Oki Data Corporation

Ken Nozawa

Yukiyoshi Oda

Atsushi Ohta

Yoshiharu Momiyama

Atsushi Kurabayashi

Junichi Ito

Akihiro Yamamura

Toshiharu Sato

Masahiro Kawano

A developer cartridge is detachably mounted to a main apparatus, and includes a storage portion storing a developer, an ejection opening for ejecting the developer from the storage portion, and a first opening-and-closing member for opening and closing the ejection opening. The first opening-and-closing member is able to take a first position where the first opening-and-closing member opens the ejection opening and causes the developer cartridge to be fixed to the main apparatus, a second position where the first opening-and-closing member closes the ejection opening and makes the developer cartridge detachable from the main apparatus, and a third position where the first opening-and-closing member closes the ejection opening and causes the developer cartridge to be fixed to the main apparatus.

Developer cartridge, developing device and image forming apparatus

A developer detection device includes: a rotating member including a first part and a second part being joined to the first part, the first part having a light-blocking section and a light-passing section, the second part temporarily stopping rotating at a rotation position corresponding to a developer upper surface position of developer stored in an accommodating container; a rotation driving member pushing the rotating member in a predetermined rotation direction; and a detecting unit including a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit; wherein the rotating member is formed so that when the second part is at a lower position in the accommodating container, the light-passing section is positioned on an optical path from the light-emitting unit to the light-receiving unit.

Developer detection device capable of detecting amount developer in developer accommodating container

A developer accommodation unit includes a developer accommodation part that accommodates a developer, an opening part that communicates with the developer accommodation part, a shutter member that is movable between an opened position and a closed position with respect to the opening part, a rotation body that is provided rotatable in the developer accommodation part, and a drive force transmission mechanism that transmits a drive force to the rotation body so that the rotation body rotates. The drive force transmission mechanism includes an engagement mechanism by which the drive force is transmitted to the rotation body when the shutter member is in the opened position.

Developer accommodation unit, development device, image forming apparatus, and developer supply container

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body, and a replaceable part detachably attached thereto. The replaceable part is moveable in a first direction to be attached to the image forming apparatus main body and in a second direction to be detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The replaceable part includes a storage portion. The storage portion including a memory for storing information of the replaceable part and/or the image forming apparatus main body, and a first electrically-conductive contact portion electrically connected to the memory. The image forming apparatus main body includes a second electrically-conductive contact portion that electrically contacts the first contact portion, and a supporting portion that supports the second electrically-conductive contact portion. The second electrically-conductive contact portion has a first end portion fixed to the supporting portion and a second end portion which is movable with respect to the supporting portion. The first electrically-conductive contact portion includes an inclined surface contacting the second electrically-conductive contact portion. The inclined surface faces the first direction and is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction.

Image forming apparatus that ensures an electrical connection between a replacement part and a main body part of the apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body, and a replaceable part detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body and movable in attaching-and-detaching direction to be attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The replaceable part includes a storage portion, the storage portion including a memory for storing information of the replaceable part and/or the image forming apparatus main body, and a first contact portion electrically connected to the memory. The image forming apparatus main body includes a second contact portion that electrically contacts the first contact portion. The first contact portion has an inclination at a predetermined angle with respect to the attaching-and-detaching direction.

Image forming apparatus

A developing apparatus is used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Developing units form corresponding developer images. A frame holds the developing units therein in position so that the developing units are movable independently by a distance relative to the frame. An urging member is disposed across the frame and each developing unit and urges each developing unit against the frame. An elastic sealing member secured to the frame and in intimate contact with each of the developing units when the corresponding developing unit is attached to the frame. The sealing member seals a gap between the frame and each of the developing unit.

Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus

A neutralization device includes a light emitter, an optical conductor and multiple diffusion portions. The light emitter emits light for neutralizing an object. The optical conductor, which is opposed to the object and extends in a longitudinal direction, directs and applies the light to the object. The diffusion portions are arranged on the optical conductor in a zig-zag manner from one end of the optical conductor to the other and diffuse the light.

Neutralization device, developing device and image forming apparatus

A developer storing body is detachably attached to an image forming unit main body of an image forming unit. The developer storing body includes a cartridge main body for storing a developer. The cartridge main body has a developer outlet opening through which the developer is ejected. The developer storing body includes an outlet shutter member movable with respect to the cartridge main body so as to open and close the developer outlet opening. A movable direction of the outlet shutter member is substantially the same as a direction in which the developer storing body is attached to or detached from the image forming unit main body.

Developer storing body having a movable outlet shutter member, image forming unit and image forming apparatus

Toner cartridge

A developer storing container includes a developer storing portion having a developer outlet opening at a substantially longitudinal center portion, and an agitation member rotatable about a rotation axis to thereby agitate and eject the developer via the developer outlet opening. The agitation member includes a mounting portion with a mounting surface along the rotation axis, and an elongated flexible member having first and second ends. The flexible member is mounted to the mounting portion at the first end so that the second end defines a sliding end portion at which the flexible member slides in a sliding direction. Both longitudinal end portions of the sliding end portion of the flexible member slide along the inner surface of the developer storing container, ahead of a substantially longitudinal center portion of the sliding end portion in the sliding direction, and are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.

Developer storing container including an agitation member for agitating developer, developing device including the developer storing container and image forming apparatus including the developer storing container

An aspect of the invention provides an image forming unit that includes: an image forming unit main body including an image carrier; a housing of the image forming unit main body, the housing having at least one opening having concave parts at edge parts facing each other in the opening; and a connection element suspended with fracture parts between the edge parts facing each other in the opening, the fracture parts located within the concave parts. At least a part of the connection element corresponding to the image carrier is removable at the fracture parts.

Image forming unit and image forming apparatus

A developer storing container includes outer and inner cases. The outer case includes first and second hollow portions. The first hollow portion includes a surrounding wall so shaped as to surround a center axis. The surrounding wall has both ends in a cross-section perpendicular to the center axis, and has an ejection opening. The second hollow portion includes first and second outer walls extending from both ends of the surrounding wall and a third outer wall disposed therebetween. The inner case is rotatably disposed in the first hollow portion, and has an opening corresponding to the ejection opening. The surrounding wall extends from one of both ends to the other of both ends at an angle greater than or equal to 180 degrees with respect to the center axis. An entire outer surface of the surrounding wall constitutes a part of an outer surface of the outer case.

Developer storing container and image forming apparatus

An image forming unit is provided in which, through making a distance limiting member to limit a distance between an exposing unit and an image carrying body be able to contact and separate with respect to the image carrying body by a contact/separation enabling section, it is eliminated that developer remaining on the surface of the image carrying body coagulates on the distance limiting member, so it is eliminated that the surface of the image carrying body is scraped by the developer, and that a bad print occurs. The image forming unit has an image carrying body exposed by an exposing unit, a distance limiting member to limit a distance between the exposing unit and the image carrying body. The distance limiting member is installed capable of contacting with and separating from the image carrying body by a contact/separation enabling section.

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Tokyo, Japan

Ken Nozawa