211862 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An color image forming apparatus | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110217067 | TONER CARTRIDGE - A toner cartridge includes a toner cartridge main body having a cylindrical toner container that contains toner therein, a toner discharge port disposed on one end of the toner container, and a rotating shaft disposed on the other end of the toner container; and an annular IC chip holder that is fitted to the rotating shaft of the toner cartridge main body to rotate together with the toner cartridge main body, and has a notch formed in an outer peripheral surface in which an IC chip is mounted, wherein the IC chip holder rotates together with the toner cartridge main body until the IC chip holder is fixed to an IC chip contact holder having a contact member for contacting a terminal of the IC chip disposed in the image forming apparatus main body. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110217068 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CARTRIDGE - A holder unit is movable between an accommodated position and a pulled out position. A plurality of toner cartridges is detachably attached to the holder unit. A shutter provided on each toner cartridge is movable between a block position where the shutter blocks an opening of a case and an open position where the shutter opens the opening. An operation member of each toner cartridge operates the shutter such that the shutter moves between a first position and a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the operation member is located at the first position. The shutter is located at the block position when the operation member is located at the second position. An interference member is configured such that the operation members abut the interference member to be displaced from the second position to the first position when the holder unit is moved from the pulled out position to the accommodated position. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110217069 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CARTRIDGE - Each of the toner cartridges includes a case, a shutter, a first operation portion and a second operation portion. The shutter is located at an open position where the shutter opens an opening of a case when the first operation portion is located at a first position. The shutter is located at a block position the shutter blocks the opening when the first operation portion is located at a second position. The shutter is located at the open position when the second operation portion is located at a third position. The shutter is located at the block position when the second operation portion is located at a fourth position. An interference unit is configured such that a first operation portions abut the interference unit to be displaced from the second position to the first position when a holder unit is moved from a pulled out position to an accommodated position and such that the second operation portions abut the interference unit to be displaced from the third position to the fourth position when the holder unit is moved from the accommodated position to the pulled out position. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110229191 | COVER OPENING/CLOSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cover opening/closing unit includes a cover body, a plurality of first hinge portions, a handle portion, and a second hinge portion. The cover body is attached to a side surface of an apparatus body. The first hinge portions are provided on both ends of a lower end portion of the cover body so as to rotatably support the cover body. The handle portion is provided between the first hinge portions. The second hinge portion is provided on a back of the cover body and between the first hinge portions so as to rotatably support the cover body. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110229192 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus comprises: a body having a mount/remove opening; a removable component that can be mounted on or removed from the body via the mount/remove opening, the removable component being operable when mounted on the body; a door attached to the mount/remove opening; a mounting unit, on which the removable component is mounted, attached to the body; a connecting member that connects the door and the mounting unit, a position or attitude of the mounting unit in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the door, causes the removable component to move to a first position in which the removable component is operable when the door is closed, and causes the removable component mounted on the mounting unit to move to a second position, which is more easily accessible when the door is opened. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110229193 | Image Forming Device - A plurality of photosensitive drums is positioned between a first side plate and a second side plate of a holder unit. The first side plate is formed with a plurality of openings. Each of a plurality of toner cases supports each developing roller and is positioned between the first side plate and the second side plate. Each toner case has a confronting surface confronting the first side plate. Each of a plurality of developer couplings is provided at the confronting surface at a position in alignment with each opening and receives an input force to rotate each developing roller. A fixing member has a plurality of intervenient portions and a connecting portion integrally linking neighboring intervenient portion together. Each intervenient portion is interposed between each opening and each developer coupling to fix a position of each toner case relative to the holder unit. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110229194 | Image Forming Device - A holder unit is configured to hold a plurality of photosensitive drums such that the plurality of photosensitive drums are arrayed in a predetermined direction and juxtaposed with each other with a space between neighboring photosensitive drums. A plurality of developing units is held by the holder unit, each is provided in association with each photosensitive drum, and each includes a developing roller displaceable between a contact position where the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum and a spaced position where the developing roller is spaced away from the photosensitive drum. A spacer member has a plurality of retaining portions each in association with each developing unit and configured to retain each developing unit at the spaced position, and a linking portion integral with the retaining portions and configured to connect neighboring retaining portions therethrough in the predetermined direction. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110236059 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a rotary body; a rotary body retaining member; pressure members that press the rotary body retaining member along a direction to bring shaft portions of the rotary body into positioning grooves; and an operation member. When an open/shut cover is in an open position, the operation member comes into contact with the rotary body retaining member so as to press the rotary body retaining member in a direction to bring the shaft portions of the rotary body out of the positioning grooves. When the open/shut cover is swung to, a close position, the operation member is contacted by the rotary body retaining member pressed by the pressure members, thereby bringing the operation member into contact with part of the apparatus body and keeping the operation member still. The rotary body retaining member and the operation member touch each other through elastic buffering members. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110249984 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110262181 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mounts cartridges and includes a support supporting a cartridge, movable between inside and outside positions, an outer wall having an opening through which the support passes through when moving between the inside and outside positions, and a guide supporting the support to linearly move between the inside and outside positions so that when the support is in the outside position, the guide supports the support so that a downstream side thereof is pivotable downwardly about an upstream side of the support with respect to a movement direction to the outside position from the inside position. In this state, the cartridge is mounted to the support from above the support and is dismounted upwardly of the support. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110274461 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus may transfer an image to a transfer-receiving material. The image forming apparatus includes a main body to which a cartridge is detachably mounted. The cartridge includes an image bearing member in contact with the transfer-receiving material and a receiving member to receive driving force from the main body to drive and rotate the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus also includes a shaft passing through and supporting the receiving member of the cartridge and a transmission member to rotate around the shaft and to transmit drive force from a motor to the receiving member. A bending unit included with the image forming apparatus bends the shaft passing through and supporting the receiving member and the transmission member. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110280616 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE HAVING HOLDER UNIT, IN WHICH TONER BOX IS DETACHABLY MOUNTED - An image forming device includes: a main casing; a holder unit; a plurality of image bearing members; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner boxes; and an operation assembly. The main casing defines an accommodation space. The holder unit is configured to be movable in a moving direction between an accommodated position in which the holder unit is accommodated in the accommodation space and a pull-out position in which at least part of the holder unit is outside of the accommodation space. The plurality of image bearing members are held by the holder unit and are juxtaposedly arrayed in the moving direction with intervals between neighboring image bearing members. The plurality of developing units are held by the holder unit in one to one correspondence with the plurality of image bearing members. The plurality of toner boxes are detachably attachable to the holder unit in one to one correspondence with the plurality of developing units. Each toner box is detachably attachable to the holder unit at the pull-out position. Each toner box includes: a toner container accommodating therein toner and formed with an opening through which toner in the toner container is to be supplied to each developing unit; and a shutter movable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening. The operation assembly is provided at the holder unit and configured to move the shutter between the open position and the closed position. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110280617 | Image Formation Apparatus - An image formation apparatus has a belt unit, a drawer casing configured to accommodate the plurality of process units. The drawer casing is movable in a horizontal direction so that it is insertable in and/or drawable from a main body of the image formation apparatus. An openable cover for an opening formed on an end face of the drawer casing is provided. The drawer casing is arranged above an imaginary plane including the bridging surface of an endless belt, while a sheet tray is arranged below the imaginary plane. A pair of rollers arranged on the sheet tray side with respect to the movable path and configured to feed the sheet fed from the sheet tray to the belt unit. A first guide and a second guide, which provided opposite to the first guide with a predetermined clearance therebetween, are provided to form a sheet feed path. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110280618 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE, IN WHICH HOLDER UNIT DETACHABLY HOLDING TONER BOX IS MOVABLY MOUNTED - An image forming device includes: a main casing; a holder member; a plurality of image bearing members; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner boxes; an operation member; and a stop member. The main casing defines an accommodation space. The holder member is configured to be movable in a moving direction between an accommodated position in which the holder member is accommodated in the accommodation space and a pull-out position in which at least part of the holder member is outside the accommodation space. The plurality of image bearing members are held by the holder member and are juxtaposedly arrayed in the moving direction with intervals between neighboring image bearing members. The plurality of developing units are held by the holder member in one to one correspondence with the plurality of image bearing members. The plurality of toner boxes are detachably attachable to the holder member in one to one correspondence with the plurality of developing units. Each toner box is detachably attachable to the holder member at the pull-out position. Each toner box includes: a toner container accommodating toner therein and formed with an opening, through which toner in the toner container is to be supplied to the corresponding developing unit; and a shutter movable between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening. The operation member is configured to be movable between a first position providing the closed position of the shutter and a second position providing the open position of the shutter. The stop member is provided in the main casing and configured to prevent the holder member from moving when the holder member is on its way to the accommodated position from the pull-out position while the operation member is at the first position. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110280619 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE HAVING HOLDER UNIT FOR TONER BOX - An image forming device includes: a main casing; a holder unit; a plurality of image bearing members; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner boxes; a first acting portion; a second acting portion; and an abutment member. The holder unit is configured to be movable in a moving direction between an accommodated position and a pull-out position. The plurality of image bearing members are held by the holder unit and are juxtaposedly arrayed in the moving direction with intervals between neighboring image bearing members. The plurality of developing units are held by the holder unit in one to one correspondence with the plurality of image bearing members. The plurality of toner boxes are detachably attachable to the holder unit in one to one correspondence with the plurality of developing units. Each toner box is detachably attachable to the holder unit at the pull-out position. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110299878 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE INCLUDING TONER CARTRIDGE HAVING SHUTTER - An image forming device includes a support member and a plurality of operation members supported on the support member. The support member is movable relative to a main casing. A plurality of toner cartridges is detachably mounted on the support member, and each includes a casing formed with an opening for supplying toner to a corresponding developing unit and a shutter movable relative to the casing to selectively open and close the opening. Each operation member is operated in a direction substantially parallel to an axial direction of photosensitive drums to press one of the casing and the shutter, thereby moving the shutter relative to the casing in the direction to open the opening. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299879 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING SHUTTER DRIVING MEMBER - An image forming device includes a main casing, a support member, a plurality of image bearing members supported on the support member, a plurality of developing units supported on the support member, a plurality of toner cartridges detachably mounted on the support member, and a shutter closing mechanism. Each toner cartridge includes a casing formed with an opening through which toner accommodated in the casing is supplied to the developing unit and a shutter movable between an opening position at which the shutter opens the opening and a closing position at which the shutter closes the opening. The shutter closing mechanism moves the shutter of one of the toner cartridges to be replaced from the opening position to the closing position while maintaining the shutters of the remaining toner cartridges at the respective opening positions. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299880 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE HAVING SHUTTER DRIVING MEMBER - An image forming device includes a plurality of image bearing members, a plurality of developing units, a plurality of toner cartridges, a plurality of shutter driving members, a driving force generating member that generates a driving force, and a driving force transmitting mechanism that transmits the driving force to the shutter driving members. Each toner cartridge includes a casing formed with an opening through which toner accommodated in the casing is supplied to the corresponding developing unit and a shutter movable between an opening position at which the shutter opens the opening and a closing position at which the shutter closes the opening. Each of the shutter driving members moves the corresponding shutter between the opening position and the closing position when supplied with the driving force. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299881 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge supporting member for supporting a plurality of cartridges, wherein the cartridge supporting member is movable between an inside position inside a main assembly of the image forming apparatus and an outside position outside the main assembly and includes a plurality of mounting portions to which the plurality of cartridges are detachably mountable; and a conveying path along which the recording material is to be conveyed. The cartridge supporting member is movable to an exposing position, which is a part of the outside position, in which the conveying path is exposed at an upstream side of the upstreammost-side mounting portion with respect to a pulling-out direction in which the cartridge supporting member is to be moved from the inside position to the outside position. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299882 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299883 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The image forming apparatus includes a separating member, which is provided between a light emitting device and a drum bearing portion, for supporting the light emitting device to a separated position when the cartridge is shipped while being packed together, the separating member being provided to a regulating member for regulating a supply of a developer at a shipping mode. With this structure, when the image forming apparatus is shipped while the cartridge is packed together, the light emitting device as an exposure apparatus and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is separated from each other, whereby the reliability during the transportation while packing the cartridge together may be enhanced. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299884 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a housing body in which a first end is rotatably connected with an apparatus main body, a link member in which the second end can reciprocate in a first direction, a suspended portion positioned at a restricted position when the housing body is positioned at the closed position or the intermediate open position, and positioned at a non-restricted position when the housing body is positioned at the fully open position, and a tension spring in which one end is connected to the link member and the second end is connected to the suspended portion, and when the housing body is positioned at the closed position, and the tension spring is in an extended state, when the housing body is positioned at the intermediate open position or the fully open position, and the tension spring is in a free-length state. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110305479 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an opening provided in a main assembly of the apparatus; an openable member movable between a close position for closing the opening and an open position for opening it; a drawer member for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the drawer member being movable in a direction crossing with an axis of the drum through the opening between an inside position inside the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly where the cartridge can be mounted and dismounted; a transfer unit movable about a rotation axis disposed downstream of the drum with respect to a mounting direction of the drawer member from the outside position to the inside position, between a contacting position contacting the drum and a spaced position spacing from the drum in a state that the drawer member is in the inside position; and an interrelating member interrelating the openable member and the transfer unit with each other, wherein the interrelating member moves the transfer unit from the contacting position to the spaced position with movement of the openable member from the close position to the open position, and moves the transfer unit from the spaced position to the contacting position with movement of the openable member from the open position to the close position. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110311269 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge mounting portion to which a cartridge is detachably mountable; a stacking portion for accommodating the recording material; and a protecting cover for protecting the recording material accommodated in the stacking portion, wherein the protecting cover is movable between a first position in which the recording material accommodated in the stacking portion is protected and a second position in which movement of the cartridge mounted in the cartridge mounting portion is prevented. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110318050 | Cover Opening and Closing Mechanism and Image Processing Device - A cover opening and closing mechanism, including: a housing; a cover; a first locking mechanism having a first stopper portion and a first receiving portion which are brought to a locked state when the cover is in the closed position; and a second locking mechanism having a second stopper portion and a second receiving portion which are brought to a locked state when the cover is in the closed position, and wherein, when the cover is moved to the closed position, the first stopper portion and the first receiving portion move with respect to each other in a first direction, move with respect to each other in a second direction, and thereafter are brought to the locked state, and the second stopper portion moves in the second direction in connection with movement of the first stopper portion so that the second locking mechanism is brought to the locked state. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120003000 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND TONER CARTRIDGE MOUNTED THEREIN - An image forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining member; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges; and an operation unit. The retaining member is configured to be movable in a first direction between an accommodated position and a pulled-out position. The retaining member includes a first side plate and a second side plate extending in the first direction and disposed in confrontation with and spaced apart from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The developing units are retained in the retaining member. The toner cartridges have one-on-one correspondence to the developing units and are configured to be mountable in or detachable from the retaining member when the retaining member is located at the pulled-out position. Each toner cartridge includes a casing formed with a cartridge opening, and a cartridge shutter configured to be movable between an open position for opening the cartridge opening and a closed position for closing the cartridge opening. The operation unit is provided in the retaining member and configured to be pivotally movable in an imaginary plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction. The operation unit is interlocked with the cartridge shutter while the toner cartridge is mounted in the retaining member to move the cartridge shutter between the open position and the closed position in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operation unit. