Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080199212 | Removably Mountable Frame For An Image Processsing Apparatus, A Removably Mountable Adaptor For An Image Processing Apparatus And Cartridges For Use With A Removably Frame And Removably Mountable Adaptor - A removably mountable frame comprising a driving force receiving means adapted to engage a driving force transmitting means of an image processing apparatus when the removably mountable frame is received within the image processing apparatus; and at least one frame driving force transmitting means, each frame driving force transmitting means adapted to co-axially engage corresponding cartridge driving force receiving means of a cartridge when the cartridge is engagedly received within the removably mountable frame, where the external configuration of the removably mountable frame when the cartridge is received therein is adapted to be received within the image processing apparatus and where the driving force receiving means is further adapted to transfer driving force applied thereto to each of the at least one frame driving force transmitting means. | 08-21-2008 |
20080205927 | XEROGRAPHIC CUSTOMER REPLACEMENT UNIT KIT - A customer replaceable unit kit contains a customer replaceable unit having a xerographic component customer replaceable unit already loaded with toner and/or waste bottles and one or more additional toner bottles to extend the life of the xerographic component customer replaceable unit. The customer replaceable unit kit allows the removal and replacement of new and used toner bottles with ease and no spillage. The customer replaceable unit kit contains compartments that store and seal used bottles as the additional toner bottles are removed from the customer replaceable unit kit. The depleted customer replaceable unit kit can be shipped to a predetermined destination for remanufacturing, recycling, and/or proper disposal. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205928 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the invention comprises: a main unit; and a developer cartridge detachably attached to the main unit. The developing cartridge comprises: a rotation body having a rotational axis and rotatable in a rotation direction; and one rotational arm of a first rotational arm or two rotational arms of the first rotational arm and a second rotational arm which are rotatable around the rotational axis. The main unit comprises: a swingable detecting arm; an elastic member that urges the detecting arm toward a neutral position. When the developer cartridge is attached to the main unit, the first rotational arm contacts with the detecting arm to swing in a first swing direction from the neutral position. When the rotation body rotates by a predetermined rotation amount, the second rotational arm contacts with the detecting arm in a second direction from the neutral position. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205929 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A support member for supporting a cleaning blade of an upstream side is arranged between a charging roller of an image forming unit of the upstream side and a developing sleeve of an image forming unit of a downstream side. The support member is formed using a conductive member (metallic plate), is arranged to completely go across a tangent between the charging roller and the developing sleeve, and is grounded. Even when a developing bias is applied to the developing sleeve during application of a charging bias to the charging roller, the support member can function as a shielding member to prevent noise in the charging bias, which makes it possible to reduce a distance between the image forming units. | 08-28-2008 |
20080212993 | Image Forming Device, Process Cartridge, and Developer Cartridge - A developer cartridge according to one aspect of the invention is attachable to a photoconductor unit that comprises a photoconductive drum. The developer cartridge comprises: a developing frame; a developing roller rotatably supported by the developing frame, and pressed to the photoconductive drum in a pressing direction when the developer cartridge is attached to the photoconductor cartridge; a memory unit attached to the developing frame; and a terminal electrically connected to the memory unit and disposed at an outer portion of the developing frame at a position substantially opposite to the developing roller with respect to the pressing direction. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212994 | User-Friendly Imaging Cartridge - An imaging cartridge, for use in an imaging machine, has a handle that centers a user's hand to the center of the cartridge when inserting or removing the cartridge from the imaging machine. Planar members on the cartridge are guided by slots in the imaging machine for smooth insertion of the cartridge into the imaging machine. | 09-04-2008 |
20080226337 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF DETACHING DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE FROM IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge usable with an image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge housing, and a handle disposed on one side of an upper surface of the developing cartridge housing, and having a gripping portion formed thereon to make an acute angle with the upper surface of the developing cartridge housing. The gripping portion is fixed to the developing cartridge housing by a pair of support portions, or is hinged with the developing cartridge housing. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226338 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MOUNTING/SEPARATING DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE ON/FROM IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having a developing cartridge includes a lower main body, and a developing cartridge installed in the lower main body and including a photosensitive medium. An upper main body may be separably installed on an upper side of the lower main body and includes an upper pressing member to press the developing cartridge downward. A lower pressing member, installed in the lower main body, is positioned to press the developing cartridge upward. In the case where a rotation axis of the photosensitive medium of the developing cartridge is set as a rotation center, a moment of force is applied to the developing cartridge by the upper pressing member and an opposing moment of force being is applied to the developing cartridge by the lower pressing member in the opposite direction. | 09-18-2008 |
20080240774 | Image Forming Device and Cartridge - An image forming device according to an aspect of the invention comprises: a main body; and a first cartridge capable of accommodating a developer and detachably attached to the main body. The first cartridge comprises: a rotation body rotatably provided in the first cartridge; a memory device configured to store information concerning the first cartridge; and a first terminal electrically connected to the memory device. The main body comprises: a driver configured to rotate the rotation body; and a second terminal connected to the first terminal. The first terminal is provided at a position where a rotation moment produced by rotation of the rotation body acts in the first cartridge. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240775 | Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A cartridge, an auger, and an image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge includes a housing including supporting members and a conveying member, at least a portion of the conveying member rotating in an eccentric manner, the conveying member including a main body portion; a pair of supported portions provided at both ends of the main body portion and rotatably supported by the supporting members; and a spiral blade portion that conveys developer. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body including the cartridge. The auger includes a cylindrical main body comprising a spiral blade portion that conveys developer and shaft portions having rotational centers that coincide with each other, one of the shaft portions provided at each end of the main body, a center of gravity of the main body being displaced from the rotational centers of the shaft portions. | 10-02-2008 |
20080286000 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CARTRIDGE, AND CARTRIDGE HOLDING MEMBER - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a cartridge is detachably mountable to form an image on a recording medium, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus including: a mounting portion to which the cartridge is detachably mountable; a cartridge holding member which holds the cartridge to move the cartridge to the mounting portion; a lock member which releasably locks the cartridge to the cartridge holding member; and a lock releasing member which releases the lock of the cartridge to the cartridge holding member by the lock member after the cartridge holding member moves the cartridge to the mounting portion. | 11-20-2008 |
20080304861 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device includes a driving mechanism that transmits a driving force to a process cartridge through an input portion of the process cartridge. The driving mechanism includes a drive shaft shifting between a state engaging with the input portion and a state spaced from the input portion, a first cam joined with a door to be rotated with movement of the door, the first cam including a first sliding surface, a translation member including a sliding contact portion which slidably contacts the first sliding surface, the translation member being configured to engage with the drive shaft and shift together with the drive shaft with the sliding contact portion sliding on the first sliding surface with rotation of the first cam, and a second cam including a second sliding surface which slidably contacts the sliding contact portion to face the first sliding surface through the sliding contact portion. | 12-11-2008 |
20080310881 | Process Unit, Image Formation Apparatus, and Developing Cartridge - When a developing cartridge is accommodated in an accommodating section of a process unit casing, an electrode of the developing cartridge for inputting a bias to a developer carrier enters an engagement portion of the process unit casing to be engaged with and fixed to the engagement portion. A joint member joins the electrode to a developing cartridge casing so that the developing cartridge casing is movable relative to the process unit casing in a state in which the electrode is engaged with and fixed to the engagement portion. | 12-18-2008 |
20090003875 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing frame is movable relative to the drum frame and is capable of taking a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion for receiving a first external force and a second force receiving portion for receiving a second external force, wherein the second force receiving portion is movable relative to the developing frame, wherein the second force receiving portion is placed in a stand-by position retracted from an operating position by the first force receiving portion receiving the first external force, and is movable from the stand-by position to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position, wherein a distance through which the second force receiving portion moves from the stand-by position to the operating position is larger than a distance through which the first force receiving portion is moved by the first external force. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003876 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing roller being movable relative to the drum frame between a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a force receiving member, provided movably relative to the developing frame, for receiving an external force, wherein the force receiving member is capable of taking an operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position by receiving the external force, and a stand-by position retracted from the operating position; an urging portion for urging the force receiving member from the stand-by position toward the operating position; and an engaging portion for engaging with the force receiving member to hold the force receiving member in the stand-by position against an urging force of the urging portion. | 01-01-2009 |
20090010678 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, includes: a main body frame; a process cartridge which comprises a driven gear unit which is driven to form a visible image on an image carrying body; and a bracket device which comprises a bracket main body which is coupled to the main body frame, a driving gear unit which is supported to the bracket main body, and which is to be engaged with the driven gear unit, and a guide which guides the process cartridge into a mounting position in the main body frame. | 01-08-2009 |
20090028601 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts which process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable member moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft. | 01-29-2009 |
20090041498 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus in which a tray, on which a plurality of cartridges of different sizes can be mounted, is able to be drawn out, a waste of space occurs. A cartridge ( | 02-12-2009 |
20090041499 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DEVELOPING ROLLER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing roller has a conductive shaft member, a conductive elastic layer formed around the shaft member in a thickness of 0.5 mm to 6.0 mm, and a surface layer. The elastic layer contains carbon black and silicone rubber. The carbon black is in a content of 7% to 17% by mass and has at least two peaks in its particle size number distribution. The minimum diameter peak center in the particle size number distribution is within the range of 10 nm to 40 nm. The elastic layer has density within the range of 1.01 g/cm | 02-12-2009 |
20090047036 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USED IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The invention provides a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that allow preventing abrupt variations in toner charge on a developing roller, caused by intrusion, into a nip, of toner accumulated above a regulating member of the developing device. A developing device using a one-component developer includes: a supply roller to which one-component developer is replenished, by natural motion, from a developer storing section. The bottom of the developing device is of a size that allows the supply roller to rotate. The developing device further comprises a filling member for filling a space above the regulating member, in order to prevent the toner located above the regulating member from intruding into a nip formed between the supply roller and a developing roller. | 02-19-2009 |
20090047037 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge is detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main assembly electrical contact. The cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a memory; a cartridge electrical contact electrically connectable to the main assembly electrical contact; a contact including the cartridge electrical contact; and a support supporting the contact. The support includes first and second regulators of the contact member in widthwise and thickness directions, respectively, with a gap therebetween. Also provided is an opening permitting insertion of the contact into the support that opens in one direction perpendicular to the widthwise and thickness directions. The main assembly electrical contact includes a spring movable by a stroke in the contact thickness direction, and the gap of the second regulator W | 02-19-2009 |
20090052939 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND CHARGING DEVICE AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USED IN THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The invention provides a charging device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a fax machine, a printer or the like, the charging device including: a gold-plated discharge wire for charging an image carrier such as a photoconductive member or the like; and a cleaning member, having an abrasive, for cleaning the discharge wire, with the gold plating being maintained over time satisfactorily, and provides a process cartridge having this charging device. The cleaning member has an abrasive containing alumina and/or silicon, the grain size of which ranges from #6000 to #8000. The discharge wire is a tungsten wire on which a plating film is formed by gold plating, such that the thickness of the plating film is not smaller than 1.5 μm, and the diameter of the tungsten wire is not smaller than 30 μm. | 02-26-2009 |
20090060567 | IMAGING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Downsizing can be achieved even with simple structure. An imaging cartridge includes an image carrier | 03-05-2009 |
20090060568 | Image Forming Apparatus And Process Cartridge - An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body, the process cartridge including an image carrier configured to carry a developer image thereon and a cartridge frame; a feeding path configured to feed a recording sheet to a transfer position where the developer image carried on the image carrier is transferred to the recording sheet; and a returning path configured to return the recording sheet that has passed the transfer position to the feeding path. The cartridge frame defines at least a part of the feeding path and at least a part of the returning path. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060569 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges. | 03-05-2009 |
20090067877 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE INCLUDING DEVELOPING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A developing device includes a developer bearing member and a shock absorbing member. The developer bearing member includes a developing region across from an image bearing member including an image forming region, and a center portion including an image creating region corresponding to the image forming region on the image bearing member. The developer bearing member is configured to bear the developer on the surface thereof and transport the developer to the developing region while moving the surface. The shock absorbing member is provided to each of both ends of the developer bearing member in a width direction thereof across from the image bearing member. Each of both ends of the developer bearing member is provided outside the center portion of the developer bearing member, and an outer diameter of each of both ends of the developer bearing member is substantially smaller than an outer diameter of the center portion. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067878 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus of a premix developing system, with which developer splashed by the transport member is not discharged from the device, fluctuations of the amount of developer discharged to the outside are not produced, and the output image quality is stable. This developing device is provided with a pocket part, which is installed in a depressed manner facing the outside in relation to the transport route formed by the transport member, and into and out of which part of the developer transported in the transport route flows. This pocket part is provided with a discharge port for discharging developer to outside the device when the surface of the developer flowing into the pocket part exceeds a specified height. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067879 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device for a toner powder cloud development system, which can achieve high image quality and can be made compact. The developing device has a two-component development unit, a toner carrier, and an alternating current power source. The toner carrier, which is arranged opposing a latent image carrier, has a plurality of electrodes disposed in a line in a prescribed direction on the surface thereof, and mutually insulated. The alternating current power source supplies a voltage such that an electric field across the plurality of electrodes is temporally switched. The inter-electrode electric field causes the toner being carried on the surface of the toner carrier to carry out hopping, thereby forming a toner powder cloud and carrying out development. The movement speed of the latent image carrier and the linear velocity of the toner carrier are set at approximately equivalent speeds. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067880 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member having a support, a conductive elastic layer formed on the support and a surface layer formed on the conductive elastic layer, wherein the surface layer contains a polysiloxane having an acrylic group and an oxyalkylene group. This provides a charging member to the surface of which toners and external additives used in the toners can not easily cling even because of repeated use over a long period of time and which therefore enables charging and image reproduction which are stable over a long period of time, even when used in the DC contact charging method; and further provides a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such a charging member. | 03-12-2009 |
20090074447 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A developing device and an image forming apparatus having the same include a frame having a knob part, a photosensitive body provided in front of the knob part with respect to a first direction of mounting the developing device, and a rotation guide part provided in front of the photosensitive body with respect to the first direction, and to guide a rotational motion of the developing device. When the developing device is removed from the image forming apparatus, the knob part is rotated upward. A first protrusion is provided on a side surface of the frame to determine a mounting position of the developing device. When the knob part is rotated upward, the first protrusion is rotated in the same direction as the knob part. Accordingly, the developing device has an improved mounting/removing structure adequate to compactly manufacture the image forming apparatus, and improves handling convenience in mounting and removing the developing device. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074448 | PROCESSING UNIT FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - According to an embodiment of the invention, slide rails guided by guide rails of a body frame are provided on an EPU frame. A slidable bolt is provided on a belt unit frame. When the belt unit is attached to or removed from the body frame, the bolt is fitted into an insertion port of the EPU frame and the EPU frame is connected with the belt unit frame. The slide rails of the EPU frame are used to integrally attach and remove the belt unit and the EPU to and from the body frame. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074449 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has an abutment roller which is provided at either end of a developing sleeve in a longitudinal direction and makes an SD gap (Gsd) between a photosensitive drum and a developing sleeve constant, an abutment block which is provided at either end of the photosensitive drum in a longitudinal direction and on which the abutment roller abuts, and a pressing spring which directly presses the abutment roller toward the abutment block. The stability of the SD gap (Gsd) and reduction of the driving load torque of the developing sleeve can be achieved to cope with both high image quality and durability of the image forming apparatus. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074450 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member; and a developing device including a developer bearing member, a developer containing portion, a developer supplying passage supplying the developer to the developer bearing member while feeding the developer in a direction, and a developer agitating passage feeding a mixture of the developer fed through the developer supplying passage without used for developing, and the developer used for developing, in the opposite direction. The developer supplying passage, and developer agitating passage are separated from each other except for at least both the end portions. The developer includes a toner and a carrier having a cover layer thereon, which includes a binder resin and a particulate material. The ratio of the volume average particle diameter of the particulate material to the average thickness of the resinous portion of the cover layer is greater than 1 and less than 10. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074451 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A charger of a process cartridge may be configured so that a charging wire is laid across an upper frame. An upper frame may be provided with a stopper at which one end of the charging wire is caught, and with a wire pulling member that pulls the charging wire at the other end. The wire pulling member may include a coil spring portion and an engaging portion capable of engaging with the other end of the charging wire, so that the engaging portion may rotate on a centerline of the coil spring portion. The wire pulling member may be held in the upper frame so that the centerline of the coil spring portion may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of an extended portion of the charging wire. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074452 | COUPLING PART, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge side grounding contact being provided on the projection so as to be electrically connectable with the main assembly side grounding contact | 03-19-2009 |
20090074453 | COUPLING PART, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge side grounding contact being provided on the projection so as to be electrically connectable with the main assembly side grounding contact | 03-19-2009 |
20090080933 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member has a surface layer. The surface layer contains a polysiloxane having a first unit, a second unit and a third unit each of which is represented by a specific formula. The ratio of the sum of the mole numbers of the first and second units to the sum of the mole numbers of the first to third units is in a specific range. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080934 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units, each provided with an image bearing member, detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an opening, provided in a side surface of the main assembly, for permitting insertion of the plurality of image forming units into the opening; a guide portion for guiding the plurality of image forming units toward the opening; and a projected portion, provided on the guide portion, for positioning a part of an associated image forming unit outside the opening by contacting the associated image forming unit when the associated image forming unit is inserted into the opening with an attitude different from the attitude of the associated image forming unit at the time when the associated image forming unit is disposed in the main assembly. | 03-26-2009 |
20090103943 | DEVELOPER, DEVELOPING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A two-component developer used in an image forming apparatus including a latent image bearing member and a developing device includes a magnetic carrier and a toner. The toner includes a toner base and inorganic fine particles as an external additive. A loose apparent density of the toner is not greater than 0.39 g/cm | 04-23-2009 |
20090103944 | LUBRICATING DEVICE, LUBRICANT APPLICATOR, AND PRIMING AGENT USED THEREWITH - A lubricating device operable to lubricate a moving imaging surface subsequent to removal of residual toner by a cleaning device includes a lubricant applicator, a metering blade, and a priming agent. The lubricant applicator is located downstream of the cleaning device in a direction of movement of the imaging surface, and applies lubricant to the imaging surface. The metering blade is located downstream of the lubricant applicator in the direction of movement of the imaging surface, and spreads the applied lubricant into a thin layer by directly contacting the imaging surface. The priming agent is prepared by mixing a lubricant and a powder, and provided, prior to initial operation, on the lubricant applicator for application to the imaging surface upon startup. | 04-23-2009 |
20090116869 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus detachably mounts a cartridge and forms an image on a recording material. The apparatus includes a cartridge positioning portion, a movable member movable between a first position for positioning the cartridge to the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus, and a retracted position, for permitting cartridge main-assembly mounting in a cartridge longitudinal direction. The movable member has an urging member urging the cartridge to the positioning portion when the movable member takes the first position. Also provided is a guiding member movable relative to the movable member to take a guide position guiding the cartridge when the movable member takes the retracted position and a position retracted from the guide position away from the cartridge when the movable member takes the first position. | 05-07-2009 |
20090123176 | POLYVINYL ACETAL RESIN, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention relates to a polyvinyl acetal resin having a specific repeating structural unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member using the polyvinyl acetal resin, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 05-14-2009 |
20090129812 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention includes two side-plates configured to be opposed to each other and to form a frame of a main body of the apparatus, a cartridge with an image bearing member, a moving member configured to support and move the cartridge, a connecting member configured to connect the two side-plates, and a positioning member configured to be held by the connecting member, wherein the moving member, which is movable between the two side-plates, the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the moving member when the moving member is withdrawn to the outside of the main body of the apparatus, and the cartridge is positioned by the positioning member when the moving member is moved and the cartridge is contained in the main body of the apparatus. | 05-21-2009 |
20090136256 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARTUS, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER - In an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support, a conductive layer formed on the support, an intermediate layer formed on the conductive layer, and a photosensitive layer formed on the intermediate layer, the conductive layer has been formed by using a conductive layer coating fluid which contains TiO | 05-28-2009 |
20090136257 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A development device includes a developer carrier configured to carry developer and disposed in a development case, partly exposed from an opening of the development case facing an image carrier, a developer-transporting member configured to transport the developer to the developer carrier, and a discharging member housing a discharging space including a communicating path connecting to an area where the developer carrier faces the developer-transporting member, from which air is discharged into the discharging space, and a discharging port that opens in a longitudinal direction of the developer-transporting member, from which air is discharged from the discharging space. | 05-28-2009 |
20090142092 | Image Forming Apparatus - A color multifunction printer as one example of an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges each contains a photoconductor; a support frame configured to support the cartridges arranged in tandem, the support frame being allowed to be pulled out horizontally from a casing of the apparatus to a position in which each of the cartridges is detachable from the support frame; and a plurality of exposure units mounted to the support frame, wherein each of the exposure units is disposed opposite to the corresponding photoconductor and is configured to expose the photoconductor to light, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image thereon. Each of the cartridges is configured to be detachable in such a direction that the photoconductor in the cartridge moves away from the corresponding exposure unit upon detachment. | 06-04-2009 |
20090142093 | IMAGE FORMING TONER, AND DEVELOPER AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USING THE TONER - An image forming toner, including a mother particle including a paraffin wax having a melting point of from 60 to 90° C. and a binder resin, wherein the mother particle has an endothermic peak of the paraffin wax of from 2.0 J/g to 5.5 J/g when measured by a DSC and an aspect ratio of from 0.8 to 0.90. | 06-04-2009 |
20090142094 | TONER, DEVELOPER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner including a binder resin and a colorant which produces a torque of from 1.4 to 2.0 mNm, when a cone rotor having a vertical angle of 60° and grooves on a surface thereof intrudes into a bulk of the toner at an intrusion speed of 5 mm/min for a depth of 20 mm while rotating at a rotation speed of 1 rpm. The bulk of the toner is formed by consolidating 30 g of the toner in a cylindrical container having an internal diameter of 60 mm for 60 seconds with a consolidation load of 585 g. | 06-04-2009 |
20090148180 | IMAGE BEARING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING IMAGE BEARING MEMBER - An image bearing member including an electroconductive substrate, a charge generating layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, a charge transport layer located overlying the charge generating layer, the charge transport layer comprising a charge transport material and a protective layer having a thickness of from 3 to 15 μm located overlying the charge transport layer, wherein the density of the charge transport material in the protective layer at depth of 2 μm from the surface of the charge transport layer satisfies the following relationship: | 06-11-2009 |
20090162094 | Thick Electrophotographic Imaging Member Undercoat Layers - Binders containing metal oxide nanoparticles and a co-resin of acrylic polyol resin and blocked polyisocyanate resin, and electrophotographic imaging member undercoat layer containing the binders. | 06-25-2009 |
20090169245 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a process unit including a photosensitive element; an exposure member exposing the photosensitive element to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive element; a main body casing accommodating the process unit and the exposure member; and a developer cartridge supplying developer to the process unit. The developer cartridge is attachable to and removable from the process unit. In this image forming apparatus, the exposure member is positioned between the photosensitive element and the developer cartridge so as to be attached and movable between a first position in which the photosensitive element is exposed to light by the exposure member and a second position in which the exposure member is away from the photosensitive element. Further, the developer cartridge has a pressing portion for pressing the exposure member toward the first position with the developer cartridge being attached to the main body casing. | 07-02-2009 |
20090169246 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes a main body that is arranged between a pair of supporting members and includes a developing roller. Both end portions of the developing roller are supported by the supporting members in a first direction in which the developing roller is movable toward and away from an image carrier. A groove is formed on each of the supporting members. Either one of an end portion of the developing roller and a bearing that supports the end portion is inserted into the groove. Either one of at least one of the end portions of the developing roller and at least one of the bearings is movable in the groove in a second direction that intersects the first direction. | 07-02-2009 |
20090169247 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus comprises an apparatus main body; a process unit having a drive input member; and a drive transmission member, wherein, the drive transmission member comprises: a guide core member having a distal end core portion which has a first outside diameter; and a proximal end core portion which has a second outside diameter that is larger than the first outside diameter; a reciprocating member in which the guide core member is inserted, the reciprocating member comprising: a distal end cylindrical portion which has a first inside diameter; and a proximal end cylindrical portion which has a second inside diameter that is larger than the first inside diameter; and a pressing member interposed between the guide core member and the reciprocating member for connecting the guide core member and the reciprocating member. | 07-02-2009 |
20090169248 | Photosensitive member cartridge, developer cartridge and process cartridge - A developer cartridge including a frame, a developer supplying section, a developer housing section, and an extension portion is provided. The frame includes a first side wall and a second side wall, and the first side wall and the second side wall extend substantially in a length direction. The developer supplying section supplies a developer to a photosensitive body cartridge, and the developer supplying section extends in a width direction substantially perpendicular to the length direction from the first side wall to the second side wall. The developer housing section houses the developer, and the developer housing section extends in the width direction between the first side wall and the second side wall. The developer housing section includes an open end at which the developer housing section adjoins the developer supplying section, and a closed end opposite from the open end. The closed end includes an exterior surface extending from a substantially bottommost portion of the developer housing section to a top portion of the developer housing section. The extension portion includes a first extension portion that extends away from the developer housing section in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the width direction and a second extension portion that extends away from the first extension portion in a second direction different from the first direction. | 07-02-2009 |
