Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100021200 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE PROVIDING ACCURATE POSITIONING BETWEEN EXPOSURE UNIT AND PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY - An image forming device capable of providing precise positional relationship between an exposure unit and a photosensitive body. The exposure unit having an exposure head elongated in a longitudinal direction and having light emitting sections arrayed in the longitudinal direction. The light elements emit light in an optical axis direction. A frame supports the photosensitive body. A positioning protrusion protrudes in the optical axis direction from one of the frame and the exposure unit. A remaining one of the frame and the exposure unit is formed with a positioning part engageable with the positioning protrusion. A biasing unit provides a biasing force that ensures engagement between the positioning protrusion and the positioning part. | 01-28-2010 |
20100061760 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A process cartridge includes: a frame having an opening that is long in a predetermined direction; a photosensitive drum held in the frame, a portion of a surface of the photosensitive drum being opposite to the opening of the frame, the photosensitive drum extending along a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a protection member that has: a linear body portion extending in the longitudinal direction; and a support portion extending from an end of the linear body portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the support portion is supported on the frame so as to rotate about an axis that extends along the longitudinal direction, and the linear body portion is movable between a protecting position and a retreat position. | 03-11-2010 |
20110076049 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge includes a frame, a developer carrying member, a developer supplying member, and an electrode member. The developer carrying member is rotatably supported on the frame and carries a developer. The developer carrying member has a first rotational axis defining an axial direction. The developer supplying member is rotatably supported on the frame and contacts the developer carrying member to supply the developer to the developer carrying member. The developer supplying member has a second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis. Both of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis lie in a first plane. The electrode member is provided on the frame, and configured to receive an electrical power from an external power supplying member. The electrode member has a contact portion that is configured to contact with the external power supplying member. The contact portion has a linear shape and lies in an imaginary plane that extends parallel to the first rotational axis. The first plane intersects with the imaginary plane at an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. | 03-31-2011 |
20110236051 | Developer Cartridge - In a developer cartridge, the base portion is fixed to an outer surface of the one side of the frame, and extends from one end thereof to another end thereof in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first extending portion extends from one end thereof to another end thereof in the first direction. The one end of the first extending portion is connected to the another end of the base portion. The second extending portion extends from one end thereof to another end thereof in a direction opposite to the second direction. The one end of the second extending portion is connected to the another end of the first extending portion. The input portion is connected to the another end of the second extending portion and inputs electrical power from an external device. The electrode is deformable such that a distance between the base portion and the second extending portion becomes smaller. | 09-29-2011 |
20110293320 | STOPPER FOR DEVELOPER FILLING PORT AND DEVELOPING DEVICE - A stopper for plugging a developer filling port includes a stopper main body and a lock member engageable with the stopper main body. The stopper main body is configured to be fitted to the filling port and shaped like a tube with a bottom. The lock member has a rigidity greater than that of the stopper main body, the lock member engaged with the stopper main body serves to restrict deformation of the stopper main body. A developing device for use in an image forming apparatus includes the stopper configured as described above to be fitted to its developer filling port. | 12-01-2011 |
20110318055 | TANDEM DRUM UNIT HAVING RESILIENTLY MOVABLE ABUTMENT PORTIONS - There is provided a tandem drum unit including a pair of side plates, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a plurality of developing cartridge accommodating sections and at least two abutment portions provided on each connecting frame. The pair of side plates is disposed in opposition to each other in a first direction, each side plate extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The plurality of photosensitive drums is juxtaposed in the second direction and interposed between the pair of side plates in the first direction, each photosensitive drum having an axis extending in the first direction and supported rotatably about the axis by the pair of side plates. The plurality of developing cartridge accommodating sections is arrayed in the second direction in correspondence with the plurality of photosensitive drums, each developing cartridge accommodating section accommodating therein a developing cartridge having a casing, each developing cartridge accommodating section comprising a connecting frame extending in the first direction and connected to the pair of side frames. Each connecting frame supports the casing of the developing cartridge accommodated in the developing cartridge accommodating section at one side in the second direction when a rotational moment is exerted on the developing cartridge during development. The casing of the developing cartridge is seated on at least two abutment portions, the at least two abutment portions being positioned spaced away from each another in the first direction and deviated toward the one side on the each connecting frame in the second direction, wherein the plurality of connecting frames includes an endmost connecting frame in the second direction having specific abutment portions resiliently movable in a pressing direction of the developing cartridge against the specific abutment portions. | 12-29-2011 |