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120003001 | TANDEM PHOTOSENSITIVE-MEMBER UNIT HAVING GRIP PART - An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120008977 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming device includes a casing having a guide, image forming portions configured to form images on a recording medium, and a drawer configured to be installed in and withdrawn from the casing along the guide in a first direction for installation and in a second direction for withdrawal opposite the first direction. The drawer may include a housing configured to house each image forming portion, a projecting portion coupled to the housing and protruding in the first direction, and a support portion coupled to the projecting portion. An engagement of the support portion with the guide regulates movement of the drawer upward or downward during installation and withdrawal. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120027454 | Image Forming Device Having Retaining Member Retaining Toner Cartridges - An image-forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining member; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges; and an operating member. The main casing defines an accommodation space. The retaining member is movably disposed between an accommodated position, in which the retaining member is accommodated inside the accommodation space, and a pull-out position. The plurality of developing units are retained by the retaining member. The plurality of toner cartridges are detachably attachable to the retaining member, one for each of the developing units, when the retaining member is at the pull-out position. Each of the toner cartridges includes: a casing in which a through-hole is formed for supplying toner accommodated inside the casing to the corresponding developing unit; and a shutter that is configured so as to be capable of moving between an open position exposing the through-hole and a closed position closing the through-hole. The operating member is provided at the retaining member. The operating member is configured to be operated to move the shutter between the open position and the closed position by shifting between a first position corresponding to the closed position of the shutter in which the operating member extends above the retaining member, and a second position corresponding to the open position of the shutter in which the operating member has a lower profile than in the first position. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120027455 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a body; a holding member movable between a housing position and a drawn-out position; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached to the holding member along a attachment path, so that the plurality of cartridges are placed at image forming positions and are arranged in a movement direction of the holding member; and a plurality of restricting members disposed correspondingly with the cartridges. In a state where the holding member is drawn out to the drawn-out position, the plurality of restricting members are located at unrestricted positions that are retracted from the attachment path. In an attachment process in which the holding member is moved from the drawn-out position to the housing position, the plurality of restricting members advance from the unrestricted positions to restricting positions on the attachment path to restrict the cartridges from being detached from the image forming positions. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120039624 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes: a process cartridge, including a photosensitive drum and process means actable on the photosensitive drum, for being detachably mountable to a main assembly of the developing cartridge, including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with a developer and including a developer accommodating portion, for being detachably mountable to the main assembly; and a cartridge supporting member movable, while supporting at least a pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge, between an inside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located inside the main assembly and in which the pair of the process cartridge and the developing cartridge is located at an image forming position and an outside position in which the cartridge supporting member is located outside the main assembly and in which the process cartridge and the developing cartridge are mountable and demountable. The process cartridge and the developing cartridge are independently demountable upward relative to the cartridge supporting member when the cartridge supporting member is located at the outside position. The apparatus further includes positioning means for positioning the process cartridge and the developing cartridge in the main assembly when the cartridge supporting member is located at the inside position. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120039625 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, when the openable and closable member is closed, the regulating member is mounted to the main body of the apparatus in a second state that is elastically changed from a first state; when the openable and closable member is opened, the regulating member is elastically returned to the first state; in this state, when the openable and closable member is closed, an abutting portion of the openable and closable member abuts on an abutting portion of the regulating member to regulate the openable and closable member from closing. A direction of pressing caused when the abutting portion of the openable and closable member abuts on the abutting portion of the regulating member is different from a direction in which the abutting portion of the regulating member moves when the regulating member changes from the first state to the second state. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120070185 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus in a state that a cartridge is mounted to a mounting portion of a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a first opening, provided in the main assembly, for permitting the cartridge to pass into the main assembly to mount the cartridge; an door provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position; a second opening, provided in the main assembly, for permitting the recording material to pass into the main assembly to supply the recording material; a light blocking member provided in the main assembly to suppress impingement of at least a part of external light having entered through the second opening onto an photosensitive drum, wherein the light blocking member functions to guide the cartridge toward the mounting portion through the first opening which is open by movement of the door to the open position. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120070186 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a cartridge configured to store developer, a transfer member located opposite an electrophotographic photosensitive member and configured to transfer a developed image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the recording medium, a supporting member that is movable, while supporting the cartridge, between an image forming position where image formation is conducted inside an apparatus body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and an attachment/detachment position which is spaced away from the image forming position and where attachment/detachment of the cartridge is feasible, and a waste developer container supported so as to be attachable/detachable with respect to the supporting member, having a cleaning member configured to remove the developer from a surface of the transfer member, and configured to store the developer removed by the cleaning member. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120082478 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a door to cover an opening in a chassis, a fixing unit, a frame, a linear motion member to linearly move along with the door, a guiding member to guide the linear motion member to move linearly, a coupler assembly to couple the door with the linear motion member and move the linear motion member, and a manipulation member being movable according to movement of the linear motion member. The linear motion member includes a contact portion, with which the manipulation member comes in contact along an intersecting direction. The guiding member includes a slider plane to slidably support the linear motion member. The linear motion member is slidably supported by the slider plane of the guiding member at a surface which is on an opposite side from the surface having the contact portion. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120099892 | ATTACHING AND DETACHING BODY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An attaching and detaching body includes: a main body of the attaching and detaching body that is attached to a to-be attached and detached apparatus; a memory that stores information concerning the attaching and detaching body; a memory support section that is provided in the main body of the attaching and detaching body and that supports the memory; and a restriction body that is attached to the main body of the attaching and detaching body and that, when attached to the main body of the attaching and detaching body, is arranged on a locus along which the memory departs from the memory support section. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120099893 | HOUSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A housing unit includes: a first housing that contains a cylindrical image holder; a second housing that contains a fuser unit for fixing an image to a recording medium by a heat roller; a protruding unit that protrudes outwardly from a surface of the first housing, which surface faces a circular surface of the image holder; a heat resistant member that is formed of a material having heat resistance higher than that of the protruding unit, and covers the protruding unit; a metallic supporting unit that supports an end of the heat roller; a connecting unit that is formed on the supporting unit and is shaped to contact and fit the heat resistant member; and a fixing unit that fixes the first housing to the second housing at such a position that the connecting unit is fitted to the heat resistant member. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120114372 | DETACHABLE UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A detachable unit to be attached to a unit-receiving apparatus includes a unit body, a rotary member, an urging member urging the rotary member toward a downstream side in a detachable-unit-attaching direction, a contact-receiving portion provided on the rotary member, first and second support-receiving portions provided at respective ends of the rotary member, first and second supports provided at respective positions of the unit body corresponding to the positions of the first and second support-receiving portions, and first and second rotary support members provided between the first support-receiving portion and the first support and between the second support-receiving portion and the second support, respectively, and supporting the respective ends of the rotary member such that the rotary member is rotatable. The first and second rotary support members are supported in such a manner as to be movable in a detachable-unit-attaching-and-detaching direction. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120114373 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF EFFECTIVELY UTILIZING INTERIOR SPACE - An image forming apparatus comprises a exposure device as a light source, a developer container storing developer and attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the photoconductor, a developing unit and a photoconductor unit having a photoconductor for bearing a latent image thereon each detachably attached to the main body substantially in the same direction as the developer container. An exposure device displacing mechanism displaces the exposure device between a first position enabling the exposure device to function as the light source and a second position disabling the exposure device to function as the light source. The photoconductor unit is detached when the developer container is either displaced from an initially attached position or is removed from the main body and the exposure device displacing device has displaced the exposure device to the second position. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120128387 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A developing cartridge having a simplified mounting/separation configuration and an image forming apparatus having the same. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a developing cartridge unit provided in the main body to form an image, a tray unit configured to accommodate the developing cartridge unit and movably mounted in the main body, a first link member movably coupled to the tray unit, and a second link member provided in the main body to be moved simultaneously with the first link member. The first link member includes a pressure piece to press the second link member such that the second link member does not interfere with the developing cartridge unit during movement of the first link member. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120141158 | Image Forming Apparatus with an Opening and Closing Unit - An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; an opening and closing unit disposed so as to be openable and closable for the main body; a fixing unit fixing the opening and closing unit to the main body; a structure including a component for realizing an image forming function and/or a transfer medium-conveying function, the structure supported movably for the main body; a bias unit disposed between the opening and closing unit and the structure, the bias unit biasing the structure so as to be pushed to a member; a constraining unit constraining the opening and closing unit and the structure against a bias force of the biasing unit when the fixing unit does not fix the opening and closing unit; and a releasing unit releasing the opening and closing unit and the structure from being constrained when the fixing unit fixes the opening and closing unit. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120148293 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a configuration in which a scanner is mounted to a cartridge door via an elastic member, and the scanner is positioned relative to a frame that can be mounted to and demounted from an apparatus main body and that supports an intermediate transfer member and a photosensitive member using an urging force of the elastic member. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120148294 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A guide surface of an attachment guide for a cartridge attached to a position nearest to a scanner has, in the vicinity of an inlet of the attachment guide, a portion oriented so as to be away from a guide surface of a guide unit for another cartridge from the upstream toward the downstream side in the direction in which the cartridges are attached. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120148295 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a tray, which is able to be drawn out of the apparatus and on which a plurality of cartridges of different sizes can be mounted. A cartridge, being the largest in size among a plurality of process cartridges, is detachably arranged at a location at which it is first exposed to outside when a cartridge tray is drawn out. A developer storage portion of the largest cartridge has the largest capacity and stores a developer of a black color. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120155916 | OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM - An opening and closing mechanism includes a movable member removably mounted relative to a main body of an apparatus, an opening and closing member having a cover portion, protrusions, and pivot shafts, and shaft position adjusters to change positions of the pivot shafts while the cover portion pivots between a closed position and an open position. The opening and closing member is arranged so that, on an imaginary plane perpendicular to a central axis of each pivot shaft on which each pivot shaft and the movable member are projected, a projected portion of each pivot shaft is positioned to interfere with a projected portion of the movable member when the cover portion is placed at the closed position, and the cover portion is positioned so as not to interfere with a trajectory of movement of the movable member while the cover portion pivots toward the open position. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120163857 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Exposure Unit Moving Mechanism - A cam member has each of a plurality of first exposure-side surfaces provided in association with a first contact part of each exposure units and each of a plurality of second exposure-side surfaces provided in association with each first contact part. Each first contact part confronts but separates from the corresponding first exposure-side surface when the corresponding exposure unit is disposed in an adjacent position where the exposure unit is capable of exposing the corresponding photosensitive drum. Each first contact part is in contact with the corresponding second exposure-side surface when the corresponding exposure unit is disposed in a retracted position positioned farther than the adjacent position from the photosensitive drum. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120163858 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - What is provided is an image formation apparatus including: an image formation part provided inside a main body so that the image formation part may be attached to the main body and detached from the main body; a plurality of opening-closing parts which may be opened and closed to attach the image formation part to the main body or detach the image formation part from the main body; and a plurality of locking parts latching each of the plurality of opening-closing parts to the main body, wherein when one of the plurality of locking parts undergoes a releasing operation, an other one of the plurality of locking parts also undergoes a releasing operation. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120183318 | Image Forming Apparatus - A developing-section displacement mechanism supports a developing-section supporting member and displaces the developing-section supporting member between: a first adjacent position where the developing-section supporting member is adjacent to photosensitive members; and a first separated position where the developing-section supporting member is separated from the photosensitive members. A photosensitive-member displacement mechanism supports the photosensitive-member supporting member and displaces the photosensitive-member supporting member between: a second adjacent position where the photosensitive-member supporting member is adjacent to a belt; and a second separated position where the photosensitive-member supporting member is separated from the belt. An interlocking mechanism interlocks the both displacement mechanisms with the cover, and displaces the both supporting members from the respective adjacent positions to the respective separated positions when the cover moves from a closed position to an open position. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120183319 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, a drum supporting member has a pair of opposed sidewalls facing in an axial direction of a plurality of photoconductor drums, and supports the plurality of photoconductor drums at insides of the sidewalls. A sheet output tray portion is formed in an upper wall of a casing of the apparatus as a downwardly recessed portion to receive a recording sheet with an image formed thereon. Part of the drum supporting member is disposed in spaces formed inside the casing at both sides of the sheet output tray portion facing in the axial direction of the plurality of photoconductor drums. The part of the drum supporting member overlaps the sheet output tray portion as viewed in the axial direction. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120183320 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photoconductor drums; a plurality of exposure members; a drum supporting member having a pair of side walls disposed opposite to each other in an axial direction of the photoconductor drum and configured to support the photoconductor drums and the exposure members between the side walls; a belt disposed below and opposite to the photoconductor drums; a pair of guide members configured to support the drum supporting member while allowing rectilinear movement of the drum supporting member; a separation mechanism configured to support the guide members together with the drum supporting member such that the photoconductor drums are movable in an upward-and-downward direction; and a main body circuit board provided in the main body and connected to the exposure members via a flat cable. The flat cable is partly supported at its retained portion by at least one of the guide members. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120183321 | Image Forming Apparatus - An apparatus main body has an opening at a front side. A developing-section supporting member configured to hold developing sections and to be pulled in a pulling direction through the opening from an internal position inside the apparatus main body to an external position outside the apparatus main body at which the developing sections is configured to be mounted and dismounted. Exposing members emit light in an optical axis direction for forming a latent image on respective photosensitive members. The exposing members are provided at the developing-section supporting member. A displacement mechanism is configured to support the developing-section supporting member and to displace the developing-section supporting member between: an adjacent position at which the developing-section supporting member is adjacent to the photosensitive members; and a separated position at which the developing-section supporting member is separated from the photosensitive members. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120183322 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photoconductor drums; a plurality of exposure members; a drum supporting member having a pair of side walls disposed opposite to each other in an axial direction of the photoconductor drum and configured to support the photoconductor drums and the exposure members between the side walls; a belt disposed below and opposite to the photoconductor drums; a pair of guide members configured to support the drum supporting member while allowing rectilinear movement of the drum supporting member; and a main body circuit board provided in the main body and connected to the exposure members via a cable. The main body circuit board is arranged above the drum supporting member. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120183323 | Image Forming Apparatus - A photosensitive-drum supporting member has a pair of side walls confronting both ends of each photosensitive drum. The photosensitive-drum supporting member supports the photosensitive drums between the side walls. The photosensitive-drum supporting member moves between: a stowed position at which the photosensitive-drum supporting member is stowed within an apparatus main body; and a moved position at which the photosensitive-drum supporting member is moved from the stowed position to outside the apparatus main body through an opening. Exposing members are provided at the photosensitive-drum supporting member such that the exposing members move between: an exposing position at which each exposing member is adjacent to a corresponding photosensitive drum; and a retracted position at which each exposing member is separated from the corresponding photosensitive drum and is engaged by an engaging part. The exposing members are accommodated within the photosensitive-drum supporting member both at the exposing position and at the retracted position. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120183324 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, each of a plurality of exposure units provided at a drum supporting member is configured to be movable between an exposure position in which the exposure unit is located in proximity to a corresponding photoconductor drum supported by the drum supporting member and a retreating position in which the exposure unit retreated away from the corresponding photoconductor drum is positioned by a stopper, such that the exposure unit is located inside the drum supporting member regardless of whether the exposure unit is in the exposure position or in the retreating position. A motion-imparting member is provided at the drum supporting member, movably relative to the drum supporting member and is configured to act on an engageable portion of each exposure unit to thereby cause the exposure unit to move to the exposure position or to the retreating position. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120183325 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photoconductor drums; a plurality of exposure members; a drum supporting member having a pair of side walls disposed opposite to each other in an axial direction of the photoconductor drum and configured to support the photoconductor drums and the exposure members between the side walls; a belt disposed below and opposite to the photoconductor drums; a pair of guide members configured to support the drum supporting member while allowing rectilinear movement of the drum supporting member; and a main body circuit board provided in the main body and connected to the exposure members via a cable. The main body circuit board is arranged below the belt, and the cable passes a region outside the belt in the axial direction of the photoconductor drum and is connected to the main body circuit board. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20120195627 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a drum frame, a force receiving portion for receiving a driving force, and a regulated portion; a transfer member for transferring a developer image onto a toner image receiving member; a supporting member movable between an inside position, wherein the supporting member detachably supports the cartridge and an outer position, wherein the cartridge is mountable and demountable; a moving member capable of taking a first position, where the moving member urges the regulated portion to space the drum from the transfer member and a second position to contact the drum to the transfer member; and a regulating portion for engaging with the regulated portion to regulate rotation of the cartridge, and for permitting movement of the supporting member between the outer and inside positions. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120195628 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes plural cartridges and a cartridge holder which integrally supports cartridges and is movable in an alignment direction of the cartridges between an outer position and an inner position relative to the apparatus main body. Each cartridge includes a developer carrier, a handle member which is displaceable between a protrusion position of protruding upward and a retreat position below the protrusion position, and a cover member which is displaceable between a close position of covering an upper part of the developer carrier and an open position of opening the upper part of the developer carrier. At least the cartridges are provided with an interlocking mechanism which is configured to displace each of the handle members and the cover members in conjunction with moving the cartridge holder with respect to the apparatus main body. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120207510 | Image Forming Device - A retaining unit retains a plurality of photosensitive drums and includes a first conveying member. A main casing has a first conveying path and a second conveying path. The first conveying path extends from a first supplying unit to a first position where a second transfer unit opposes a downstream end portion of a first transfer unit. A first transferred medium is conveyed along the first conveying path in a conveying direction. A second transferred medium extends from a second supplying unit to a second position located upstream of the first position in the conveying direction. The second transferred medium is conveyed to the first conveying path through the second conveying path. The first conveying member is configured to convey the second transferred medium supplied from the second supplying unit in the second conveying path. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120207511 | Image Forming Device - A first retaining member is configured to be moved in a prescribed direction between a mounted position and a pulled-out position. A plurality of exposure units is configured to move between a first adjacent position in which each of the plurality of exposure units is located adjacent to the corresponding photosensitive drum to expose thereof and a first retracted position in which each of the plurality of exposure unit is moved away from the corresponding photosensitive drum in a direction intersecting with the prescribed direction. A space is formed by removing a tray from a main casing. Each of the plurality of exposure units is moved to the space to be moved to the first retracted position such that each of the plurality of exposure units fails to interfere with the first retaining member in the prescribed direction when the first retaining member moves from the mounted position to the pulled-out position. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120213548 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A unit detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly s provided with a coupling for receiving a rotational driving force from the apparatus main assembly. Also the apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling to be engaged with the coupling of the unit. At least one of these couplings can be pushed in a direction parallel to a rotation shaft and one of the couplings is provided with an inclined surface. During mounting and demounting of the unit, the engagement between the couplings is released by the pushing-in of one of the couplings pushed by the inclined surface. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120219317 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes plural photosensitive drums; a belt which opposes the photosensitive drums; and a holder which collectively holds the photosensitive drums, and is movable between an outer position and an inner position. The holder includes a first handle unit which is provided at an upstream side, a second handle unit which is provided separately from the first handle unit at a downstream side, and an interfered portion which interferes with an apparatus main body. The second handle unit is movable between a protrusion position where the second handle unit protrudes from a top portion of the photosensitive drums and a retreat position where the second handle unit retreats therebelow. The interfered portion interferes with the apparatus main body to cause the second handle unit to be displaced from the protrusion position to the retreat position when the holder is mounted in the apparatus main body. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120219318 | POWDER CONTAINER, TONER CARTRIDGE, DRAWER TRAY, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A powder container includes: a housing unit that is horizontally elongated, that contains powder, and that has at least part thereof being deformable; and a discharging unit that is attached to one end of the housing unit in a longitudinal direction. The discharging unit includes a discharge opening through which the powder in the housing unit is discharged outside and a rotary shutter that is provided inside the discharge opening and that opens and closes the discharge opening by rotating about a rotating shaft that is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing unit. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120230723 | MEDIUM CARRYING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE MEDIUM CARRYING UNIT - A medium carrying unit to be installed in an image forming apparatus includes a first carrying path through which a medium is carried, a handle member positioned above or around the first carrying path and including a part to be gripped by a user in a state that allows the handle member to project above a carrying surface of the first carrying path, an accommodation area that is defined around the handle member and that accommodates the handle member in a state that allows the handle member to be freely inserted and removed so that the handle member hides below the carrying surface of the first carrying path, and a push-out mechanism that pushes out the handle member from an interior of the accommodation area when the medium carrying unit is removed from the image forming apparatus. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120243902 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a positioning portion, a replaceable member that is provided so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body, and has a portion to be positioned that comes into contact with and is positioned by the positioning portion at least at one longitudinal end, and an urging mechanism that urges the portion to be positioned toward the positioning portion, wherein when the position of the replaceable member in a longitudinal direction is determined, the replaceable member is mounted on the apparatus body as the urging mechanism is switched from the state where the urging force of the urging mechanism does not act to the state where the urging force of the urging mechanism acts so that the positioning portion and the portion to be positioned come into contact with each other. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120243903 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device includes a main casing and a cartridge support member. The main casing provides a fulcrum part. The cartridge support member supports a plurality of cartridges and movable among an internal position in which the cartridge support member is accommodated in the main casing, an external position in which the cartridge support member is pulled outside the main casing, and a cartridge mounting position. The cartridge support member is slidable in a pulled-out direction from the internal position to the external direction, and is pivotable between the external position and the cartridge mounting position. The cartridge support member has an upstream portion and a downstream portion disposed downstream of the upstream portion in the pulled-out direction. The cartridge support member pivots about the fulcrum part positioned near the upstream portion when the cartridge support member moves from the external position to the cartridge mounting position. | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120251163 | Image Forming Device Provided with Side Walls Having Empty Region - An image forming device includes a main casing and a photosensitive unit having photosensitive bodies arrayed in an array direction. The main casing includes a first side plate having a first primary portion extending in the array direction, and having a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion spaced away therefrom in the array direction. The photosensitive unit includes a second side plate supporting the photosensitive bodies and having a second primary portion extending in the array direction. The second side plate has a third positioning portion subjected to positioning relative to the first positioning portion and has a fourth positioning portion subjected to positioning relative to the second positioning portion. The first and third portions are overlapped with each other and the second and fourth positioning portions are overlapped with each other while the first primary portion and the second primary portion are spaced away from each other. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120251164 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes: a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum having a photosensitive surface and a rotational axis; an exposing unit having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, and an exposing surface formed on the first end and oriented in a predetermined direction; and a supporting member on which the process cartridge is mountable from a side of the second end. The supporting member has a pivotal supporting portion configured to pivotably movably support the process cartridge between an exposing position where the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum faces the exposing surface and a retracted position where the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum is offset from the exposing surface, the exposing surface being configured to expose the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image when the process cartridge is positioned at the exposing position. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120251165 | Cartridge - A cartridge which may include a housing, a driving input member provided at the housing and configured to be rotated by an externally supplied rotation driving force, and a rotational member configured to receive the rotation driving force, which is transmitted from the driving input member, and be rotated thereby. The cartridge may also include a detection protrusion including an elastic body and which is disposed at a position away from a rotational center of the rotational member. The detection protrusion may protrude from the rotational member away from the housing. The cartridge may also include a cover attached to the housing, the cover having an opposite part that faces a portion of the rotational member from which the detection protrusion protrudes. At an initial position, which is a position before the rotational member is rotated, the detection protrusion may abut the opposite part of the cover. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120251166 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes: a first housing; a second housing pivotable about a shaft relative to the first housing between a close position and a distant position; and a tank mount portion provided in the second housing such that a mounting direction of a tank with respect to the tank mount portion in a state in which the second housing is at the distant position has a downward component in a vertical direction. The tank mount portion includes a resistance applying mechanism which applies a resistance force to the tank in a state in which at least a part of the tank is inserted into the tank mount portion when the second housing is at the distant position. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120263493 | Image Forming Device - A color laser printer is configured with a tray being provided above the housing cassette which houses a recording medium. The tray holds developing units and is configured to be pulled out from device main body while leaving housing cassette inside device main body. Furthermore, a sliding support element capable of supporting protrusions of the tray is provided, such that a portion of the tray downstream of the protrusions can be supported on the installation surface when the tray is pulled out from device main body. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120269541 | Image Forming Device Having Process Unit With Improved Handgrips - An image forming device may include a process unit including: cartridges arrayed side by side in an array direction; and a support unit supporting the cartridges and movable in the array direction between an accommodated position where the support unit is accommodated in a main casing and a pulled out position, away from the accommodated position, for detachment and attachment of the support unit. The support unit includes: a frame; a first handgrip including a leg portion having a portion connected to the frame, and a grip portion connected to the leg portion and positioned downstream of a most upstream end of a most upstream side cartridge in a pulling out direction along the array direction for pulling out the support unit when the support unit is at the accommodated position; and a second hand grip positioned downstream of the first hand grip in the pulling out direction. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120269542 | PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - A surface processing apparatus includes a heating unit and a detachably mountable film cartridge. The film cartridge is provided with a first opening portion into which the heating unit proceeds, and an operational portion disposed in a casing, for acting on a shutter of the heating unit to move the shutter between a closing position (first position) and an opening position (second position). The heating unit proceeds into the casing through the first opening portion with the shutter being in the closing position, and the operational portion acts on the shutter in the casing to move the shutter to the opening position. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120275819 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a housing having a cover swingable around a rotational shaft, and first and second LED heads attached to the cover, a position of the first LED head relative to a first axis line around which a first photoconductive body is rotatable being more shifted toward the rotational shaft in a first direction than a position of the second LED head relative to a second axis line around which a second photoconductive body is rotatable, the first direction being a direction along which the first and second photoconductive bodies are arranged, the first and second axis lines being parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120275820 | UNIT MOUNT-DEMOUNT MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A mount-demount mechanism includes a unit that is mountable on and demountable from an apparatus main body, and a pair of slide rails that are disposed on the apparatus main body and slidably support both surfaces parallel to a mount-demount direction of the unit. Provided, on both side surfaces thereof parallel to a mount-demount direction of the unit, are a pair of unit-side rollers that include a first roller that is disposed in a downstream insertion direction and a second roller that is disposed in an upstream insertion direction. The slide rail is provided with a rail groove that includes a lower rail and an upper rail, a cut-away portion for allowing the unit-side roller run off from the rail groove is formed on a portion of the upper rail or the lower rail, wherein either of the first roller and the second roller runs off from the rail groove. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120294645 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including an image forming part to form an image on a recording medium, a sheet feeder to feed the recording medium to the image forming part, a drawer unit withdrawably installable in the image forming apparatus disposed within the image forming pat, and a front cover mounted on the drawer unit. The front cover is closably openable relative to the image forming apparatus with movement of the drawer unit. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120308259 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Unit - In an image forming apparatus, photosensitive bodies are mounted in a first frame. Developing units are detachably mounted in the first frame. A second frame is movable relative to the first frame. Each developing unit is movable relative to the first frame between a separate position, at which a developing roller is separate from a photosensitive body, and a contact position, at which the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive body. The second frame moves relative to the first frame, thereby moving the developing units relative to the first frame between the separate positions and the contact positions. The second frame positions each developing unit relative to the first frame in a direction to move the developing roller toward the corresponding photosensitive body when the developing unit is in the contact position. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120321341 | TONER CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner container that is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus such that a longitudinal direction of the toner container is parallel to a horizontal direction includes: a cylindrical container body that has an opening on one end thereof in the longitudinal direction, and is configured to convey toner contained therein toward the opening; a cap portion into which the opening of the container body is inserted, and which includes a toner outlet at a bottom portion thereof for discharging toner discharged from the opening of the container body to the outside of the toner container in a vertically downward direction; and a shutter member that is held on the bottom portion of the cap portion, and moves along an outer periphery of the cap portion to thereby open and close the toner outlet, wherein the cap portion is formed by integral molding. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120328325 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Photosensitive Drum Moving Mechanism - The retaining unit is configured to retain a plurality of photosensitive drums juxtaposedly arrayed with each other in a predetermined direction. The retaining unit is movable between an internal position within the main casing and an external position outside of the main casing. Each photosensitive drum includes a first pressed portion and a second pressed portion opposite to the first pressed portion in an axial direction. The endless belt is disposed above the retaining unit that is in the internal position. The retaining unit includes a pair of side plates. Each of the pair of side plates includes a plurality of receiving portions each of which is configured to receive each photosensitive drum to be movable in a vertical direction. The first pressed portion and the second pressed portion protrude outward from corresponding one of the plurality of receiving portions in the axial direction. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120328326 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM MOVING MECHANISM - Each of a plurality of pressing portions presses a pressed portion of corresponding one of a plurality of photosensitive drums. The moving member is configured to be moved between a contact position and a separated position when the retaining unit is in an internal position. Each of the plurality of pressing portions exerts upward pressure on the corresponding one of the plurality of photosensitive drums to bring the corresponding one of the plurality of photosensitive drums into contact with the endless belt when the moving member is in the contact position. Each of the plurality of pressing portions releases the upward pressure on the corresponding one of the plurality of photosensitive drums to separate the corresponding one of the plurality of photosensitive drums from the endless belt when the moving member is in the separated position. The moving member is provided on the retaining unit. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120328327 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Photosensitive Drum Moving Mechanism - A holder is movable in a horizontal direction between an internal position within the main casing and an external position outside of a main casing. The holder has a first opening extending in the horizontal direction. A drum unit is configured to be held by the holder and is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the holder. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum having an axis extending in an axial direction, a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the axial direction. A particular pressure member is positioned in confrontation with the drum unit and urges the first end portion upward through the first opening to permit the photosensitive drum to be in contact with an endless belt when the holder is in the internal position. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130004198 | Image Forming Device Having Holder Positioning Arrangement - An image forming apparatus includes a main frame, a holder and an exposure unit. The holder holds a plurality of photosensitive drums arrayed in a predetermined array direction, and movable in an accommodating direction to be accommodatable in the main frame. The holder includes a pair of metal plates each positioned at each axial end portion of each photosensitive drum. Each of the pair of metal plates has a downstream end portion in the accommodating direction provided with a positioning portion. The main frame includes a pair of first side wall, a pair of second side wall, a linking member, and a support portion. The pair of second side walls are each fixed to each first side wall and made from a metal. Each second side wall includes a major portion supporting the exposure unit, and an extension portion extending from the major portion toward the photosensitive drum. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130004199 | Image Forming Device Having Holder Positioning Arrangement - An image forming apparatus includes a main frame and a holder. The holder holds a plurality of photosensitive drums arrayed in a predetermined direction. The holder includes a pair of side plates each positioned at each axial end portion of each photosensitive drum, and each having an upstream end portion in the accommodating direction, and a pair of protruding portions each protruding outward in the axial direction from the upstream end portion of each side plate. The main frame includes a pair of positioning portions and a pair of support portions. The pair of positioning portions is configured to be in contact with each protruding portion from below and downstream side of the protruding portion in the accommodating direction. The pair of support portions is positioned downstream of the pair of positioning portions in the accommodating direction and configured to support the pair of side plates. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130004200 | Image-Forming Device - An image-forming device includes: a main casing defining an accommodating space therein; an open/close member provided at the main casing to move between an open position and a closed position, the open/close member positioned in the open position extending in a direction; a drawer member configured to be supportable a plurality of cartridges and movable from an accommodated position to a withdrawn position along the open/close member positioned in the open position, the plurality of cartridges being accommodated in the accommodating space when the drawer member is positioned in the accommodated position, the plurality of process cartridges being exposed from the main casing when the drawer member is positioned in the withdrawn position. The opening/closing member positioned in the open position has a length in the direction. A guiding part is formed at the open/close member over the length to guide the drawer member to the withdrawn position. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130022368 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge is provided with an electrode portion for connecting a main assembly contact. The cartridge electrode includes a first contact portion, exposed toward an outside of a frame of the cartridge, contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly. The cartridge electrode further includes a second contact portion provided for being electrically connected to a process means of the cartridge, and an injection receiving portion into which resin is injected when the cartridge electrode is molded into the frame. The electroconductive resin injected from the injection receiving portion is branched to mold the first contact portion and the second contact portion so that an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the main assembly contact and the process means is formed. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130028631 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE MOVING MECHANISM - A moving mechanism is configured to move a cartridge supporting unit to a mounted position, a retracted position, and a pulled-out position. The cartridge supporting unit is mounted in a main casing and a supply opening of each developer cartridge and a reception opening of each image forming unit are in communication with each other when the cartridge supporting unit is in the mounted position. The cartridge supporting unit is moved away from a plurality of image forming units in an axial direction of a photosensitive drum to interrupt a communication between the supply opening and the reception opening when the cartridge supporting unit is in the retracted position. The cartridge supporting unit is pulled outside the main casing from the retracted position in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the axial direction when the cartridge supporting unit is in the pulled-out position. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130028632 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE - A support member that supports a plurality of developer cartridges is configured to be moved in a predetermined direction between a mounted position and a pulled-out position. A moving mechanism is configured to move a supply member in the developer cartridge between a communication position and an interrupt position when the support member is in the mounted position. When the supply member is in the communication position, a supply opening and a reception opening are in communication with each other and the support member is incapable of moving in the predetermined direction. When the supply member is in the interrupt position, the supply member is moved away from the corresponding one of a plurality of image forming unit in the axial direction to interrupt communication between the supply opening and the reception opening and the support member is movable toward the pulled-out position in the predetermined direction. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130028633 | Image Forming Device Capable of Easily Detaching and Attaching Developer Cartridge Relative to Main Casing - An image forming device includes a permitting unit and a moving unit. The permitting unit selectively establishes a first positional relationship in which photosensitive members contact an endless belt and a second positional relationship in which the photosensitive members separate from the endless belt. The moving unit moves a charger between a first position confronting the corresponding photosensitive member at a rear side thereof in a juxtaposed direction and a second position moved away from the first position. The endless belt confronts the photosensitive members at a top side thereof in an orthogonal direction. Each developer cartridge confronts the corresponding photosensitive member at a bottom side thereof. The developer cartridge is attachable to and detachable from a main casing while moved past a front side of the corresponding photosensitive member when the second positional relationship is established and the neighboring charger is in the second position. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130071139 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of developing units disposed in parallel with each other, a developer cartridge being detachably attached to each of the plurality of developing units, each of the plurality of developing units forming a developer image with a developer agent in the developer cartridge; a first cover covering at least one specified developer cartridge of a plurality of developer cartridges attached to the plurality of developing units, the first cover being openable to allow the at least one specified developer cartridge to be attached and detached; and a second cover covering at least one developer cartridge other than the at least one specified developer cartridge of the plurality of developer cartridges, the second cover being openable to allow the at least one developer cartridge other than the at least one specified developer cartridge to be attached and detached. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130084099 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus which may include an apparatus main body and a module unit. The module unit may include a communication member having an opening that allows communication between inside and outside of the module unit and a unit-side positioning portion located adjacent to the opening of the communication member. Further, the apparatus main body may include a ventilation member having an opening located so as to oppose the opening of the communication member. Further, the apparatus main body may include a main body-side positioning portion located adjacent to an opening of the ventilation member. Also, the apparatus main body may include an urging member that is configured to urge the module unit so as to bring the unit-side positioning portion into contact with the main body-side positioning portion. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130108316 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130108317 | ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE FOR OPERATION UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130114972 | CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes: a member to be supplied with electric energy; a frame molded with a resin material; and an electrode member formed on the frame by injection molding of an electroconductive resin material. The electrode member includes a supporting portion for supporting the member to be supplied with electric energy and a contact portion to be contacted to a main assembly electric contact, provided in the main assembly, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130121722 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a housing defining a sheet convey path through which a sheet is conveyed, a transfer belt disposed in the sheet convey path within the housing, a plurality of photosensitive members disposed opposite to the transfer surface from below in the housing, and a plurality of developing units disposed in the housing such that each of the developing units corresponds to one of the photosensitive members. The housing includes a first body configured to accommodate the developing units detachably and a second body disposed above the first body and configured to accommodate the transfer belt and the photosensitive members. The second body is configured to pivot around a pivot axis located on a first end of the first body and separate upward from the first body such that the developing units are exposed from the first body. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130121723 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING MEMBER - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a supporting member for supporting a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive members. The supporting member is movable between an inside position inside the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly in a state in which the supporting member is supported by the main assembly and is disengageable from the main assembly at the outside position. The apparatus further includes a portion to be prevented, provided to the supporting member, with the portion to be prevented being movable between a preventing position in which the portion to be prevented contacts a preventing portion in order to prevent the supporting member from being disengaged from the main assembly and a retracted position in which the portion to be prevented is retracted from the preventing position in order to disengage the supporting member from the main assembly. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130129381 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the image forming apparatus; a developing cartridge that is detachably disposed in the main body and includes an image carrier; a charging roller that is disposed to face the image carrier in the developing cartridge and charges a surface of the image carrier; a charging roller separating unit that moves the charging roller between a first position in which the charging roller is in contact with the image carrier and a second position in which the charging roller is spaced apart from the image carrier; and a paper feeding cassette detachably disposed in the main body; wherein when the paper feeding cassette is first mounted, the charging roller is fixed in the second position by the charging roller separating unit. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130129382 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus capable of easily achieving installation of developing units on a developing tray is disclosed. The disclosed image forming apparatus includes a tray section, a plurality of developing units each provided with guide protrusions, and a developing tray including a plurality of supports to support the guide protrusions of the developing units, and a plurality of guides each adapted to guide a corresponding one of the guide protrusions to a corresponding one of the supports. The guides have widths gradually increasing in a direction from a first end of the tray section to a second end of the tray section, respectively. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130129383 | Image-Forming Device and Process Cartridge - An image forming device includes a casing having a guide, image forming portions configured to form images on a recording medium, and a drawer configured to be installed in and withdrawn from the casing along the guide in a first direction for installation and in a second direction for withdrawal opposite the first direction. The drawer may include a housing configured to house each image forming portion, a projecting portion coupled to the housing and protruding in the first direction, and a support portion coupled to the projecting portion. An engagement of the support portion with the guide regulates movement of the drawer upward or downward during installation and withdrawal. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130136491 | DRAWING-IN DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drawing-in device configured to draw and position a sheet feeding cassette functioning as a unit into a predetermined position of an apparatus main body includes an engage-target tip. The engage-target tip is pressed in the mounting direction of the unit, thus the engage-target tip retreats from a locking position, where a latching pin is locked so as not to disengage, to a retreat position, where the latching pin can engage with the engage-target portion. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130156463 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a body provided with an opening at one side thereof, a developing tray movably installed at the opening, a plurality of developing units mounted to the developing tray, and a pair of frames forming opposite inner sides of the body. The frames are provided with a plurality of seating grooves to support lower ends of the developing units such that the developing units are supported by the frames, and therefore the positions of the photosensitive bodies of the developing units with respect to other constituents supported by the frames may be accurately regulated. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130164027 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130170854 | Imaging Unit Having a Collapsible Handle - An imaging unit of an image forming apparatus is provided including a handle mechanism. The imaging unit includes at least one of a photoconductor unit and a developer unit for developing a toner on the photoconductor unit. The handle mechanism is mounted on a frame portion of the housing and is configured to pivot between a collapsed position and an extended position. When in the collapsed position, the handle mechanism is substantially flush with a surface of the housing to accommodate a toner cartridge. When in the extended position, the handle mechanism automatically returns to the collapsed position by gravity when released from a user's grip. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130170855 | Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Unit For Use In Image Forming Apparatus - A photosensitive drum extends in an axial direction. An irradiating unit includes a first reacting portion and a second reacting portion spaced from each other in the axial direction. A moving member includes a first acting portion and a second acting portion spaced from each other in the axial direction. The first acting portion and the second of the moving member act on the first reacting portion and the second reacting respectively, in response to attachment of the developing unit to a main body, such that the irradiating unit moves from the retracted position to the proximate position with respect to the photosensitive drum, and cancel the actions on the first reacting portion and the second reacting portion respectively, in response to removal of the developing unit from the main body, such that the irradiating unit moves from the proximate position to the retracted position. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130183062 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having an improved structure of simply executing contact or separation between developing rollers and photoconductors is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a cover opening and closing a side of a main body, a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor, a laser scanning unit irradiating the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image and including a light source generating light and an optical window transmitting the light generated from the light source, a developing unit supplying a developer to the photoconductor and including a developing roller contacting or separated from the photoconductor, and a shutter unit operable in connection with the cover, opening the optical window when the cover closes the side of the main body, and closing the optical window when the cover opens the side of the main body. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130188985 | INFORMATION STORAGE DEVICE, REMOVABLE DEVICE, DEVELOPER CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130195505 | Image Forming Apparatus - There is provided an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body having an opening, an open/close member which opens and closes the opening, and an image forming unit which is drawable to an outside of the apparatus body through the opening. The open/close member includes a restraint member which is movable between a restraint position of restraining movement of the image forming unit and a restraint release position of releasing the restraint, and a moving member which moves the restraint member from the restraint position toward the restraint release position as the open/close member being moved from a close position to an open position. Once the restraint member is moved from the restraint position toward the restraint release position, the restraint member is held at the restraint release position not to be moved from the restraint release position to the restraint position even when the open/close member is moved. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130209136 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members, an endless belt, and a separation mechanism. The photosensitive members are arranged in parallel with and spaced from one another and correspond to respective colors. The plurality of photosensitive members includes a first photosensitive member and at least one second photosensitive member. Each of the photosensitive members has a first end portion and second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the photosensitive members. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive members. The separation mechanism is configured to swing the second photosensitive member around the first end portion of the second photosensitive member as a fulcrum between a contact position at which the second photosensitive member contacts the endless belt and a separated position at which the second photosensitive member is separated from the endless belt. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130223876 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge which is mounted on a pull-out type cartridge tray to enable front access. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an urging unit for urging and moving the cartridge tray toward a front of a main assembly of the apparatus and a clocking member for locking the cartridge tray in a proper position so that the cartridge tray is returned back to an outside position of the apparatus when the cartridge tray is pushed to the proper position. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130230335 | UNIT MOVING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A roller is rotatably provided in an arm that is swingable relative to a main body of an apparatus, and is connected to a tension spring using a wire of a roller shaft. A roller guide portion that guides the roller is provided in a sheet feeding cassette. The roller is guided along a guiding member of the roller guide portion in accordance with insertion of the sheet feeding cassette into the main body of the apparatus. When the roller is guided along the guiding member, an elastic force of the tension spring is accumulated. The sheet feeding cassette is pulled to a mounting position when the roller is guided along the guiding member. The sheet feeding cassette is pushed out also when the roller is guided along the guiding member. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130243475 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes a body housing having an opening and a cover covering the opening, a body frame in the body housing for supporting thereon various component parts of the image forming apparatus, an image forming cartridge receivable into the body housing through the opening to be detachably supported on the body frame and a support assembly supporting the mounted image forming cartridge. The support assembly includes a locking member movable between a locking position at which the image forming cartridge is limited in its movement along the direction of separating away from the body frame and a releasing position at which the image forming cartridge is allowed to move away from the body frame. The support assembly further includes an elastic member elastically biasing the locking member to the releasing position and a pressing member provided on the cover for pressing the locking member to remain in the locking position when the covered is closed to cover the opening. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130243476 | Image Forming Apparatus Provided with Contacting-Separating Member Capable of Moving Developing Roller Relative to Photosensitive Drum - An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; photosensitive drums juxtaposed with each other in a juxtaposed direction; developing units each including a developing roller; an opening-closing member; and a first contacting-separating member. The opening-closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first contacting-separating member is provided at the opening-closing member and movable relative to the casing in the juxtaposed direction for moving, in a state where the opening-closing member is at the closed position, the developing roller between an adjacent position adjacent to or in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums and a separated position spaced apart from the corresponding photosensitive drums. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130243477 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CARTRIDGE WITH MOVABLE SHUTTER - An image forming apparatus includes a holder, photosensitive drums, developing units, and toner cartridges. Each toner cartridge includes a case, shutter, and operation member. The case contains the toner therein and has an opening at a position confronting the corresponding developing unit in a state that the toner cartridge is attached to the holder. The shutter is movable between a block position and an open position. The shutter is located at the open position when the operation member is located at a first position. The shutter is located at the block position when the operation member is located at a second position. The operation member has: a base end fixed to the shutter; and a distal end configured to move from a lower position to a position higher than the lower position when the operation member is moved from the first position to the second position. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130251396 | OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISM AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An opening and closing mechanism includes: a first opening and closing unit rotated to be opened from or closed onto an apparatus body; a drawer unit drawable from the body toward the first opening and closing unit; a second opening and closing unit drawable from the body integrally with the drawer unit, rotatable relative to the drawer unit, rotated integrally with the first opening and closing unit to be opened from or closed onto the body integrally with the first opening and closing unit, and singly rotated independently of the first opening and closing unit to be singly opened from or closed onto the body; and regulation mechanisms provided to the second opening and closing unit independently of the body and the first opening and closing unit to regulate the angle of opening, relative to the body, of the second opening and closing unit singly opened from the body. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130251397 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a covering/not-covering member that is supported by an apparatus body so as to be movable between a not-covered position and a covered position; a transporting member that is mountable on and removable from the covering/not-covering member; a positioning member provided at the apparatus body; and an engaging member provided at the covering/not-covering member, the engaging member moving as the transporting member is moved relative to the covering/not-covering member by the positioning member, to engage an engage member and hold the covering/not-covering member at the covered position. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130251398 | COMPACT IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH SIMPLIFIED COVER - An image forming apparatus includes a structure having an image formation device to form an image, a cover pivotally attached to the structure around a rotary shaft, and an opening angle restricting device to restrict an opening angle of the cover regarding the structure. The opening angle restricting device includes a pivotable cover rotation restriction member coaxially arranged with the rotary shaft to contact a downstream side of the pivotable cover in a cover opening direction at its first end to restrict the rotation of the pivotable cover in the opening direction. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130251399 | Unit Frame Having Grip Part - An image forming unit includes a cartridge and a unit frame. The cartridge has a cartridge-grip. The unit frame is configured to accommodate the cartridge. The unit frame includes a first plate, a second plate, a first beam, and a second beam. The first plate has a through hole. The first beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. The first beam includes a frame-grip disposed between an upper end of the first beam and a lower end of the first beam. The second beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. When the cartridge is accommodated in the unit frame, a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the frame-grip is smaller than a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the cartridge-grip. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130259516 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH PROCESS CARTRIDGE CAPABLE OF MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO A WRITING DEVICE - An image forming apparatus includes a detachable latent image bearer, a casing including a cover opened and closed when the latent image bearer is detached and attached thereto, an LED array head opposed to the latent image bearer, and a rotation mechanism to rotate the LED array head in synchrony with either insertion and removal operation of the latent image bearer or opening operation of the cover. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130259517 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a body frame having an opening; a cover configured to open/close the opening; an exposure unit configured to expose a photosensitive member and being swingable between an exposure position and a retreated position; an urging member configured to urge the exposure unit from the exposure position towards the retreated position; and an interlocking mechanism configured to: swing the exposure unit from the retreated position to the exposure position against an urging force of the urging member in conjunction with the rotation of the cover when the cover is closed; and allow the exposure unit to swing from the exposure position to the retreated position by the urging force of the urging member in conjunction with the rotation of the cover when the cover is opened. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130259518 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing having an opening that is open upward, a cover supported by the casing, a process cartridge configured to be attached to or removed from the casing through the opening, and a particular guide configured to guide the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to or removed from the casing. The cover is configured to pivot around a pivot axis to open and close the opening. The cover includes a pressing portion. The pressing portion is configured to, when the cover is closing the opening, contact the process cartridge being attached inside the casing and press the process cartridge toward an attachment position in which the process cartridge is attached to the casing. A path of the pressing portion in the casing is substantially same as a shape of the particular guide as viewed from an axial direction of the pivot axis. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130259519 | Image Forming Device Facilitating Removal of Jammed Sheet - An image forming device includes a main casing, a process cartridge, a sheet passage, and a first guide. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive body, and a transfer member, and is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the main casing. The sheet passage extends in a first direction and is configured to allow a sheet to pass between the photosensitive body and the transfer member. The first guide is configured to guide the process cartridge such that the process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main casing. The first guide has a support portion extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and configured to support the process cartridge in a state where the process cartridge is attached to the main casing. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130259520 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing having an opening that is open upward, a cover configured to open and close the opening, a process cartridge, and a guide. The guide is configured to guide the process cartridge in the casing while changing a position of the process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a first guided portion and a second guided portion. The guide includes a first guide configured to guide the first guided portion and a second guide configured to guide the second guided portion. The second guide has an upper portion disposed on an upstream side in an attaching direction of the process cartridge, and a lower portion extending smoothly from a lower end of the upper portion to a stop position in which the second guided portion is disposed. The lower portion is curved away from the first guide. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130259521 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, which includes a main frame having an opening, a cover rotatable between an opened position where the cover uncovers the opening and a closed position where the cover closes the opening, a holder rotatably supported by the cover and having a recess, and an exposure unit having a plurality of light emitting elements and a supporting wall, and held by the holder, the supporting wall having a first engaging portion which engages with the recess of the holder when the cover is located at the opened position, and which disengages from the recess of the holder when the cover is located at the closed position. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130259522 | Image Forming Device Including Process Unit Provided with Handle - An image forming device includes a main casing, a support member, a plurality of developing cartridges, a handle provided to the support member, and a pair of interfering parts provided at both ends of the support member. Each developing cartridge includes a casing and a developing member supported by the casing. A gap between the pair of interfering parts is narrower than a length of the developing member, and the pair of interfering parts is located between the handle and one of the developing cartridges. Each of the interfering parts has a higher height than the handle. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130287434 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - When an opening and closing member is being closed, urging force which a first engaged portion of the opening and closing member receives in a direction opposite to a direction to close the opening and closing member is larger than urging force which a second engaged portion of the opening and closing member receives, and a distance in which the first engaged portion moves until the first engaged portion engages with a first engaging portion is shorter than a distance in which the second engaged portion moves until the second engaged portion engages with a second engaging portion while the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are caused to engage with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, respectively, by closing the opening and closing member from an opened state of the opening and closing member. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130294798 | MEMBER MOUNTING STRUCTURE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A member mounting structure includes: a removable member mountable to and removable from an apparatus body upon application of a moving force in a first direction; a moving member that moves the removable member in a second direction intersecting the first direction when the removable member is moved in the first direction to be mounted to the apparatus body to dispose the removable member at a mounting position with respect to the apparatus body; a restriction member that restricts movement of the removable member at the mounting position toward a removal side in the first direction; and a suppression member that is mountable to and removable from the apparatus body when moved in the first direction and that suppresses movement of the removable member at the mounting position toward a restriction removing side in the second direction for removal of restriction imposed by the restriction member. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130294799 | Image Forming Device - A holder unit is configured to hold a plurality of photosensitive drums such that the plurality of photosensitive drums are arrayed in a predetermined direction and juxtaposed with each other with a space between neighboring photosensitive drums. A plurality of developing units is held by the holder unit, each is provided in association with each photosensitive drum, and each includes a developing roller displaceable between a contact position where the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum and a spaced position where the developing roller is spaced away from the photosensitive drum. A spacer member has a plurality of retaining portions each in association with each developing unit and configured to retain each developing unit at the spaced position, and a linking portion integral with the retaining portions and configured to connect neighboring retaining portions therethrough in the predetermined direction. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130308976 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an accommodating portion; a feeding portion for feeding recording materials from an end side of the accommodating portion; and a cartridge supporting member provided above the accommodating portion. The cartridge supporting member is movable, in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the feeding portion, to a mounting and demounting portion where cartridges are detachably mountable outside a main assembly of the image forming apparatus and to an image forming position where the cartridges are capable of forming the image inside the main assembly. At image forming position, such a side of the cartridge supporting member as opposes another end side of the accommodating portion with respect to the vertical direction is lower with respect to the vertical direction than such a side of the cartridge supporting member as opposes the end side of the accommodating portion. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130315618 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges, and a moving member to which the plurality of cartridges is detachably attached. Of a pair of cartridges attached to the moving member and adjacent to each other, one cartridge has a recessed portion recessed from a frame member thereof and extending in an attachment direction of the cartridge, and the other cartridge has a raised portion protruding from the frame member thereof and extending in the attachment direction. The raised portion provided on the other cartridge enters the recessed portion provided in the one cartridge when the pair of cartridges is attached to the moving member. Positions of the raised portion and the recessed portion overlap each other as viewed in an axial direction of the image bearing member. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130315619 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing member movably provided in the apparatus main body and configured to take a closing position to close a first opening and a second opening and an opening position to open the first opening and the second opening. The opening/closing member includes a first opening/closing portion configured to close the first opening at the closing position and a second opening/closing portion configured to close the second opening at the closing position and provided so as to be movable with respect to the first opening/closing portion. A cartridge support member moving, at the opening position, in a pull-out direction from an inner position to an outer position causes the second opening/closing portion to move downstream in the pull-out direction. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130322918 | Image Forming Apparatus Provided with Developing Unit Detachably Mountable Therein - An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a developing unit; and a casing. The developing unit includes a developing agent bearing member having an axis defining a first side and a second side in an axial direction. The casing supports the photosensitive drum and the developing unit. The casing has an opening at a position corresponding to the first side. The developing unit is detachable from and attachable to the casing through the opening. The developing unit is movable selectively to one of a proximity position, a separated position, and a pivoted position where the developing agent bearing member is pivotally moved about a portion of the developing agent bearing member at the second side from the separated position in a direction away from the photosensitive drum. The developing unit is detachable from and attachable to the casing along the axial direction in a state where the developing unit is at the pivoted position. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20140003837 | Image Forming Apparatus | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140016963 | Image Forming Apparatus Capable of Easily Drawing Image Forming Unit From Main Casing - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; exposure members; and a cover. The image forming unit includes a cartridge support member for supporting cartridges. The cartridge support member is movable relative to a main casing in a moving direction from an inside position inside the main casing to an outside position outside the main casing. The cover is movable from a first position to a second position such that the cover allows movement of the image forming unit from the inside position to the outside position. The cover includes a first wall and a second wall integral with the first wall. The first wall covers a top side of the image forming unit at the inside position when the cover is at the first position and supports the plurality of exposure members. The second wall covers a downstream side in the moving direction of the image forming unit at the inside position when the cover is at the first position. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140023394 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A unit detachably mountable to an apparatus main assembly s provided with a coupling for receiving a rotational driving force from the apparatus main assembly. Also the apparatus main assembly is provided with a coupling to be engaged with the coupling of the unit. At least one of these couplings can be pushed in a direction parallel to a rotation shaft and one of the couplings is provided with an inclined surface. During mounting and demounting of the unit, the engagement between the couplings is released by the pushing-in of one of the couplings pushed by the inclined surface. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140029978 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a sheet tray disposed to face a plurality of photoconductive bodies across a belt device, and two main frames disposed to face each other across the plurality of photoconductive bodies, the belt device, and the sheet tray, the two main frames being configured such that the plurality of photoconductive bodies, the belt device, and the sheet tray are detachably attached thereto, the two main frames being further configured to define a communication section that leads from a space for accommodating the plurality of photoconductive bodies to the sheet tray. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140029979 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes a drum unit, a development unit, a stopper, a pressing unit and an interlock device. The development unit includes a development roller that develops a toner image on the photoconductor drum. The drum unit and the development unit can be removed from the main body of the apparatus. The stopper is freely moved between a restriction position where the removal of the drum unit is restricted and a release position where the restriction of the removal of the drum unit is released. The pressing unit is freely moved between a pressing position where the development roller is pressed onto the photoconductor drum and a pressing release position where the development roller is separated from the photoconductor drum such that the pressing is released. The interlocking device interlocks the movements of the stopper and the pressing unit. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140037329 | Image Forming Apparatus Provided with Cartridge Support Unit - An image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge support unit in which a plurality of cartridges are supported; an abutment portion; and a first applying portion. The cartridge support unit moves in a mounting direction from a withdrawn position to a mounted position. The abutment portion is disposed at one of the main casing and the cartridge support unit. The first applying portion is disposed at the other of the main casing and the cartridge support unit. The first applying portion abuts on the abutment portion to apply a first resistance force in a direction opposite to the mounting direction to the cartridge support unit when the cartridge support unit moves in the mounting direction. The first applying portion and the abutment portion are configured such that the first resistance force continuously increases and then continuously decreases. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140037330 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING A DOOR PATH REGULATING MEMBER - In an image forming apparatus including a door | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140044450 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a housing including an opening; an inner cover as a holder; a photoreceptor as a latent image carrier; and a recording head as a latent image forming device, to form a latent image on the photoreceptor, supported by the holder swingably about an end of the holder relative to the housing. The recording head moves between a latent image forming position and a retracted position when the holder moves to be opened or closed. The image forming apparatus further includes a first guide member at a first end to guide the recording head longitudinal end at a first end to the latent image forming position; and a second guide member at a second end to guide the recording head longitudinal second end, of which the length of the second guide member is shorter than the length of the first guide member. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140056612 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including: a body frame including an opening; a cover configured to rotate between an open position where the cover opens the opening and a closed position where the cover closes the opening and including a base end portion rotatably supported by the body frame and a distal end portion; an exposure member supported by the cover and configured to swing when the cover is rotated from the closed position to the open position; a cable configured to transmit current to the exposure member; and a metal plate fixed to the cover and having a through-hole through which the cable extends, the metal plate including, a main body part, and a conduction part protruding, toward the exposure member, from the main body part adjacent to the through-hole at the distal end side of the cover. | 02-27-2014 |