20090175650 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a layered-type photosensitive layer in which a charge generating layer containing a charge generating material and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transporting material are stacked, formed on a conductive supporting member made of a conductive material, wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor has high sensitive characteristics to a semiconductor laser beam having a wavelength ranging from 380 to 500 nm; the charge transporting layer of the layered-type photosensitive layer contains as the charge transporting material, a triarylamine dimer compound represented by the general formula (1): | 07-09-2009 |
20090180798 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: process units arranged along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, each process unit including a photoconductor; exposure members arranged such that the exposure members and the process units are alternately arranged along the first and second directions; a support member that supports the exposure members and that is configured to rotate around an axis located in the first direction relative to the exposure members, such that the exposure members are advanced and retracted, in association with a rotation movement of the support member, between an advanced position where the exposure members are respectively advanced into spaces defined between the adjacent process units and a retracted position where all of the plurality of exposure members retracted from the respective spaces. The axis is movable along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction in association with the rotation movement. | 07-16-2009 |
20090180799 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE HAVING CARTRIDGE POSITIONING PORTION AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS MOUNTING SAID PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a cartridge positioning portion for engaging a main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge with respect to a direction crossing the direction of the axis of the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly in a direction parallel with the axis of the photosensitive drum, and a movable member movable between a first position contacting the main assembly in the process of mounting of the cartridge to the main assembly, and a second position contacting a main assembly urging member and receiving a force in the crossing direction to contact the cartridge positioning portion to the main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge in the crossing direction, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 07-16-2009 |
20090180800 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member having excellent electrophotographic properties while being prevented from the generation of blade turn-up, a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member are provided. The surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a polymer having a specific repeating structural unit. | 07-16-2009 |
20090185821 | Electrophotographic photoreceptor, and image formihg appratus and process cartridge using same - An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate; a charge generation layer comprising a metal phthalocyanine pigment as a charge generation material, located overlying the conductive substrate; a charge transport layer comprising a charge transport material having a triarylamine structure, located overlying the charge generation layer; and a cross-linked charge transport layer formed by hardening a radical-polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure and a radical-polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure, located overlying the charge transport layer. The electrophotographic photoreceptor satisfies the following equations (1) and (2): | 07-23-2009 |
20090185822 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive layer, an intermediate layer and a photosensitive layer in this order on a substrate, in which the conductive layer contains a binder resin and conductive particles. The conductive particles are TiO | 07-23-2009 |
20090190953 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a support frame configured to support a plurality of cartridges each including a photoconductor is allowed to be pulled out from a casing of the apparatus. A plurality of light-emitting parts configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor to light are arranged in each exposure unit which is movable between an exposure position proximate to the corresponding photoconductor and a retreating position away from the photoconductor. A pair of side plates of the support frame, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a main direction in which the light-emitting parts are arranged, has guide slots formed therein, each of which is configured to guide movement of a corresponding exposure unit between its exposure and retreating positions. Each guide slot includes a positioning portion configured to position the exposure unit in position in a subordinate direction perpendicular to the main direction and to an exposure direction. | 07-30-2009 |
20090190954 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of photoconductors arranged in the apparatus is supported by a support frame which is allowed to be pulled out from a body of the apparatus; and an endless intermediate transfer belt looped around a first roller and a second roller is in contact with each of the plurality of photoconductors. The first roller is supported by the body of the apparatus and retained in a position fixed relative to the body of the apparatus, and the support frame comprises a positioning portion which is configured to support a roller shaft of the second roller or a bearing part of the roller shaft of the second roller and to retain the intermediate transfer belt in a position fixed relative to the plurality of photoconductors. | 07-30-2009 |
20090208245 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - The invention provides an image forming apparatus including a casing, a process cartridge, and a toner box. The process cartridge includes: a first housing which supports an electrostatic latent image carrier and which has a first opening and a first edge portion; and a second housing which supports a toner carrier, which is attached to the first housing so that the toner carrier confronts the electrostatic latent image carrier and the second housing is movable relative to the first housing and which has a second opening and a second edge portion. The process cartridge further includes an elastic element which blocks a gap between the first edge portion and the second edge portion and which permits relative movement between the first opening and the second opening, while ensuring toner communication between the first opening and the second opening. | 08-20-2009 |
20090208246 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member which has an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate and a cross-linked resin surface layer overlying the photosensitive layer and bears a latent electrostatic image on the surface thereof, an application device to apply a solid lubricant to the image bearing member; a charging device to charge the surface of the image bearing member, an irradiation device to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member with light to form the latent electrostatic image thereon, a development device to develop the latent electrostatic with toner to obtain a developed image, a transfer device to transfer the developed image to a recording medium, and; a cleaning device to clean the surface of the image bearing member, wherein the cross-linked resin surface layer includes a cross-linked body of trimethylol propane triacrylate and particulates including silicon and an average diameter of agglomeration areas of the particulates containing silicon on the surface of the cross-linked resin surface layer is from 0.5 to 2.2 μm. | 08-20-2009 |
20090208247 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided in which both a potential variation over a long time period and a potential variation within a short time period are suppressed. A method of producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member are also provided. In the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an intermediate layer is a layer formed by coating and drying a coating liquid for an intermediate layer, containing an acidic titania sol and an organic resin, and the acidic titania sol is an acidic sol containing anatase-type titanium oxide crystal particles having an average primary particle diameter of 3 nm or more and 9 nm or less. | 08-20-2009 |
20090214254 | PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus having an improved photosensitive body unit capable of efficiently utilizing an inner space of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body unit having a photosensitive body housing and a photosensitive body mounted in the photosensitive body housing. The photosensitive body housing includes a first developer storage part to store a developer collected from the photosensitive body, a second developer storage part to store a developer conveyed from the first developer storage part, and a light window provided so that light can be scanned to the photosensitive body. The light window is positioned between the first developer storage part and the second developer storage part. Developer paths are provided on outer side portions of the light window to connect the first developer storage part and the second developer storage part. | 08-27-2009 |
20090214255 | IMAGING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides an imaging cartridge in which a handle, which is used for mounting the imaging cartridge to either one of two image forming apparatuses in which the attachment/detachment directions of the imaging cartridge are different, does not obstruct the mounting operation of the imaging cartridge to the other image forming apparatus. The imaging cartridge can be attached to or detached from a main body of a first image forming apparatus in a first direction, while can be attached to or detached from a main body of a second image forming apparatus in a second direction that is different from the first direction by 90 degrees. The imaging cartridge includes a pair of handles gripped upon attaching or detaching the imaging cartridge to or from the main body of the first image forming apparatus in the first direction. The handle of the pair of handles, which is positioned at the far side when the imaging cartridge is attached to or detached from the main body of the second image forming apparatus, is made of a movable handle that moves so as not to hinder the attaching or detaching operation. | 08-27-2009 |
20090220272 | IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE - An image formation device, which includes: an exposure head in which a screw having an axis directed to a focus direction for a photoreceptor is fixed in the vicinity of each side of the exposure head; a housing to which the exposure head is attached; a nut attached to the screw; a fixing member that limits movement of the nut with respect to the housing; and an elastic member that elastically supports the exposure head against the housing in the vicinity of the screw in the focus direction for the photoreceptor and a sub-scanning direction, in which the exposure head is moved, by rotation of the nut, in the focus direction against an elastic force by the elastic member, and a position of the exposure head with respect to the photoreceptor is adjustable in the focus direction. | 09-03-2009 |
20090232541 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROTECTANT APPLICATOR AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus, including an image bearer; and a protectant applicator applying a protectant including zinc stearate and zinc palmitate to the surface thereof, wherein an average amount of the protectant adhering thereto is from 0.4 to 2.0 μg/cm | 09-17-2009 |
20090232542 | TONER, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A toner containing a binder resin including a unit of a polyester resin I having an amino group and another unit of a polyester resin II having an anion functional group and a coloring agent, wherein the toner is manufactured by dissolving or dispersing the polyester resin I, the polyester resin II and the coloring agent in an organic solvent to obtain an oil phase, dispersing the oil phase in an aqueous medium and removing the organic solvent followed by drying. | 09-17-2009 |
20090238601 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member is provided in which a toner, an additive for use in the toner, or the like is hard to adhere to the surface even under repeated use for a long time, and hence the charging and image output are made stable for a long time even if the charging member is used in the DC contact charging method. Also provided are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the charging member. The charging member includes a support, a conductive elastic layer formed on the support, and a surface layer formed on the conductive elastic layer, characterized in that the surface layer contains a polysiloxane having a fluoroalkyl group and an oxyalkylene group, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the charging member. | 09-24-2009 |
20090238602 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on a surface of the conductive substrate, an outermost layer of the photosensitive layer containing a crosslinked product formed from at least one charge transporting material having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OCH | 09-24-2009 |
20090238603 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, SUPPORTING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLING METHOD, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE DISASSEMBLING METHOD - A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a development frame member rotatably supporting first and second longitudinal ends of the developer carrying member; a photosensitive member frame member rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member at the first end and swingably supporting the development frame member at the first end; and a supporting member mounted to the photosensitive member frame member at the second end, the supporting member rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member at the second end and swingably supporting the development frame member at the second end. | 09-24-2009 |
20090245858 | ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE DEVELOPER, ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE IMAGE DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrostatic charge developer includes a carrier having a core material and a resin coating layer covering the surface of the core material, and a toner having a binder resin that contains a non-crystalline polyester resin and a crystalline polyester resin. The resin coating layer contains a copolymer that contains a nitrogen-containing acrylic ester or nitrogen-containing methacrylic ester and an alicyclic acrylic ester or alicyclic methacrylic ester. The non-crystalline polyester resin contains at least an alkyl succinic acid or an anhydride or lower alkyl ester thereof, or an alkenyl succinic acid or an anhydride or lower alkyl ester thereof. The crystalline polyester resin is an aliphatic polyester resin. | 10-01-2009 |
20090252527 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body; a first rotating body having a first end supported on the apparatus body rotatably about an axis so that the first rotating body is rotatable between an adjacent state and a distant state in which a second end is more distant from the apparatus body than the adjacent state; an arm having a first end rotatably supported on the apparatus body, and a second end connected to the first rotating body to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the axis; and an urging member having a first end connected to the arm, and a second end connected to the first rotating body at a position between the axis and a connecting portion to which the arm is connected, the urging member urges the arm in a direction of drawing the second end of the arm toward the axis. | 10-08-2009 |
20090252528 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a first body formed with an opening; a second body which is rotatable about an axis between an open posture and a closed posture; a swingable member which includes one end swingably supported on the second body, and another end opposite to the one end, wherein as the second body is rotated from a first angle position toward the open posture, the swingable member swings from a distant posture toward an adjacent posture in which the other end is closer to the second body than the distant posture, and wherein as the second body is rotated from the open posture toward the first angle position, the swingable member swings toward the distant posture; and a regulating mechanism which regulates a swingable range of the swingable member when the second body is rotated from a third angle position toward the closed posture. | 10-08-2009 |
20090252529 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an image bearing member, a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image bearing member and a cleaning member having a blade contacted to the image bearing member along a longitudinal direction of the image bearing member to remove the developer from the surface of the image bearing member. The cleaning member has a processed portion containing an isocyanate compound at each of longitudinal end portions of the blade, wherein a longitudinally inside end of the processed portion is disposed longitudinally inside a developer carryable region of the developing member which is capable of carrying the developer. | 10-08-2009 |
20090263156 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE DETACHABLY MOUNTABLE TO AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum and at least one process member extending between two positioning members. In particular, the process cartridge is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. The a process cartridge is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, and contains a first positioning member, a second positioning member, a rotatable photosensitive drum extending between and connected to the first positioning member and second positioning member, and at least one process member extending between and connected to the first positioning member and second positioning member such that the distance between the rotatable photosensitive member and the process member is fixed by the first positioning member and the second positioning member. In a second embodiment, a housing member is adapted to contain toner, the housing member extending between the first and second positioning members such that any toner contained within is constrained directly by the first and second positioning members. | 10-22-2009 |
20090279917 | Resilient driving force member - A resilient driving force member | 11-12-2009 |
20090285599 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including: an image carrier; a toner image forming section; a transfer section for transferring the toner image onto transfer sheet; a separation section for separating the transfer sheet from the image carrier; and a process cartridge for holding as a unit and detachably from the main unit the image carrier, the toner image forming section, the transfer section, and the separation section wherein the separation section comprises a resin guide member, which is the base for the separation section, a separation pawl for separating transfer sheet from the image carrier, a metal reference plate fixed to the resin guide member and a resin engaging member fixed to the reference plate, the engaging member engaging with the support provided in the process cartridge so that the support supports the separation section in a way that the separation section can move in the axial direction of the image carrier. | 11-19-2009 |
20090290903 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a supporting member, a movable member for moving the supporting member in a horizontal direction and upward and downward directions, an operating member for moving the movable member, and a regulating portion, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process means actable on the drum; a portion to be supported for being supported by the supporting member when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and a portion-to-be-regulated for being regulated by being contacted by the regulating portion to regulate movement of the process cartridge in the horizontal direction, when the supporting member is moved, by movement of the movable member by operation of the operating member and in the horizontal direction and the upward direction while supporting the process cartridge, wherein when the supporting member is moved in the horizontal direction and upward direction while supporting the process cartridge, the portion-to-be-supported slides on the supporting member, and the portion-to-be-regulated slides on the regulating portion. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290904 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly including an opening, an urging portion, a positioning portion and a regulating portion, the cartridge includes a portion to be urged by the urging portion so as to be moved in a crossing direction which crosses an inserting direction in which the cartridge is inserted, after the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly of the apparatus through the opening; a portion to be positioned by contacting to the positioning portion by the cartridge being moved by the urging portion in the crossing direction to position the cartridge relative to the main assembly of the apparatus; and a portion to be regulated by the regulating portion so as to prevent the cartridge from moving toward an outside through the opening in a state that portion to be positioned is in contact to the positioning portion, wherein the portion to be regulated is provided at a rear end of the cartridge and is brought, by movement of the cartridge in the crossing direction by the urging portion, to a regulating position where the portion to be regulated is behind the regulating portion with respect to the inserting direction to prevent the cartridge from moving toward the outside through the opening. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290905 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, detachably mounts a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and includes first and second positioning portions respectively positioning the drum upstream and downstream with respect to a cartridge mounting direction, a coupling engaging a drum coupling and transmitting a driving force to the drum, and a support supporting the cartridge at a first position for positioning the drum to the first and second positioning portions and at a second position spacing the drum away from the first and second positioning portions to permit cartridge mounting and dismounting. The support includes a guide engaging the cartridge, and a third positioning portion limiting cartridge rotation relative to the first and second positioning portions when the coupling transmits a driving force to the drum coupling and for positioning the cartridge lower portion at an upstream position with respect to the mounting direction. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290906 | Cartridges for Reprographics Devices - A removable cartridge for a reprographics device, such as a printer, is described. The removable cartridge comprises a signature scanning unit for use in generating a signature based upon an intrinsic characteristic of an article. By providing a signature scanning unit in a replaceable cartridge, few or no modifications to the existing designs of various reprographics devices are needed. Additionally, the installation of the signature scanning unit in a reprographics device is made as easy as replacing a standard removable cartridge, such as, for example, an inkjet or toner cartridge. The addition of authorisation/identification functionality to various conventional reprographics devices can also be made by a non-technical user using various embodiments of the invention. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290907 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING MEMBER, PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To provide an electrophotographic developing member which can both be kept from the sticking of a developer and be kept from being deformed by its contacting members, and can form stable images over a long period of time. An electrophotographic developing member characterized in that its surface layer satisfies the following expressions (1) to (3) where the average crosslinking density in each region of up to 100 nm in depth, from 100 nm to 200 nm in depth and from 200 nm to 300 nm in depth from the surface of the surface layer is represented by C | 11-26-2009 |
20090290908 | COUPLING PART, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge side grounding contact being provided on the projection so as to be electrically connectable with the main assembly side grounding contact | 11-26-2009 |
20090297211 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit supporting the drum, a developing unit supporting a developing roller and swingably coupled with the drum unit, drum and developing roller rotating force receiving portions, first and second positionable portions positioned at first and second main assembly side positioning portions by contacting by an urging force of first and second main assembly side urging members, a developing device spacing force receiving portion, first and second cartridge side rotation regulating portions for limiting rotation of the drum unit by abutting first and second main assembly side rotation regulating portions when the drum and developing roller rotating force receiving portions receive the rotating forces or when the developing device spacing force receiving portion receives the urging force from the main assembly. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297212 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus in which a charging roller is separated from a photosensitive drum by a predetermined distance and in which the separation between the charging roller and the photosensitive drum is released at the time of use without involving an increase in the burden on the user and erroneous releasing of the separation by user is prevented prior to use. The process cartridge, which is detachably mountable to the apparatus main body having an acting portion, includes a process cartridge frame, a locking portion locked with the frame to separate the charging roller from the photosensitive drum, a separation holding member having an acted portion which penetrates the frame and on which the acting portion can act, and a protruding portion provided on the frame and protruding beyond the acted portion at the position where the separation holding member is locked with the frame. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297213 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge is configured to perform a contact and separation operation between a developing roller and a photosensitive drum. The process cartridge is provided with a toner scattering prevention sheet. The process cartridge includes a container a part of which is provided with a contact portion for regulating a spacing range between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297214 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a drum unit supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive member and having a process cartridge positioning portion which is engageable with a main assembly positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; a developing unit supporting a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer, wherein the developing unit is movable relative to the drum unit between a contacting position in which the developing roller is contacted to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a spaced position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a space maintaining member movable between an engaging position for maintaining the developing unit in the spaced position and a releasing position for permitting the developing unit to move to the contacting position, wherein the space maintaining member is moved to the releasing position by being abutted by the main assembly positioning portion when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297215 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a drum unit containing said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing unit swingably supported by said drum unit and containing said developing roller; an urging member for urging said drum unit and said developing unit to each other so as to press said developing roller against said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a space keeping member for keeping space between said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and said developing roller by engaging with said developing unit and limiting swing of said developing unit against an urging force of said urging member, wherein said space keeping member is movable by being contacted by the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a swing plane perpendicular to an axis of the swing, when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction of an axis of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297216 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes a first guided portion provided on a photosensitive member unit at a downstream side of a mounting direction of the process cartridge, a second guided portion provided along the mounting direction, and a third guided portion provided on a developing unit of the process cartridge along the mounting direction. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297217 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USING THE SAME - The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor having at least a photosensitive layer and a surface layer provided at a surface of the photosensitive layer. The surface layer contains a first layer which is provided at the photosensitive layer side and has a refractive index of n1 and a second layer which is provided at the opposite side of the first layer to the photosensitive layer and has a refractive index of n2. The refractive index of the photosensitive layer, the refractive index of the first layer, the refractive index of the second layer, the film thickness of the first layer, an integer of 0 or more, and the wavelength of light with which the surface of the photoreceptor is irradiated when an electrostatic latent image is formed satisfy specific relationships. | 12-03-2009 |
20090297218 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a charge generation layer containing a phenanthrene compound, a phenanthroline compound or an acenaphthene compound. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 12-03-2009 |
20090304412 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; process cartridges, each including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller; a body frame including a abutment portions and projecting portions; fixing members configured to rotate to a locked state where the fixing members bring the process cartridges into abutment with the abutment portions and to an unlocked state where the fixing members are spaced apart from the process cartridges; spacing members which move to a spacing position where the developing rollers are spaced apart from the photosensitive rollers and a permissive position where the developing rollers are in contact with the developing rollers; and a translation member reciprocating in a straight line for displacing the fixing members between the locked state and the unlocked state and moving the spacing members between the spacing position and the permissive position. | 12-10-2009 |
20090317129 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which includes a rotating force applying portion. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a first frame unit supporting the drum, a second frame unit supporting the roller and swingably connected with the first frame unit, a coupling, mounted to the drum, for receiving a rotating force for rotating the drum from the rotating force applying portion when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly,first, second and third cartridge side portions to be positioned engageable respectively with first, second and third main assembly side positioning portions provided in the main assembly to regulate movement of the first frame unit in a longitudinal direction of the drum or to position the drum in a radial direction when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and first unit side and drum side regulating portions. | 12-24-2009 |
20090324280 | Tandem Type Photosensitive Unit and Image Forming Apparatus - A tandem type photosensitive unit includes a plurality of drum retaining units arrayed in line in an arraying direction, and a pair of side plates arranged on both sides of the drum retaining units in an axial direction perpendicular to the arraying direction and collectively opposed to the drum retaining units. Each drum retaining unit retains a photosensitive drum having an axis which extends in the axial direction. At least one of the side plates is provided to be slidable in the axial direction. | 12-31-2009 |
20090324281 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR - An electrophotographic photoreceptor is provided that contains a conductive substrate, an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer, wherein the under coat layer contains a binder resin and multiple inorganic pigments each having different average primary particle diameters in a total amount of from 75 to 86% by weight, the charge generation layer contains a binder resin and a titanyl phthalocyanine pigment having a specific X-ray diffraction spectrum in an amount of from 70 to 85% by weight, the charge transport layer comprises a specific distyryl compound, and the following formulae (2-1) to (2-3) are satisfied: | 12-31-2009 |
20090324282 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member having high durability and hardly causing sensitivity decrease even if short wavelength light, particularly light having a wavelength of 380 to 450 nm is used as exposure light, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The present invention includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a support and a photosensitive layer which is provided on the support and contains a charge generation material and a charge transport material, characterized in that the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid polyester resin with a weight average molecular weight of 80,000 or more having a specific repeating structural unit, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 12-31-2009 |
20100021200 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE PROVIDING ACCURATE POSITIONING BETWEEN EXPOSURE UNIT AND PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY - An image forming device capable of providing precise positional relationship between an exposure unit and a photosensitive body. The exposure unit having an exposure head elongated in a longitudinal direction and having light emitting sections arrayed in the longitudinal direction. The light elements emit light in an optical axis direction. A frame supports the photosensitive body. A positioning protrusion protrudes in the optical axis direction from one of the frame and the exposure unit. A remaining one of the frame and the exposure unit is formed with a positioning part engageable with the positioning protrusion. A biasing unit provides a biasing force that ensures engagement between the positioning protrusion and the positioning part. | 01-28-2010 |
20100028043 | Tandem Type Photosensitive Unit and Image Forming Apparatus - A tandem type photosensitive unit includes: a plurality of photosensitive drums arranged in parallel with one another; a first structure member having a side surface extending in an arrangement direction of the photosensitive drums as viewed from an axial direction of the photosensitive drums for collectively retaining the plurality of photosensitive drums and relatively positioning the plurality of photosensitive drums; and a second structure member having a side surface extending in the arrangement direction as viewed from the axial direction for collectively retaining developer cartridges provided correspondingly to the photosensitive drums respectively. The first structure member is fixed to the second structure member on one side in the arrangement direction, and mounted on the second structure member with a clearance on the other side in the arrangement direction. | 02-04-2010 |
20100034556 | MODULE WITH LIFTING MECHANISM - This invention provides a xerographic marking module that has a built-in lifting mechanism that is useful in installing a new module in a xerographic marking system. The lifting mechanism forms the bottom portion of the marking module and comprises an upper cradle to hold the remaining module portion, a lower plate that constitutes the bottom of the module when in a collapsed position, and a movable linkage that connects the cradle to the lower plate. When in installation mode, the linkage creates a vertical force which will upwardly push the cradle (holding the module) away from the lower plate into an installation elevation. After slides in the module and in the color marking system are mated, the lifting mechanism is collapsed and the module pushed into the color marking system or apparatus. | 02-11-2010 |
20100046983 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that includes a main body housing formed with an opening, a main body frame coupled to the main body housing, an image forming cartridge mounted to the main body frame via the opening, and a cartridge supporting member which includes a supporting member main body formed integrally with the main body frame, and a supporting part formed in the supporting main body to elastically support the image forming cartridge with respect to the main body frame, so that the image forming cartridge can be mounted to the main body frame as the supporting member main body elastically moves to a cutting part formed in a part of the main body frame adjacent to the supporting member main body when the supporting part is pressed by the image forming cartridge. | 02-25-2010 |