20120003012 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge having a first side plate and a second side plate spaced opposite from the first side plate, a developer carrying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a developer supplying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a input member to which driving force is input rotatably supported by the first side plate, a primary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the first side plate, a secondary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the second side plate, and a supply gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer supplying member at the second side plate, wherein the input member and the supply gear are arranged so that their projections in the direction of the rotation axis of the developer supplying member overlap. | 01-05-2012 |
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 |
20120201551 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller which carries developer and contacts the photosensitive member, and a control device which is configured to apply, to the developing roller, a developing bias having a direct current component and an alternating current component overlapped with each other so as to supply developer from the developing roller to the photosensitive member. The control device is configured to execute either one of a first mode in which an amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a first set value and a second mode in which the amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a second set value larger than the first set value, based on whether or not a temperature of the developing roller is a first predetermined value or larger. | 08-09-2012 |
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 |
20120237263 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided, which is configured to form an image with developer of a plurality of colors on a sheet-type recording medium by a non-magnetic single component developing method. The image forming apparatus includes a first color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of a first color by a jumping developing method, and a second color developing unit which is configured to perform developing of the second color by a contact developing method. | 09-20-2012 |
20130051853 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing cartridge arranged below the photosensitive body and having a developing roller configured to supply a developing agent to the photosensitive body and to be rotatable about an rotation shaft of the developing roller; a support body configured to removably support the developing cartridge; and a pressing member configured to press the rotation shaft of the developing roller so as to press the developing roller against the photosensitive body. | 02-28-2013 |
20130136496 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE PROVIDING ACCURATE POSITIONING BETWEEN EXPOSURE UNIT AND PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY - An image forming device capable of providing precise positional relationship between an exposure unit and a photosensitive body. The exposure unit having an exposure head elongated in a longitudinal direction and having light emitting sections arrayed in the longitudinal direction. The light elements emit light in an optical axis direction. A frame supports the photosensitive body. A positioning protrusion protrudes in the optical axis direction from one of the frame and the exposure unit. A remaining one of the frame and the exposure unit is formed with a positioning part engageable with the positioning protrusion. A biasing unit provides a biasing force that ensures engagement between the positioning protrusion and the positioning part. | 05-30-2013 |
20130259530 | Developer Container - A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a housing configured to store developer, a developer conveying member disposed inside the housing and configured to rotate to convey the developer stored in the housing. The developer conveying member includes a rotary shaft, a rotary base member and a sheet-like main body. The main body has a base end portion fixed to the rotary base member and a free end portion configured to be pressed into contact with an inner wall of the housing. The rotary base member includes an urging member configured to urge the main body from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a direction of rotation thereof. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259540 | Developing Unit - There is provided a developing unit, including: a body defining a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber, and a developer delivery member. The body includes a sliding portion, a restoring portion and a colliding portion at the developer accommodating chamber. The developer delivery member includes an elastic member configured to be made a sliding contact with the sliding portion while being curved elastically, configured to be restored elastically at the restoring portion, and configured to collide with the colliding portion. The developer delivery member is configured so that, the elastic member which has been elastically restored at the restoring portion is collided with the colliding portion to generate an air flow and to deliver the developer in the developer accommodating chamber toward the connection port. | 10-03-2013 |
20130287445 | Developing Apparatus and Image Forming Apparatus - A developing apparatus is provided, including a developing unit including a developing roller; a developer accommodating unit; a partition wall partitioning the developing unit and the developer accommodating unit; a supply port which makes communication between the developing unit and the developer accommodating unit; a transport member configured so that the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating unit is supplied to the developing unit via the supply port in accordance with rotation; a return port configured so that the developer contained in the developing unit is permitted to fall into the developer accommodating unit; an opening/closing member configured to be movable between an open position for opening the return port and a closed position for closing the return port; and a driving mechanism configured so that the opening/closing member is moved to the closed position and the open position. | 10-31-2013 |
