A replaceable imaging unit according to one example embodiment includes a photoconductor unit positioned at the front of a housing of the imaging unit. First and second alignment guides extend outward at the same height from first and second sides of the housing, respectively, on the photoconductor unit and run parallel to each other along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Each of the first and second alignment guides includes a front contact member at a front end thereof and a rear contact member at a rear end thereof. The front contact members are positioned further outward sideways than the rear contact members. Bottom surfaces of the front and rear contact members are unobstructed to permit the bottom surfaces of the front and rear contact members to sit on top of corresponding guide rails in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the imaging unit.

An imaging system for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a movable latch positioned to selectively couple a replaceable toner cartridge and a replaceable imaging unit together such that the toner cartridge and the imaging unit are removable from the image forming device as a single unit and to selectively decouple the toner cartridge and the imaging unit such that the toner cartridge and the imaging unit are separately removable from the image forming device. A controller is configured to actuate the latch to couple the toner cartridge and the imaging unit together in response to the controller detecting an error condition requiring removal of both the toner cartridge and the imaging unit from the image forming device in order to permit removal of the toner cartridge and the imaging unit from the image forming device as a single unit.

An imaging system for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a movable latch positioned to selectively couple a replaceable toner cartridge and a replaceable imaging unit together such that the toner cartridge and the imaging unit are removable from the image forming device as a single unit and to selectively decouple the toner cartridge and the imaging unit such that the toner cartridge and the imaging unit are separately removable from the image forming device. A controller is configured to actuate the latch to couple the toner cartridge and the imaging unit together in response to the controller detecting an error condition requiring removal of both the toner cartridge and the imaging unit from the image forming device in order to permit removal of the toner cartridge and the imaging unit from the image forming device as a single unit.

A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, a transfer roller, a mounting portion capable of mounting a development unit including a development roller, a first gear and a second gear each provided at one end of the photosensitive member in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and a third gear provided at one end of the transfer roller in an axial direction of the photosensitive member and configured to engage with the second gear. The first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are helical gears. A direction in which helical teeth of the first gear are inclined is opposite to a direction in which helical teeth of the second gear are inclined, and the direction in which the helical teeth of the first gear are inclined matches a direction in which helical teeth of the third gear are inclined.

A photosensitive member unit includes a photosensitive member, a transfer roller, a mounting portion capable of mounting a development unit including a development roller, a first gear and a second gear each provided at one end of the photosensitive member in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and a third gear provided at one end of the transfer roller in an axial direction of the photosensitive member and configured to engage with the second gear. The first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are helical gears. A direction in which helical teeth of the first gear are inclined is opposite to a direction in which helical teeth of the second gear are inclined, and the direction in which the helical teeth of the first gear are inclined matches a direction in which helical teeth of the third gear are inclined.

A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion.

An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge which is detachably mounted from a first direction to store a toner; and a processing unit which is detachably mounted from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is provided with a photoconductor, a developing section for supplying a toner fed from the toner cartridge to the surface of the photoconductor to convert an electrostatic latent image to a toner image and a cleaning section for collecting the toner adhered on the surface of the photoconductor.

A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller. The coupling member includes a driven portion, and an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion. The intermediary portion is also configured to be movable relative to the driven portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The coupling member further includes a driving portion configured and positioned to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller. The driving portion is also configured to engage with the intermediary portion, and to be movable relative to the intermediary portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller while maintaining engagement with the intermediary portion.

An apparatus includes an opening/closing member that opens/closes space which is provided in an apparatus body and in which a first unit and a second unit are accommodated; a first guide portion that guides the first unit in the space; a second guide portion that guides the second unit in the space; and a slope member that is capable of guiding the first unit to the first guide portion provided at a position higher than a position of the second guide portion in a height direction orthogonal to an inserting/extracting direction of the space when the opening/closing member is put in an open position, the slope member being coupled between the apparatus body and the opening/closing member so as to be positioned in the space when the opening/closing member is put in a closed position to close the space.

An image forming apparatus, including a photosensitive drum, a developer cartridge with a developer roller and a protrusion, a casing, a separator member to move the developer cartridge between a contact position and a separate position, and a first guide to guide the protrusion, is provided. The first guide confronts the protrusion along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the developer roller when the developer cartridge is in the contact position. The first guide includes a first guiding surface and a first inclined surface. The first guiding surface extends in parallel with a line connecting a center of a rotation axis of the developer roller with a center of a rotation axis of the photosensitive drum. The first inclined surface inclines with respect to the first guiding surface. The protrusion contacts the first inclined surface when the separator member moves the developer cartridge toward the separate position.