An image forming apparatus that is replenished with toner by using a toner cartridge serving as a toner container that accommodates toner, which is a consumable, and that is detachable from an apparatus body, includes, as a characteristic component of a control section that controls the image forming apparatus, a display control unit that, when a toner cartridge to be first inserted or a replacing toner cartridge is inserted, causes a display section of an operation panel to display a display (e.g. a message, an image (illustration), a moving image, or the like) that instructs a user in an operation of shaking the toner cartridge.

An image forming apparatus that is replenished with toner by using a toner cartridge serving as a toner container that accommodates toner, which is a consumable, and that is detachable from an apparatus body, includes, as a characteristic component of a control section that controls the image forming apparatus, a display control unit that, when a toner cartridge to be first inserted or a replacing toner cartridge is inserted, causes a display section of an operation panel to display a display (e.g. a message, an image (illustration), a moving image, or the like) that instructs a user in an operation of shaking the toner cartridge.

An image forming apparatus includes a drawer, a drawer-side electrical contact, a cover, a main body-side electrical contact and an elastic member interposed between a base and a panel. The main body-side electrical contact and the panel are held to be movable relative to the base in a third direction as being an extension and contraction direction of the elastic member. The image forming apparatus takes: a first state where the cover is open, the drawer-side electrical contact contacts the main body-side electrical contact, and the elastic member has a first length; and a second state where the cover is closed, the drawer-side electrical contact contacts the main body-side electrical contact, and the elastic member in the third direction has a second length shorter than the first length.

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an electrically conductive and grounded frame, an image forming unit, a print head, a holder that supports the print head, an electrically conductive urging member for urging the print head toward the image forming unit, and an electrically conductive arm extending from the urging member and electrically connected to the urging member. The arm floats when the print head moves away from the image forming unit and is electrically connected to the frame when the print head approaches the image forming unit.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier having a first rotation axle, a charging roller having a second rotation axle, a conductive member to contact a surface of the image carrier, a gap size acquisition device, and a gap adjustment device. The charging roller is disposed adjacent to the image carrier in a non-contact manner across a gap to charge the image carrier. The gap size acquisition device acquires a size of the gap. The gap adjustment device adjusts a distance between the first rotation axle and the second rotation axle based on information from the gap size acquisition device to maintain the size of the gap within a predetermined range.

A toner cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a holder, a toner memory, an electrical contact and a wiring. The holder is positioned at an outer surface of one side in a first direction of the casing. The electric contact surface is positioned at an outer surface of one side in a second direction of the holder. The second direction crosses the electric contact surface. The electrical contact is positioned on an outer surface of another side in the second direction of the holder. The wiring electrically connects the electrical contact and the electric contact surface. The electric contact surface includes a first electric contact surface and a second electric contact surface. The first electric contact surface electrically is connected to the electrical contact through the wiring. The second electric contact surface electrically is connected to the toner memory.

A heater includes an electrode, a heat generator, and a plurality of layers including a first layer and at least one additional layer disposed in an opposite side with respect to a surface on which the electrode is disposed. The at least one additional layer includes at least one of a plurality of portions, a gap at a location corresponding to the electrode, existing between the plurality of portions and a single portion, at least a part of the single portion corresponding to the electrode, being relatively thinner than a part of the single portion corresponding to the heat generator.

An image forming apparatus is designed to be capable of easily suppressing a variation of an inclination of a sensor relative to an endless belt and capable of high accuracy and stabilized sensing operation. The image forming apparatus includes a belt unit having an endless belt supported to be rotatable in a circumferential direction, an image forming unit for forming an image on the belt unit, and an optical sensor for detecting light projected onto the endless belt. The image forming apparatus further includes a sensor supporting member for supporting the sensor, and a positioning portion including, as a unit, a first positioning portion for positioning the belt unit by being contacted by the belt unit and a second positioning portion positioning the sensor supporting member by being contacted by the sensor supporting member.

A control unit performs control to make a direction of an electric field generated in a first area of an image carrier forming a transfer portion during image forming operation, relative to a voltage applied to a brush member in a state where the first area passes through a contact portion, different from a direction of an electric field generated in a second area of the image carrier forming the contact portion, relative to the voltage applied to the brush member during a period when operation is shifted from first operation in which the image carrier is rotated at a first speed to second operation in which the image carrier is rotated at a second speed different from the first speed, during non-image forming operation different from the image forming operation.

A fixing device includes: first and second heaters; a frame; and first and second terminals. The frame includes first and second fixing surfaces. The first terminal is electrically-connected to the first heater and includes: a first plate-shaped portion including a first fixed portion fixed to the first fixing surface. The second terminal is electrically-connected to the second heater and includes: a second plate-shaped portion including a second fixed portion fixed to the second fixing surface; and a first electrical connection portion electrically-connected to a power source and including: a first intermediate portion bent from the second plate-shaped portion and extending in a first direction connecting the second fixed portion and the second fixing surface; and a first tip portion. The first intermediate portion has: a first end connected to the second plate-shaped portion; and a second end from which the first tip portion extends along the first plate-shaped portion.