20130322928 | Developer Transport Member and Developing Apparatus - There is provided a developer transport member including a rotatable member, a main body configured to transport the developer by being rotated in accordance with rotation of the rotatable member, and a metal spring configured to bias the main body. | 12-05-2013 |
20130330102 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge having a first side plate and a second side plate spaced opposite from the first side plate, a developer carrying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a developer supplying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a input member to which driving force is input rotatably supported by the first side plate, a primary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the first side plate, a secondary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the second side plate, and a supply gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer supplying member at the second side plate, wherein the input member and the supply gear are arranged so that their projections in the direction of the rotation axis of the developer supplying member overlap. | 12-12-2013 |
20140003837 | Image Forming Apparatus | 01-02-2014 |
20140056620 | Developer Container and Developing Device - A developer container includes: a container body that has an opening at an upper part and is configured to accommodate therein developer; a conveyance member that is provided in the container body, and includes a rotation member having a rotary shaft and an elastic part, which is supported by the rotation member, is configured to be elastically deformed and is configured to rotate to convey the developer from the opening to an outside of the container body; and a driving member that is connected to one end portion of the rotary shaft and is configured to rotate the rotary shaft. The container body includes a first support part to which the other end portion of the rotary shaft is loosely fitted and a second support part that supports the one end portion of the rotary shaft. | 02-27-2014 |
20140056621 | Developer Container and Developing Device - A developer container comprising: a container body accommodating developer; a conveyance member that is provided to the container body, and includes a rotation member having a rotary shaft and an elastic part, which is supported by the rotation member and rotates to convey the developer. The container body includes a first support part to which the rotary shaft is loosely fitted, and a second support part that supports the rotary shaft. The container body includes a sliding contact part that the elastic part sliding-contacts while being elastically deformed when the conveyance member is being rotated. A distance from a center of the rotary shaft to a leading end of the elastic part is gradually increased from the one end portion-side of the rotary shaft towards the other end portion-side of the rotary shaft. | 02-27-2014 |
20140093265 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus including: an intermediate transfer member configured to transfer the developer images on the plurality of photosensitive members; a secondary transfer member configured to transfer the developer images transferred onto the intermediate transfer member onto a recording sheet; a plurality of primary holding rollers provided to each of the plurality of photosensitive members, respectively; a collecting unit configured to collect developer remaining on the intermediate transfer member; and a control device configured to control biases applied to the secondary transfer member and the plurality of primary holding rollers, wherein, after printing control terminates, the control device is configured to perform cleaning control in which biases having opposite polarities to biases during the printing control are applied to the plurality of primary holding rollers and the secondary transfer member. | 04-03-2014 |
20140178105 | Developing Cartridge - A developing cartridge having a first side plate and a second side plate spaced opposite from the first side plate, a developer carrying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a developer supplying member rotatably supported between the side plates, a input member to which driving force is input rotatably supported by the first side plate, a primary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the first side plate, a secondary developing gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer carrying member at the second side plate, and a supply gear to which the driving force is transferred provided on the developer supplying member at the second side plate, wherein the input member and the supply gear are arranged so that their projections in the direction of the rotation axis of the developer supplying member overlap. | 06-26-2014 |
20140341614 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE PROVIDING ACCURATE POSITIONING BETWEEN EXPOSURE UNIT AND PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY - An image forming device capable of providing precise positional relationship between an exposure unit and a photosensitive body. The exposure unit having an exposure head elongated in a longitudinal direction and having light emitting sections arrayed in the longitudinal direction. The light elements emit light in an optical axis direction. A frame supports the photosensitive body. A positioning protrusion protrudes in the optical axis direction from one of the frame and the exposure unit. A remaining one of the frame and the exposure unit is formed with a positioning part engageable with the positioning protrusion. A biasing unit provides a biasing force that ensures engagement between the positioning protrusion and the positioning part. | 11-20-2014 |
20150023699 | Developer Cartridge - In a developer cartridge, a base portion may be fixed to a surface of one side of a frame, and extend from one end thereof to another end thereof in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A first portion may extend from one end thereof to another end thereof in the first direction. The one end of the first portion is connected to the other end of the base portion. A second portion may extend from one end thereof to another end thereof in a direction opposite to the second direction. The one end of the second portion is connected to the other end of the first portion. An electrode for the cartridge is deformable such that a distance between the base portion and the second portion can be decreased. | 01-22-2015 |