| 20140064781 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the image formation unit from being attached to a guide member for the image formation unit mistakenly, including an apparatus body; an image carrier including a rotary shaft; an exposure device configured to form a latent image through exposure of a surface of the image carrier and retractable from an exposure position; an image formation unit disposed detachably from the apparatus body; and a guide member to guide the exposure device to the exposure position. In the optimal apparatus, the guide member is used both to guide the image formation unit to the apparatus body and to guide the exposure device to the exposure position. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140064782 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an opening; an door; a pressing member movable between a pressing position for fixing the cartridge to an image forming position, and a non-pressing position; an interrelating member for interrelations such that (i) with movement from the close position to the open position, the pressing member moves from the pressing position to the non-pressing position, and the cartridge moves from the image forming position to a retracted position, and (ii) with the inverse movement, the cartridge and the pressing member move inversely; and a limiter movable between a position for preventing the cartridge from moving against the pressing force, and a position for permitting the cartridge to move from the image forming position to the retracted position. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140072333 | APPARATUS INCLUDING MOVABLY PROVIDED COVER - An apparatus includes a cover including a protrusion and provided to be movable, and an abutment unit provided to be capable of abutting the protrusion and including a second member for applying a force to a first member of an image forming apparatus. The abutment unit includes a first surface which abuts the protrusion in a case where the cover is shifted from an opened state to a closed state and a second surface which abuts the protrusion in a case where the cover is shifted to the closed state after having abutted the first surface, and the protrusion is applied a force from a rotational force of the abutment unit when the protrusion abuts the second surface, and the second member of the abutment unit applies a force to the first member when the cover is in the closed state. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140072334 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE HAVING DRAWER TO WHICH CARTRIDGES ARE DETACHABLY ATTACHABLE - In an image forming device, a drawer moves between an accommodated position in which the drawer is accommodated in an accommodation space of a main casing of the image forming device and a pull-out position in which at least part of the drawer is outside the accommodation space. Cartridges are detachably attachable to the drawer. A moving member is provided at the drawer, and moves between a first position and a second position. A stop member provided in the main casing prevents the drawer from moving to the accommodated position when the drawer is on its way to the accommodated position from the pull-out position while the moving member is at the first position, and permits the drawer to move to the accommodated position when the drawer is on its way to the accommodated position from the pull-out position while the moving member is at the second position. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140099142 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a unit housed in an apparatus body and configured to contribute to image formation, a driving source disposed in the apparatus body and configured to apply a driving force to the unit, an opening formed in the apparatus body, a door configured to form a conveyance path for conveying a recording material, and movable between a first position, where the opening is closed, and a second position, where the opening is opened, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the driving force from the driving source to the unit when the door is at the first position and to urge the door in a door closing direction. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140099143 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT ENSURES AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN A REPLACEMENT PART AND A MAIN BODY PART OF THE APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body, and a replaceable part detachably attached thereto. The replaceable part is moveable in a first direction to be attached to the image forming apparatus main body and in a second direction to be detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The replaceable part includes a storage portion. The storage portion including a memory for storing information of the replaceable part and/or the image forming apparatus main body, and a first electrically-conductive contact portion electrically connected to the memory. The image forming apparatus main body includes a second electrically-conductive contact portion that electrically contacts the first contact portion, and a supporting portion that supports the second electrically-conductive contact portion. The second electrically-conductive contact portion has a first end portion fixed to the supporting portion and a second end portion which is movable with respect to the supporting portion. The first electrically-conductive contact portion includes an inclined surface contacting the second electrically-conductive contact portion. The inclined surface faces the first direction and is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140105636 | Unit Frame Having Grip Part - An image forming unit includes a cartridge and a unit frame. The cartridge has a cartridge-grip. The unit frame is configured to accommodate the cartridge. The unit frame includes a first plate, a second plate, a first beam, and a second beam. The first plate has a through hole. The first beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. The first beam includes a frame-grip disposed between an upper end of the first beam and a lower end of the first beam. The second beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. When the cartridge is accommodated in the unit frame, a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the frame-grip is smaller than a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the cartridge-grip. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140119772 | Image Forming Device that Facilitates Maintenance of Waste Toner Storage Member - An image forming device includes: a cartridge; a supporting member; a belt unit; a waste toner storage member; and a conveying member. The cartridge is configured to retain a photosensitive body. The belt unit includes a belt; and a cleaning member. The cleaning member removes residual toner remaining on the belt. The waste toner storage member stores the residual toner. The belt unit is movable between a contact position in which the belt contacts the photosensitive body and a separated position in which the belt is separated from the photosensitive body. The conveying member allows the residual toner to be conveyed from the cleaning member to the waste toner storage member when the belt unit is in the contact position, and interrupts the residual toner from being conveyed from the cleaning member to the waste toner storage member when the belt unit is in the separated position. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140119773 | Image Forming Apparatus that Accommodates Cartridge with Sufficient Amount of Developer - An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a supporting frame movable relative to the main casing in a first direction between an internal position and an external position, and a developer container supported in the supporting frame. The main casing includes first and second walls extending in the first direction and opposing each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The supporting frame includes first and second plates opposing the first and second walls in the second direction respectively. The developer container includes: a first chamber disposed between the first plate and the second plate; a second chamber for storing developer and disposed between the first wall and the first plate; a third chamber for communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; and a conveying portion for conveying the developer in the second chamber to the first chamber via the third chamber. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140126929 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing having an opening; a drawer member to support photosensitive drums disposed to have intervals therebetween to be parallel with each other and to be movable in an arrangement direction of the photosensitive drums such that the drawer member moves between an attached position where the drawer member is attached in the housing and a drawn position where the drawer member is drawn to an outside of the housing; and a presser member that is provided in the housing and is configured to press the drawer member toward one side in an axial direction each photosensitive drum, wherein the presser member presses a downstream end part of the drawer member defined in a moving direction of the drawer member, at a position overlapping with the photosensitive drums in the arrangement direction, in a state where the drawer member is at the attached position. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140140724 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus (S) includes: a receiving tray ( | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140147166 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier unit that includes an image carrier and is configured to be capable of being housed in and removed from an image-forming-apparatus main body; an exposure device that is arranged close to the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image; a retracting mechanism that holds the exposure device close to the image carrier when the image carrier unit is housed in the image-forming-apparatus main body, and holds the exposure device away from the image carrier when the image carrier unit is being removed from the image-forming-apparatus main body; a covering member that covers the retracting mechanism in a state where backlash of the exposure device at least in a main-scanning direction is allowed; and a guide mechanism that positions the exposure device in the main-scanning direction when the exposure device comes closer to the image carrier through the retracting mechanism. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140147167 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of cartridges; a belt configured to abut against the photosensitive drums of the plurality of cartridges; a frame configured to axially support a plurality of rollers around which the belt is extended; and a movable member configured to be movable while supporting the plurality of cartridges, the movable member being movable between a first position in which the plurality of cartridges are in an main body of the apparatus and a second position in which the plurality of cartridges are drawn out from the main body of the apparatus, wherein the frame is provided with a plurality of positioning portions configured to allow abutment of the plurality of cartridges and determine the positions of the plurality of cartridges in the main body of the apparatus. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140153964 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING JAM USING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus capable of removing a jam and a method of removing a jam using the image forming apparatus are provided. The apparatus is capable of removing a jam that occurred at the inside of an apparatus body without separating a tray from a tray guide unit and without increasing the size of the apparatus body by including a tray guide unit having a two-stepped rail structure. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140161483 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus loadable with a cartridge includes a supporting member movable, carrying the cartridge, between an inside position and an outside position, the supporting member being provided with a first regulating portion to limit the cartridge in one of the longitudinal directions and a second regulating portion to limit movement of the cartridge in the other one of the longitudinal directions; a third regulating portion to limit the supporting member in the one longitudinal direction; and a fourth regulating portion to limit the supporting member in the other longitudinal direction; wherein the first, second, third and fourth regulating portions are all provided at the one longitudinal end portion side and outside an image forming region. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140169828 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention is concerning to an image forming apparatus comprising: a drawer unit that includes therein a paper-feeding conveying path for conveying a recording medium conveyed from a paper feeding unit on which the recording mediums are stacked to an image forming unit and/or a discharge conveying path for conveying the recording medium on which an image has been formed to a discharging unit, and be drawn out from an apparatus main body; a lock unit that locks the drawer unit to the apparatus main body; a straddle detecting unit that detects whether the recording medium straddles a conveying path in the apparatus main body and a conveying path in the drawer unit; and a controller that controls the lock unit to lock the drawer unit to the apparatus main body when the straddle detecting unit detects the straddle. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140178095 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Reduced Height - An image forming apparatus has a compact size in height. The apparatus includes a main frame, a plurality of image forming components arrayed in the main frame in an array direction to form an image, a belt extending in the array direction and in contact with the plurality of image forming components, a first sheet accommodating portion configured to accommodate therein a recording sheet, and extending in the array direction and positioned below the belt, a collection member disposed in contact with the belt and configured to collect developing agent on the belt, and a container configured to hold the developing agent collected by the collection member. The container is positioned below the belt such that the container is juxtaposed with the first sheet accommodating portion in the array direction. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140186071 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; a belt unit including a first roller, a second roller positioned higher than the first roller and a belt; image bearing members; developer containers; a removing member; an accommodating member; and a conveying member. The image bearing members includes a first image bearing member and a second image bearing member. The removing member is positioned adjacent to the second image bearing member and below an imaginary plane. The accommodating member accommodates the waste toner removed by the removing member, and is positioned adjacent to the first image bearing member and above the imaginary plane. The accommodating member is mounted in and removed from the casing along with a first developer container corresponding to the first image bearing member. The conveying member conveys the waste toner removed by the removing member to the accommodating member. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140205314 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPMENT CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a development cartridge are provided. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a body including an opening, a photoreceptor cartridge attached to, or detached from, the body through the opening, a photoconductive drum and a mounting portion, a development cartridge attached to, or detached from, the mounting portion through the opening while the photoreceptor cartridge is mounted in the body, a development roller supplying toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive drum, a cover for opening or closing the opening, and a pressurizing unit fixing the development cartridge to the mounting portion by providing a pressing force to the development cartridge in a direction parallel to a center line connecting centers of the photoconductive drum and development roller while the opening is closed. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205315 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided including a body including an opening, a photoreceptor cartridge attached to, or detached from, the body through the opening and including a mounting portion, a development cartridge attached to, or detached from, the mounting portion through the opening when the photoreceptor cartridge is mounted in the body, and a cover opening or closing the opening and fixing the development cartridge to the mounting portion by pressurizing the development cartridge while the opening is closed. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205316 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPMENT CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus and development cartridge are provided. The apparatus including a separating member mounted in a development cartridge. The separating member includes a development nip separating portion and a charging nip separating portion respectively separating a development nip and a charging nip when the development cartridge is mounted in a mounting portion of a photoreceptor cartridge mounted in a body. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205317 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - In order to correct a corrugation caused when a sheet widthwise edge portion elongates more than the vicinity of the center in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a fixing portion that fixes a toner image onto a sheet by heating, a plurality of pairs of rollers provided along a sheet feeding direction with an interval in the downstream of the fixing portion in the feeding direction to nip and convey a sheet; and a tensioning device that applies a tensile strength of the sheet feeding direction to a sheet in a center area of a width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140241753 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an LED unit capable of being in an exposing position or a retracted position, and a cartridge capable of being inserted into or pulled out with the LED unit in the retracted position. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140270845 | CARTRIDGE DETACHABLY MOUNTABLE TO MAIN ASSEMBLY OF ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, ASSEMBLING METHOD FOR DRIVE TRANSMITTING DEVICE FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - With a structure in which a coupling member includes a sphere providing a center of inclination (pivoting), a rotational force transmitted member has an opening have a diameter smaller than that of the sphere, and the coupling member is prevented from disengaging from rotational force transmitted member by contact of inner edge of the opening to the sphere, the inner edge of the opening may limit an inclinable (pivotable) angle range of the coupling member. In a state that a pin that is a shaft portion is inserted in a hole that is a through-hole provided in a coupling member, opposite end portions of the pin are supported by a driving side flange, which is a rotational force transmitted member. The coupling member, the driving side flange, and the pin are connected in this manner, and the pin contacts the inside of the hole without limiting the inclinable (pivotable) angle range, by which the coupling member is prevented from disengaging from the driving side flange. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140294437 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Supporting Member with Rigidity - An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing, first and second cartridges, and a supporting member supporting the first and second cartridges. The first and second cartridges extend in a first direction and are arranged in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction when supported in the supporting member. The supporting member is movable between an inner position and outer position relative to the main casing. The supporting member includes: a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to each other in the first direction; a first beam member interposed between the first and second cartridges in the second direction when the supporting member supports the first and second cartridges, the first beam member extending in the first direction between the first and second side plates; and first and second fasteners for fastening the first beam member to the first and second side plates respectively. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140294438 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Supporting Member for Supporting Cartridges - An image forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a plurality of cartridges each extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a vertical direction; and a supporting member configured to detachably support the plurality of cartridges such that the cartridges are arrayed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction and the first direction. The supporting member is movable between an inner position disposed within the main casing and an outer position disposed outside of the main casing. The supporting member includes: a first side plate; a second side plate positioned opposite the first side plate to be spaced away therefrom in the first direction; and a prescribed number of beam plate connecting between the first side plate and the second side plate, the prescribed number being in a range of from one to not more than a number of the cartridges. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140301753 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a drum unit, a developing unit, a pressing unit, and a projection portion. Drum unit includes photosensitive drum. Developing unit includes a developing roller that develops a toner image on the photosensitive drum. Each of drum unit and developing unit is configured to be extractable from an apparatus body. Pressing unit is configured to make developing unit movable between a pressing position at which developing roller is pressed against photosensitive drum and a pressing-releasing position at which developing roller is separated from photosensitive drum so as to release the pressing. Projection portion is provided integrally with developing unit and configured to be projected to an extraction path of drum unit when developing unit is located at pressing position and to retract from extraction path of drum unit when developing unit is located at the pressing-releasing position. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140308054 | Image Forming Apparatus, Image Forming Cartridge Supporter, and Image Forming Unit - 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. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140314443 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING AN INFORMATION STORAGE DEVICE FROM FALLING FROM A REMOVABLE DEVICE - An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140321881 | Image Forming Apparatus Capable of Positioning Drawer Relative to Main Frame - An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a drawer; a plurality of cartridges; a contact member; and an urging member. The main frame includes a cover and a positioning portion. The cover is movable between a closed position covering the opening and an open position exposing an opening of the main frame. The drawer is movable relative to the main frame in a prescribed direction. The plurality of cartridges is detachably mounted in the drawer. The contact member is configured to contact the drawer in response to the movement of the cover to the closed position. The urging member is disposed between the cover and the contact member. The urging member is configured to urge the contact member toward the drawer in response to the movement of the cover to the closed position such that the drawer is pressed against the positioning portion. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140334842 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus has a main body, a belt unit configured to accommodate a belt, a belt cleaning member and an accommodating unit. The belt cleaning unit is configured to remove waste toner adhered on the belt. The accommodating unit is configured to accommodate the toner removed by the belt cleaning unit. The apparatus further includes a drum unit having a drum cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying mechanism configured to convey the waste toner to the collecting unit. The conveying mechanism has a drum-side conveying unit configured to be connected with the drum cleaning member. Communication between the drum-side conveying unit and the collecting unit is enabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the outside position to the inside position, and disabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the inside position to the outside position. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140348536 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member unit, a development device, a developer collection mechanism and a unit support tray. The developer collection mechanism is arranged on a downstream side in a first direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are fitted into the main body of the image forming apparatus and the toner discharge portion of the image carrying member unit is coupled to the developer collection mechanism. The unit support tray is provided such that the unit support tray can be moved horizontally in the first direction and a second direction where the development device and the image carrying member unit are removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus; the unit support tray is moved in the first or second direction such that the toner discharge portion and the developer collection mechanism are coupled or the coupling is cancelled. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140348537 | Unit Frame Having Grip Part - An image forming unit includes a cartridge and a unit frame. The cartridge has a cartridge-grip. The unit frame is configured to accommodate the cartridge. The unit frame includes a first plate, a second plate, a first beam, and a second beam. The first plate has a through hole. The first beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. The first beam includes a frame-grip disposed between an upper end of the first beam and a lower end of the first beam. The second beam extends between the first plate and the second plate. When the cartridge is accommodated in the unit frame, a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the frame-grip is smaller than a distance between the lower end of the first beam and an upper end of the cartridge-grip. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140356024 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cover main body, a turning axis and a sub-cover. The cover main body constitutes at least a part of a vertical wall face of an image forming apparatus main body and constitutes at least a part of a top face wall of the image forming apparatus main body. The turning axis supports turnably the cover main body around a turning fulcrum near a lower end at the vertical wall face side. The sub-cover is configured to be openable/closable at least a part of the top face wall in the cover main body. The cover main body is turned so as to open an area from at least a part of the vertical wall face of the image forming apparatus main body to at least a part of the top face wall of the image forming apparatus main body. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140369714 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in a state of carrying a first cartridge and a second cartridge, and a drawn position in which said first cartridge and said second cartridge are mountable and demountable relative to said cartridge supporting member. The supporting member includes a first mounting portion for a first cartridge, and a second mounting portion for a second cartridge which is disposed upstream of said first mounting portion with respect to a supporting member drawing direction. A first guide portion for the first cartridge, and a second guide portion for said second cartridge, wherein a downward movement distance of said second cartridge when the cartridge is demounted from said second mounting portion is larger than that of said first cartridge. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140376959 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Mechanism for Restricting Movement of Cover - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a cartridge supporting member, a cover and a restricting member. The cartridge supporting member supporting cartridges is movable along a moving path between an inside position and an outside position relative to the main body. The cover is provided at the main body and pivotally movable between a first position and a second position higher than the first position in a direction generally perpendicular to the moving path. The restricting member is movable in interlocking relation with the movement of the cartridge supporting member between a restricting position and a permitting position for restricting and permitting movement of the cover from the second position to the first position. The restricting member is in the restricting position when the cartridge supporting member is in the outside position, and in the permitting position when the cartridge supporting member is in the inside position. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150010324 | Configuration of an Image Forming Device for Accessing an Image Forming Unit - An image forming device including a casing having a front wall formed with a first opening and an upper wall continuous to the front wall and formed with a second opening. The first and second openings together form a single opening. The device further includes a door for covering the single opening, a belt unit, and a guide member. The belt unit includes first and second rollers, and a conveyer belt. The drawer is configured to accommodate a plurality of cartridges. The guide member is configured to movably guide the drawer. The first roller is disposed nearer to the single opening than the second roller to the single opening. In a state where the door is opened and the drawer is inside the casing, one of the plurality of cartridges closest to the door is detachably attachable to the drawer through the single opening. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150037064 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus has a plurality of photoconductive drums, a drawer configured to be movable with holding the plurality of photoconductive drums, a pair of frames arranged on both sides of the photoconductive drums. The frames have first supporting parts configured to movably support the drawer, a belt unit having an endless belt and a plurality of transfer members, first contacting parts respectively provided to the pair of frames, the first contacting parts contacting contacted parts provided to the drawer to position the drawer with respect to the pair of frames, and second contacting parts provided to the drawer, the second contacting part contacting second contacted parts provided to the belt unit to position the belt unit with respect to the drawer. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150037065 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a cartridge provided with an electrode portion for connecting a main assembly contact and process means by injecting an electroconductive resin into a frame, in order to simplify structures of the frame and the electrode portion and to improve an assembling property of the cartridge and an electrode property of the electrode portion, the cartridge electrode integrally molded by injecting the electroconductive resin into the frame includes a first contact portion, exposed toward an outside of the frame, contacted to a main assembly contact provided in the apparatus main assembly; a second contact portion provided for being electrically connected to the process means; and an injection receiving portion into which the resin is injected when the cartridge electrode is molded into the frame, and, the electroconductive resin injected from the injection receiving portion is branched to mold the first contact portion and the second contact portion so that an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the main assembly contact and the process means is formed | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150050042 | Image Forming Apparatus - There is provided an image forming apparatus including a casing having a cover which is moved between a closed position and an open position, a process unit which is removably mounted to the casing via an opening of the casing and includes a handle, and an interlocking mechanism which moves the process unit in interlocking with a movement of the cover between the closed position and the open position to cause the process unit to locate at an internal position when the cover is located at the closed position and cause the process unit to locate at an extraction position when the cover is located at the open position. The handle is moved in interlocking with a movement of the process unit between an accommodation position when the process unit is located at the internal position and an ejection position when the process unit is located at the extraction position. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150050043 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a main apparatus body; an opening/closing member; a drum unit including a photosensitive drum and can be pulled out of an accommodating space along an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; an exposing member provided in the main apparatus body and movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position; and a movable mechanism including: a first movable member movable in accordance with an opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member; and a second movable member for moving the exposing member between the exposure position and the evacuation position in accordance with movement of the first movable member. The second movable member supports both end portions of the exposing member. The second movable member moves the exposing member to the exposure position or the evacuation position by the movement of the first movable member in accordance with the movement of the opening/closing member. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150055974 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus, to which process cartridges each including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller, includes: a movable member movable between an inside and an outside of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in a movement direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum; a mounting portion for supporting the process cartridges, wherein the process cartridges are detachably mountable to the mounting portion from a direction crossing the longitudinal direction and the movement direction; and an interrelating member, movable in interrelation with movement of the movable member, for moving the developing roller relative to the photosensitive drum so that a distance between a rotation center of the photosensitive drum and a rotation center of the developing roller is decreased with respect to the movement direction when the movable member is moved from the inside to the outside of the main assembly. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150055975 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: an opening; an openable member; and a movable member, supporting cartridges in a state in which the cartridges are arranged in an arranging direction, movable in the arranging direction while passing through the opening between an inside position and an outside position in a direction crossing the arranging direction and a longitudinal direction. When the movable member is positioned at the inside position, adjacent two cartridges of the cartridges are in an overlapping state as seen in a direction perpendicular to the arranging direction and the longitudinal direction. When the movable member is moved from the inside position to the outside position and then one of the adjacent two cartridges is dismounted from the movable member, the one of the adjacent two cartridges is moved relative to the movable member so as to be prevented from interfering with the other cartridge. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150055976 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a movable member movable between first and second inside position and between the second inside position and an outside position, supporting cartridges arranged in an arranging direction. At the outside position, the cartridges are detachably mountable outside a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in a direction crossing with the arranging direction and with a longitudinal direction of each cartridge. At the first inside position, the cartridges are positioned inside the main assembly. The second inside position is inside the main assembly partway of a movement path between the outside position and the first inside position. The movable member supports the cartridges so that a distance between adjacent two cartridges of the cartridges is increased with respect to the arranging direction in interrelation with movement of the movable member from the first inside position to the second inside position. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150055977 | Imaging Cartridge Drive Having a Centered Opening - An improved drive system for transmitting rotational force between an imaging machine and an imaging cartridge. A first coupling member comprises a first mating structure configured to transfer or receive rotational force, and a second coupling member comprises a second mating structure configured to transfer or receive rotational force. The first coupling member comprising a locating cone in the center of said first coupling member, said locating cone adapted to locate in an opening of the second coupling member whereby the first coupling member is centered in relation to the second coupling member, and the first mating structure of the first coupling member is directed into contact with the second mating structure of the second coupling member. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150093145 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a housing. Inside the housing, there are provided an image carrying member, a developing unit, a driving force transmission unit, a contact/separation mechanism, a transmission enable/disable mechanism, a cover movably supported by the housing, and a single link member configured to move in association with an opening/closing movement of the cover. When the link member moves in association with the opening movement of the cover, the contact/separation mechanism moves the developing unit to a detachable position, and the transmission enable/disable mechanism moves the driving force transmission unit to the transmission cutoff position. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150117899 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND MAINTENANCE METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus includes a main body frame, an image forming unit disposed in the main body frame and comprising an image carrier and a developing member, a gap control unit to selectively allow the image carrier to be in contact with or spaced apart from the developing member, a lever member disposed at one end of the gap control unit to operate the gap control unit to be moved between a contact position where the image carrier contacts the developing member and a separation position where the image carrier is spaced apart from the developing member, and a waste developer receptacle detachably disposed in the main body frame and having a lever member receiving groove to receive the lever member, wherein if the waste developer receptacle is removed from the main body frame, the image carrier is spaced apart from the developing member. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150117900 | Image Forming Apparatus Provided with Engaging Portion Configured to Lock Access Assembly - An image forming apparatus includes: a casing including a base portion, an access assembly, and a cover; first and second engaging portions; and an operating member. The access assembly is pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position. The cover has a recessed portion recessed from an edge thereof in a direction away from the access assembly in the closed position. The first engaging portion overlaps the cover as viewed from above. The second engaging portion is movable between an engaged position engageable with the first engaging portion and a disengaged position disengaged from the first engaging portion. The operating member is in the recessed portion when the access assembly is in the closed position, and movable between a lock position to lock the second engaging portion into the engaged position and an unlock position to unlock the second engaging portion into the disengaged position. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150132022 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body composing the image forming apparatus, a unit drawably stored in the apparatus body, a lock mechanism provided in the unit and configured to lock the unit in a state in which the unit is stored in the apparatus body, a display portion provided on an upper surface part of the apparatus body, and an unlock mechanism configured to unlock the lock mechanism. The unlock mechanism includes an operating portion provided in a region facing the display portion of the upper surface part of the unit and operated in unlocking the lock mechanism. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150132023 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150139688 | Positional Control Features of a Replaceable Unit for an Electrophotographic Image Forming Device - A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an elongated body extending along a lengthwise dimension between a front and a rear of the body. The body has a reservoir for holding toner. The body includes an extension downward from the bottom of the body near the rear of the body. The extension has a downward chute formed therein in fluid communication with the reservoir. A rear face of the extension is unobstructed to receive a bias force in a forward direction toward the front of the body along the lengthwise dimension. An outlet port on the bottom of the extension is in fluid communication with the chute for transferring toner out of the reservoir. The replaceable unit may include a positioning bump on the bottom of the body at a rearmost position on the bottom of the body. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150139689 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a supporting member supporting multiple cartridges and movable between an inside position inside an apparatus main body and an outside position, in which the cartridges are supported arrayed in a direction of extracting the supporting member from the inside position to the outside position, with the multiple cartridges being detachably attachable at the outside position; a first cartridge; a second cartridge adjacent to the first cartridge; and a third cartridge adjacent to the second cartridge. The first cartridge has a greater protrusion amount from the supporting member compared to the second cartridge and the third cartridge, in a direction orthogonal to the extracting direction and to a longitudinal direction of the cartridges. When viewed from the orthogonal direction, the amount of overlapping between the first cartridge and the second cartridge is greater than the amount of overlapping between the second cartridge and the third cartridge. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150147087 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a casing including a first side frame, a second side frame, and an opening, a cartridge configured to be attached to and removed from the casing through the opening, and an openable member configured to open and close the opening. A first side and a second side of the cartridge are supported by the first side frame and the second side frame, respectively, when the cartridge is attached to the casing. A part of the cartridge attached to the casing protrudes in a removal direction of the cartridge relative to an end of each of the first side frame and the second side frame in the removal direction. The openable member includes a wall portion. When the openable member closes the opening, the wall portion of the openable member is spaced apart in the removal direction from the part of the cartridge attached to the casing. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150147088 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Waste Toner Collecting Function From a Plurality of Photosensitive Drums - An image forming apparatus includes a main frame, a plurality of process cartridges, a cartridge-supporting body, a belt, a waste toner cartridge, a contact-separation mechanism, and a collective conveying unit. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum cleaning unit collecting waste toner on the drum. The cartridge-supporting body is movable between an internal position inside the frame and an external position outside the frame. The belt confronts the process cartridges in the internal position. The waste toner cartridge accommodates the waste toner collected from the drums. The contact-separation mechanism moves the cartridge-supporting body between a contact position where the drums are in contact with the belt and a separated position where the drums are out of contact with the belt. The collective conveying unit aggregates waste toner collected from drums and conveys collectively the aggregated waste toner to the waste toner cartridge. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150147089 | Image Forming Apparatus Provided With Cartridge For Accommodating Waste Toner Therein - An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge-supporting body, a belt, a belt cleaning unit, a waste toner cartridge, and a collective conveying unit. The cartridge-supporting unit supports a plurality of process cartridges. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum-cleaning unit for collecting waste toner on the photosensitive drum. The belt confronts the plurality of process cartridges when the cartridge-supporting body is in an internal position. The belt cleaning unit collects waste toner on the belt. The waste toner cartridge accommodates both waste toner collected from the plurality of photosensitive drums by the plurality of drum-cleaning units and waste toner collected from the belt by the belt cleaning unit. The collective conveying unit aggregates waste toner collected from the plurality of photosensitive drums by the plurality of drum-cleaning units and conveys collectively the aggregated waste toner to the waste toner cartridge. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150147090 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Waste Toner Container Commonly Used For Photosensitive Drums and Transfer Belt - An image forming apparatus includes a main frame, a plurality of process cartridges, a cartridge-supporting body, a belt, a belt cleaning unit, a waste toner cartridge, and a collective conveying unit. Each drum-cleaning unit collects waste toner on a corresponding photosensitive drum. The cartridge-supporting body supports the process cartridges and is movable between an internal position inside the main frame and an external position outside of the main frame. The belt cleaning unit collects waste toner on the belt. The waste toner cartridge accommodates both waste toner collected from the photosensitive drums by the drum-cleaning units and waste toner collected from the belt by the belt cleaning unit. The collective conveying unit aggregates both waste toner collected from the photosensitive drums by the drum-cleaning units and waste toner collected from the belt by the belt cleaning unit and conveys the aggregated waste toner to the waste toner cartridge. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150309469 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A second link member | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150323896 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a cartridge, a movable member, including an attachment portion for attachment of the cartridge, configured to be movable relative to the apparatus main body in a state such that the cartridge is attached to the attachment portion, a protection member configured to protect the cartridge, an engagement member, provided in the cartridge, configured to be movable to an engagement position where an engagement state of the protection member with the cartridge is secured by the engagement member engaging with the protection member, and to a release position where engagement between the protection member and the engagement member is released and removal of the protection member from the cartridge is allowed, and a release member configured to move the engagement member from the engagement position to the release position by abutting the engagement member, when the cartridge is attached to the attachment portion. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150331385 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a tray for placing thereon a cartridge for forming an image, wherein the tray is movable through the opening between an image forming position where the cartridge is used for image formation inside the main assembly and a mounting and demounting position where the cartridge is exposed to an outside of the main assembly and is mountable and demountable; a door for opening and closing the opening; and an accommodating member for accommodating a recording material used for the image formation. When the tray is in the mounting and demounting position, the door supports the tray and the accommodating member supports the door. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150331386 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150346641 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER CONTAINER ATTACHABLE TO AND DETACHABLE FROM IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In the structure of a shutter moving mechanism, if the inclination angle of an elongated hole with respect to a sliding direction of a shutter is increased, it is necessary to increase the size of a movement plate for moving the shutter. On the other hand, if the inclination angle of the elongated hole with respect to the sliding direction of the shutter is decreased, an urging force with which a user urges the door against an image forming apparatus when shutting the door is increased. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346676 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346678 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cover configured to pivot about a shaft to open and close, and a mechanism that includes a movable member and a supporting mechanism. The movable member longitudinally extends in a direction at an angle with the shaft, and includes a first longitudinal end portion and a second longitudinal end portion, the first longitudinal end portion being closer to the shaft than the second longitudinal end portion. The supporting mechanism is mounted on the cover and supports the movable member so that the movable member is movable relative to the cover toward and away from the shaft. When an external force pushes the second longitudinal end portion toward the shaft, the movable member moves to a first position, and when the external force is removed, the movable member returns. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346679 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: a plurality of image forming portions configured to form different color images; a first support member movable with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus while supporting cartridges; and a second support member movable with respect to the main body independently of the first support member while supporting a cartridge other than the cartridges supported by the first support member, wherein the cartridges supported by the first and second support members are used in the different image forming portions, each of the first and second support members is movable between an inside position inside the main body and an outside position outside the main body, and each of the cartridges supported by the first and second support members is removably mountable in a state in which the corresponding support member is located in the outside position. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150346682 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is removably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus, including: a containing member configured to contain the process cartridge, movable between an outside position outside the main body and an inside position inside the main body, and provided with a guided portion to be guided from an outside; and a guiding portion provided in the main body and configured to guide the guided portion, wherein the guiding portion includes: a first guiding part configured to guide the guided portion when the containing member is moved from the outside position to the inside position by being inserted into the main body; and a second guiding part having a shape to return the guided portion toward the inside position when the containing member is further moved downstream of the inside position in an inserting direction of the containing member. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150362856 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: a main body; a moving member movable while supporting an image forming portion having an image bearing member, between an inside position inside the main body and an outside position outside the main body so that at least a part of the image forming portion is removably mountable on the moving member as a cartridge; an exposure device configured to expose the image bearing member with light through an exposure opening provided in the moving member; a shielding member provided in the moving member to shield the exposure opening; and a holding mechanism configured to hold the shielding member in a shielding position for shielding the exposure opening while the moving member is moved, and to hold the shielding member in a non-shielding position for opening the exposure opening when the moving member is in the inside position. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150362869 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: a moving member configured to be moved with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus while supporting an image bearing member and a developer bearing member and configured to move between an inner position in which the moving member is located inside the main body and an outer position in which the moving member is located outside the main body so that the developer bearing member is removable from the moving member; a transfer device provided in the main body opposite to the image bearing member when the moving member is located in the inner position, and configured to transfer a developer image formed on the image bearing member; and a biasing member provided on the moving member and configured to bias the image bearing member toward the transfer device when the moving member is located in the inner position. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150362890 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; a developer carrying member; a moving member movable between an inside position and an outside position of a main body of the image forming apparatus while supporting the image bearing member and the developer carrying member, the moving member having a mounting portion on which a cartridge is removably mounted at the outside position; a protection member provided on the moving member to protect a surface of the image bearing member; and a holding mechanism configured to hold the protection member at an upper position vertically above the surface of the image bearing member when the moving member is moved between the inside position and the outside position, and to hold the protection member at a lower position vertically below the surface of the image bearing member at a time of an image formation at the inside position. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150370219 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes an image-bearing-unit support member, a developing unit support member, a plurality of light exposure units, and a light-exposure-unit operating member. The image-bearing-unit support member is movable between the inside and the outside of the image forming apparatus while supporting a plurality of image bearing units which each include an image bearing member. The developing unit support member is movable independently of the image-bearing-unit support member. The plurality of light exposure units each cause a corresponding one of the image bearing members to be exposed to light so as to form an electrostatic latent image. The light-exposure-unit operating member moves the light exposure units relative to the developing unit support member. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150378305 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit that stores therein a recording medium; an image forming unit that is arranged above the recording medium storage unit and that forms an image on the recording medium transferred from the recording medium storage unit; a storage-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the recording medium storage unit; an image-forming-unit exterior member that covers a front side of the image forming unit and that protrudes forward relative to the storage-unit exterior member; and a fresh air supply path that is arranged on a back side of the image-forming-unit exterior member, through which fresh air introduced from outside the image forming apparatus flows. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160004208 | DEVELOPER CONTAINER, DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The developer container includes a rotator that is rotated in the container body, a sequence of gears disposed outside the developer container that transmits a torque to the rotator, and a container guiding portion that fits with a main body side guiding portion and guides the developer container in a direction in which the developer container is attached to a mounting portion of an image forming device main body. A first gear included in the sequence of the gears is movable between an operating position where the first gear engages with a second gear and a retracted position where the first gear is retracted. On a surface on which the container guiding portion is disposed, a part of the container guiding portion is disposed within a projected area of the first gear being disposed at the operating position. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160004209 | Replaceable Unit for an Image Forming Device Having a Retainer Assembly Having Positioning Features for Processing Circuitry - A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a circuit board mounted within a pocket on a first side of a housing of the replaceable unit. The pocket has an opening facing a front of the housing to permit an electrical connector of the image forming device to enter the pocket and mate with the circuit board. A first guide wall and a second guide wall are each positioned outside the pocket on the first side closer to the front than the opening. The first and second guide walls each include an inclined surface that inclines outward from the first side of the housing in a direction from the front to a rear of the housing to move the electrical connector of the image forming device toward the circuit board during insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160004212 | Photoconductor Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a photoconductor cartridge including a photoconductor is removably installed in a housing, a transfer unit configured to transfer a developer image onto a sheet in a transfer position is disposed in contact with the photoconductor, a developer cartridge is removably installed in the housing, and a fixing unit is configured to fix a developer image on the sheet in a fixing position. The housing has a first opening provided behind the transfer unit opposite to the photoconductor, and a second opening provided separate from the first opening. The photoconductor cartridge can be removed from and installed into the housing through the to first opening. The developer cartridge can be removed from and installed into the housing through the second opening. The photoconductor cartridge includes a chute that extends between the transfer position and the fixing unit to guide the sheet toward the fixing unit. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160018780 | DAMPER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a moving part supported movably relative to the main body, a support portion provided in the main body to support the moving part movably, a rack provided in one of the main body and the moving part and having a rack gear, a damper gear provided in the other of the main body and the moving part to be meshed with the rack gear, a damper configured to apply resistance force to rotation of the damper gear, and a restricting portion provided in the other of the main body and the moving part to be in contact with an abutting portion extending along the rack gear in the rack, the restricting portion restricting a position of the rack to prevent the rack gear from separating from the damper gear. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160033926 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cassette provided drawably into/out of an apparatus body and storing recording media, a waste toner container being provided drawably into/out of the apparatus body along a pull-out direction of the cassette, a cover member movable between a close position where an opening portion enabling the waste toner container to be drawable into/pulled out of the apparatus body is closed and an open position where the opening portion is opened, and a moving portion. The moving portion engages with the cover member located at the open position and moves the cover member from the open position to the close position along with an insertion of the cassette into the apparatus body. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160033927 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, including a body with an aperture, a processing unit movable between an inside position and an outside position, and a transfer unit, is provided. The processing unit includes first and second drum cleaners to remove waste toner from first and second photosensitive drums respectively; and a waste toner conveyer including a conveyer tube longitudinally extending in a movable direction of the processing unit, a port, a conveyer screw located inside the conveyer tube, and a shutter movable between an opening position and a closed position to open and close the port. The transfer unit includes a belt unit with a belt arranged to contact the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum, and a belt cleaner including a container with an opening which communicates with the port of the conveyer tube when the processing unit is in the inside position. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160039624 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a rotatable member supported by the main assembly rotatably about a first rotational center; an openable member supported by the rotatable member rotatably about a second rotational center; and an urging member provided between the openable member and the rotatable member and configured to apply an urging force for suppressing opening of the openable member, wherein the openable member is capable of switching a rotational center between the first rotational center and the second rotational center in opening and closing operation of the openable member. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160091815 | DRIVE RECEIVING MEMBER FOR AN IMAGING CARTRIDGE - A drive receiving member for transferring rotational driving force from an image forming apparatus to components of an imaging cartridge is provided. A distal end of the member includes at least one substantially rigid drive lug for receiving rotational driving force from the imaging device. In some constructions the distal end also includes at least one catch member extending beyond the drive lug to facilitate movement of the coupling member from a retracted position to an extended position when the cartridge is installed in the imaging device. In other constructions, an actuator may be provided to initiate movement of the coupling member from the extended position to a retracted position during removal of the cartridge from the imaging device. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160091822 | PACKING MEMBER AND CARTRIDGE PACKED IN THE PACKING MEMBER - A packing member for packing a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus is molded with a thin resin material plate and includes: (i) a frame portion including an opening as an entrance for the cartridge, a first recessed portion for accommodating the cartridge, and a first limiting portion for limiting a position of the cartridge with respect to a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the cartridge; and (ii) a cap portion for openably covering the opening. The cap portion includes a second limiting portion for limiting movement of the cartridge, positionally-limited by the first limiting portion, in a direction in which the cartridge is spaced from the first limiting portion. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160103418 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160116884 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus include a door through which a tray carrying a cartridge passes, wherein in interrelation with the door closing operation, (i) movement of the tray from a movable position to an image forming position, (ii) movement of a drive transmission member, for transmitting a driving force to the cartridge from a main assembly, from a first spacing position to a drive-connecting position, (iii) movement of an urging member for urging the cartridge to the main assembly from a second spacing position to a contact position, and (iv) movement of an electric energy supply member, for supplying electric power to the cartridge from the main assembly, from a third spacing position to an electric energy supplying position, are carried out in the order named. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160119493 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes plural image holding bodies, plural image writing devices, a movement member, and a retractor. The image holding bodies are arranged in a predetermined direction. The image writing devices face and write images onto the respective image holding bodies. The movement member holds the image holding bodies, is able to be drawn through an opening in a cover of a housing of the image forming apparatus, and is moved in an image holding body arrangement direction. The retractor retracts the image writing devices when the movement member is drawn through the opening. The retractor includes first and second retracting mechanisms. The first retracting mechanism retracts the image writing devices to respective first retracted positions. The second retracting mechanism retracts the image writing devices to respective second retracted positions after the first retracting mechanism has retracted the image writing devices. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160124381 | OPENING-CLOSING MECHANISM AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - A movable member | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160132019 | POSITIONAL CONTROL FEATURES OF A REPLACEABLE UNIT FOR AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an elongated body extending along a lengthwise dimension between a front and a rear of the body. The body has a reservoir for holding toner. The body includes an extension downward from the bottom of the body near the rear of the body. The extension has a downward chute formed therein in fluid communication with the reservoir. A rear face of the extension is unobstructed to receive a bias force in a forward direction toward the front of the body along the lengthwise dimension. An outlet port on the bottom of the extension is in fluid communication with the chute for transferring toner out of the reservoir. The replaceable unit may include a positioning bump on the bottom of the body at a rearmost position on the bottom of the body. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160161907 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The one end portion and the other end portion of the support member have tapered portions, respectively, and thickness of each tapered portion is gradually reduced toward a center side from an end side of the support member in a longitudinal direction. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160161908 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The one end side mounting portion of the support member is fixed to the inner wall surface of the cover member by the U-shaped member. The one end side mounting portion has the insertion portion, which is inserted into the hole formed by the U-shaped member and the inner wall surface of the cover member, the locking portion, and the support front end portion. In the hole, the insertion portion is tiltable in a surface vertical to a shaft as a rotation fulcrum of the cover member. The support front end portion is provided at a surface thereof, which faces the cover member side, with an inclination surface portion which is inclined from a cover member side to an anti-cover member side toward a front end side and the inclination surface portion abuts the inner wall surface of the cover member at the maximum opening angle of the cover member. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160170371 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160187839 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including a housing, a cover, an interlock switch, a locking assembly, and a biasing assembly. The housing may comprise a pair of frames spaced apart from each other, and may form an opening between the pair of frames. The cover may move between a covered position wherein the opening is covered and an opened position wherein the opening is uncovered. The interlock switch may be pressed by the cover when the cover is in the covered position. The locking assembly may move between a locking state wherein the locking assembly locks the cover in the covered position and a released state wherein the locking assembly allows the cover to move. Further, the biasing assembly may be positioned in or on at least one of the frames, and may bias the cover toward the opened position when the cover is in the covered position. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160187840 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; a first unit detachably attachable to the main body; a second unit which is arranged adjacent to the first unit and which is detachably attachable to the main body; and a cover which is located on the front side of the second unit relative to the detaching direction of the first and second units while supported by the second unit and which is openable and closable, wherein opening the cover permits detaching of the first unit from the main body and attaching of the first unit to the main body. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160187843 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a cover configured to pivot between a covering position and an exposing position, a shaft portion provided to one of the casing and the cover, a bearing portion provided to the other one, and a retaining mechanism configured to retain the cover at the exposing position. The cover includes a contactable portion configured to, when the cover pivots between the covering position and the exposing position, contact the retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining member configured to restrict the cover from pivoting from the exposing position to the covering position, and an urging member urging the retaining member toward the contactable portion. The casing includes a frame, the frame including a guide section configured to guide a sheet. The frame of the casing includes one of the shaft portion and the bearing portion and supports the retaining mechanism. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160195845 | Image Forming Apparatus | 07-07-2016 |
| 20160202658 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160202660 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160202661 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 07-14-2016 |
| 20220137548 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING DEVELOPING DEVICE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE HAVING GUIDE GROOVE - There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position. | 05-05-2022 |
