In a developing apparatus, a housing has a first opening. A shutter is movable between an open position and a closed position. A locking member is movable between a lock position and a release position. The locking member is located between the housing and the shutter in a cartridge-attachment direction. The locking member is located at the lock position in a case where the toner cartridge is detached from the developing apparatus. The locking member is in contact with the toner cartridge, thereby moving from the lock position to the release position in a case where the toner cartridge is attached to the developing apparatus. A cover having a second opening that is in communication with the first opening in a state where the shutter is at the open position is located at an opposite side of the locking member with respect to the shutter in the cartridge-attachment direction.

Power receiving unit, rotating component, process cartridge, and assembly and disassembly methods thereof are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mounted in an image formation apparatus configured with a swingable power output unit, an outer circumference of the power output unit contains a recessed portion, and the power receiving unit is engaged with the power output unit to receive a driving force. The power receiving unit comprises a wheel hub, a power receiving part, and a bias part. The wheel hub is disposed on an end of a rotating component in the process cartridge. The power receiving part includes a fixing protrusion and a notch that are oppositely disposed, the fixing protrusion is inserted into the recessed portion, and the notch provides a swinging space for the power output unit. The bias part provides a bias force toward the fixing protrusion for the power output unit.

A lock control device is configured to control a plurality of lock devices respectively provided in a plurality of storage sections. The lock control device includes control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to: cause an indicator to indicate a plurality of pieces of storage section information representing the plurality of storage sections; receive an input of partial storage section information of the plurality of pieces of storage section information; and output an unlocking signal to a lock device of the plurality of lock devices corresponding to the partial storage section information, to unlock the lock device.

An image forming apparatus includes lock mechanisms, a regulation processing portion, and a second release processing portion. The lock mechanisms correspond to attachment portions to each of which a developer storage portion is attached, and each regulate detachment of a developer storage portion attached to an attachment portion. When a first state where developer storage portions of a specific type are attached to all the attachment portions, has been detected, and there is a lock mechanism that is not regulating detachment, the regulation processing portion causes the lock mechanism to regulate detachment of the developer storage portion. When a second state where a developer storage portion of the specific type has not been attached to at least one attachment portion, has been detected, and all the lock mechanisms are regulating detachment, the second release processing portion causes all the lock mechanisms to release regulation of detachment.

An example image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge movable to a mounting position in which the toner cartridge is mounted to a mounting portion and a click position further proceeded from the mounting position in a mounting direction; an elastic member to apply elastic force to the toner cartridge in a direction returning from the click position to the mounting position; a locking member to selectively allow removal of the toner cartridge from the mounting portion in accordance with a click operation by which the toner cartridge is moved to the click position and the mounting position; and a click restricting member to selectively allow movement of the toner cartridge from the mounting position to the click position.

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes an image-bearing-unit support member, a developing unit support member, a plurality of light exposure units, and a light-exposure-unit operating member. The image-bearing-unit support member is movable between the inside and the outside of the image forming apparatus while supporting a plurality of image bearing units which each include an image bearing member. The developing unit support member is movable independently of the image-bearing-unit support member. The plurality of light exposure units each cause a corresponding one of the image bearing members to be exposed to light so as to form an electrostatic latent image. The light-exposure-unit operating member moves the light exposure units relative to the developing unit support member.

Measures for controlling an engagement force between a photo imaging plate and a developer roller in a printing device are described. A motor is operated to generate rotational motion. The rotational motion is translated into linear motion. The linear motion causes an adjustment to the engagement force between the developer roller and the photo imaging plate. A characteristic of the motor is monitored. The motor is controlled on the basis of the monitored characteristic in order to maintain a desired engagement force between the developer roller and the photo imaging plate.

An apparatus main body includes a main casing and a cover configured to rotatably move about a rotational axis located below an opening between an open position and a closed position. A drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and is configured to be installed into the apparatus main body through the opening. A developing cartridge includes a developing roller and is configured to be installed into the apparatus main body through the opening. A swing plate is attached swingably to the apparatus main body. The swing plate supports the developing cartridge. The swing plate includes a guide configured to guide installation of the developing cartridge into the apparatus main body. The swing plate is configured to swingably move in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are installed in the apparatus main body, thereby causing the developing roller to move relative to the photosensitive drum.

A simple structure is provided to move an optical print head toward a photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus includes an optical print head having a first link portion and a second link portion, a sliding portion configured to move by sliding as to an image forming apparatus main body, and an abutting portion where one end of the optical print head abuts. When the sliding portion moves by sliding, the first link portion and the second link portion pivot as to the sliding portion, with the one end of the optical print head abutting the abutting portion, and the optical print head moves toward the photosensitive drum.

Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an apparatus main body; a plurality of units arranged adjacent to each other in the apparatus main body, and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body in the same insertion and removal direction; and a switching member 36 configured to be capable of taking any one of a first position in which attachment and detachment of one unit 4 of adjacent units among the plurality of units to and from the apparatus main body is allowed and attachment and detachment of another unit 5 of the adjacent units is restricted, and a second position in which the attachment and detachment of the one unit 4 is restricted and the attachment and detachment of the other unit 5 is allowed.