20100054796 | CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a main assembly electrical contact, includes a roller including an electroconductive shaft, the roller being rotatable with the shaft; and a supporting member rotatably supporting the shaft and provided with a hole portion for exposing a part of a surface of a longitudinal end of the shaft to directly contact the part to the main assembly electrical contact and an end surface positioning portion for determining a position of the end surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of the shaft by contacting another part of the end surface. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054797 | DRUM CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A drum cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which apparatus including a main assembly, and a supporting member, swingably mounted to the main assembly, for supporting a plurality of developing devices and for bring the developing devices sequentially to a developing position by rotation thereof, the apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member drum; and a detachable spacer member for moving the supporting member away from the electrophotographic photosensitive member drum by contacting to the supporting member when the drum cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054798 | Process Cartridges in Image Forming Device - An image forming device includes a process frame, and a process cartridge. The process cartridge is detachably insertable in the process frame in an inserting direction. The process cartridge includes a shutter unit. The shutter unit is pivotally movably supported to the cartridge body. The shutter unit includes an operating section and a shutter section. The operating section is abuttable on the process frame during insertion of the process cartridge into the process frame, and is pivotally movable in accordance with an insertion of the process cartridge into the process frame in the inserting direction. The shutter section is pivotally movable, in interlocking relation with the pivotal movement of the operating section, between a covering position covering a part of the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum and an exposing position exposing the part of the outer peripheral surface to an atmosphere in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operating section. | 03-04-2010 |
20100061759 | CARRIER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY AND TWO-COMPONENT DEVELOPER - A carrier for electrophotographic developer, including a core material; and a layer comprising a binder resin, located overlying the core material, wherein the binder resin includes a segment including one or more polymerizable vinyl monomers as a structural unit; and another segment including a partial cleavage structure of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and/or another partial cleavage structure of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquloxane as a structural unit. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061760 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A process cartridge includes: a frame having an opening that is long in a predetermined direction; a photosensitive drum held in the frame, a portion of a surface of the photosensitive drum being opposite to the opening of the frame, the photosensitive drum extending along a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a protection member that has: a linear body portion extending in the longitudinal direction; and a support portion extending from an end of the linear body portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the support portion is supported on the frame so as to rotate about an axis that extends along the longitudinal direction, and the linear body portion is movable between a protecting position and a retreat position. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061761 | Universal Imaging Catridge System - Provided is an imaging cartridge having a universal imaging cartridge chip capable of activating a plurality of types of imaging machines. In several embodiments, the universal imaging cartridge has a handle in the center of an end of the cartridge, a hopper torque tab receptacle that receives a torque tab located on the hopper, a microswitch actuating tab that actuates a microswitch located inside the imaging cartridge receiving cavity of an imaging machine, and a blocking structure that prevents the placement of a second electronic device both on a wall of the imaging cartridge and in overlying relation to a first electronic device. | 03-11-2010 |
20100067945 | CLEANING DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE PROVIDED THEREWITH - The present invention relates to a cleaning device that allows the obtaining of a high level of removal performance while reducing wear between a plate-shaped elastic member and a cleaning-targeted surface moving member, while also being able to stably maintain the contact status between the surface moving member and the plate-shaped elastic member, and an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge provided therewith. A plate holder retains a blade via warping restriction means, a bearing and a support shaft engage at an engaging portion with a degree of freedom due to the presence of a gap therebetween, the plate holder is able to be displaced relative to a frame of the device body, the support shaft is arranged on the device body in the direction of surface movement of a photosensitive element downstream a normal line of the surface of the photosensitive element at a portion contacted by the blade, and a foreign object infiltration prevention member is provided on the bearing or the support shaft of the engaging portion to prevent entry of foreign objects into the gap. | 03-18-2010 |
20100074648 | IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE HAVING DETACHABLE PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming device capable of attaching and detaching a process cartridge to and from a frame without mechanical interference of the process cartridge with sheet feed unit and an LED array and without any movement of the LED array, | 03-25-2010 |
20100080609 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - The invention provides an image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a cleaning unit; the electrophotographic photoreceptor having an outermost layer containing a charge transporting material and at least one curable resin selected from the group consisting of a phenol resin, an epoxy resin and a melamine resin, and the toner having an ammonium ion concentration as determined by ion chromatography of from about 50 ppm to about 300 ppm. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080610 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE THAT INCLUDES MEMBER TO BE PRESSED BY IMAGE-BEARING-MEMBER CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge includes an image bearing member cartridge and a developing cartridge detachably installed in the image bearing member cartridge. The image bearing member cartridge has a pair of first and second side plates, a latent image bearing member, and a pressure member. The developing cartridge has a pair of third and fourth side plates and a pair of first and second light guides fixed at the third and fourth side plates, respectively. The pressure member presses side surfaces of the first and the second light guides, thereby urging the developing agent bearing member toward the latent image bearing member. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080611 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, DEVELOPING ROLLER PRODUCTION METHOD, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A developing roller is provided which supplies a toner to a photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member. The developing roller has a surface layer which includes carbon black and a polyurethane resin. The polyurethane resin has a specific structure. The surface layer has a specific ester group concentration and a specific urethane group concentration. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080612 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of detachable unit components and a frame assembly to hold the detachable unit components in predetermined positions in the image forming apparatus. The frame assembly includes a pair of metal frames and a pair of resin frames, each of which is attached to one of the metal frames. Each of the metal frames includes a first positioning structure, which corresponds to an original point of the metal frame, a first fixing structure, a second positioning structure, wherein each of the resin frames includes, a first positioning structure, which corresponds to an original point of the resin frame, a fixing structure, a second positioning structure, and a plurality of pressing pieces, by which the resin frame is pressed against one of the metal frame. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080613 | Method for Attaching Charging Wire, Method for Manufacturing Process Cartridge, and Process Cartridge - The disclosed is a method for attaching a charging wire. At first, a first end of a charging wire is locked to a wire locking portion of a process frame, and portion of a torsion spring shaped wire electrode is engaged with a second end of the charging wire. Thereafter, a coil portion of the wire electrode is attached to a coil support portion of the process frame in a state in which a tension less than a set value is applied to the charging wire. Thereafter, a second spring leg portion of the wire electrode is moved to a fixed position fixed to an electrode support portion of the process frame in a direction in which a deformation amount of the wire electrode increases, without exceeding the fixed position in the first direction. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080614 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus in the state that cartridge is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus, the apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly when a cartridge is mountable thereto and dismountable from the cartridge supporting member; a first opening through which the cartridge supporting member passes between the inside position and the outside position; a first openable member for openably closing the first opening; a second opening continuing from the first opening and provided above the first opening, the second opening being effective to permit the cartridge to be removed from the cartridge supporting member in the state that cartridge supporting member takes the outside position and being effective to permit the supporting member to support the cartridge; a second openable member for openably closing the second opening, the second openable member being effective to prevent external light from entering the main assembly when the second openable member closes the second opening; and an interrelating means for moving the second openable member to the opening position in interrelation with movement of the supporting member from the inside position to the outside position. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080615 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on the drum, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used by the developing roller to develop the electrostatic latent image, and a developing roller shutter movable between a protecting position for covering a part of a peripheral surface of the developing roller and a retracted position, retracted from the protecting position, for exposure the part of the peripheral surface of the developing roller, wherein the developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus; a cartridge supporting member movable, while detachably mounting the developing cartridge, between an inside position which is inside of the main assembly of the apparatus to Mount the developing cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside position which is outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to remove the developing cartridge from the main assembly of the apparatus; a force receiving portion, provided on the developing cartridge, for receiving a force for moving the developing roller shutter from the protecting position to the retracted position; and a force applying portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein when the cartridge supporting member is moved from the outside position to the inside position, the force receiving portion contacts to the force applying portion to move the cartridge supporting member from the outside position to the inside position, in interrelation with which the force receiving portion contacted to the force applying portion receives the force from the force applying portion, thus moving the developing roller shutter from the protecting position to the retracted position. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080616 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable photosensitive member; an exposure member, which includes a plurality of blinking units arranged in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and which exposes the photosensitive member; a pair of spacing members that holds a space between the photosensitive member and the exposure member by being in contact with the photosensitive member; and a pair of cleaning members that slidably contacts with the photosensitive member to remove extraneous matter from the photosensitive member. The pair of spacing members and the pair of cleaning members are disposed at corresponding positions in the axial direction of the photosensitive member. | 04-01-2010 |
20100086328 | ORGANIC PHOTORECEPTOR, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF ORGANIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An organic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer, an electric conductive support, and a protective layer is disclosed, in which the protective layer comprises a composition produced by reacting metal oxide particles having a reactive organic group and an anti-oxidant. A production method of the same, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge using the same are also disclosed. | 04-08-2010 |
20100092208 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charge transport layer serving as a surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a charge transporting material, polyester resin A containing a siloxane moiety and at least one of polyester resin C and polycarbonate resin D. The content of a siloxane moiety in polyester resin A is not less than 10% by mass and not more than 40% by mass relative to the total mass of polyester resin A. The charge transport layer has a matrix-domain structure having a matrix formed of the charge transporting material and at least one of polyester resin C and polycarbonate resin D and a domain formed of polyester resin A in the matrix. | 04-15-2010 |
20100092209 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charge transport layer serving as a surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a polyester resin having a repeating structural unit represented by the following formula (1) and a repeating structural unit represented by the following formula (2), as a binder resin; the content of a siloxane moiety of the polyester resin is not less than 5% by mass and not more than 30% by mass relative to the total mass of the polyester resin; and the content of the polyester resin in the charge transport layer is not less than 60% by mass relative to the total mass of the whole binder resin in the charge transport layer. | 04-15-2010 |
20100098457 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge, a main assembly including a positioner positioning the cartridge and an urger urging the cartridge to the positioner, a mover supporting the cartridge and movable between a pulled out position outside of the main assembly and an inside position inside the main assembly, and a gripper mounted to the mover and movable between a reference position and an outward position located outwardly with respect to the pull out direction of the mover. When the mover is at the inside position, the cartridge is positioned to the positioner by the urger to be placed in a positioning state when the gripper is at the reference position and the positioning state of the cartridge is released by moving the gripper from the reference position to the outward position. | 04-22-2010 |
20100098458 | ORGANIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - In the present invention, an objective is to provide an organic photoreceptor exhibiting extremely high moire resistance, but also to provide an organic photoreceptor capable of acquiring a high quality image to realize no generation of image defects such as black spots or the like. Also disclosed is an organic photoreceptor possessing a conductive support and layered thereon, an intermediate layer, a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer in this order, wherein the intermediate layer possesses porous silica in which metal oxide is encapsulated. | 04-22-2010 |
20100104319 | DIRECT IMAGE-RECORDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH - A direct image-recording device in which a predetermined gap set between an image carrier and a hole forming member can be maintained, and an image forming apparatus provided with the direct image-recording device. In the direct image-recording device including: housing that accommodates an agent; an agent carrier that is rotatably supported by the housing and faces outside from an opening formed in the housing; a sheet-like hole forming member having a plurality of holes formed therein and facing the agent carrier at a predetermined distance therefrom; and a plurality of electrodes, by which the agent flies, provided at the hole forming member correspondingly to each of the plurality of holes and form an electric field causing the agent to fly selectively from the agent carrier toward the hole, a positioning member is provided at the housing so as to cover the agent carrier, the positioning member being configured to hold the hole forming member along the axial direction of the agent carrier by a side wall of the positioning member that has open portions formed in locations at least opposing the plurality of holes formed in the hole forming member, and configured to position the holes relative to the agent carrier so that the relative positions of the agent carrier and the holes are in a predetermined positional relationship. | 04-29-2010 |
20100119254 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus including: a cartridge supporting member supporting a plurality of cartridges and moving between an inside position in the main body and a mounting and detaching position for mounting and detaching the cartridges; an engaging portion provided to one of the supporting member and the main body at a position corresponding to the mounting and detaching position for at least one cartridge; and a pressure member provided to the other and elastically urged to disengageably engage with the engaging portion, wherein when the supporting member is moved from the inside position to the mounting and detaching position, a load required for movement of the supporting member at the mounting and detaching position is made larger than a load required for the movement at other positions than the mounting and detaching position, by engagement of the pressure member with the engaging portion. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119255 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND TONER FOR USE IN THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including an image bearer; a charging device charging the image bearer; a light irradiating device irradiating the charged image bearer with light to form an electrostatic image; a developing device developing the electrostatic image with a developer including a toner to form a toner image on the image bearer; a transfer device transferring the toner image; and a cleaning device cleaning the image bearer, wherein the volume average particle diameter of the toner is greater than 5.0 μm and less than 5.5 μm, the content of toner particles having a particle diameter of not greater than 4.0 μm is not higher than 20% by number, the ratio of the first shape factor SF-1 to the second shape factor SF-2 is from 1.00 to 1.15, and the content of toner particles having a SF-2 of not less than 115 is not less than 67.8% by number | 05-13-2010 |
20100129111 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE HAVING CHARGER AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE PROVIDED WITH THE PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming device includes a process cartridge, a wall section, and a flow restrictor. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a frame. The charger is disposed spaced away from the photosensitive drum for charging the photosensitive drum. The frame is formed with a first opening at a position opposite to the photosensitive drum with respect to the charger. The frame is also formed with a first vent hole for ventilation of a space defined by the frame. The first vent hole is positioned upstream of the first opening and downstream of the image transfer position of the photosensitive drum in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum. The wall section is positioned in direct confrontation with the first opening. The flow restrictor restricts air flow and is provided between the frame and the wall section. | 05-27-2010 |
20100129112 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE THEREFOR USING THE PHOTORECEPTOR - An electrophotographic photoreceptor, including a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer on an electroconductive substrate, wherein the charge generation layer includes titanylphthalocyanine and a binder resin which is a crosslinked material of a resin comprising a polyvinylbutyral site having the following formula (1) and an isocyanate compound having the following formula (2): | 05-27-2010 |
20100129113 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an endless transfer member and a plurality of image forming units. The endless transfer member is arranged at a transverse position in the image forming apparatus, and has a circulatory rotating surface declining at a predetermined angle to a horizontal plane. Each of the plurality of image forming units includes a first surface facing the endless transfer member and a second surface opposite to the first surface and angled in a similar direction to the endless transfer member. The plurality of image forming units perform an image forming operation and are arranged next to one another facing the endless transfer member such that, in any two adjacent image forming units of the plurality of image forming units, one of the any two adjacent image forming units has a portion overhanging the other one of the any two adjacent image forming units. | 05-27-2010 |
20100135691 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body to which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted adjacently in one direction for forming a color image on a recording medium, wherein each of the plurality of cartridges has a gripping portion disposed on a rear end of the corresponding cartridge in a mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus main body, the gripping portion being protruding from the rear end to an upstream side, wherein when the corresponding cartridge is mounted to and detached from the apparatus main body, a user grips the gripping portion, and wherein in a state in which the plurality of cartridges are mounted to the apparatus main body, at least one gripping portion is disposed out of line with a gripping portion of an adjacent cartridge in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135692 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mountable in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, a first outer side plate which is provided on one side of the photosensitive drums in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a second outer side plate which is provided on the other side of the photosensitive drums in the axial direction, and opposes the first outer side plate with the photosensitive drums interposed therebetween, and a plurality of input parts which are provided on ends of the photosensitive drums at the one side, respectively. An end face of each of the input parts being provided inward with respect to the outer surface of the first outer side plate. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135693 | Image Forming Apparatus and Photosensitive Unit - An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include an image forming apparatus body and a photosensitive unit detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus body. The photosensitive unit includes: a frame; photosensitive bodies supported by the frame; cartridges including a developer carrier and detachably mountable to the frame; and a pressing portion provided on the frame for pressing the cartridges to direct the developer carrier toward the corresponding photosensitive body. Each cartridge can shift in the frame to a first attitude pressed by the pressing portion, and a second attitude released from the press of the pressing portion and detachable from the frame. The image forming apparatus body is provided with an abutment portion abutting the cartridge in the second attitude thereby bringing the cartridge into the first attitude when the photosensitive unit is mounted to the image forming apparatus body. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135694 | Photosensitive Unit and Image Forming Apparatus - A photosensitive unit is provided. The photosensitive unit includes a frame, plural photosensitive drums which are held by the frame, plural cartridges detachably mounted in the frame. Each cartridge includes a developing roller for supplying developer to the corresponding photosensitive drum, a supply roller, and a casing having a first casing portion supporting the developing roller and the supply roller and including a first wall, and a second casing portion storing developer and including a second wall connected to the first wall through a first stepped portion. The frame includes plural beam members which are provided between a pair of side parts. Each beam member includes a third wall which opposes the first wall with a distance therebetween, and a fourth wall which opposes the second wall with a distance therebetween in a state where a cartridge is mounted in the frame. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135695 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member is provided which can inhibit defective images due to poor charging and adhering substances from occurring even after being repeatedly used for a long time, and can inhibit deformation and defective images due to the C set, caused by a change in rotational speed accompanying such deformation even after being left standing in a stopping state for a long time. The charging member includes a conductive support and a surface layer. The surface layer includes a binder and resin particles dispersed in the binder, each resin particle having a depressed portion on its surface. Protrusions resulting from the resin particles are formed on the surface of the surface layer. The protrusions each have a depressed portion resulting from the depressed portion of the resin particle, and the surface of the resin particle is covered with the binder. | 06-03-2010 |
20100142992 | PHOTORECEPTOR UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A photoreceptor unit is inserted into an image forming apparatus in the predetermined insertion direction, and includes a photoreceptor, a light-shielding sheet covering a part of the photoreceptor on the front side in the insertion direction; a rigid cover made of resin and provided adjacent to the light-shielding sheet on the rear side in the insertion direction; and a cushioning member interposed between the rigid cover and the photoreceptor. The rigid cover has a length that allows the photoreceptor unit to be gripped at the rigid cover. The light-shielding sheet, the rigid cover and the cushioning member can be removed together from the photoreceptor. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142993 | Process Cartridge and Developing Cartridge - A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge that has a photosensitive drum and a developing cartridge that is detachably mounted on the photosensitive cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, and a transmission gear. The developing gear supplies toner to the photosensitive drum. The input gear includes a contact portion that is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force and a gear portion. The input gear rotates about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The gear portion has a pitch circle defined by being meshingly engaged with the transmission gear. The pitch circle of the gear portion is arranged to overlap with the contact portion in the axial direction of the input gear. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142994 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor unit having a photoreceptor drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum; a developing unit supporting shaft for rotatably supporting the developing unit; a pressing lever for pushing and rotating the developing unit to press the developing unit against the photoreceptor unit; a rotatable pressing lever shaft for supporting the pressing lever; and a holding member for holding the developing unit supporting shaft and the pressing lever shaft to maintain a fixed distance between the developing unit supporting shaft and the pressing lever shaft. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142995 | Process Cartridge and Developing Cartridge - A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge and a developing cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, a transmission gear, and a supporting cover. The input gear includes a contact portion, an outer circumferential wall, and a gear portion. The contact portion is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force. The outer circumferential wall and the gear portion rotate about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The outer circumferential wall has a curved surface whose center of radius of a curvature is coincident with the rotational axis. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The supporting cover covers the curved surface of the outer circumferential wall to rotatably support the outer circumferential wall. | 06-10-2010 |
20100150606 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMAGE BEARING MEMBER, IMAGE BEARING MEMBER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A method of manufacturing an image bearing member including forming a charge generation layer overlying an electroconductive substrate, forming a charge transport layer overlying the charge generation layer, the charge transport layer including a charge transport material having a molecular weight of from 600 to 900 and a binder resin, and forming a protection layer overlying the charge transport layer by applying a liquid application containing a polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure, a polymerizable compound having no charge transport structure, a filler, a polycarboxylic acid compound, and cyclopentanone and curing the polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure, and the polymerizable compound having no charge transport structure. | 06-17-2010 |
20100158561 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE BODY, METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONDUCTIVE BASE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic photoreceptor having high performance that hardly generates image defects such as black spots, color spots, and interference fringes is provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor includes an undercoat layer containing metal oxide particles and a binder resin on an electroconductive substrate having a maximum height surface roughness Rz in the range of 0.8≦Rz≦2 μm, and a photosensitive layer disposed on the undercoat layer, wherein the metal oxide particles have a volume average particle diameter of 0.1 μm or less and a 90% cumulative particle diameter of 0.3 μm or less which are measured by a dynamic light-scattering method in a liquid containing the undercoat layer dispersed in a solvent mixture of methanol and 1-propanol at a weight ratio of 7:3. | 06-24-2010 |
20100158562 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a light scanning unit to irradiate light corresponding to image information, to the photoconductor so as to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing unit arranged adjacent to an optical path of the light emitted from the light scanning unit and serving to feed developer to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed so as to form a visible image. | 06-24-2010 |
20100158563 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus. | 06-24-2010 |
20100158564 | DEVELOPING ROLLER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The invention relates to a developing roller capable of suppressing scattering of toner during a developing process and providing a further higher-quality electrophotographic image. The developing roller has a mandrel, an elastic layer provided on the circumference of the mandrel, and a surface layer provided on the circumference of the elastic layer. The surface layer contains a urethane resin serving as a binder and urethane resin particles dispersed in the binder, for forming convex portions on the surface of the surface layer. The surface of the urethane resin particle is partly covered with fine inorganic particles containing at least one element selected from silicon, titanium and aluminum and the urethane resin particles are in direct contact with the binder at the surface onto which the fine inorganic particles are not attached. | 06-24-2010 |
20100166453 | Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Cartridge - An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit which holds plural photosensitive drums, a developing cartridge which is provided for each photosensitive drum, a translation member which is provided to be movable linearly, and a movable member for each developing cartridge. The movable member includes a main body rotatably supported by the supporting shaft at one end portion thereof, an input portion provided at the other end portion thereof and to which a pressing force is input by the translation member with the linear movement thereof; an abutting portion which is provided between the one and other end portions of the main body, and abuts the drum unit while the movable member rotates about the supporting shaft; and an operating portion which applies to the supporting shaft a force for moving the developing cartridge as the movable member is rotated with the middle portion as a fulcrum. | 07-01-2010 |
20100166454 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION, PROCESS CARTRIDGE - Concerned with a charging member in the conductive surface layer of which the conductive particles are so kept from agglomerating as to make charging performance not easily change even where the surface layer expands and contracts repeatedly in various environments. The charging member is a charging member having a conductive substrate and formed on the substrate a conductive elastic layer and a conductive surface layer. The elastic layer contains a polymer having a unit coming from ethylene oxide, and the surface layer contains a binder resin and graphitized particles. The binder resin contains a resin having in the molecule a urethane linkage or a siloxane linkage, or a urethane linkage and a siloxane linkage, and the graphitized particles have a graphite (002) plane lattice spacing of from 0.3362 nm or more to 0.3449 nm or less. | 07-01-2010 |
20100172670 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE THEREFOR USING THE ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR - An electrophotographic photoreceptor, including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer, located overlying the electroconductive substrate; and an outermost layer comprising a convexity, wherein each of the outermost layer and the convexity includes a crosslinked body including a structural unit having a same charge transportable structure, and wherein the number of convexity having a height not less than ½×RzJIS is from 30 to 300 in a measurement length of 12 mm, wherein RzJIS is an average of ten-point mean roughness specified in JIS B0601 of 2001 and measured at least 4 random positions in an area the outermost layer is formed on, and wherein the height of the convexity is a distance from the deepest valley to a top of the convexity in the measurement length of 12 mm. | 07-08-2010 |
20100178073 | PROTECTIVE LAYER FORMING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A protective layer forming device including: a protective agent block containing a metal soap, a protective agent supplying unit configured to supply a protective agent onto a photoconductor, and a pressing unit configured to press the protective agent supplying unit against the protective agent block, wherein the protective agent supplying unit is rotated while being pressed against the protective agent block by the pressing unit, so that the protective agent block is micronized to make the protective agent in the form of fine powder, and the protective agent in the form of fine powder is supplied onto the photoconductor, thereby forming a protective layer on the photoconductor, and wherein the protective agent in the form of fine powder has a particle diameter of 200 μm or smaller and contains protective agent particles of 20 μm to 200 μm in an amount of 1% by mass to 70% by mass. | 07-15-2010 |
20100178074 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOCONDUCTOR, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - To provide an electrophotographic photoconductor including: a substrate; a charge generating layer; and a charge transporting layer, the charge generating layer and the charge transporting layer being disposed over the substrate, wherein the charge transporting layer contains a charge transporting material represented by General Formula (I) below and an additive represented by General Formula (II) below: | 07-15-2010 |
20100183329 | TANDEM PHOTOSENSITIVE-MEMBER UNIT HAVING GRIP PART - An image-forming device includes a main body and a tandem photosensitive-member unit. The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a unit frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a front-side grip part, and a rear-side grip. The unit frame is configured to be slidably installed to and removed from the main body in a predetermined direction. The unit frame has a leading side and a trailing side with respect to the predetermined direction. The plurality of photosensitive members is provided corresponding to a plurality of colors and is supported by the unit frame. The front-side grip part is provided at the leading side of the unit frame. The rear-side grip part is provided at the trailing side of the unit frame. | 07-22-2010 |
20100196047 | Driving-Transmitter and Process Cartridge - A driving-force transmitter and a process cartridge. The process cartridge has a photosensitive drum and the driving-force transmitter mounted on the end of the photosensitive drum. The driving-force transmitter having a fitting part and multiple protrusions protruding from an end surface of the fitting part. The multiple protrusions are distributed equiangularly on a circle which is in the end surface of the fitting part. The center of the circle is on the axis of the fitting part. There is an engaging-part on the farthest end of each protrusion from the axis of the fitting part. An anti-separating groove is provided on the engaging-part. | 08-05-2010 |
