In a cartridge assembly, a cartridge frame is configured to limit a movable amount of a photosensitive drum with respect to the frame in a longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum to a first amount in the case where a cover member is apart from the frame, and the cover member has a held portion held by the frame and a limiting portion configured to limit the movable amount of the photosensitive drum with respect to the frame to a second amount smaller than the first amount by contacting with a longitudinal end surface of the photosensitive drum in the case where the photosensitive drum moves in the longitudinal direction when the cover member is mounted on the frame.

A photoconductive drum for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a cylindrical drum member. A shaft defines a rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. An end cap is positioned at an axial end of the drum member. An electrical contact is positioned against an axially inboard side of the end cap. The electrical contact electrically connects the shaft to the drum member. The electrical contact includes a plurality of projections that contact an inner circumferential surface of the drum member. A plurality of grooves are formed in an outer circumferential surface of the end cap.

An image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a drum unit, a side plate, a notch, a turning member and a biasing member. The developing device includes a developing roller. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum and has a protrusion protruding in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. Thea side plate faces an end surface of the drum unit in the axial direction. The notch is provided in the side plate. The turning member is capable of turning in a direction protruding into the notch and in a direction separating from the notch. The biasing member biases the turning member in a direction close to the notch. The turning member is pushed back by the protrusion inserted into the notch from above, and when the protrusion reaches a bottom of the notch, the turning member presses the protrusion against the notch by a load containing a downward component.

An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable image carrier on an outer circumferential surface of which an image is to be formed and that is movable in a rotation axis direction between an image forming position and a maintenance position; a light-emitting unit including a base member extending in the rotation axis direction of the image carrier, and plural light-emitting devices provided on the base member and configured to apply light to the outer circumferential surface of the image carrier, the light-emitting unit being configured to move together with the image carrier in the rotation axis direction; and a supporting unit configured to move together with the image carrier in the rotation axis direction and to support the light-emitting unit when the image carrier and the light-emitting unit are at the maintenance position and the light-emitting unit is disabled from being positioned with respect to the image carrier.

A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotational axis about which the photosensitive drum is rotatable, a developing roller having a rotational axis about which the developing roller is rotatable, and a casing rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum and the developing roller. The coupling member is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum, with the coupling member including at least one projection capable of receiving a rotational force to rotate the photosensitive drum. A spring is provided with a movable part that is movable relative to the casing in a direction away from the rotational axis of the developing roller to urge the coupling member so that at least the projection of the coupling member moves away from the rotational axis of the developing roller.

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, a developing unit, a supporting frame, a retainer and a sheet member. The image carrier unit includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing unit develops the electrostatic latent image with toner. The supporting frame supports the image carrier unit and the developing unit in an attachable and detachable manner. The retainer is supported by the supporting frame in a turnable manner, and positions the image carrier unit and the developing unit to the supporting frame by being turned upward. The sheet member closes a gap between the supporting frame and the retainer. The sheet member has an upper section supported by the retainer and a lower end section supported by the supporting frame, and at least one of the upper end section and the lower end section is configured to be detachable.

A coupling member for an image forming apparatus cartridge includes a first end portion including an outer surface and a plurality of surfaces forming a recess extending in a direction from the outer surface toward the rotational axis. The plurality of surfaces include a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface. As viewed in a direction toward the recess and perpendicular to the rotational axis, the third surface faces toward outside of the recess, and both of the first and second surfaces are sloped with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis such that a distance measured along a direction of the rotational axis between the first and second surfaces decreases as a distance along the first and second surfaces from the outer surface increases.

A developing cartridge includes: a casing; a developing roller; a shaft extending in a first direction; a first inclined surface; a second inclined surface; an elastic member; and a first protrusion. The shaft is movable in the first direction relative to the casing and the developing roller, and is movable in the second direction together with the same. The first inclined surface is positioned at one end portion of the shaft, while the second inclined surface is positioned at another end portion of the shaft. The first and second inclined surfaces are inclined relative to the first direction. The first protrusion is movable in the first direction together with the second inclined surface. The shaft is movable from a first position to a second position when the second inclined surface receives a pressing force directed in a direction from the another end portion to the one end portion.

A drum supporting member, which is usable with an image forming apparatus, includes a photosensitive drum and a mounting portion for detachably mounting a developing cartridge. The drum mounting portion also includes a contacting member contactable with the developing cartridge, with contacting member being movable between a first position and a second position. When the contacting member is in the first position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with a developing roller of the developing cartridge being placed in a third position contacting the photosensitive drum. When the contacting member is in the second position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with the developing cartridge being placed in a fourth position in which the developing cartridge is dismountable from the drum supporting member. The drum supporting member further includes an elastic member configured to urge the contacting member against movement of the developing cartridge in a direction from the fourth position to the third position.

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.