Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Ryouhei Ohi

Yuusuke Furuichi

Osamu Saito

Yasuhide Ohkubo

Takafumi Miyazaki

Kenji Nakamura

Kaoru Tada

Kazuyoshi Kondo

Tomofumi Yoshida

Ryuji Inoue

Tetsumaru Fujita

Shintaro Yamada

Yuuji Meguro

Yoshihiro Fukuhata

Kimihiro Tanaka

Yuuki Shiga

Toru Hanashima

Hidekazu Shono

Rie Mitani

Kei Hasegawa

A discharging method used in an image forming apparatus includes discharging, with an exposure device, an exposure range of the latent image bearer, and discharging, with a discharger, an area of the latent image bearer outside the exposure range and inside a developing range in a main scanning direction. The exposure range is inside the developing range in the main scanning direction. The discharging with the exposure device and the discharging with the discharger are performed when a rotation of the latent image bearer is stopped after a toner image is transferred from the latent image bearer.

Discharging method for latent image bearer and image forming apparatus

A toner container includes a substantially tetrahedral toner-containing portion having an openable edge to discharge toner contained in the toner-containing portion, and a reference fold along which the toner container is foldable after the openable edge is opened. The reference fold extends from the openable edge and is provided on medians of two triangular faces of the toner-containing portion adjoining each other along the openable edge.

Toner container, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

A seal includes a photoreceptor contacting portion to contact a photoreceptor, and a charge roller contacting portion to contact a charge roller. The photoreceptor contacting portion removes toner on the photoreceptor, and the charge roller contacting portion removes the toner on the charge roller, when the seal is mounted along the photoreceptor.

Seal and image forming device including a seal

A process cartridge includes an image carrier unit which is equipped with an image carrier, on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developer supply unit which supplies developer to the image carrier unit. The image carrier unit and the developer supply unit are configured to be attached and detached with respect to an apparatus main body in which the units are accommodated. Electrical contacts are provided to form electrical connection between the image carrier unitand the developer supply unitin a mounted state in the apparatus main body.

Process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus having electrical connection

Growing community of inventors

Kyoto, Japan

Ryouhei Ohi