20100196048 | Image Forming Apparatus, Image Forming Cartridge Supporter, and Image Forming Unit - An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame. | 08-05-2010 |
20100202796 | Development device, process unit, and image forming apparatus - A development device includes a developer carrier, a bearing member, a biasing member, and a guide. The developer carrier supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The bearing member rotatably supports the developer carrier axially. The biasing member is provided on a side of the bearing member opposite the image carrier to apply a force to the bearing member to move the bearing member and the developer carrier toward the image carrier. The guide is disposed about the bearing member to enable the bearing member to move therebetween and guide the bearing member toward the image carrier. The bearing member includes a rotatable part to rotate and slide over the guide while contacting the guide. | 08-12-2010 |
20100202797 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer member, includes a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus which is provided with a transfer member for transferring a developer image onto the transfer member; a supporting member movable between an inside position which is for supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which the developer image is to be formed and which is inside the main assembly, and an outside position which is outside the main assembly; and a contacting and spacing member movable between a first position for spacing the electrophotographic photosensitive member from the transfer member in the state that the supporting member is in the inside position, and a second position for contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the transfer member, the contacting and spacing member being provided in the supporting member. | 08-12-2010 |
20100209136 | COATING FLUID FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC- PHOTORECEPTOR CARTRIDGE - Disclosed is a coating liquid for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive body, which is excellent in electrical characteristics and mechanical durability, while being excellent in coatability and liquid stability. Also disclosed are an electrophotographic photosensitive body produced by using such a coating liquid, an image-forming device comprising such an electrophotographic photosensitive body, and an electrophotographic photosensitive body cartridge. Specifically disclosed is a coating liquid for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive body, which is characterized by containing a copolymerized polycarbonate resin and asolvent A having a boiling point of not less than 80#C but not more than 150#C. The copolymerized polycarbonate resin has a repeating unit represented by the formula (1) below, while containing not more than 10% by weight of a repeating unit having a biphenyl structure. The average of repetitions of the unit represented by the formula (1) is not more than 10. | 08-19-2010 |
20100209137 | IMAGE FORMING ASSEMBLY AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An image forming assembly includes a photoreceptor assembly that includes a photoreceptor, and an accommodating container that accommodates at least the photoreceptor and holds the photoreceptor with a part of the photoreceptor being exposed; a developing assembly that includes a developing member, and a developer container that accommodates at least the developer member and holds the developing member so as to position the developing member at a portion opposed to the photoreceptor; a connecting mechanism that connects the photoreceptor assembly to the developing assembly so that a distance between the photoreceptor and the developing member is changeable; a protection member that covers and protects the exposed portion of the photoreceptor; and guide members that are respectively provided on the accommodating container and the developer container, and that detachably guide the protection member with the protection member lying astride the two assemblies. | 08-19-2010 |
20100209138 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - At a lower portion of a process cartridge, a first portion to be urged and a second portion to be urged are provided. To an image forming apparatus, a guide portion for slidably guiding the first portion to be urged and the second portion to be urged during mounting of the process cartridge in the image forming apparatus is provided. Further, to the guide portion is provided with a first hole and a second hole at two recessed portions with respect to a longitudinal and mounting direction of the process cartridge. At bottoms of the two recessed portions wherein the first hole and the second hole are provided, a first urging portion acting on the first portion to be urged and a second urging portion acting on the second portion to be urged are provided, respectively. The second portion to be urged has a dimension larger than that of the first hole with respect to the mounting direction. | 08-19-2010 |
20100209140 | Image-Forming Device with Holding Unit Having Multiple Positions - An image-forming device includes a main body; at least one photosensitive member; a plurality of developing units; and a transferring unit. Each developing unit has a developer-accommodating section that accommodates developer. Each developing unit further has a developer-carrying member. | 08-19-2010 |
20100215398 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING STRUCTURE, AND DEVELOPER RECOVERY CONTAINER - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body; plural developer image forming parts provided in the image forming apparatus main body that form a developer image; and a discharged developer recovery container that recovers developer discharged from at least two of the plural developer image forming parts. At least one of the plural developer image forming parts has an image forming structure having an image holder that holds the developer image, and the image forming structure in the at least one developer image forming part and the discharged developer recovery container are attached/removed, integrally with each other, in/from the image forming apparatus main body. | 08-26-2010 |
20100215399 | Image Forming Device Capable of Improving Precision in Relative Positioning of Conveying Unit and Fixing Unit - An image forming device includes a main body having a main frame, a plurality of photosensitive members, a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium onto which images are transferred from the photosensitive members, a fixing unit that fixes the images onto the recording medium, and an attaching member that attaches both the fixing unit and an end section of the conveying unit nearest the fixing unit to the main frame. | 08-26-2010 |
20100215400 | CHARGING MEMBER, CHARGING DEVICE INCLUDING THE CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE INCLUDING THE CHARGING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A charging member, includes: an electrically-conductive support; an electrical resistance adjustment layer having ion conductivity provided on the electrically-conductive support; an intermediate layer having ion conductivity provided on the electrical resistance adjustment layer; and a surface layer having insulation provided on the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed of a resin composition containing at least a polyether polyol resin, and the surface layer is formed of a resin composition containing at least one of a fluorine-based resin, a silicone-based resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, and a urethane resin. | 08-26-2010 |
20100226684 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member is provided having a support, a conductive elastic layer formed on the support and a surface layer formed on the conductive elastic layer. The surface layer contains a polysiloxane having at least one of structures represented by the following formulas (1a1), (1a2), (1b1) and (1b2): | 09-09-2010 |
20100232830 | PHTHALOCYANINE CRYSTAL, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE USING THE SAME - Provided is an excellent phthalocyanine crystal having high sensitivity and little fluctuation in sensitivity for a humidity change in a use environment and applicable to the martial for solar battery, electronic paper, electrophotographic photoreceptor, etc. Namely, phthalocyanine crystal obtained by bringing a phthalocyanine crystal precursor into contact with an aromatic aldehyde compound to convert the crystal form. Also, provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor that not only exhibits high sensitivity but also has little fluctuation in sensitivity for a humidity change in a use environment. Further, provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor cartridge and an image-forming device, both of which can produce a stable quality images for a humidity change in a use environment by using the electrophotographic photoreceptor. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232831 | Electrophotographic Photorecptor, Method Of Manufacturing Electrophotographic Photorecptor, Image Forming Apparatus, And Process Cartridge - An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate, a photosensitive layer, and a surface layer, which satisfies the following inequations: | 09-16-2010 |
20100239309 | Image-bearing member protecting agent, protective layer forming device, image forming method, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge - An image-bearing member protecting agent including a fatty acid metal salt, and an inorganic lubricant, wherein the image-bearing member protecting agent is a solid formed by compression molding a particulate or granulated raw material containing the fatty acid metal salt and the inorganic lubricant, and applied or adhered to a surface of an image bearing member, and wherein the image-bearing member protecting agent has a front surface which is a side of the image-bearing member protecting agent. to be used at the beginning, and a rear surface which is a side thereof to be left when most of the image-bearing member protecting agent is used up, and the image-bearing member protecting agent has a density decreasing from the front surface toward the rear surface. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239310 | REPLACEMENT UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A replacement unit includes a bottom member and a guide groove. The bottom member is supported at one of plural support members. The guide groove provided at the bottom member, is guided by plural protrusions provided at the support member and disposed in a row, and extends in an installation direction along which the replacement unit is installed in a device body from sideward of the device body. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239311 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a transfer member for transferring a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a mounting portion for demountably mounting a cartridge, the image formation unit being movable, in a state that the cartridge is demountably mounted to the mounting portion, between a transfer position for transferring the developed image from the transfer member onto the recording material in a main assembly of the apparatus, and a mounting and demounting position, different from the transfer position, for mounting and demounting the cartridge relative to the mounting portion; and a regulating member for limiting movement, outward of the unit, of the cartridge mounted to the mounting portion, when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position, the regulating member being movable between a regulating position for limiting the movement, outward of the unit, of the cartridge, and a permitting position for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge relative to the mounting portion, and the regulating member being in a regulating position when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position. | 09-23-2010 |
20100239312 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the cartridge containing a developer for effecting development and including a force receiving portion, wherein the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and an urging member for urging the cartridge; wherein by mounting the cartridge, the force receiving portion receives a force from the urging member to urge the developing roller to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. | 09-23-2010 |
20100247139 | Processing Cartridge - The present invention provides a processing cartridge; the processing cartridge comprises at least a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a casing containing the photosensitive drum and the developing roller; the photosensitive drum is fixed to the casing to form an electrostatic latent image, and the developing roller develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum; the processing cartridge also comprises a handle, and the handle is retractably fixed to the protective casing, which has an extending status and a shrinking status opposite to the extending status. | 09-30-2010 |
20100247140 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet includes a transfer member for transferring a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum onto the sheet; a cartridge mounting portion for demountably mounting a cartridge accommodating the developer; an image forming unit movable, relative to a main assembly of the apparatus in a state that the cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion, between an image forming position for effecting image formation and a mounting and demounting position, away from the image formation position, for mounting and demounting the cartridge to the mounting portion; a cleaning member for removing a developer remaining on a surface of the drum; a residual developer container, demountably mounted to the image forming unit, for accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning member; wherein the residual developer container and the cartridge are detachably mountable individually relative to the image forming unit when the image forming unit is placed in the mounting and demounting position. | 09-30-2010 |
20100247141 | Enhanced Imaging Cartridge - An imaging cartridge contains a wastebin and a hopper connected to the wastebin. A flat mounting surface on the wastebin receives a first circuit board and a blocking member obstructs the placing of an unauthorized circuit board over the first circuit board. A microswitch actuating tab is formed on the body of the imaging cartridge. A hopper torque tab receptacle receives a torque tab formed in the hopper, thereby limiting lateral movement between the hopper and the wastebin. A planar wing engages a guide groove inside an imaging machine to direct the imaging cartridge into the imaging machine. Also, a dedicated grip centers a user's hand relative to the trailing end of the cartridge when inserting or removing the cartridge from the imaging machine. | 09-30-2010 |
20100254727 | Imaging Cartridge Having a Hopper Supported by a Wastebin - An imaging cartridge contains a wastebin and a hopper connected to the wastebin. A flat mounting surface on the wastebin receives a circuit board. A microswitch actuating tab is formed on the body of the imaging cartridge. A hopper is connected to the wastebin in a manner such that the hopper is supported entirely by the wastebin when the imaging cartridge is installed in the imaging cartridge receiving cavity of the imaging machine. The hopper is void of any protrusions adapted to rest on a supporting member in the imaging cartridge receiving cavity of the imaging machine. | 10-07-2010 |
20100260514 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device includes a carrying device configured to carry a recording sheet in a predetermined carrying direction, and a plurality of image forming units that are arranged along the carrying direction and that are in contact with the carrying device. All of the image forming units are configured to be separable from the carrying device when one of the image forming units is detached from the carrying device. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260515 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, including a photoreceptor, a charger charging the surface of the photoreceptor, an irradiator irradiating the surface of the photoreceptor with imagewise light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, an image developer developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer including a toner to form a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a transferer transferring the toner image onto a transfer material, wherein the photoreceptor includes an electroconductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate and including a charge generation material and a specific charge transport material. | 10-14-2010 |
20100266312 | Tandem Photosensitive-Member Unit for Image-Forming Device - The tandem photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of photosensitive-member and a pair of side plates. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units each extends in a first direction. The plurality of photosensitive-member holding units is arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of side plates each extends in the second direction. The pair of side plates is disposed at both ends of the arranged plurality of photosensitive-member holding units with respect to the first direction. The tandem photosensitive-member unit is configured to be detachably mounted as an integral unit in a main body of an image-forming device. | 10-21-2010 |
20100290806 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a cartridge positioning portion for engaging a main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge with respect to a direction crossing the direction of the axis of the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly in a direction parallel with the axis of the photosensitive drum, and a movable member movable between a first position contacting the main assembly in the process of mounting of the cartridge to the main assembly, and a second position contacting a main assembly urging member and receiving a force in the crossing direction to contact the cartridge positioning portion to the main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge in the crossing direction, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 11-18-2010 |
20100310273 | Imaging Cartridge Guiding Structure - An imaging cartridge having a more robust planar guide design with a thick leading edge. Each planar guide is adapted to slidingly engage an associated guide groove formed in opposite sides of the imaging machine. The thick leading edge of the planar guide provides structural integrity and prevents the planar guide from flexing and breaking when the cartridge is being installed into the imaging machine. The reduction in rearward sloping angle of the planar guide allows for easier installation and removal of the cartridge from the imaging machine. | 12-09-2010 |
20100316409 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF HANDLING THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF PACKAGING THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Disclosed are an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a detachable development cartridge having arranged therein a photoconductive drum and a developing roller for forming a toner image through a development nip formed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller. The development cartridge may include a development nip control member that can switch between a first position, in which the development nip control member causes the photoconductive drum to be separated from the developing roller, and a second position, in which the development nip control member causes the photoconductive drum to be in a pressing contact with the developing roller so as to form therebetween the development nip. The development cartridge may be mounted in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus with its development nip control member being in the first position, separating the photoconductive member from the developing roller. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus may be packaged for distribution with the development cartridge received in the main body thereof where the photoconductive drum and the developing roller are no in contact with each other in the development cartridge as packaged. | 12-16-2010 |
20100322664 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body having main body side guide portions and a cartridge mounting portion, including: a developer containing portion; a developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member with developer; first cartridge side guide portions provided at one end and the other end in a longitudinal direction of the roller, for engaging with the main body side guide portions to regulate a movement locus of the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted to the main body; and protruding portions provided at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction, wherein the cartridge is mounted to the main body in a mounting direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction with the roller being a leading edge, and the protruding portions protrude on a downstream side further than the roller in the mounting direction. | 12-23-2010 |
20100329731 | FITTING STRUCTURE FOR PROCESS CARTRIDGES AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS BODY, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THIS STRUCTURE - A fitting structure for process cartridges and an image forming apparatus body of an image forming apparatus capable of fitting the process cartridges for plural colors thereto, the fitting structure including: an incompatible member with its cross-sectional shape in an axial direction being rotationally symmetrical, the incompatible member having at least one attaching projection and one displaying hole or one displaying notched portion formed on a position different from a rotational shaft of the rotationally symmetrical shape; an attached portion of the process cartridge capable of holding the incompatible member, having identification display portions for identifying the plural colors arranged on the position corresponding to the displaying hole or the displaying notched portion; and an acceptance portion of the image forming apparatus body having an acceptance concave portion for accepting the at least one attaching projection of the incompatible member. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329732 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING DRUM AND SHAFT COUPLING MEMBERS TRANSMITTING DRIVING FORCES TO A PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM AND A DEVELOPING ROLLER, RESPECTIVELY - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes first and second rotatable main assembly drive transmission members. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum coupling member, provided on one axial end of the drum, for engaging the first m transmission member and transmitting a first rotational driving force to the drum, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, and a shaft coupler provided on one axial end of the developing roller, for transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of the second transmission member and an axis of the developing roller. The shaft coupler includes an engaging portion for engaging the second transmission member and receiving the second rotational driving force, when the cartridge is mounted to the main. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329733 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges. | 12-30-2010 |
20110013933 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge that is provided with an image bearing member and a development device and is detachably attached to an apparatus body includes a developer carrying member that carries a developer, a magnetic member housed inside, an interval defining member that defines an interval between the surface of the developer carrying member and the surface of the image bearing member, and a support member that can support the magnetic member at a first position, at which a developing operation is performed, and a second position, at which a nearest distance between the surface of the developer carrying member and the surface of the magnetic member is greater than that at the first position. | 01-20-2011 |
20110020030 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming method includes charging an image holding member; forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image holding member; developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding member with a toner or an electrostatic image developer to form a toner image; transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding member onto a surface of a transfer-receiving material; fixing the toner image by pressurization without heating; feeding at least one photoreactive component to the toner or toner image; and irradiating the toner image with ultraviolet rays, wherein the toner satisfies the relationship of the following relational expression (1): | 01-27-2011 |
20110020031 | CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a first coupling member which is rotatable about a first axis and which has a first edge line provided at a free end portion with respect to a diction of the first axis, includes a second coupling member which is rotatable about a second axis and which has a second edge line provided at a free end portion with respect to a direction of the second axis, the second coupling member being engageable with the first coupling member to receive a driving force form the first coupling member; and a rotatable member rotatable by the driving force received by the second coupling member; wherein when the first edge line and the second edge line are contacted to each other before the first coupling member and the second coupling member are engaged with each other, upon mounting the cartridge to the main assembly of the apparatus so as to bring the second coupling member close to the first coupling member in a state in which the first axis and the second axis are substantially aligned with a common phantom line, (i) the first edge line and the second edge line projected on a first phantom plane including the phantom line are crossed with each other, and (ii) the first edge line and the second edge line projected on a second phantom plane perpendicular to the phantom line are crossed with each other, and at least one of a normal line of the first edge line and a normal at a second edge line at a crossing point does not pass through the phantom line. | 01-27-2011 |
20110026967 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A process cartridge usable with an image forming apparatus includes a developing member, a photosensitive medium to face the developing member, a pair of supporting plates to rotatably support the developing member and the photosensitive medium; a center moving member rotatably disposed on the supporting plate, the center moving member having a first position in which the photosensitive medium contacts the developing member and a second position in which the photosensitive medium is spaced apart from the developing member; and a separation restraining member formed so that when the center moving member locates at the second position, the separation restraining member restrains the center moving member from moving from the second position. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026968 | COLOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING MEMBER AND PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER CARTRIDGE - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a drum cartridge, detachably mountable to the apparatus main assembly, for holding a drum; developing cartridges, each including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum, demountable from the cartridge; a main assembly guide for guiding the cartridge from the main assembly; a drum cartridge guide for guiding the developing devices independently demountably from the cartridge; and a drum cartridge preventor for preventing movement of the cartridge. When the developing cartridge is demounted while drum cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, the preventor is movable between a first position preventing the cartridge from moving in a demounting direction and a second position permitting such movement. The apparatus includes a grip for facilitating demounting of the drum cartridge by facilitating a change of the preventor's position from the first position to the second position. | 02-03-2011 |
20110033202 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing; a photosensitive member unit detachably mountable relative to the housing and which includes a photosensitive member; a transfer belt unit detachably mountable relative to the housing which includes a transfer belt member and a spacing mechanism for spacing the transfer belt member from the photosensitive member; a shaft member, provided in the housing, for supporting the photosensitive member; a guiding portion, provided on the photosensitive member unit, for guiding mounting, to the housing, of the photosensitive member unit; and a rotation regulating member, provided on the transfer belt unit, for regulating a movement of the guiding portion, in the a rotational direction, of the photosensitive member at the time of the mounting of the photosensitive unit to the housing. | 02-10-2011 |
20110033203 | TONER, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE TONER, DEVELOPER INCLUDING THE TONER, CONTAINER CONTAINING THE TONER, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USING THE TONER - An image forming method including forming an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member; developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer including a toner to prepare a toner image on the image bearing member; transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; and cleaning the surface of the image bearing member with a cleaning blade; wherein a surface of the image bearing member has a friction coefficient of from 0.10 to 0.40, and wherein the toner has an average circularity of from 0.97 to 1.00 and includes toner particles and a particulate material having an average particle diameter of from 0.03 to 1 μm, wherein the particulate material is externally added to the toner particles by a wet method. | 02-10-2011 |
20110033204 | Organic Photoreceptor, Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - In the present invention, disclosed is an organic photoreceptor comprising a conductive support and provided thereon, a photosensitive layer and a protective layer provided on the photosensitive layer, the protective layer formed with alumina particles each comprising a reactive organic group. Also provided is an organic photoreceptor with which electrophotographic images having high durability together with high image quality can be obtained by improving a wear property of the organic photoreceptor up to the same level as that of an amorphous silicon photoreceptor, as well as by improving image flow and image blur which are easy to be generated at high temperature and high humidity. | 02-10-2011 |
20110052255 | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus - A process cartridge collectively accommodates at least a latent image carrier and a developer carrier carrying tonner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier and includes a side plate unit rotatably supporting the latent image carrier and the developer carrier. The side plate includes a bearing that rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the developer carrier; an elastic body that pushes the bearing against a rotation shaft of the latent image carrier; and a guiding unit that guides the bearing in a direction of the pushing. The guiding unit includes an abrasion preventing structure at a wall surface of the guiding unit that comes in contact with the bearing. | 03-03-2011 |
20110052256 | Image forming apparatus - A protruding portion that protrudes further toward a process cartridge than a contact portion coming in contact with a recording medium is provided at a contact terminal. A slide contact surface portion of the process cartridge is in a state of being in sliding contact with the protruding portion of the contact terminal by action of inserting the process cartridge, and the protruding portion is pressed in a direction being apart from the recording medium to limit contact between the contact terminal and the recording medium. The protruding portion fits in a fitting concave portion at a predetermined mounted position to make the contact terminal come in contact with the recording medium. The protruding portion is pulled out from the fitting concave portion by action of taking out the process cartridge to be in sliding contact with the slide contact surface portion. | 03-03-2011 |
20110064459 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing frame is movable relative to the drum frame and is capable of taking a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion for receiving a first external force and a second force receiving portion for receiving a second external force, wherein the second force receiving portion is movable relative to the developing frame, wherein the second force receiving portion is placed in a stand-by position retracted from an operating position by the first force receiving portion receiving the first external force, and is movable from the stand-by position to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position, wherein a distance through which the second force receiving portion moves from the stand-by position to the operating position is larger than a distance through which the first force receiving portion is moved by the first external force. | 03-17-2011 |
20110085822 | Image Forming Apparatus Having a Removable Photosensitive Member Unit - An image forming apparatus can include a body casing and a photosensitive member unit configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the body casing. The photosensitive member unit can be moved between a first position where the photosensitive member unit is stored in the body casing and a second position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing, and between the second position and a third position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing. The image forming apparatus may further include a control member disposed in the body casing, The control member can be configured to move between a holding position in which the photosensitive member unit is prevented from moving between the second position and the third position and a release position where the photosensitive member unit is allowed to move between the second position and the third position. | 04-14-2011 |
20110091239 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, with the coupling member capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The coupling member is also capable of taking a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the rotational force transmitting angular position. | 04-21-2011 |
20110091240 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention can provide a developing roller which can form a stable image in wide ranging environments from a low temperature/low humidity environment to a high temperature/high humidity environment. The developing roller includes a surface layer comprising a silicon oxide film containing at least a carbon atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom, an oxygen atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom, and a fluorine atom chemically bonded to a silicon atom and/or a carbon atom, wherein the silicon oxide film has an abundance ratio of the fluorine atom to the silicon atom (F/Si), an abundance ratio of the oxygen atom forming a chemical bond to the silicon atom to the silicon atom (O/Si), and an abundance ratio of the carbon atom forming a chemical bond to the silicon atom to the silicon atom (C/Si) have values in particular ranges, respectively. | 04-21-2011 |
20110097108 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a first rotatable main assembly drive transmission member, and a second rotatable main assembly drive transmission member, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer; a drum coupling member, provided on one axial end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, for engaging with the first main assembly drive transmission member and transmitting a first rotational driving force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus along an axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a shaft coupling member, provided on one axial end of the developing roller, for transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of the second main assembly drive transmission member and an axis of the developing roller, wherein the shaft coupling member includes an engaging portion for engaging with the second main assembly drive transmission member and receiving the second rotational driving force, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus; and the engaging portion is movable in a direction crossing with the axial direction of the developing roller when the process cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus. | 04-28-2011 |
20110103825 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes a drum cartridge including an image bearing drum and charger for charging a surface of the drum, the drum cartridge being demountably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus; a rotary supporting a plurality of developing devices each having a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum, the rotary being swingably mounted to the main assembly through a supporting member and being rotatable, relative to the supporting member, to bring the developing device to a developing position for developing the latent image; an urging member for urging the drum cartridge to the main assembly to position it in place; and a locking member for spacing between the developing device positioned in the developing position and the image bearing member, the locking member being demountably mounted between the drum cartridge and the rotary, and the locking member being is effective to prevent the urging member from moving from a position urging the drum cartridge to the main assembly. | 05-05-2011 |
