Patent classifications
G03G21/00
Image forming apparatus that controls regulation unit to prevent or allow detachment of a cartridge mounted to the image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state.
Transport member, transport device, and image forming apparatus
A transport member includes a shaft and plural blades that extend around the shaft so as to transport a target object that is to be transported and that is present around the plural blades in a direction in which the shaft extends by rotating with the shaft, the plural blades extending in at least a region of the transport member in the direction in which the shaft extends in such a manner that the plural blades are sequentially out of phase with one another in a direction in which the plural blades rotate. The at least a portion in the direction in which the shaft extends has flexibility.
Cleaning body, cleaning device, charging device, assembly, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning body includes a core, a foam elastic layer that is disposed to be wound around an outer peripheral surface of the core in a helical shape from one end to the other end of the core, and an adhesive layer that adheres the core and the foam elastic layer, in which a diameter of a tip portion of a cell skeleton protruding on a surface of the foam elastic layer is equal to or less than 50 μm, and in a case where an inner peripheral length of the foam elastic layer in a cross section of the core in a radial direction is X (mm) and a thickness of the foam elastic layer is Y (mm), a value of X×Y.sup.2 is equal to or greater than 45.
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a belt component, a first detachable unit that faces the belt component in an area where an outer surface of the belt component faces upward, a first housing component that houses the first detachable unit and is drawable from and loadable into the apparatus, a second detachable unit that faces the belt component in an area where the outer surface of the belt component faces downward, and a second housing component that houses the second detachable unit and is drawable from and loadable into the apparatus. With the first housing component being drawn from the apparatus, the first detachable unit is detachable from and attachable to the first housing component in a side-to-side direction. With the second housing component being drawn from the apparatus, the second detachable unit is detachable from and attachable to the second housing component in an upward direction.
CLEANING COMPONENT, CLEANING APPARATUS USING SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A cleaning component that cleans an image holding section having a high-hardness surface layer, the cleaning component including: a plate-shaped cleaning member coming into contact with a surface of the image holding section, in which a portion of the cleaning member coming into contact with the surface of the image holding section has 100% modulus equal to or more than 7 Mpa and rebound resilience equal to or less than 30%, as physical properties.
Image forming apparatus and cartridge that include light guide that guides light
A charge removing unit emits light onto a surface of an image bearing member for removing charge on the surface. The charge removing unit includes a light source configured to emit the light, and a light guide that is configured to guide the light to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member with the light and has a cylindrical shape extending in an axial direction of the image bearing member. At both ends in a longitudinal direction of the light guide, one end portion and another end portion are respectively provided. The light is introduced to the one end portion. The another end portion includes an inclined surface inclining in a direction from the one end portion to the another end portion, toward a central axis of a circumference of the light guide.
Image forming apparatus and cartridge that include light guide that guides light
A charge removing unit emits light onto a surface of an image bearing member for removing charge on the surface. The charge removing unit includes a light source configured to emit the light, and a light guide that is configured to guide the light to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member with the light and has a cylindrical shape extending in an axial direction of the image bearing member. At both ends in a longitudinal direction of the light guide, one end portion and another end portion are respectively provided. The light is introduced to the one end portion. The another end portion includes an inclined surface inclining in a direction from the one end portion to the another end portion, toward a central axis of a circumference of the light guide.
Image forming apparatus having displaceable electrical contact when mounting photoconductor unit
A developing cartridge includes a storage medium. A first contact portion is provided in a photoconductor unit and configured to be electrically connected to the storage medium. A second contact portion is provided in an apparatus body. The photoconductor unit is configured to, in a case of attaching the photoconductor unit to the apparatus body, move from a first position to a second position while being guided by a guide member and then move from the second position to a third position below the second position. At least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion is capable of being displaced such that engagement between the first contact portion and the second contact portion is performed while the photoconductor unit moves by being guided by the guide member, and the engagement is maintained while the photoconductor unit moves from the second position to the third position.
ELASTIC MEMBER, CLEANING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An elastic member that comes into contact with a moving body that moves in a predetermined moving direction to scrape off a deposit on the moving body includes: a stress reducer that is provided at a contact end on a side to be in contact with the moving body and reduces vibration of internal stress generated due to contact between the moving body and the elastic member, wherein the stress reducer extends in a direction that is not perpendicular to the moving direction when the elastic member comes in contact with the moving body.
Image forming apparatus that establishes short-range wireless communication between the image forming apparatus and an external device
An image forming apparatus includes a first casing, a second casing, a support portion, an indication, and a USB port. The first casing includes a sheet discharge tray disposed at a top surface thereof. The indication is located at a portion of one of the top surface of the first casing and the support portion, and is positioned outside the sheet discharge tray in a width direction. The portion is located closer to one end of the image forming apparatus in the width direction than the other end of the image forming apparatus opposite to the one end in the width direction. The USB port is disposed at a portion of one of the second casing and the support portion closer to the one end than the other end in the width direction, and is located at a different position in an up-down direction from the indication.