Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090297203 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - An image forming apparatus has plural process cartridges. Each of process cartridges comprises: a photosensitive element; an electrification unit including a discharging unit and an electrification frame which contains the discharging unit and which has a first opening formed between the photosensitive element and the discharging unit and a second opening formed at a position opposite the first opening across the discharging unit; and a process frame including an exposure opening opposing the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of process cartridges are arranged such that one process cartridge of a pair of adjacent process cartridges opposes the second opening and the exposure aperture of the electrification unit of the other process cartridge; a regulation member configured to regulate airflow is provided between the pair of process cartridges; and the regulation member has elasticity and is disposed in a position between the second opening and the exposure aperture of the electrification unit. | 12-03-2009 |
20100080581 | Image-Forming Device - In the image-forming device, the second driving force is transmitted from each input coupling to the corresponding output coupling to rotate the corresponding photosensitive drum when each input coupling is positioned at a predetermined position for the corresponding output coupling. The first detecting unit and the second detecting units detect a position of each input coupling and a position of each output coupling respectively before the first driving unit begins to provide the first driving force and the second driving unit begins to provide the first driving force. The calculating unit calculates, based on the position of each input coupling and the position of each output coupling, a first start timing when a first photosensitive drum starts to rotate and a second start timing when a second photosensitive drum starts to rotate. The controlling unit controls the first driving unit to begin to provide the first driving force after the first start timing and before the second start timing. | 04-01-2010 |
20100166456 | Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Unit - An image forming apparatus comprises a photosensitive drum, a charged wire which long extends in a shaft direction of the photosensitive drum and charges the photosensitive drum by electric discharge, a frame disposed so as to surround the charged wire, the frame in which a cover side opening is formed in the side opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the charged wire, and a cover member disposed so as to cover the cover side opening while forming a blow path in communication with the cover side opening between the frame and the cover member. The cover member moves along the charged wire and is constructed extractably from a side surface of the frame and also a cleaning member for cleaning the charged wire is disposed. | 07-01-2010 |
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 |
20110182593 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE - An image-forming device includes a main casing, a drum unit, an image-forming unit, and a transfer unit. The drum unit is detachable from the main casing and includes a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis extending in an axis direction. The drum unit is formed with a plurality of symbols juxtaposed along the axis direction. The image-forming unit forms an image on the photosensitive drum in an image-forming mode. The transfer unit transfers the first developer image onto the photosensitive drum onto a sheet. The image-forming unit forms a first developer image on the photosensitive drum in a maintenance mode. The first developer image transferred onto the sheet divides the sheet into a plurality of regions along the axis direction, the plurality of regions corresponding to the plurality of symbols, respectively. | 07-28-2011 |
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 |
20110243609 | CHARGE-REMOVING DEVICE - In the charge-removing device, the light guide portion extends in a first direction. The light guide portion guides light from the light source toward the surface of the image-bearing member. A charge on the surface of the image-bearing member is removed by the light emitted from the light guide portion. The first surface of the light guide portion opposes the light source. The rear surface is an opposite surface of the confronting surface and has a rough surface part that reflects, toward the confronting surface, the light from the first surface. The closer a position of the increasing portion is to the second surface, the larger the length of the increasing portion becomes. The closer a position of the decreasing portion is to the second surface, the smaller the length of the decreasing portion becomes. | 10-06-2011 |
20120163859 | PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE USING PROCESS UNIT - A process unit includes an image bearing member a first frame, a developing unit, a pressing assembly, and a pressing-force adjusting assembly. The first frame supports the image bearing member. The developing unit includes a developing roller and a second frame supporting the developing roller. The pressing assembly generates a first pressing force acting on the developing unit such that the developing roller is in pressure contact with the image bearing member. The pressing-force adjusting assembly contacts one of the first frame and the developing unit and generates a second pressing force acting on the developing unit against the first pressing force. The second pressing force is smaller than the first pressing force. | 06-28-2012 |
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 |
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 |
20140186058 | Cartridge Configured of Two Units and Image Forming Apparatus that Accommodates the Cartridge - A cartridge mountable in an image forming apparatus includes a first unit that stores developer and a second unit that accommodates the first unit. The first unit includes a first detected part configured to be displaced irreversibly from a first-unit new-product position to a first-unit used position upon receipt of a driving force from the image forming apparatus, the first detected part contacting a detector provided in the image forming apparatus while being displaced from the first-unit new-product position to the first-unit used position to be detected by the detector. The second unit includes a second detected part configured to be displaced irreversibly from a second-unit new-product position to a second-unit used position upon receipt of a driving force from the image forming apparatus, the second detected part contacting the detector while being displaced from the second-unit new-product position to the second-unit used position to be detected by the detector. | 07-03-2014 |
20150023694 | Developing Cartridge and Process Cartridge - A developing cartridge includes a casing configured to store a developing agent, a developing agent carrying member disposed rotatably in the casing and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent. The casing includes an attachment portion to which the layer-thickness regulating member is attached, a receiving portion configured to receive pressing force for pressing the developing agent carrying member toward an image carrying member in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the developing agent carrying member, and a wall portion disposed between the attachment portion and the receiving portion. The receiving portion is disposed to overlap with at least a portion of the attachment portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the developing agent carrying member. | 01-22-2015 |
20150086236 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge includes a housing configured to accommodate a developing agent and including a first frame and a second frame, a developing agent carrying member rotatable on an axial line and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer thickness regulating member configured to regulate a layer thickness of the developing agent carried by the developing agent carrying member. The first frame has a first facing surface facing the layer thickness regulating member. The second frame has a second facing surface facing the layer thickness regulating member. A welded region where the first frame and the second frame are welded and include a first welded portion extending from the first facing surface in a first direction intersecting with and away from the first facing surface, and a second welded portion extending from the first welded portion inward in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. | 03-26-2015 |
20150086249 | Cartridge - A cartridge include a housing configured to accommodate a developing agent therein, a developing agent carrying member configured to carry the developing agent, a layer thickness restricting member disposed between the housing and the developing agent carrying member and configured to restrict a layer thickness of the developing agent carried by the developing agent carrying member, and a spacer disposed between the housing and the layer thickness restricting member in a first direction in which the developing agent carrying member and the layer thickness restricting member face one another and in which is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the developing agent carrying member. The spacer includes a first engaged portion configured to be engaged. The layer thickness restricting member includes a first engaging portion configured to engage with the first engaged portion such that relative movement of the spacer and the layer thickness restricting member is restricted. | 03-26-2015 |