20110103826 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes (i) a drum cartridge including an image bearing member and charging device for charging a surface of the image bearing member, the drum cartridge being demountably mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; a rotary supporting a plurality of developing device each having a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, the rotary being swingably mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus through a supporting member and being rotatable, relative to the supporting member, to bring the developing device to a developing position for developing the electrostatic latent image; (iii) a spacer member for spacing between the charging device and the surface of the image bearing member, the spacer member being mounted between the image bearing member and the charging device; and (iv) a locking member for spacing between the developing device positioned in the developing position and the image bearing member, the locking member being demountably mounted between the drum cartridge and the rotary, and the locking member being is provided with a guide portion for guiding the spacer member between the image bearing member and the charging device. | 05-05-2011 |
20110103827 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device is provided that includes a developing container, a developing roller, a developer supplying roller, a sheet member, a communication hole, and a filter member. The communication hole is provided so as to be connected to an enclosed space defined by an inner wall of the developing container defining a smaller one of spaces provided by dividing the developing container by a plane including a rotation axis of the developer supplying roller and a rotational axis of the developing roller, a phantom plane which is included in the plane and extends from a surface of the developer supplying roller to the inner wall of the developer container, the sheet member, a surface of the developing roller, and a surface of the developer supplying roller. | 05-05-2011 |
20110103828 | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus - A process cartridge incorporates a developing device including a rotatable developer carrier for supplying a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier. The process cartridge includes: a bearing that supports a rotating shaft of the developer carrier; and a pressing unit that presses the bearing toward the latent image carrier. A notch having an opening, which extends over a part of a circumference of the rotating shaft, is formed on the bearing, and the notch portion is used as an attachment and removal portion of the rotating shaft. | 05-05-2011 |
20110103829 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit supporting the drum, a developing unit supporting a developing roller and swingably coupled with the drum unit, drum and developing roller rotating force receiving portions first and second positionable portions positioned at first and second main assembly side positioning portion by contacting to the first main assembly side positioning portions by contacting by the urging force of first and second main assembly side urging members, a developing device spacing force receiving portion, first and second cartridge side rotation regulating portions for limiting rotation of the drum unit by abutting first and second main assembly side rotation regulating portions, when the drum and developing roller rotating force receiving portions receive the rotating forces or when the developing device spacing force receiving portion receives the urging force from the main assembly. | 05-05-2011 |
20110116832 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is provided detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a developer supplying roller. The process cartridge further includes portions-to-be-supported, portions-to-be-positioned, a portion-to-be-urged, and a cartridge side developer supply roller bias contact. The process cartridge can be positioned with high accuracy relative to the main assembly of an image forming apparatus. | 05-19-2011 |
20110123222 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes: a exposing unit that irradiates exposing light to an image carrier; a partition member that includes: a light-passing part that allows exposing light irradiated by the exposing unit to pass through the partition member, and that extends in a direction in which the developing unit is attached to or detached from the image-forming apparatus; and a protrusion part that extends along the light-passing part, wherein the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and a part of the partition member located below a supply opening of the developing unit attached to the image-forming apparatus are arranged in an order of the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and the part of the partition member located below the supply opening. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123223 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a first portion-to-be-positioned for being positioned to a first main assembly side positioning portion provided in the main assembly of an apparatus, a second portion-to-be-positioned for being positioned to a second main assembly side positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus, and a longitudinal positioning portion to be positioned by a main assembly side longitudinal positioning portion provided in the main assembly of the apparatus. The apparatus still further includes a portion-to-be-urged for receiving an inclined downward elastic force of a first main assembly side elastic member provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to urge the longitudinal positioning portion and the second portion-to-be-positioned. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123224 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum unit containing a movably connected to a developing unit containing a developing roller between a contact position where the roller contacts the drum and a spaced position where the roller is spaced from the drum, a drum coupler engaging a first main assembly drive transmitter transmitting a first rotational driving force to the drum, when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, a shaft coupler transmitting a second rotational driving force with a deviation permitted between an axis of a second main assembly drive transmitter and an axis of the roller, from the second main assembly drive transmission member to the roller when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123225 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is provided that is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The process cartridge further includes a portion to be positioned, first and second displacing portions, and a portion to be urged. The process cartridge also includes a pull-up force receiving portion, disposed at a trailing side of the cartridge, for being urged by a pull-up force of a pull-up member. | 05-26-2011 |
20110129251 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is provided that is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The process cartridge further includes a portion to be positioned, a displacing portion, and a portion to be urged. The portion to be positioned is positioned to a main assembly side positioning portion by the portion to be urged when the process cartridge is set in the main assembly. | 06-02-2011 |
20110135340 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE,AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having excellent cleaning performance, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus, each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 06-09-2011 |
20110142490 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the apparatus includes a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive drums; a cartridge which contains a developer and which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge mounting portion for mounting the cartridge; a plurality of cleaning members for removing the developers remaining on surfaces of the electrophotographic photosensitive drums; a removed-developer accommodating container for accommodating the developers removed by the cleaning members, the removed-developer accommodating container being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein the cartridges are disposed along a second direction, and the removed-developer accommodating container are adjacent to the cartridges and extends along the second direction so as to be overlapped at least partly with the cartridges as seen in the axial direction. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142491 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge detachably mountable to image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a protecting member, demountable in the axial direction of said developer carrying member from said frame; an accommodating portion accommodating the developer to be supplied to said developer carrying member; a sealing member sealing an opening for permitting the developer to be supplied from said accommodating portion to said developer carrying member; and a grip portion, provided at one longitudinal end of said sealing member, for being gripped when said sealing member is removed from said opening, said grip portion being movable between a first position on a movement locus of said protecting member when said protecting member is dismounted from said frame, and a second position outside the movement locus. | 06-16-2011 |
20110150525 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE INCLUDING SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A development device includes a developer carrier, a supply compartment having a downstream end portion positioned outside the development area in the axial direction of the developer carrier, a collection compartment disposed lower than the supply compartment, first and second communication ports respectively formed in the downstream end portion and an upstream end portion of the supply compartment, a developer circulation unit including first and second developer conveyance members respectively provided in the supply compartment and the collection compartment, a toner supply port formed in an upper portion of the downstream end portion of the supply compartment, and an airflow path limiter provided in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment, closer to the development area than the toner supply port in the axial direction of the developer carrier, to restrict an airflow path above the developer in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150526 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - To provide an image forming apparatus in which variations in the contact pressure produced between a photosensitive drum and a developing roller is suppressed, whereby image quality can be improved. A development unit and a drum unit are rotatably connected to each other with a link member interposed therebetween. Gears for transmitting a driving force are supported at two rotation support points of the link member, whereby the driving force is transmitted to the development unit. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150527 | DEVELOPER CARTRIDGE FOR IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE - A developer cartridge provided in an image-forming device has a developer side casing that includes a toner-accommodating chamber and a developing chamber; and a plate wall disposed in the developing chamber for partitioning a thickness-regulating blade from the toner-accommodating chamber. When a thickness-regulating blade scrapes excess charged toner off the developing roller, the plate wall prevents this charged toner from returning to the toner-accommodating chamber. A flexible wiper for cleaning toner detection windows is attached to an agitator for stirring toner in the toner-accommodating chamber via a fixing member. The fixing member includes a support plate and a gripping plate disposed opposite each other with a slit formed therebetween. The wiper is inserted into the slit and is fixed to the fixing member when a boss protruding from a restricting plate becomes inserted into a through-hole formed in the wiper. | 06-23-2011 |
20110158681 | UNIT AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A unit detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus including an openable member capable of opening and closing a unit mounting and demounting opening includes: a grip portion, provided rotatably about a rotational shaft on a side wall of a frame of the unit, being rotatably moved to a projected position in which the grip portion is projected from the side wall and to a retracted position in which the grip portion is retracted in a longitudinal direction so as to be closer to the side wall than the projected position; and a force receiving portion at which the grip portion located at the projected position receives a force from the openable member when the openable member is closed in a state in which the unit is mounted in the main assembly, the force receiving portion being configured to receive the force for rotating the grip portion from the projected position to the retracted position. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158682 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge includes: a housing that rotatably supports a developing roller; and a plurality of conveyance guide members, which are arranged along an axial direction of the developing roller and parallel to each other on an outer side of the housing, and which guide a recording medium along a conveyance path. The conveyance guide members include: conveyance ribs extend in a conveyance direction of the recording medium orthogonal to the axial direction of the developing roller so as to protrude from the housing toward the conveyance path of the recording medium; and end ribs, which are provided at both end portions in the axial direction of the developing roller, which are inclined outward with respect to the axial direction of the developing roller toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction, and which protrude further from the housing into the conveyance path side than the conveyance ribs. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158683 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer which contains a silicon-containing compound in an amount of less than 0.6% by mass based on the whole solid content in the surface layer, where the silicon-containing compound in the surface layer has a siloxane moiety in an amount of 0.01% by mass or more, based on the whole solid content in the surface layer, and its surface has specific depressions. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 06-30-2011 |
20110164897 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A downsized electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which a drawer member mounting a photosensitive drum and a developing unit is mounted into a main assembly of the apparatus, and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum can be contacted and spaced relative to each other is provided. It includes a process cartridge, a main assembly of the apparatus, and a drawer member | 07-07-2011 |
20110170905 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An inexpensive and stable regulating member which can control, without depending on an open/close cover, movement of a cartridge used for an image forming apparatus transportable in a cartridge-mounted state is provided. The regulating member includes a first contact portion which receives a first force applied from the cartridge to inside of the regulating member and a second contact portion which receives a second force that prevents the regulating member from moving from a regulating position by receiving the first force at a position away from a mounting and dismounting path of the cartridge where the cartridge passes when the cartridge is mounted on or dismounted from the apparatus main body. | 07-14-2011 |
20110182615 | PROCESS UNIT POSITIONING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - Provided is a process unit positioning device which performs positioning of a plurality of process units with respect to an apparatus main body, including: a positioning plate in which bearing holes into which individual drum shafts are fitted and a fitted portion onto which positioning portion of the apparatus main body is fitted are formed; and a holder portion supported by the apparatus main body so as to be able to pivot while holding the positioning plate so that a position changes by contact between the bearing holes and the drum shafts. | 07-28-2011 |
20110182616 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A process cartridge includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge includes a first wall having a first opening, a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening, and a first operating portion configured to operate together with the first shutter. The second cartridge is mountable onto and demountable from the first cartridge and contains a developer. The second cartridge includes a second wall facing the first wall and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening, and a second operating portion configured to operate together with the second shutter. The first cartridge further includes a third operating portion. When the second cartridge is mounted onto the first cartridge, the first operating portion and the third operating portion operate together through the second operating portion. | 07-28-2011 |
20110182617 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention provides a charging member which can maintain excellent wear resistance even though being used repeatedly. In the charging member having a surface layer, the surface layer is a surface layer constituted by at least one selected from silsesquioxanes having structures represented by a compound (1), a compound (2), a compound (3), a compound (4), a compound (5) and a compound (6), and a polysiloxane having a first unit represented by SiO | 07-28-2011 |
20110182618 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided are a charging member capable of maintaining excellent wear resistance even after repeated use, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the charging member. The charging member is characterized in that its surface layer has a polysiloxane to which a silsesquioxane is bonded. | 07-28-2011 |
20110188887 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein a cartridge including at least a photosensitive drum is detachably mountable to said image forming apparatus, said image forming apparatus includes a first abutting portion, provided in an upstream side with respect to a mounting direction in which the cartridge is moved in its longitudinal direction to be mounted to said apparatus; a first urging means, provided in an upstream side with respect to the mounting direction, for urging, when the cartridge is mounted to said apparatus, the cartridge, in a direction crossing with a center axis of the photosensitive drum to position the cartridge in the crossing direction; a second abutting portion, provided in a downstream side with respect to the mounting direction; and a second urging means, provided in a downstream side with respect to the mounting direction, for urging, when the cartridge is mounted to said apparatus, the cartridge, in a direction crossing with the center axis of the photosensitive drum to position the cartridge in the crossing direction, wherein said first abutting portion and said second abutting portion are disposed opposite from each other with respect to a plane including the center axis. | 08-04-2011 |
20110200356 | CHARGING MEMBER, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A charging member is provided which has a low electrical resistance, has less non-uniformity or environmental dependence of the electrical resistance, may less undergo electrification deterioration even when used for a long period of time, and is free of any occurrence of faulty images such as horizontal lines attributable to charging. The charging member is formed of a support with a good electrical conductivity and an elastic layer consisting of at least one layer on the support, and the elastic layer is formed of a semiconductive vulcanized rubber in which carbon black has been dispersed as conductive particles in a binder polymer containing a polymer having a butadiene skeleton, having been modified at a molecular terminal thereof with a specific atomic group. | 08-18-2011 |
20110206410 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge that is detachably mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising: an image carrier cartridge that has an image carrier; and a developing cartridge that has a developer carrier; wherein the developing cartridge comprising: a driving input part, to which external power for rotating the developer carrier is input, is provided to a first axial end side of the developer carrier; a first supported part; a second supported part; and a third supported part wherein the image carrier cartridge comprising: a first support part arranged on a rotational axis line of the driving input part, a second support part arranged at an image carrier side rather than the rotational axis line of the driving input part; and a third support part arranged at an opposite side to the second support part with the rotational axis line of the driving input part. | 08-25-2011 |
20110206411 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC CARTRIDGE - The invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an electrophotographic cartridge, which are free from problems of cleaning failure, filming, soiling, residual images (ghosts), fogging, density reduction, noise and the like and which can provide high-definition images even when a toner having a small particle size and having a high degree of circularity is used and even when a photoreceptor having a small outer diameter is used. An image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing a conductive support and a photosensitive layer on the conductive support, a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photoreceptor, an imagewise exposing unit for imagewise exposing the charged electrophotographic photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner, and a transferring unit for transferring the toner from the electrophotographic photoreceptor to a receiving unit, wherein the outer diameter of the electrophotographic photoreceptor is 20 mm or less, the photosensitive layer contains a polyarylate resin, and the toner satisfies the specific requirements (1) and (2). | 08-25-2011 |
20110206412 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably is mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus including an urging member and a positioning portion. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a positionable portion positioning the cartridge by engaging the positioning portion when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus; first and second urgable portions being urged respectively, by first and second urging portions of the urging member to urge the positionable portion to the positioning portion during cartridge mounting; and an electrical contact, provided between the first and second urgable portions with respect to a horizontal direction crossing an axis of the drum, for connecting electrically to an electrical contact portion in the urging member, when the cartridge is mounted to the apparatus. | 08-25-2011 |
20110211863 | COUPLING PART, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge side grounding contact being provided on the projection so as to be electrically connectable with the main assembly side grounding contact | 09-01-2011 |
20110211864 | CARTRIDGES, SUCH AS DEVELOPER CARTRIDGES, FOR AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, SUCH AS A PRINTER - A cartridge includes an engagement gear which includes a first engaging portion and is configured to selectively rotate. The cartridge also includes a rotational body which includes a second engaging portion, and a center axis of the rotational body is aligned with a center axis of the engagement gear. Moreover, the cartridge includes an extension portion which is positioned offset from a center of rotation of the rotational body. The engagement gear and the rotational body are configured to selectively be positioned in one of a first state in which the second engaging portion and the first engaging portion are separated from each other, and a second state in which the second engaging portion engages the first engaging portion. The rotational body is configured to rotate with the engagement gear when the engagement gear rotates and the engagement gear and the rotational body are in the second state. | 09-01-2011 |
20110217070 | IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An image-forming apparatus includes: an image-holding member casing that encases an image-holding member; an apparatus main body into which the image-holding member casing is inserted to a predetermined position; a developing device casing provided in the apparatus main body, the developing device casing encasing a developing device; a pushing member provided in the apparatus main body to push the developing device casing in a first direction toward the image-holding member; and a contact portion provided on the image-holding member casing so as to contact the developing device casing for a predetermined period during insertion of the image-holding member casing toward the predetermined position, to push the developing device casing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein, after the predetermined period, when the image-holding member casing reaches the predetermined position, the contact portion does not push the developing device casing in the second direction. | 09-08-2011 |
20110217071 | PHOTORECEPTOR UNIT OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A photoreceptor unit of an image forming apparatus includes an attachment body, a photoreceptor body, a first gripping portion, and a second gripping portion. The attachment body is attached to the image forming apparatus and is detachable from the image forming apparatus. The photoreceptor body is rotatably provided in the attachment body. The first gripping portion is provided in the attachment body. The second gripping portion is provided in the attachment body and is contactable with the photoreceptor body when the photoreceptor unit is gripped. The second gripping portion does not contact the photoreceptor body when the photoreceptor unit is attached to the image forming apparatus. The photoreceptor body is provided between the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion and is allow to be gripped by using the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion. | 09-08-2011 |
20110217072 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention relates to a charging member that achieves a high level of compatibility between the suppression of the bleeding of a low-molecular weight component from its elastic layer to its surface and charging performance for an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer. The surface layer contains a polymer having a Si—O—Ti bond, and the polymer has a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following general formula (2). | 09-08-2011 |
20110217073 | Driving Component, Photosensitive Drum and Process Cartridge - The present invention provides a driving component, a photosensitive drum and a process cartridge. The driving component comprises a gear having one fixed end and a regulating component having a rotational driving force receiver outside the other end projecting from the gear. The regulating component is provided within the gear by being moved reciprocally and translationally along the gear's longitudinal direction and a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction relative to the gear. A spring support part and a longitudinal position limit part are provided between the regulating component and the gear. The rotational driving force receiver is provided inside the regulating component by rotating around its own axis. Compared to the existing technology, the process cartridge using this driving component has a smooth engagement with a printer, reliable performance and stable work. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222903 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member on which an image is to be formed; a rotatable roller which is rotated and contacted to the image bearing member at least during image forming operation; and a supporting device for rotatably supporting a shaft of the rotatable roller at least during the image forming operation, the supporting device including an urging member for urging the rotatable roller toward the image bearing member, a bearing member having a holding portion for holding the shaft of the rotatable roller in a position where the rotatable roller is contacted to the image bearing member by the urging member, wherein a relative movement between the rotatable roller and the supporting device is possible by an external force between a first position in which the shaft of the rotatable roller is urged by the urging member while being held by the holding portion, and a second position in which the shaft of the rotatable roller is not held by the holding portion and in which a distance between a rotation axis of the image bearing member and an axis of the rotatable roller is longer than that in the first position. | 09-15-2011 |
20110222904 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing having a first opening and a second opening which are directed in a same direction; a plurality of developing units which are disposed in parallel with each other in the housing along an oblique direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, the developing units which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing along the oblique direction through the first opening; and a plurality of developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, each of the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel with each other in the housing to be opposite to an end of a respective one of the developing units along a substantially horizontal direction in a longitudinal direction of the developing units, the developer cartridges which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing through the second opening. | 09-15-2011 |
20110229195 | Lubricant supply device, and process cartridge and image forming apparatus including the same - A pressing mechanism that presses a solid lubricant against a brush roller includes two movable members that receive the biasing force of a single biasing unit, rotate around a fulcrum, and press places of the solid lubricant at the symmetric positions with respect to the center of a contact portion of the solid lubricant. The curvature of a portion of a curve shape of the movable member that contacts a casing inner wall is set such that the pressing force in a pressing direction of the solid lubricant in the last stage becomes greater than the pressing force in an intermediate stage, from the initial stage to the last stage after the solid lubricant of the predetermined amount or more is scraped off via the intermediate stage. | 09-22-2011 |
20110229196 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes a drum; a rotatable roller including a first shaft end portion and a second shaft end portion; a bearing member for rotatably supporting ends of a shaft of the rotatable roller; an urging member for urging the rotatable roller via the bearing member in a drum contact direction; a cartridge frame for rotatably supporting the drum and for movably holding the rotatable roller via the bearing member; a movable guide member movable in an axial direction of the shaft of the rotatable roller and including a first contact portion; and a fixed guide member including a second contact portion. At least one of the first contact portion and the first shaft end portion has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotatable roller, and at least one of the second contact portion and the second shaft end portion has an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotatable roller. | 09-22-2011 |
20110229197 | Process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus - 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 | 09-22-2011 |
20110243601 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an arm member. The arm member includes a cartridge abutment surface configured to abut the cartridge when the cartridge moves from a state in which the cartridge is at the attached position to a state in which the cartridge is detached from the main body, an opening and closing member abutment surface configured to abut the opening and closing member when the cartridge moves from the state in which the cartridge is at the attached position to the state in which the cartridge is detached from the main body to press the cartridge abutment surface, the opening and closing member abutment surface being substantially parallel to the cartridge abutment surface, and a force transmission portion extending in a direction normal to the cartridge abutment surface to linearly connect between the cartridge abutment surface and the opening and closing member abutment surface. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243602 | Charge Roller Conductive Film and Developer Cartridge - A charge roller conductive film and a developer cartridge. The conductive film has an input contacting an electrical contact of an image forming apparatus main assembly, an output electrically connecting with a charge roller and a transmission section connecting with the input and the output. The input has a middle contact plate shaped like a bent strip. A side contact plate is formed on at least one side of the middle contact plate. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243603 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge include an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a developing unit; and a cleaning unit, wherein depressed portions separated from each other and satisfying conditions below are formed in the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member at a density of 10 or more per unit area of 1 cm | 10-06-2011 |
20110255898 | REGULATING DEVICE, IMAGE BEARING MEMBER CLEANING DEVICE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, CLEANING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer layer thickness regulating device includes a blade member for regulating a thickness of a layer of a developer on a surface of a developing roller rotatably supported by a developing container for accommodating the developer and includes a supporting member for supporting the blade member. The supporting member is capable of being fastened to a part of the developing container by a fastening member, and a position of the supporting member relative to a part of the developer container is adjustable with respect to a widthwise direction of the blade member, when the supporting member is fastened to the developing container by the fastening member, so as to fasten the blade member at a predetermined position relative to the developing container. The supporting member has a biting portion which is capable of biting into the part of the developing container when the supporting member is fastened by the fastening member. | 10-20-2011 |
20110255899 | TONER, DEVELOPER, TONER CONTAINER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner, including a binder; a colorant; and a wax including a molecular chain constituted of only a C—H bond and a C—C bond, and having a melting point of from 50 to 78° C. and a melt viscosity of from 5 to 15 mPa·S at 140° C., wherein the toner has a weight reduction rate of from 0.001 to 0.1% by weight/min when measured by TGA (Thermogarvimetric Analysis) method in an atmosphere at 165° C. for 10 min. | 10-20-2011 |
20110255900 | DRIVING COMPONENT, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE HAVING THE DRIVING COMPONENT - The present invention provides a driving component, and a photosensitive drum and a process cartridge comprising the driving component. The driving component comprises a gear fixed at one end of the photosensitive drum and a longitudinal regulating component. The longitudinal regulating component comprises a first motion subassembly, a groove part and a central shaft part. The groove part has an upper chute and a lower chute which are orthogonal in space. The first motion subassembly forms relative slide coordination with the upper chute along a first direction. The central shaft part has a common axis with the gear which forms relative slide coordination with the lower chute along a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are all perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum. | 10-20-2011 |
20110262182 | GEAR CENTER-DISTANCE MAINTAINING MECHANISM, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ASSEMBLY - A gear center-distance maintaining mechanism includes a first support body that rotatably supports a first gear to be rotated by driving force from a driving unit, a second support body that rotatably supports a second gear to be meshed with the first gear so as to transmit rotational force from the first gear to a rotating body, the second support body being movable relative to the first support body in a direction such that the second gear moves away from the first gear, an arc-shaped face provided in the second support body and centered on an axis of the second gear, and a restricting portion provided in the first support body and shaped like an arc centered on an axis of the first gear, the restricting portion restricting the movement of the second support body relative to the first support body by contact with the arc-shaped face. | 10-27-2011 |
20110268471 | CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND DRUM ATTACHING METHOD - A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a shaft provided adjacent one axial end; a frame; the frame being provided with a first bearing portion supporting a circumference of the shaft; the frame being provided with a second bearing portion supporting a circumference of the shaft, the second bearing portion being spaced from the first bearing portion with respect to the axial direction and being disposed in a side opposite from the first bearing portion with respect to a plane including an axis of the shaft at the time when the shaft is supported by the first bearing portion; a first clearance space, provided in a position opposite the first bearing portion with respect to the plane, wherein when causing the shaft to be supported by the first bearing portion, the shaft is capable of entering the first clearance space; and a second clearance space, provided in a position opposite the second bearing portion with respect to the plane, wherein when causing the shaft to be supported by the second bearing portion, the shaft is capable of entering the second clearance space. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268472 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - To provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member that can reproduce good images with less positive ghost and also has a good photosensitivity, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is incorporated in its photosensitive layer with a copolymer having a repeating structural unit represented by the formula (1) and a repeating structural unit represented by the formula (2), or a copolymer having a repeating structural unit represented by the formula (1) and a repeating structural unit represented by the formula (3). | 11-03-2011 |
