An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

A developing device includes a developer roller to rotate in a rotation direction, a photosensitive body adjacent the developer roller, and an air flow passage extending through a non-image forming region at a longitudinal end of the developer roller. A closest position is defined where the developer roller and a photosensitive body are closest to one another. The air flow passage extends from inside the developing device and forms an air flow directed toward an upstream side of the closest position, relative to the rotation direction of the developer roller.

A developing device includes a developer roller to rotate in a rotation direction, a photosensitive body adjacent the developer roller, and an air flow passage extending through a non-image forming region at a longitudinal end of the developer roller. A closest position is defined where the developer roller and a photosensitive body are closest to one another. The air flow passage extends from inside the developing device and forms an air flow directed toward an upstream side of the closest position, relative to the rotation direction of the developer roller.

An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

A powder passage component includes a first passage defining unit, a second passage defining unit, and a sealing section. The first passage defining unit has at least a first connecting opening which is formed at a part thereof and which has a first peripheral edge. The first passage defining unit defines a passage space which allows powder to pass therethrough. The second passage defining unit has a second connecting opening having a second peripheral edge, is connected to the first connecting opening of the first passage defining unit at the second connecting opening, and defines a passage space which allows the powder to pass therethrough. The sealing section seals the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge. The sealing section includes a liquid gasket. The sealing section has a groove that has a bottom portion and a side facing the corresponding passage space. The groove is formed along one of the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge. The liquid gasket is applied to an inside of the groove and elastically deformed so as to be brought into contact with another of the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge facing the groove. The sealing section has at least one escape groove that is provided at the bottom portion of the groove or along the other of the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge facing the groove. The at least one escape groove allows a part of an elastically deformed portion of the liquid gasket to escape so as not to allow the liquid gasket to extend past at least the side of the groove facing the corresponding passage space.

A powder passage component includes a first passage defining unit, a second passage defining unit, and a sealing section. The first passage defining unit has at least a first connecting opening which is formed at a part thereof and which has a first peripheral edge. The first passage defining unit defines a passage space which allows powder to pass therethrough. The second passage defining unit has a second connecting opening having a second peripheral edge, is connected to the first connecting opening of the first passage defining unit at the second connecting opening, and defines a passage space which allows the powder to pass therethrough. The sealing section seals the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge. The sealing section includes a liquid gasket. The sealing section has a groove that has a bottom portion and a side facing the corresponding passage space. The groove is formed along one of the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge. The liquid gasket is applied to an inside of the groove and elastically deformed so as to be brought into contact with another of the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge facing the groove. The sealing section has at least one escape groove that is provided at the bottom portion of the groove or along the other of the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge facing the groove. The at least one escape groove allows a part of an elastically deformed portion of the liquid gasket to escape so as not to allow the liquid gasket to extend past at least the side of the groove facing the corresponding passage space.

A toner container includes a storage portion configured to store toner and a communicating member including a receiving port, a discharge port, and a passage. The passage includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface connecting the first inclined surface and the discharge port to each other. When viewed in a third direction perpendicularly intersecting with both of a first direction and a second direction, the first inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the first inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction, and the second inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the second inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction.

A toner container includes a storage portion configured to store toner and a communicating member including a receiving port, a discharge port, and a passage. The passage includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface connecting the first inclined surface and the discharge port to each other. When viewed in a third direction perpendicularly intersecting with both of a first direction and a second direction, the first inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the first inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction, and the second inclined surface is inclined with respect to the second direction such that a more downstream portion of the second inclined surface in the first direction is closer to the discharge port in the second direction.