20110268473 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, and a developing roller for developing a latent image. A development decoupling portion is provided adjacent to one axial end of the developing roller, with the development coupling portion including an engaging portion configured and positioned (a) to receive a driving force for rotating the developing roller, and (b) to be movable in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller relative to the developing roller. The cartridge also includes an urging portion configured and positioned to urge the engaging portion in a direction crossing the axis of the developing roller. Also, an abutting portion is configured and positioned so that movement of the engaging portion can be prevented when the engagement portion has not established engagement with a development coupling member of the main assembly. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268474 | TONER, DEVELOPER INCLUDING THE TONER, AND DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE TONER - A toner including toner particles including a binder resin containing at least one polyester resin comprising an inorganic tin (II) compound and an external additive including a particulate inorganic material having a volume average particle diameter greater than 70 nm and less than 300 nm. The binder resin preferably includes a polyester resin having a weight average molecular weight of from 5,000 to 50,000 and another resin having a weight average molecular weight of from 200,000 to 400,000. A developer including the toner; and a developing device, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge, which form toner images using the toner are also provided. | 11-03-2011 |
20110280620 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes a first unit provided with a photosensitive drum; and a second unit provided with a developer carrying member and connected with the first unit so as to be movable between a contact position in which the developer carrying member is contacted with the drum and a spacing position in which the developer carrying member is spaced from the drum, and the second unit including a first contact portion for contacting to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly and for receiving a first contact force therefrom when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and the second unit is positioned in the spacing position, and a second contact portion for contacting to the main assembly electrical contact and for receiving a second contact force therefrom to electrically connect with the main assembly electrical contact when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and the second unit is positioned in the contact position; wherein the second contact force has a component oriented in a moving direction of moving the second unit away from the spacing position toward the contact position, and the component is greater than that of the first contact force. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280621 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a charging roller for charging a surface of the photosensitive drum by being urged and contacted to a photosensitive drum; a link engaged with an end of a rotation shaft of the charging roller; a locking member, locked with the link in a state that charging roller is spaced from the drum, for holding a spaced state of the charging roller from drum; the developing unit including, a gear train for transmitting an externally inputted driving force to a member provided in the developing unit: a space releasing member for contacting and moving the link to release the link from the locking member, thereby to cease the spaced state of the charging roller, the space releasing member being provided with a drive receiving portion; a connecting member including an input gear portion for receiving a driving force from the gear train, and a drive transmitting portion engageable with the drive receiving portion; wherein a play is provided between the drive receiving portion and the drive transmitting portion in a direction of movement of the drive transmitting portion, wherein when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus and is operated, the space releasing member is moved by the driving force from the gear train through the connecting member, and the space releasing member releases locking between the link and the locking member, thereby ceasing the spaced state of the charging roller, wherein the play provides a movable distance of the space releasing member which is larger than a movement distance through which the space releasing member moves at the time when the developing unit is swung relative to the drum unit. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280622 | COATING FLUID FOR FORMING UNDERCOAT LAYER AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR HAVING UNDERCOAT LAYER FORMED BY APPLYING SAID COATING FLUID - To provide a coating fluid for forming an undercoat layer having high stability, a high quality and long-life electrophotographic photoreceptor capable of forming a high quality image in various environments, with which image defects such as black spots or color spots hardly occur, an image forming apparatus using such a photoreceptor, and an electrophotographic cartridge using such a photoreceptor. | 11-17-2011 |
20110286763 | CHARGE ELEMENT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A charge element includes an element body in parallel to a photoreceptor element and biased to the photoreceptor element by an elastic element, and a gap retainer unit provided on the element body, contacting with an outer face of the photoreceptor element to constantly retain a gap between an outer face of the element body and the outer face of the photoreceptor element, and comprising a first gap retainer element provided on the element body and a second gap retainer element provided on the first gap retainer element and made of a material softer than that of the first gap retainer element and that of the outer face of the photoreceptor element. | 11-24-2011 |
20110286764 | PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND FLANGE MOUNTING METHOD - A photosensitive drum for use with an image forming apparatus, includes a cylinder; a flange provided at a longitudinal end of said cylinder, wherein the flange has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cylinder; and a resin material injected in a gap in a radial direction between the cylinder and the flange and fixing said flange to the cylinder. | 11-24-2011 |
20110293323 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided in which both a long-term potential variation and a short-term potential variation are suppressed, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member are also provided. The intermediate layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes an organic resin and rutile-type titanium oxide crystal particles which contain tin and have an average primary particle diameter of 3 nm or more and 9 nm or less. | 12-01-2011 |
20110299885 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - When an operation member is moved in a state in which a cartridge is mounted to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus, a cartridge supporting member is rotated away from a transfer member so that the cartridge is rotated and enters a state in which the cartridge is inclined at an angle θ | 12-08-2011 |
20110311270 | Drum Unit - A drum unit is provided. The drum unit includes a frame, a photosensitive drum that is rotatably supported by the frame, a contact member that is held to the frame and that contacts a circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. The circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum has an image forming area on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a non-image forming area that is adjacent to the image forming area. The contact member is in surface-contact with the non-image forming area and is not contacting with the image forming area. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311271 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - It is to provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor which is excellent in cleaning properties and does not cause a problem of adhesiveness with a substrate in the case where an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a substrate whose outer diameter is small. There are provided an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided thereon, wherein the conductive substrate has a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter of 25 mm or less and the photosensitive layer contains a copolycarbonate resin having a specific repeating structure as well as an image-forming apparatus having the electrophotographic photoreceptor mounted thereon. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311272 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member unit including an electrophotographic photosensitive member; developing unit, including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member, movable between a contact position in which the developing roller is contacted to the photosensitive member and a separated position in which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive member; a drive transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force for driving the developing roller at one longitudinal end side of the developing unit, wherein the drive transmitting portion provides, to the developing unit, a force for moving the developing unit in a direction from the separated position toward the contact position by receiving the driving force; an urging member for urging, at the other longitudinal end side of the developing unit, the developing unit so that the developing unit is moved in the direction from the separated position toward the contact position; and a force receiving portion, provided only at the other longitudinal end side of the developing unit, for receiving a force, from the main assembly, for moving the developing unit from the contact position to the separated position. | 12-22-2011 |
20110318051 | PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A photosensitive drum cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the photosensitive drum cartridge are provided. The photosensitive drum cartridge includes: a photosensitive drum; a primary cleaning roller which is configured to contact a surface of the photosensitive drum to remove an attached matter on the surface of the photosensitive drum; a first gear which is configured to rotate together with the photosensitive drum; a second gear which is configured to rotate together with the primary cleaning roller; and a third gear which is configured to mesh with the first gear and the second gear, and which has a rotation axis, a position of which is fixed such that a distance from a rotation axis of the first gear is constant. | 12-29-2011 |
20110318052 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic image on the image bearing member; a first gear provided on the developer carrying member and a second gear driving-connected to the first gear; and a supporting portion for rotatably supporting the second gear. The supporting member is mounted on a frame of the process cartridge through a vibration damping member having a vibration transmission performance lower than that of at least the supporting portion. | 12-29-2011 |
20120003002 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, and a developing roller for developing a latent image. A development coupling portion is provided that includes a driven portion. The development coupling portion also includes an intermediary portion configured and positioned to engage with the driven portion, and to be movable relative to the driven portion while maintaining engagement with the driven portion. The development coupling portion still further includes a driving portion configured and positioned 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. | 01-05-2012 |
20120003003 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPER SUPPLY CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with developer. The cartridge further comprises a receiving side developer accommodating portion, a developer receiving opening, a receiving side shutter portion, a receiving side rotatable portion, and a regulating member. When the regulating member takes a regulating position and a first receiving side operating portion takes an operating position, the regulating member engages with the first receiving side operating portion. When the regulating member takes the regulating position and a second receiving side operating portion takes the operating position, the regulating member engages with the second receiving side operating portion. | 01-05-2012 |
20120008978 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the conductive substrate, and a hardened protective layer located overlying the photosensitive layer. The hardened protective layer comprises a hardened material of a hardenable composition comprising a radical-polymerizable compound (A) having a charge transport structure and a radical-polymerizable compound (B) having an adamantane skeleton. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008979 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A CARRIER, A CARRIER, A DEVELOPMENT AGENT, AND A PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A method of manufacturing a carrier including covering a core material with a covering material to form a covering layer on the core material and baking the covering material by heating the core material by high frequency induction applied thereto by a high frequency induction heating device. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008980 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A process cartridge is configured to be mounted in an apparatus main body along a predetermined mounting direction. The process cartridge may include a photosensitive drum; a drum drive input member into which a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum is configured to be inputted; and a frame which holds the photosensitive drum and the drum drive input member. The frame includes a substantially cylindrical first protecting member which is formed on the frame. The first protecting member is configured to accommodate the drum drive input member, and project in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum, wherein a projecting amount of a portion of the first protecting member which lies at a downstream side in the mounting direction is smaller than a projecting amount of a portion of the first protecting member which lies at an upstream side in the mounting direction. | 01-12-2012 |
20120020699 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device includes a photosensitive unit, a developer cartridge, and a developing device. The photosensitive unit includes a photosensitive body. The developer cartridge accommodates developer therein and has a supported portion supported by the photosensitive unit. The developing device is disposed between the photosensitive unit and the developer cartridge and is supported by the photosensitive unit and is pivotally movable about the supported portion. The developing device includes a developer carrying member carrying the developer thereon. The developer carrying member is movable, in accordance with the pivotal movement of the developing device, between a contact position at which the developer carrying member is in contact with the photosensitive body and a separate position at which the developer carrying member is separated from the photosensitive body. | 01-26-2012 |
20120020700 | ELECTROCONDUCTIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is an electroconductive member that can demonstrate stable performance for a long period of time with an electric resistance value being hardly changed even by electrical conduction for a long period of time. | 01-26-2012 |
20120027456 | ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is the following electro-conductive member for electrophotography. The electrical resistance of the member hardly increases even by long-term energization, and hence the member is conducive to stable formation of high-quality electrophotographic images. The electro-conductive member for electrophotography, comprises: an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer, wherein said electro-conductive layer contains an A-B-A type triblock copolymer in which an A-block is a polystyrene having a cation exchange group, and a B-block is a polyolefin, and wherein said A-B-A type triblock copolymer forms a microphase-separated structure comprising a matrix phase formed of said B-block, and one phase formed of the A-block and having a structure selected from the group consisting of a cylindrical structure, a bicontinuous structure and a lamellar structure. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027457 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a cartridge positioning portion for engaging a main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge with respect to a direction crossing the direction of the axis of the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly in a direction parallel with the axis of the photosensitive drum, and a movable member movable between a first position contacting the main assembly in the process of mounting of the cartridge to the main assembly, and a second position contacting a main assembly urging member and receiving a force in the crossing direction to contact the cartridge positioning portion to the main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge in the crossing direction, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. | 02-02-2012 |
20120033991 | PREVENTING DAMAGE TO A PHOTOCONDUCTOR - An in situ replacement cartridge ( | 02-09-2012 |
20120033992 | METHOD FOR PREVENTING DAMAGE TO A PHOTOCONDUCTOR - An in situ replacement of a cartridge ( | 02-09-2012 |
20120039626 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - The image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge mounted perpendicular to a horizontal printing medium delivery path. The developing cartridge contains a developer storage region, a supply roller, and a developing roller, which are successively arranged from the top to the bottom at one side of an optical path through which a vertically irradiated beam from a light scanning unit reaches a photoconductive medium, thereby ensuring the minimum body size. | 02-16-2012 |
20120039627 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT HOUSE A DEVELOPING AGENT FOR FORMING AN IMAGE - A developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus, include at least one developing roller. A plurality of transport members with screw and shaft portions, transport developing agent housed within the device in a longitudinal direction, and form a circulation path. A discharge aperture, formed in a transport path wall of one transport member, discharges developing agent to the outside when a surface of the developing agent transported by one of the plurality of transport members exceeds a predetermined height. The one transport member is adjacent to the developing roller that supplies the developing agent and includes, in a part in the longitudinal direction, an area on which the screw portion is not formed. The discharge aperture is disposed opposite to the area on which the screw portion is not formed, and the length of the discharge aperture is formed smaller than that of the area in the longitudinal direction. | 02-16-2012 |
20120039628 | Imaging Cartridge Having a Displaceable Body - Provided is a printer cartridge having a resilient pliable body. The resilient pliable body of the printer cartridge conforms to obstructions located in different positions inside the printer cartridge receiving cavity of different models and brands of printers. When the resilient pliable front of the printer cartridge contacts an obstruction in the cartridge receiving cavity of a printer, it is displaced in that area so that it is not an obstruction any longer, allowing the printer cartridge to fit and operate in multiple brands and families of printers. | 02-16-2012 |
20120057898 | CARRIER, DEVELOPER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CARRIER, DEVELOPER CONTAINER, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND SUPPLEMENTAL DEVELOPER - A carrier including a magnetic core particle and a resin layer covering a surface of the magnetic core particle. The magnetic core particle is a ferrite particle including strontium in an amount of 0.005 to 3% by mass, measured by fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy. The resin layer comprises a resin obtained by heating a copolymer comprising a silicon-containing unit A and another silicon-containing specific unit B. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057899 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process includes an image bearing member unit; a developing unit; a shaft provided in either the image bearing member unit or the developing unit at an end portion of the process cartridge with respect to an image bearing member axial direction; and an opening, provided in the ether unit at the end portion, engaged with the shaft to permit movement of the developing unit relative to the image bearing member unit. The opening defines a first contact portion, when the process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly, contacting the shaft to permit movement of the developing unit, and defines a second contact portion, when the second contact portion contacts the shaft when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly and does not receive a driving force from the main assembly, contacting the developing unit so the shaft and the first contact portion are in contact. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057900 | Tandem-Type Process Unit Removably Loaded In Image Forming Device - A process unit has process cartridges, a pair of lower supporting plates, and a pair of upper supporting plates. Each process cartridge has a photosensitive drum rotatably about an axis extending in a first direction. Each of the process cartridges has two side faces facing each other in the first direction and a cartridge electrode provided on the side face. The process cartridges are aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each lower supporting plate supports a lower part of the side face of each process cartridge. Each upper supporting plate supports an upper part of the side face of each process cartridge. The pair of upper support plates and the pair of lower support plates provide a side opening facing the side face of each process cartridge to expose the electrode of each process cartridge toward outside through the side opening. | 03-08-2012 |
20120063808 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge supporting member for supporting a plurality of drum cartridges each including a photosensitive drum, wherein the drum cartridge supporting member is movable; a guide portion for guiding a plurality of developing cartridges each including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum; and a moving mechanism for moving the developing cartridge mounted in a main assembly between a developing position in which the electrostatic latent image is to be developed and a retracted position in which the developing cartridge is retracted from the developing position, wherein when the developing cartridge is in the retracted position, the drum cartridge supporting member is permitted to move between the first position and the second position. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063809 | PROTECTIVE AGENT FOR IMAGE BEARING MEMBER, PROTECTIVE LAYER SETTING UNIT, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A protective agent for an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus. The protective agent is applied onto a surface of the image bearing member and includes a hydrophobic organic compound (A), an inorganic fine particle (B), and an inorganic lubricant (C). | 03-15-2012 |
20120063810 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070187 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a process member including a shaft acting on an image bearing member; a bearing member for supporting the process member; and a frame including a supporting portion for movably supporting the bearing member. The bearing member is movable, by moving the supporting portion, between a first position in which the process member acts on the image bearing member and a second position which is remote from the image bearing member more than the first position. The cartridge further includes an urging member for urging the bearing member from the second position toward the first position; a suppressing portion for suppressing dismounting of the bearing member, urged by the urging member, from the supporting portion; and a dismounting portion for permitting dismounting of the bearing member from the frame at the second position. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070188 | ELECTROCONDUCTIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electroconductive member excellent in durability even when applying direct current voltage over a long period of time is provided. Disclosed is an electroconductive member including an electroconductive mandrel and an electroconductive layer, wherein: the electroconductive layer includes a binder resin and an electroconductive metal oxide particle dispersed in the electroconductive layer; the metal oxide particle has a group represented by the following structural formula (1) on the surface of the metal oxide particle; and the group represented by the following structural formula (1) is introduced by substituting a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group as a functional group originating from the metal oxide particle, with the group represented by the following structural formula (1): | 03-22-2012 |
20120070189 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a support frame configured to support a plurality of cartridges each including a photoconductor is allowed to be pulled out from a casing of the apparatus. A plurality of light-emitting parts configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor to light is arranged in each exposure unit which is movable between an exposure position proximate to the corresponding photoconductor and a retreating position away from the photoconductor. A pair of side plates of the support frame, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a main direction in which the light-emitting parts are arranged, has guide slots formed therein, each of which is configured to guide movement of a corresponding exposure unit between its exposure and retreating positions. Each guide slot includes a positioning portion configured to position the exposure unit in position in a subordinate direction perpendicular to the main direction and to an exposure direction. | 03-22-2012 |
20120076532 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A charging member includes a substrate and an outermost layer that is on the substrate, is in contact with a member to be charged, and contains a cross-linking fluorocarbon siloxane rubber composition, wherein the charging member charges the member to be charged by being brought into contact with the member to be charged while a voltage is applied. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076533 | ROTATION DRIVING FORCE TRANSMITTING MEMBER, PHOTORECEPTOR DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotation driving force transmitting member is disposed between a motor section and a main body of a photoreceptor drum. The rotation driving force transmitting member has a convex member which is provided on the photoreceptor drum side and includes a twisted convex portion with an elliptical cross-section and a concave member which is provided on the motor section side and includes a twisted concave portion with an elliptical cross-section, the concave portion being fitted in the convex portion. The rotation driving force transmitting member transmits rotation driving force by the motor section to the photoreceptor drum via the convex member and the concave member in a state where the convex member is subjected to a drawing force toward the concave member side, due to rotation of the motor section in a state where the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted in each other. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076534 | Toner Cartridge and Process Cartridge - A process cartridge includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge includes a frame, a first opening and closing member and a first operating member. The first opening and closing member is configured to open and close a first opening formed in the first wall. The second cartridge includes a housing, a second opening and closing member, a second operating member and a third operating member. The second opening and closing member is movable between an open position in which a second opening formed in the second wall is opened and a closed position in which the second opening is closed. The third operating member faces the second operating member spaced therebetween. When the second cartridge is attached to the first cartridge, the second operating member and the third operating member are integrally displaced via the first operating member. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076535 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member is provided in which exudation of a low molecular weight component from an elastic layer to the surface is suppressed, and at the same time, charging performance of the electrophotographic photosensitive member are provided at a high level. The charging member includes a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer includes a polymer compound having the structural units represented by the following formulas (1), (2) and (3), and having a Si—O—Ti bond, a Ti—O—Ta bond, and a Si—O—Ta bond: | 03-29-2012 |
20120087695 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USING SAME - An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a charge generation layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, a hole transport layer located on the charge generation layer, and a hole transport protective layer located on the hole transport layer. The hole transport protective layer includes a three-dimensionally crosslinked material obtained by irradiating a composition including at least a radically polymerizable hole transport compound with ultraviolet rays or electron beams so that the radically polymerizable hole transport compound causes chain polymerization. In addition, the protective layer includes a specific cyano-containing styryl aromatic compound or a specific cyano-containing distyryl aromatic compound. | 04-12-2012 |
20120093539 | CHARGING MEMBER, METHOD OF PRODUCING THE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is a charging member having a high relative dielectric constant and a small surface free energy, the charging member being capable of maintaining its high relative dielectric constant over a long time period. Also provided are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus effective in increasing a printing speed and lengthening the lifetime of the electrophotographic apparatus. The charging member is a charging member comprising a support, an elastic layer, and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer comprises a cured product layer of a coating agent containing a reaction product between a hydrolyzable silane compound and titanium oxide particles having hydroxyl groups on surfaces thereof at a content of from 0.7 mass % to 35 mass %. The electrophotographic apparatus and the process cartridge each include the charging member. | 04-19-2012 |
20120093540 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - An image forming apparatus has plural process cartridges. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive element; an electrification unit including a discharging unit and an electrification frame which contains the discharging unit and which has a first opening formed between the photosensitive element and the discharging unit and a second opening formed at a position opposite the first opening across the discharging unit; and a process frame including an exposure opening opposing the photosensitive element. The process cartridges are arranged such that one process cartridge of a pair of adjacent process cartridges opposes the second opening and the exposure aperture of the electrification unit of the other process cartridge. Also a regulation member configured to regulate airflow is provided between the pair of process cartridges. The regulation member has elasticity and is disposed in a position between the second opening and the exposure aperture of the electrification unit. | 04-19-2012 |
20120114374 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus ( | 05-10-2012 |
20120114375 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member that can not easily cause charging lines even where it is an electrophotographic photosensitive member employing as a conductive layer a layer containing metal oxide particles is disclosed. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a conductive layer which contains titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus or tungsten. | 05-10-2012 |
20120121289 | Image Forming Apparatus and Cartridge - An image forming apparatus is provided that may include a photosensitive drum configured to rotate around an axis and a first rotational member disposed proximate a periphery of the photosensitive drum and configured to rotate about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus may also include a driving-force transmitting member and a driven member, which includes a transmitted portion and a first engaging projection. The driven member may rotate about the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum together with the photosensitive drum and the transmitted portion of the driven member may receive a driving force transmitted from the driving-force transmitting member. The image forming apparatus may also include a rotational-member driving gear which has a loose fit portion configured to engage with the first engaging projection and a transmission gear portion configured to transmit the driving force to the first rotational member. | 05-17-2012 |
20120121290 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a coupling member. The coupling member is capable of inclining relative to the photosensitive drum such that the coupling axis inclines relative to the drum axis. A regulating portion surrounds the coupling member so as to confine the range of inclination of the coupling member. The regulating portion is provided with a recess that recesses in a direction away from the drum axis and away from the developing roller. An angle between the coupling axis and the drum axis is larger when at least a part of the coupling member is in the recess than when the coupling member contacts another portion of the regulating portion. | 05-17-2012 |
20120121291 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a specific conductive layer and promising less variation in light-area potential and residual potential in reproducing images repeatedly, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such an electrophotographic photosensitive member are provided. Where a test in which a voltage of −1.0 kV having only a DC voltage component is continuously applied to the conductive layer for 1 hour is conducted, the conductive layer has volume resistivity satisfying the following mathematical expressions (1) and (2), as values before and after the test: | 05-17-2012 |
20120128388 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 05-24-2012 |
20120134709 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is a charging member capable of suppressing adhesion of toner or the like to a surface. The charging member comprises: a support; an elastic layer; and a surface layer, and the surface layer contains a polymer having an Si—O—Sr bond and having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1) and a structural unit represented by the following formula (2). | 05-31-2012 |
20120134710 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, including a shaft member and an elastic layer therearound, for developing operation while contacting an image bearing member with a peripheral speed difference; a toner supplying roller contactable to the developing roller; a regulating member, contactable to the developing roller, wherein a length of the regulating member is shorter than that of the developing roller; and a cleaning blade, contactable to the image bearing member. The developing roller has a region capable of carrying the toner regulated by the regulating member and a region, outside thereof, both of which regions are contactable to the image bearing member, wherein the cleaning blade extends over the regions when the cleaning blade is contacted to the image bearing member. The shaft member has an outer diameter in a region outside a first contact region between the regulating member and the developing roller, and an outer diameter in a second contact region between the toner supplying roller and the developing roller wherein the former outer diameter is smaller than the latter outer diameter. | 05-31-2012 |
20120141159 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member is provided with a surface layer that can not easily wear even due to its contact with a photosensitive member and also has an appropriate elasticity contributing to the formation of an appropriate nip between it and the photosensitive member. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer; the surface layer containing a high-molecular compound having an Si—O—Hf linkage and having a constitutional unit represented by the formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the formula (2): | 06-07-2012 |
20120141160 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is a charging member provided with a surface layer capable of suppressing the bleeding of a low-molecular weight component from an elastic layer with improved reliability. The charging member comprises a support, an elastic layer, and a surface layer, and the surface layer contains a polymer having an Si—O—Ta bond and having a structural unit represented by the following structural formula ( | 06-07-2012 |
20120141161 | CHARGING MEMBER - To provide a charging member that can not easily change in electrical resistance even by any long-term continuous application of direct-current voltage and, as a result thereof, may cause less change in its charging performance with time. The charging member has an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive elastic layer. The elastic layer contains a vulcanized rubber. The vulcanized rubber is a vulcanized product of a mixture which contains i) a binder polymer containing a polymer having a butadiene skeleton and ii) carbon black, where the polymer having a butadiene skeleton stands modified at the molecular terminal(s) thereof with a group represented by the following formulas (1) or (2). | 06-07-2012 |
20120141162 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is the following charging member of an electrophotographic apparatus. The charging member suppresses the occurrence of each of a streak-like image, a spot-like image, and a rough image that occur when image formation is performed over a long time period. Also provided are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the charging member. A compound having a siloxane dendrimer structure at a vinyl group or a side chain of a vinyl polymer is incorporated into the surface layer of the charging member comprising a conductive substrate and the surface layer. | 06-07-2012 |
20120148296 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes process units arranged in a predetermined direction to form a process-unit row, each having a photosensitive body and a developer container; a casing accommodating the process units and having a cover opening and closing an opening formed at one side in the predetermined direction, and an exposure member exposing the photosensitive body, and having a laser source, a deflector, and an optical element, and the exposure member is arranged facing the developer container of each process unit in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The process units are detachable from the casing, through the opening of the casing, and the developer container of one process unit arranged at one end of the process-unit row has a protruding portion protruding toward the exposure member to overlap with the exposure member in the orthogonal direction. | 06-14-2012 |
20120163859 | PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE USING PROCESS UNIT - A process unit includes an image bearing member a first frame, a developing unit, a pressing assembly, and a pressing-force adjusting assembly. The first frame supports the image bearing member. The developing unit includes a developing roller and a second frame supporting the developing roller. The pressing assembly generates a first pressing force acting on the developing unit such that the developing roller is in pressure contact with the image bearing member. The pressing-force adjusting assembly contacts one of the first frame and the developing unit and generates a second pressing force acting on the developing unit against the first pressing force. The second pressing force is smaller than the first pressing force. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163860 | IMAGE BEARING MEMBER AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USING THE SAME - An image bearing member having an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive layer, and a cross-linked surface layer overlying the photosensitive layer, which contains a cross-linked polymer and a first compound consisting essentially of a nitrogen atom and a phenyl group, biphenyl group, and condensed polycyclic hydrocarbon group, or a second compound consisting essentially of a nitrogen atom and hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, or aryl groups, substituted or non-substituted alkyl groups, substituted or non-substituted alkoxy groups, substituted or non-substituted aralkyl groups, substituted or non-substituted aryl group, substituted or non-substituted alkylene groups, cyano groups, nitro groups, or —OCO═CH | 06-28-2012 |
20120163861 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a first cartridge side portion-to-be-guided, a second cartridge side portion-to-be-guided, a first cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated, a second cartridge side portion-to-be-regulated, a first cartridge side portion to be positioned, and a second cartridge side portion to be positioned. The process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly with a first cartridge side portion to be positioned at a first main assembly side positioning portion by the urging force of an urging member and with the second cartridge side portion to be positioned at a second main assembly side positioning portion by the urging force of the urging member. | 06-28-2012 |
20120170953 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ASSEMBLYING, DISASSEMBLYING REMANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR - A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum unit, and a developing roller. The apparatus further comprises a developer supplying roller, and a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer. A developing unit is swingably coupled with the drum unit and supporting the developing roller, the developer supplying roller, and the developer accommodating portion. A first-end developing-device spacing member is provided rotatably about an axis of a shaft at a first end portion of the developing unit to limit rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit to maintain spacing between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A second-end developing-device spacing member is provided rotatably about an axis of a shaft at a second end portion of the developing unit to limit rotation of the developing unit relative to the drum unit to maintain spacing between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. | 07-05-2012 |
20120177398 | Image Forming Apparatus Including Process Cartridge - An image forming apparatus including a process cartridge having a developing device and detachably installable in the image forming apparatus, and a drive unit to rotatively drive the developing device. The drive unit includes a drive force generator to generate a drive force to rotatively drive the developing device, a drive substrate to support the drive force generator, a drive shaft to transmit the drive force to the developing device, a bracket having a cylindrical bearing seating, a bracket bearing provided inside the bearing seating to support the drive shaft in a thrust direction, and an elastic member provided between the bearing seating and the bracket bearing to allow movement of the drive shaft in a radial direction, and a substrate bearing provided to the drive substrate to support the drive shaft in both the radial and thrust directions. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177399 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A developing unit and an image forming apparatus including the developing unit. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a developing cartridge detachably mounted at the main body while having a photosensitive body to form an electrostatic latent image, a toner cartridge detachably mounted at the main body to supply the developing cartridge with toner, at least one first position regulating member provided at the developing cartridge, the first position regulating member to regulate a relative position between the developing cartridge and the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted at the main body, and at least one second position regulating member provided at the toner cartridge, the second position regulating member to come into contact with the first position regulating member to regulate the relative position between the developing cartridge and the toner cartridge. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177400 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor unit, a developing unit to feed a developer to a photoconductor of the photoconductor unit, the developing unit being provided rotatable relative to the photoconductor unit, and a link unit to allow a charging roller of the photoconductor unit to come into contact with or be separated from a photoconductor while in linkage with rotation of the developing unit. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177401 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing apparatus includes a frame supporting the developing roller; a sealing member provided at each of one and the other ends of the developing device frame and contacted to the developing roller to prevent leakage of the developer; and a developing blade contacted to the developing roller to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developing roller, the developing blade having a free end in a downstream side with respect to a rotational moving direction of the developing roller, wherein each of one and the other ends of the developing blade is provided with a projected portion projecting in the rotational axis direction between the developing roller and the sealing member. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177402 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus are provided which have been so made as for any C-set images to be kept from occurring; the C-set images occurring in a charging member of an electrophotographic apparatus where the charging member and an electrophotographic photosensitive member have been left to stand in contact with each other over a long period of time. In a charging member having a conductive support and a surface layer, the surface layer is incorporated with a specific compound. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177403 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a movable member including a mounting portion for detachably mounting a cartridge, with the movable member being movable from an outside toward an inside of a main assembly of the apparatus while supporting the cartridge. The apparatus further comprises an output contact and an intermediary electrical contact configured and positioned to supply a bias voltage received by the output contact to the cartridge, with intermediary electrical contact being disposed on the mounting portion and being elastically deformable in a moving direction in which the movable member is movable between the outside and the inside. The cartridge includes an input electrical contact and a cartridge side contact portion. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177404 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is provided that is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing unit. The process cartridge further includes a portion to be positioned, first and second displacing portions, and a portion to be urged. The process cartridge also includes a pull-up force receiving portion, disposed at a trailing side of the cartridge, for being urged by a pull-up force of a pull-up member. | 07-12-2012 |
20120183326 | PACKAGING ARRANGEMENT FOR IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS ACCOMMODATING PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A packaging arrangement of an image formation apparatus and a process cartridge includes a main body formed with an accommodation chamber configured to accommodate a process cartridge containing toner used for image formation. The main body is formed with an opening through which the process cartridge is detachably attached. The image formation apparatus is configured to be packaged with the process cartridge attached in the accommodation chamber. An openable cover configured to openably cover the opening is provided, and a drying agent is detachably arranged in a clearance formed between an inner face of the accommodation chamber and the process cartridge attached in the accommodation chamber. A part of the drying agent is exposed to outside through the opening of the clearance when the cover is opened, while the process cartridge and the drying agent are covered when the cover is closed. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183327 | Packaging Arrangement for Image Formation Apparatus Accommodating Process Cartridge - An image formation apparatus is configured such that a process cartridge can be detachably attached through an opening, at which an openable cover is provided. A sheet accommodated in a sheet feed tray arranged below the process cartridge is to be upwardly fed along a first sheet feed path, while a second feed path is defined by the bottom face of the process cartridge and a path composing member oppositely arranged below the process cartridge. An opened portion is formed at a position, on the opening side, where the second feed path is connected to the first feed path. A first drying agent is arranged in the second feed path. An end of the first drying agent or a member connected to the first drying agent is exposed to outside of the second feed path through the opened portion so as to be visually recognizable when the cover is opened. | 07-19-2012 |
20120189343 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 07-26-2012 |
20120189344 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 07-26-2012 |
20120195629 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING INTERMEDIATE IMAGE TRANSFER ENDLESS BELT - An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt operating as an intermediate image transfer member. A plurality of process cartridges is juxtaposed along the endless belt. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum confronting the endless belt and a developing agent carrying member disposed in confronting relation with the photosensitive drum for supplying toner to the photosensitive drum. A first conveying member is provided in each process cartridge. A second conveying member is provided in the housing, and the first conveying member conveys a recording sheet in cooperation with the second conveying member. | 08-02-2012 |
20120195630 | Photosensitive Cartridge - A photosensitive cartridge includes: a photosensitive member mounted to the photosensitive cartridge such that a surface thereof is movable in a first direction; an electric discharge electrode that extends in a second direction at an interval with the surface of the photosensitive member, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction and is parallel with the surface of the photosensitive member; a frame holding the photosensitive member and the electric discharge electrode and including an opening at an opposite side of the photosensitive member across the electric discharge electrode, the opening extending in the second direction; a cleaner movable along the opening so as to clean the electric discharge electrode; and a reinforcement member, which is a separate member from the cleaner, and which is contactable the frame to reinforce a surrounding part of the opening. | 08-02-2012 |
20120195631 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A developing roller used for formation of an electrophotographic image with high quality is provided in which even in storage and use under a high temperature and high humidity environment, peel-off of a surface layer from an elastic layer is suppressed, and a toner hardly adheres to the surface of the developing roller. | 08-02-2012 |
20120201566 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller. A coupling member is provided that receives a rotating force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and transmits the rotating force to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum through a drum flange. The drum flange has (i) a first regulated portion capable of being regulated by a first regulating portion, (ii) a second regulated portion capable of being regulated by a second regulating portion, (iii) a connecting portion that is connected with the coupling member so that a rotational axis of the coupling member is inclineable relative to a rotational axis of the drum flange, and (iv) a gear portion that transmits the rotational force from the coupling member to the developing roller. | 08-09-2012 |
20120201567 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum frame, a movable developing frame taking a position where the roller contacts the drum, and a force receiver having first and second force receivers for receiving first and second external forces. The second force receiver moves relative to the developing frame. The second force receiver takes a stand-by position retracted from an operating position when the first force receiver receives the first external force, and moves from the stand-by to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position. The distance the second force receiver moves from the stand-by to the operating position is larger than the distance the first force receiver moves by the first external force. | 08-09-2012 |
20120201568 | DEVELOPING ROLLER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is a developing roller in which: even when the roller is stored under a high-temperature, high-humidity environment over a long period of time, bleeding is suppressed; and the fusion of toner to its surface upon repeated output of images under low temperature and low humidity is suppressed. The developing roller includes: a mandrel; an elastic layer on an outer periphery of the mandrel; and a surface layer on an outer periphery of the elastic layer, in which: the surface layer contains carbon black and a polyester-polyurethane resin containing a specific structure; and the surface layer has a storage modulus E′ as measured at a temperature of 0° C. and a frequency of 10 Hz of 5 MPa or more and 20 MPa or less. | 08-09-2012 |
20120207512 | Image Forming Apparatus and Process Cartridge - An image forming apparatus is provided. An image forming apparatus includes: a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum; a developing cartridge configured to be movably attached to the drum cartridge, the developing cartridge having: a developing roller; a bearing member; and a developing drive input member; and a spacing member for pressing against a predetermined portion of the developing cartridge and moving the developing cartridge such that the developing roller is spaced apart from the photosensitive drum, wherein the drum cartridge has an abutment portion with which the bearing member is brought into abutment, and wherein a straight line which connects the abutment portion with a center of a rotational axis of the developing drive input member extends substantially in the same direction as a connecting or disconnecting direction of the developing roller to or from the photosensitive drum. | 08-16-2012 |
20120213549 | DRUM SUPPORTING MECHANISM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A supporting mechanism supporting an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer formed through a dip-coating on a peripheral surface of a cylindrical member, said supporting mechanism includes a bearing member supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum while contacting such a portion of the photosensitive layer as is away from one axial end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum which have taken a lower position in the dip-coating, toward an axially central part. | 08-23-2012 |
20120219319 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a process cartridge detachably installable in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a main reference portion receiver to receive a main reference portion provided to the process cartridge, a sub-reference portion receiver to receive a sub-reference portion provided to the process cartridge, and a pressing mechanism to press the process cartridge to cause the main reference portion to contact the main reference portion receiver upon installation of the process cartridge in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The pressing mechanism presses the process cartridge in a direction angled with respect to a line connecting a center of the main reference portion with a contact position where the pressing mechanism contacts the process cartridge. | 08-30-2012 |
20120219320 | Image Forming Device and Process Unit - A process unit includes: a photosensitive drum defining a first direction parallel to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, and including: a tubular body having a first end portion containing a distal end; and a fitting member un-rotatably provided at the first end portion; a bearing member rotatably supporting the fitting member at a position inward from the distal end in the first direction; and a side plate configured to un-rotatably support the bearing portion. | 08-30-2012 |
20120219321 | TONER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A toner including a binder resin, a colorant and protruding portions on a surface of the toner, wherein the average length of long sides of the protruding portions is 0.1 μm or greater, but less than 0.5 μm, wherein the standard deviation of the lengths of the long sides of the protruding portions is 0.2 or less, and wherein the protruding portions have a coverage of 30% to 90%. | 08-30-2012 |
20120224885 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND DRUM UNIT MOUNTED TO THE SAME - An image forming device includes a photosensitive unit, a developing unit, and a positioning unit. The photosensitive unit is configured to support a photosensitive body. The developing unit includes a developer carrying body and a unit case. The positioning unit configured to adjust a positional relationship between the developer carrying body and the photosensitive body. The positioning unit includes a separating unit configured to separate the developer carrying body from the photosensitive body, and a high pressure unit configured to provide a high pressure contact between the developer carrying body and the photosensitive body. A pressure in the high pressure contact is higher than a pressure in a normal pressure contact. The normal pressure contact is such a pressure that the developer carrying body and the photosensitive body are held during a printing operation. | 09-06-2012 |
20120230724 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including: a main body; a process cartridge being detachably mounted to the main body along a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis direction, the process cartridge including, the photosensitive member, and a charger facing a surface of the photosensitive member; and an exposure device including, a plurality of light emitting devices arranged along the rotational axis direction, and a facing part, wherein the facing part is a part of the exposure device that is positioned closest to the photosensitive member and faces the surface of the photosensitive member when seen from the rotational axis direction, at a state in which the process cartridge is mounted, and wherein the charger is positioned at an opposite side of the exposure device with respect to a second line which is parallel with the mounting direction and passes the facing part when seen from the rotational axis direction. | 09-13-2012 |
20120230725 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A developing device including a developer bearing member containing a magnetic field generator having multiple magnetic poles and a developer containing chamber is provided. The developer containing chamber contains a two-component developer comprising magnetic carrier particles having a saturated magnetization of 58 to 70 emu/g in a magnetic field of 1 KOe and toner particles, and has a divider to define an upper supply chamber and a lower collection chamber. The supply chamber includes a supply conveyer to supply the two-component developer to the developer bearing member at an upstream side from the developing area. The collection chamber includes a collection conveyer to collect the two-component developer from the developer bearing member at a downstream side from the developing area. The multiple magnetic poles includes three developer bearing poles capable of bearing the developer on its surface. | 09-13-2012 |
20120230726 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 09-13-2012 |
20120230727 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An undercoat layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a polymer having a specific repeating structural unit in order to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member that suppresses positive ghost, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 09-13-2012 |
20120237252 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. | 09-20-2012 |
20120237253 | ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPING TONER, TONER CONTAINER AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrostatic image developing toner including: toner particles; wherein the toner particles each contain: a core particle including a first resin and a colorant; and fine resin particles each formed of a second resin and existing in a surface of the core particle, wherein part of each fine resin particle is embedded in the core particle to form an embedded region, and the remaining part of the fine resin particle is exposed on the surface of the core particle to form an exposed region, and wherein each toner particle satisfies an expression of R | 09-20-2012 |
20120243904 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus, each of which has the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charge transport layer used as a surface layer contains a charge transport material, a polycarbonate resin A which has a specific amount of a specific repeating structural unit of a specific siloxane moiety, and a polyester resin C and/or a polycarbonate resin D, each of which has a specific repeating structural unit. In the charge transport layer, a matrix-domain structure is formed in which a matrix is formed from the charge transport material and the polyester resin C and/or the polycarbonate resin D, and domains are formed in the above matrix from the polycarbonate resin A. | 09-27-2012 |
20120243905 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT, DEVELOPING UNIT AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge usable with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a main assembly of which is not provided with a mechanism for moving a main assembly side engaging portion provided in the main assembly to transmit a rotational force to an image bearing member in the direction of the rotational axis of the image bearing member by an opening and closing operation of a cover member for the main assembly. The process cartridge can be mounted to the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the image bearing member without deterioration of the usability performance. With the process cartridge, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be downsized. in accordance with the movement of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a coupling member which is inclinable and translatable relative to a rotational axis of a rotational force transmitted member enters an inside of the recess of the main assembly side engaging portion to receive the rotational force from the main assembly engaging portion. | 09-27-2012 |
20120251167 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes image forming units which are detachably mounted on an apparatus body, and each of which includes an image holding body and a developing unit provided with a developing member that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body, shaft members which rotatably support the developing units, urging members which urge the developing members toward the image holding bodies, supply devices which supply developers to the developing units, transport passages which are provided so as to extend toward the developing members and the image holding bodies, and elastic members which form a part of the transport passage and are extensibly deformed so as to absorb the deviation of the relative position between the supply port and the receiving port. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251168 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic image forming method, including fixing one or more chromatic toner images on a recording medium; and fixing a transparent toner image on the chromatic toner image to partially or wholly increase glossiness of the recording medium, wherein the chromatic toner image has an average length (Sm) of concavities and convexities of from 50 to 350 μm. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251169 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming method including forming an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member; developing the electrostatic latent image using a color toner and a transparent toner to form a color toner image and a transparent toner image thereon; transferring the color toner image and the transparent toner image to a recording material; and fixing the color toner image and the transparent toner image on the recording material. The color toner includes a polyester resin and a colorant, and the loss tangent of the color toner has a maximum peak at a temperature of from 80° C. to 160° C., and is not greater than 3 at the maximum peak. The transparent toner includes a crystalline polyester resin, and the loss tangent of the transparent toner has a maximum peak at a temperature of from 80° C. to 160° C., and is not less than 3 at the maximum peak. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251170 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device includes a motor capable of positive rotation and reverse rotation, a photoconductor drum, a developing roller, a contact/separation cam and a switching cam. The contact/separation cam is configured to move the developing roller. The switching cam is configured to switch a position of a transmission member. An electromagnetic clutch is disposed between one of the contact/separation cam and the switching cam and the motor. The other cam is connected to the motor without the electromagnetic clutch. The contact/separation cam and the switching cam are driven by using the positive rotation and the reverse rotation of the motor and the electromagnetic clutch. | 10-04-2012 |
20120251171 | CONDUCTIVE MEMBER - Provided is such a conductive member that a change in its electrical resistance value caused by its long-term use is reduced to the extent possible. The conductive member has a conductive support and a conductive layer, the conductive layer contains a rubber composition formed of a modified epichlorohydrin rubber, and the modified epichlorohydrin rubber has a unit represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent hydrogen or a saturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms. | 10-04-2012 |
20120257906 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE - The present invention relates to a process cartridge, comprising a photosensitive drum driving component in conjunction with an image forming apparatus driving head, wherein said image forming apparatus driving head includes a twisted recess and said photosensitive drum driving component includes a drum gear provided at an end of a photosensitive drum and connected to the photosensitive drum, a drum shaft outwardly projected in an axis direction from an end of the drum gear for rotatably supporting said photosensitive drum during operation and a boss outwardly projected from an end surface of the drum shaft. A first teeth and a second teeth in a radial direction of the boss are provided on a side wall of said boss, wherein said first teeth is engaged with a twisted-section of the twisted recess in said image forming apparatus and said second teeth is engaged with an end surface edge of other twisted-sections of the twisted recess in said image forming apparatus. Thereby, the process cartridge according to this invention ensures an effectively and continuously transmitted driving force and contains a simple prepared photosensitive drum driving head, which will be less damaged even during long time operation. | 10-11-2012 |
20120257907 | PHTHALOCYANINE CRYSTAL, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE-FORMING DEVICE USING THE SAME - Provided is an excellent phthalocyanine crystal having high sensitivity and little fluctuation in sensitivity for a humidity change in a use environment and applicable to the martial for solar battery, electronic paper, electrophotographic photoreceptor, etc. Namely, phthalocyanine crystal obtained by bringing a phthalocyanine crystal precursor into contact with an aromatic aldehyde compound to convert the crystal form. Also, provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor that not only exhibits high sensitivity but also has little fluctuation in sensitivity for a humidity change in a use environment. Further, provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor cartridge and an image-forming device, both of which can produce a stable quality images for a humidity change in a use environment by using the electrophotographic photoreceptor. | 10-11-2012 |
20120257908 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus is provided for forming an image on a recording material. The apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member on which a plurality of cartridges is detachably mountable. The cartridge supporting member is movable between an inside position inside a main assembly of the image forming apparatus and an outside position outside the main assembly. A plurality of preventing members are provided movably in the main assembly, with each preventing member being movable between a first position in which each preventing member prevents movement of the cartridge supporting member from the outside position to the inside position by contacting the cartridge supporting member, and a second position, retracted from the first position, in which each preventing member permits the movement of the cartridge supporting member. | 10-11-2012 |
20120257909 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus is provided for forming an image on a recording material. The apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges, and a cartridge supporting member including a plurality of mounting portions in which the plurality of cartridges is detachably mountable. A plurality of preventing members are each provided movably in an associated cartridge, corresponding to the plurality of mounting portions. Each preventing member is movable between a first position in which each preventing member prevents movement of the cartridge supporting member from an outside position to an inside position by contacting the main assembly, and a second position, retracted from the first position, in which each preventing member permits the movement of the cartridge supporting member. | 10-11-2012 |
20120263494 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER - Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member which is excellent in terms of both continuous reduction of contact stress with contact members and the like and potential stability during repeated use. A charge transport layer which serves as a surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member has a matrix-domain structure including a matrix containing a component [β] (polycarbonate resin D having a specific repeating structural unit) and a charge-transporting substance and domains containing a component [α] (polycarbonate resin A having a repeating structural unit including a specific siloxane moiety). | 10-18-2012 |
20120269543 | Electrophotographic Image Forming Apparatus - A cartridge has a first frame supporting a photosensitive member and a second frame supporting a developer carrying member. The first and second frames can take either a contact position where the two members are in contact with each other or a separated position where the two members are separated. A supporting member supporting the cartridge is movable between a mount position in a housing and a pull-out position outside the housing. When the supporting member is held in the pull-out position, the first and second frames are retrained in the separated position. The cartridge is supported on the supporting member to be movable between a first position where image formation is disabled and a second position where image formation is enabled. The cartridge is moved from the first position to the second position attendant to the movements of the supporting member from the pull-out position to the mount position. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269544 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A development device includes a development casing, a developer bearer disposed facing a latent image bearer through an opening formed in the development casing, a magnetic field generator, a developer regulator disposed facing the developer bearer, a first seal member to cover a clearance between the latent image bearer and a rim of the development casing upstream from the opening, and a second seal member. The first seal member includes a first end portion fixed to the rim of the development casing and a second end portion in contact with the latent image bearer, and the second seal member includes a first end portion fixed to an inner face of the development casing farther from the latent image bearer than the first seal member, and a second end portion hanging to contact the developer carried on the developer bearer downstream from the developer regulator. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269545 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device for use in image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing member configured to carry a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image to be formed on an image bearing member, a frame member configured to support the developer bearing member, a charging member configured to charge the image bearing member, a developer regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the developer to be carried by the developer bearing member, and a moving member configured to be rotatably disposed on the frame member and to support the developer regulating member, the moving member pressing the developer regulating member against the developer bearing member by a force received by contact of the charging member with the image bearing member. | 10-25-2012 |
20120275821 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes an image forming unit including an image carrier, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit, the image carrier carrying a latent image and a toner image formed by developing the latent image with toner, the image carrier transferring the toner image onto a transfer body, the developing unit forming the toner image by developing the latent image with the toner, the cleaning unit cleaning the image carrier by removing the toner that remains on the image carrier; a container attachment unit that is provided at a position separated from the image forming unit and to which a toner container is detachably attached, the toner container containing the toner to be supplied to the developing unit; and a toner receiving unit that extends in a space between the image forming unit and the container attachment unit and receives the toner removed from the image carrier. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275822 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material includes mounting means for detachably mounting a plurality of process cartridges each including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. Movable members are provided that are actable on first and second clutches for switching between an operation state for transmitting the driving force to the developing rollers and a non-operation state not transmitting the driving force thereto. Also provided is a switching member for switching among a first mode for transmitting the driving force to the developing rollers of all of the process cartridges, a second mode for not transmitting the driving force to any one of the developing rollers, and a third mode for transmitting the driving force only to the developing roller of a black process cartridge. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275823 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable members moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275824 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE - The invention relates to a process cartridge, which comprises a process cartridge housing, a photosensitive member, a driving force receiving opening, a retractable mechanism and a control mechanism, wherein the photosensitive member is arranged inside the process cartridge housing; the driving force receiving opening is connected with the photosensitive member and provides a driving force for the photosensitive member; the retractable mechanism allows the driving force receiving opening to extend or retract in the axial direction of the photosensitive member; and the control mechanism controls the extension and retraction of the retractable mechanism. | 11-01-2012 |
20120281997 | ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE IMAGE DEVELOPING TONER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE IMAGE DEVELOPER, TONER CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image includes: an amorphous polyester resin; a crystalline polyester resin; and a releasing agent, an amount of the releasing agent in the toner being from 5 to 15% by weight; an amount of the releasing agent present at a surface of the toner being from 10 to 35% by weight; and the toner showing at least one endothermic peak in each of a temperature range from 45 to 60° C., a temperature range from 65 to 80° C., and a temperature range from 85 to 100° C. in a temperature-rise process of differential scanning calorimetry of the toner. | 11-08-2012 |
20120281998 | IONIC ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE RESIN AND ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY - Provided is an electro-conductive member for electrophotography that stably shows high electro-conductivity even under a low-temperature, low-humidity environment. The electro-conductive member for electrophotography has an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer. The electro-conductive layer contains an ionic electro-conductive resin and an ion carrier. The ionic electro-conductive resin has at least one structure selected from the group consisting of structures represented by the following formulae (1), (2), (3), and (4), and a structure represented by the following formula (5) (in the formula (1) to the formula (5), R | 11-08-2012 |
20120281999 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 11-08-2012 |
20120288299 | TONER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A set of toners including yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner, each of which containing a binder resin containing a crystalline resin and a non-crystalline resin, a releasing agent, and a corresponding coloring agent, wherein the following relationship is satisfied: 0.811-15-2012 | |
20120288300 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOCONDUCTOR, PROCESS CARTRIDGE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoconductor that can improve unevenness in image density and reduce image defects such as fogging and dots. The electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive support, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer. The intermediate layer includes metal oxide particles surface-treated with a titanium chelate compound represented by the following formula (1): | 11-15-2012 |
20120288301 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member is provided which can not easily cause vibration and can stably charge a photosensitive member, even where a high-frequency alternating-current voltage is applied thereto. It is a charging member having an electrically conductive substrate, an electrically conductive elastic layer and a surface layer, and the elastic layer has, in the order from the substrate side, a first rubber layer and a second rubber layer laminated to the first rubber layer, and, where the natural vibration frequency of the first rubber layer is represented by f | 11-15-2012 |
20120288302 | ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - When a polymer blend of an NBR and an alkylene oxide-polymerized polymer is used as the electro-conductive elastic layer of an electro-conductive member for electrophotography, a change in shape of the electro-conductive member occurs owing to its expansion due to water absorption, thereby causing image unevenness in some cases. In addition, when the ratio at which the alkylene oxide-polymerized polymer is blended is reduced for suppressing the shape change due to water absorption, image unevenness resulting from the insufficiency of electro-conductivity occurs in some cases. When an electro-conductive member for electrophotography having an electro-conductive elastic layer containing an NBR to which a specific alkylene oxide oligomer is graft-bonded is used, high ionic electro-conductivity is obtained and a change in its shape due to water absorption is reduced. | 11-15-2012 |
20120294646 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in a state of carrying a first cartridge and a second cartridge, and a drawn position in which said first cartridge and said second cartridge are mountable and demountable relative to said cartridge supporting member. The supporting member includes a first mounting portion for a first cartridge, and a second mounting portion for a second cartridge which is disposed upstream of said first mounting portion with respect to a supporting member drawing direction. A first guide portion for the first cartridge, and a second guide portion for said second cartridge, wherein a downward movement distance of said second cartridge when the cartridge is demounted from said second mounting portion is larger than that of said first cartridge. | 11-22-2012 |
20120294647 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a process cartridge. The developing unit of the process cartridges includes a first portion to be urged and a second portion to be urged. The main assembly includes a guide portion for guiding the first portion to be urged and the second portion to be urged during mounting of the process cartridge in the main assembly. The guide portion includes, in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, a first hole for permitting thereinto entry of the first portion to be urged and a second hole for permitting thereinto entry of the second portion to be urged. | 11-22-2012 |
20120301177 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, AND UREA COMPOUND - An electrophotographic photosensitive member that includes the outermost surface layer formed by curing a mixture of a charge transporting substance having a chain-polymerizable functional group and a urea compound represented by the following formula (1) or (2), and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member. | 11-29-2012 |
20120301178 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer that contains a polymer produced by the polymerization of a compound having a chain-polymerizable functional group. The compound having a chain-polymerizable functional group is a compound represented by the formula (1). | 11-29-2012 |
20120301179 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer that contains a urea compound having two or more urea moieties. Each of the urea moieties has a carbonyl group and two nitrogen atoms. Each of the two nitrogen atoms connects to an alkyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group. | 11-29-2012 |
20120301180 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided a charging member which can prevent any contaminants deposited on a cleaning member from adhering thereto by making low a surface free energy and coefficient of friction thereof. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer, and the surface layer contains a polymer having an Si—O—W linkage; the polymer having a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (2): | 11-29-2012 |
20120301181 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER - An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a charge-transporting layer which is a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; wherein the charge-transporting layer has a matrix-domain structure having: a matrix comprising: at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polycarbonate resin C and a polyester resin D; and at least one charge-transporting substance selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a compound represented by the following formula (1′), and a domain comprising a polycarbonate resin A. | 11-29-2012 |
20120301182 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER - The present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a charge-transporting layer as the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a matrix-domain structure including: a matrix including a component β (at least one resin of a polycarbonate resin C having a specific repeating structural unit and a polyester resin D having a specific repeating structural unit), and γ (charge-transporting substance having a specific structure); and a domain including a component α (polycarbonate resin A having a repeating structural unit containing a specific siloxane moiety). | 11-29-2012 |
20120308260 | PROTECTIVE AGENT BLOCK, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A protective agent block including metal soap; and boron nitride, wherein the weight ratio Mr of boron nitride to the metal soap is calculated from the relationship 1 based on Raman spectrum measured at each of multiple places on the protective agent block and the average of the measured weight ratios Mr ranges from 0.050 to 0.330 with a variation coefficient of 0.075 or less: | 12-06-2012 |
20120308261 | CONDUCTIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is a conductive member for electrophotography whose electrical resistance hardly increases even by long-term application of a high voltage. The conductive member for electrophotography is a conductive member for electrophotography, including: a conductive support; and a conductive elastic layer, in which: the elastic layer contains an A-B-A type block copolymer constituted of a non-ion conducting block (A block) and an ion conducting block (B block) having an ion exchange group; the block copolymer forms a microphase-separated structure; and the A block forms any structure selected from the group consisting of a spherical structure, a cylindrical structure, and a bicontinuous structure, and the B block forms a matrix for the structure. | 12-06-2012 |
20120315062 | CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and an electroconductive developer layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer deposited on the developer carrying member. A part of the developer layer thickness regulating member is directly contactable to the main assembly electrical contact. | 12-13-2012 |
20120315063 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A downsized electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which a drawer member mounting a photosensitive drum and a developing unit is mounted into a main assembly of the apparatus, and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum can be contacted and spaced relative to each other is provided. It includes a process cartridge, a main assembly of the apparatus, and a drawer member | 12-13-2012 |
20120321342 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ASSEMBLY METHOD OF PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge configured to be removably mounted on an apparatus body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive unit including a photosensitive drum; a developing unit including a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, and configured to be rotatably coupled with the photosensitive unit around only a single center of rotation at one end side of the process cartridge in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum; and a link member provided at the other end side of the process cartridge in the axial direction, and configured to be rotatably coupled with the photosensitive unit and the developing unit and promote relative movement between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321343 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, detachably mounts a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and includes first and second positioning portions respectively positioning the drum upstream and downstream with respect to a cartridge mounting direction, a coupling engaging a drum coupling and transmitting a driving force to the drum, and a support supporting the cartridge at a first position positioning the drum to the first and second positioning portions and at a second position spacing the drum away from the first and second positioning portions to permit cartridge mounting and dismounting. The support includes a guide engaging the cartridge, and a third positioning portion limiting cartridge rotation relative to the first and second positioning portions when the coupling transmits a driving force to the drum coupling and for positioning the cartridge lower portion at an upstream position with respect to the mounting direction. | 12-20-2012 |
20130004201 | Image Forming Apparatus - A color multifunction printer as an example of an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges each containing a photoconductor; a support frame configured to support the cartridges arranged in tandem, the support frame being allowed to be pulled out horizontally from a casing of the apparatus to a position in which each of the cartridges is detachable from the support frame; and a plurality of exposure units mounted to the support frame, wherein each of the exposure units is disposed opposite to a corresponding photoconductor and is configured to expose the photoconductor to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. Each of the cartridges is configured to be detachable in such a direction that the photoconductor in the cartridge moves away from the corresponding exposure unit upon detachment. | 01-03-2013 |
20130004202 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic member whose performances are hardly changed even after a long-term use is provided. An electrophotographic member having a mandrel, an elastic layer and a surface layer, wherein the surface layer contains a titanium oxide film having chemical bonds represented by the following formula (1) and formula (2) is provided. | 01-03-2013 |
20130016994 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A process cartridge is configured to be mounted in an apparatus main body along a predetermined mounting direction. The process cartridge may include a photosensitive drum; a drum drive input member into which a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum is configured to be inputted; and a frame which holds the photosensitive drum and the drum drive input member. The frame includes a substantially cylindrical first protecting member which is formed on the frame. The first protecting member is configured to accommodate the drum drive input member, and project in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum, wherein a projecting amount of a portion of the first protecting member which lies at a downstream side in the mounting direction is smaller than a projecting amount of a portion of the first protecting member which lies at an upstream side in the mounting direction. | 01-17-2013 |
20130028634 | DEVELOPER SUPPORT MEMBER, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing roller which is excellent in image quality and image durability and stably outputs a uniform image, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus using the developing roller are provided. The developing roller has a mandrel, an elastic layer and a surface layer covering the elastic layer surface, wherein the surface layer contains a urethane resin having at least one structure of the followings A) and B) between two adjacent urethane linkages: A) a structure represented by the following structural formula (1), and at least one structure selected from the group consisting of structures represented by the following structural formulae (2) and (3), and B) a structure represented by the following structural formula (4), and the surface layer contains polyurethane resin particles of which the elastic part of the indentation work based on ISO 14577-1 is 80% or more, is obtained: | 01-31-2013 |
20130034369 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member is provided which can uniformly charge a photosensitive member without requiring any pre-exposure means in a low-, medium- or high-speed electrophotographic apparatus, and has a sufficient charging performance. An electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge are also provided which can keep multi-color ghost images from occurring and can form high-grade electrophotographic images stably. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer, which surface layer contains a high-molecular compound having an Si—O—Nb linkage; the high-molecular compound having a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (2). | 02-07-2013 |
20130051845 | Cartridge - There is provided a cartridge including an image carrier, a first frame, a second frame, a peeling member and a pressing portion. The first frame has a pair of first wall portions rotatably supporting the image carrier and a second wall portion extending along an axis direction of the image carrier to connect the pair of first wall portions. The second frame is attached to the first frame so as to cover the image carrier. The peeling member has a peeling portion projecting from the second wall portion toward the image carrier and being configured to peel off a sheet from the image carrier by the peeling portion. The pressing portion is provided to the second frame, which is configured to move the peeling portion closer to the image carrier by pressing and elastically deforming the second wall portion. | 02-28-2013 |
20130051846 | Photosensitive Member Cartridge, Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus Using the Same - A photosensitive member cartridge includes: a photosensitive member extending in an axial direction; a frame including a pair of photosensitive member receiving portions configured to receive axial end portions of the photosensitive member; and a pair of holding members configured to hold the axial end portions of the photosensitive member. The frame includes a first frame and a second frame separable from each other in a prescribed direction perpendicular to the axial direction and mating with each other such that the first frame provides a part of each photosensitive member receiving portion and the second frame provides a remaining part of each photosensitive member receiving portion. Each of the holding members is engaged with both of the first frame and the second frame. | 02-28-2013 |
20130058681 | DRIVING ASSEMBLY FOR PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM ASSEMBLY, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a photosensitive drum driving assembly, a photosensitive drum assembly, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus. The driving assembly including a supporting body and an engaging protrusion is connected to a drive shaft having a triangular twisted hole to transfer a rotary driving force from an image forming apparatus. The engaging protrusion twistedly protrudes to be inserted into the twisted hole, and includes three or more line contact portions on its cross-section perpendicular to the protrusion direction. The line contact portions are in line-contact with the surface of the twisted hole, and at least one portion of a surface formed by continuously joining the line-contact portions along the protrusion direction is a twisted contact-surface to receive the rotary driving force transferred by the drive shaft. | 03-07-2013 |
20130064569 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer, and a process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge also includes a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064570 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge installed in a body of an image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a development device that includes a developer bearer, a rotary developer conveyance member, and a shaft projecting from a development casing in an axial direction, a gear train including an idler gear provided to the shaft projecting from the development casing, a first side plate, and a hollow shaft projecting in the axial direction from the first side plate. The first side plate includes an image bearer positioning portion and a developer bearer positioning portion to support axial end portions of the developer bearer and the image bearer, the shaft projecting from the development casing is inserted into a recess inside the hollow shaft, and the hollow shaft is inserted into a hollow shaft positioning hole formed in the body. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064571 | CHARGING MEMBER, METHOD OF PRODUCING THE CHARGING MEMBER, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - Provided is a charging member hardly causing a cleaning failure to suppress occurrence of a vertical streak image in an electrophotographic apparatus. The charging member comprises a support, an elastic layer, and a surface layer. The surface layer comprises a polymer compound having at least one bond of Si—O-M bond and Si—O—Ta bond, at least one bond of M-O—Ge bond and Ta—O—Ge bond, and Si—O—Ge bond. M represents any element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, and Hf. The polymer compound has structural units represented by the formula (1) and (2), and at least one structural unit of structural units represented by the formula (3) and (4). The charging member has a crack extending from its surface to the elastic layer, and the crack has a convexly raised edge by which a surface of the charging member is roughened. | 03-14-2013 |
20130084100 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming device includes a photosensitive drum that is configured to form an electrostatic latent image, a flange that is arranged to the photosensitive drum, including a cylindrical attachment part, a frame that rotatably holds the flange, and a load member that is slidably press-fitted to the attachment part of the flange. The frame includes an engagement part that is configured to engage with a part of the load member, and a rotation of an end part of the load member is regulated by a regulation surface of the engagement part. | 04-04-2013 |
20130084101 | Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Unit - Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above. | 04-04-2013 |
20130108318 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130121724 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge attachable/detachable to/from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developer storage unit configured to store developer, a partitioning member movably provided inside the developer storage unit and configured to partition the developer storage unit, a developer conveyance member configured to convey the developer stored in the developer storage unit, and an operated portion configured to move the partitioning member, wherein when the cartridge is attached to the main assembly, the operated portion is moved by touching the main assembly to move the partitioning member from a first position to a second position where the developer storage unit is caused to be greater in capacity than that in the first position. | 05-16-2013 |
20130121725 | IMAGE FORMING UNIT - In a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus and including a photosensitive member and a charging roller, a spacer member for spacing the charging roller from the photosensitive member during the transportation and the displaying is recessed relative to the photosensitive member. The spacer member receives a driving force from the main assembly of the apparatus, by which the spacer member is disengaged to contact the charging roller to the photosensitive member. | 05-16-2013 |
20130121726 | Process Cartridge And Image Forming Device Having The Proacaess Cartridge - In an image forming device, a process cartridge is detachably insertable in a process frame. The developing coupling is provided in the one end of the developing unit for transmitting an external rotation force to the developing unit. The developing coupling has: a rotation axis; and a drum shutter to be pivotally moved between a first position at which the drum shutter covers the photosensitive drum and a second position at which the drum shutter does not cover the photosensitive drum. A shutter portion covering the part of the photosensitive drum at the first position. The shutter portion is in direct confrontation with the developing unit at the second position. When the process cartridge is inserted in the process frame, the drum shutter is positioned at the second position whereas when the process cartridge is not inserted in the process frame, the drum shutter is positioned at the first position. | 05-16-2013 |
20130121727 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD OF PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - In order to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which the dark-area potential does not easily change even when repeatedly used for a long period of time under a normal temperature/low humidity environment, a method of producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus, each comprising the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an undercoat layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is incorporated with an organic resin, a metal oxide particle, and a specific compound (phosphine oxide compound). | 05-16-2013 |
20130129384 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A developing device that attaches/detaches to/from a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a first frame that supports a photosensitive member, a second frame that supports a developing roller, and a connecting bracket in which a fixed supporter couples to a side portion of the first frame, a flexible supporter that couples to a side portion of the second frame, and an elastic arm connecting the fixed supporter and the flexible supporter to each other to provide an elastic force that may elastically bias the developing roller toward the photosensitive member, are integrally formed. | 05-23-2013 |
20130136492 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE FOR AN IMAGING DEVICE - A cartridge that can be detachably installed within an imaging device, which includes a cartridge casing, a photosensitive drum driving assembly located on the casing, and a control mechanism for controlling extension and retraction of a force receiving head in the photosensitive drum driving assembly. The control mechanism includes a control rod, which can rotate around a pivot on the cartridge casing, and a elastic means mounted on the control rod. The cartridge of the invention uses a control mechanism to control extension and retraction of the force receiving head in the photosensitive drum driving assembly, and as a result when the cartridge is removed of the imaging device, the force receiving head does not become stuck by a driving head of the imaging device. | 05-30-2013 |
20130136493 | Image Forming Device - An image forming device including a casing having a front wall formed with a first opening and an upper wall continuous to the front wall and formed with a second opening. The first and second openings together form a single opening. The device further includes a door for covering the single opening, a belt unit, and a guide member. The belt unit includes first and second rollers, and a conveyer belt. The drawer is configured to accommodate a plurality of cartridges. The guide member is configured to movably guide the drawer. The first roller is disposed nearer to the single opening than the second roller to the single opening. In a state where the door is opened and the drawer is inside the casing, one of the plurality of cartridges closest to the door is detachably attachable to the drawer through the single opening. | 05-30-2013 |
20130149003 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided including a housing having a first opening and a second opening which are directed in a same direction; a plurality of developing units which are disposed in parallel with each other in the housing along an oblique direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, the developing units which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing along the oblique direction through the first opening; and a plurality of developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, each of the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel with each other in the housing to be opposite to an end of a respective one of the developing units along a substantially horizontal direction in a longitudinal direction of the developing units, the developer cartridges which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing through the second opening. | 06-13-2013 |
20130156464 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, MAIN CARTRIDGE, SUB CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes a main cartridge configured to be attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, and a sub cartridge configured to be attachable to the main cartridge, wherein the main cartridge includes a moving member configured to be capable of moving between a first position for preventing, by the moving member contacting the apparatus body, the main cartridge from entering the inside of the apparatus body and a second position for allowing the main cartridge to enter the inside of the apparatus body, and a regulation member capable of moving between a regulation position for locking the moving member at the first position and an allowable position for allowing the moving member to move to the second position, and wherein the regulation member moves to the allowable position by attaching the sub cartridge to the main cartridge. | 06-20-2013 |
20130164028 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes: a first unit including a photosensitive drum; a second unit, including a process member, movable to a spaced position and to a close position; and a spacer member for holding the second unit at the spaced position. The spacer member includes a contact portion for holding the second unit at the spaced position and includes a portion-to-be-phase-determined for preventing rotation of the spacer member by being engaged with a phase-determining portion provided in the second unit. The spacer member is rotated, by receiving a force from the drum at the contact portion when the drum is rotated, against a force with which the phase-determining portion determines a rotational position of the spacer member, and eliminates a contact state of the contact portion with the drum to permit movement of the second unit from the spaced position to the close position. | 06-27-2013 |
20130164029 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DRUM UNIT - A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a first frame for supporting the developer regulating member; a fixing member for fixing the developer regulating member to the first frame; a second frame mounted to the first frame; and a molded resin portion formed by injecting a melted resin material into a space defined by the first and second frames. The molded resin portion is engaged with a first limiting portion provided as a part of the fixing member and projected into the space and is engaged with a second limiting portion provided as a part of the second frame to connect the first and second frame. | 06-27-2013 |
20130164030 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge demountably mountable on an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: an image carrying member; a first frame body configured to support the image carrying member; a developer carrying member configured to carry developer; a second frame body configured to support the developer carrying member; an urging member configured to urge the developer carrying member against the image carrying member; a holding member mounted between the first frame member and the second frame member and configured to hold the urging member so as not to cause the urging member to apply the urging force to the first frame member and the second frame member, and the urging member is configured to apply the urging force to the first frame member and the second frame member upon removal of the holding member. | 06-27-2013 |
20130170856 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR MANUFACTURING METHOD - An electrophotographic photoreceptor apparatus is provided and a method of manufacturing such a photoreceptor. The electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical substrate. A photosensitive layer is formed on the cylindrical substrate. The photoreceptor has first surface corrugations with a pitch of 0.4 to 0.6 mm in an axial direction of the photoreceptor. Each of the first surface corrugations has a depth of 3.0 to 5.0 μm. | 07-04-2013 |
20130177333 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE ENGAGED WITH THE SAME AND METHOD FOR FIRMLY POSITIONING PROCESS CARTRIDGE IN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - The invention provides an image forming device, a process cartridge engaged with the same and a method for firmly positioning the process cartridge in the image forming device. The image forming device, comprising a main frame and a main frame driving gear, wherein a guide rail is respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the inside of said main frame; an installation section is arranged at the tail end of each guide rail; and said installation section and said guide rail approximately form a barb. Lugs formed at both ends of a housing of the process cartridge are driven by a radial component of driving force of the image forming device to the process cartridge to always closely lean against the walls of the installation sections at the tail ends of the guide rails when the process cartridge is in the operating state in the image forming device. | 07-11-2013 |
20130177334 | CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a member-to-be-energized; a fixing member, having electroconductivity, for fixing the member-to-be-energized to the frame, wherein the fixing member is electrically connected with the member-to-be-energized; a recessed portion, provided on the frame, where a part of the fixing member enters; and a molded resin portion formed by injecting a melted electroconductive resin material into the recessed portion, wherein when the cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, the molded resin portion electrically connects the fixing member with an energizing portion provided in the main assembly. | 07-11-2013 |
20130177335 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a coupling member provided at an axial end portion of a photosensitive drum and rotatable about a coupling axis thereof so as to transmit a driving force to the photosensitive drum. The coupling member is capable of inclining relative to the photosensitive drum so that the coupling axis inclines relative to a drum axis, with the coupling member having a first end portion connected to the photosensitive drum, a second end portion, and a connecting portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. A maximum distance from the coupling axis to an outermost surface of the connecting portion along a line perpendicular to the coupling axis is less than a maximum distance from the coupling axis to an outermost surface of the second end portion along a line perpendicular to the coupling axis. | 07-11-2013 |
20130188986 | POLYESTER RESIN FOR TONER, TONER, DEVELOPER, TONER CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A polyester resin for a toner containing: a repeating unit derived from a dicarboxylic acid component; and a repeating unit derived from a dial component represented by Formula (1): | 07-25-2013 |
20130188987 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus capable of preventing a developing cartridge mounted at the image forming apparatus from being damaged by an outside impact in a process of transporting the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus comprises at least one developing cartridge each having an image carrier to form an image, at least one supporting frame configured to support the at least one developing cartridge installed at an inside the body, and at least one buffer member configured to ease impact that occurs between the at least one developing cartridge and the at least one supporting frame by being disposed in between the at least one developing cartridge and the at least one supporting frame, the at least one buffer member provided to be removed before the at least one developing cartridge starts an initial printing operation. | 07-25-2013 |
20130188988 | Pressing Mechanism for a Developing Cartridge - An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a process unit configured to be attached to and removed from the main body, the process unit being configured to integrally hold a plurality of image carriers arranged in a first direction; a plurality of developing cartridges provided in corresponding association with the image carriers, the developing cartridges configured to be attached to and removed from the process unit, each of the developing cartridges including a corresponding developer carrier, each of the developing cartridges being configured to supply developer to a corresponding image carrier; and a pressing mechanism provided in the main body, the pressing mechanism configured to press the developing cartridges, when attached to the process unit, in a direction that the developer carriers contact the image carriers. | 07-25-2013 |
20130202326 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER - An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a charge-transporting layer which is a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member; wherein the charge-transporting layer has a matrix-domain structure having: a matrix comprising a component [β] and a component [γ] (charge-transporting substances having specific structures), and a domain comprising a component [α](resin [α1], or resin [α1] and resin [α2]). | 08-08-2013 |
20130202327 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, including: a support; and a photosensitive layer, which is provided on the support, in which: a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a terminal siloxane-containing polyester resin having a specific structure; and a lower layer provided in contact with the surface layer includes a polycarbonate resin, a polyester resin, or a polyvinyl acetal resin, having a specific structure. | 08-08-2013 |
20130209137 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a rotatable developer carrying member, a rotatable developer feeding member, a rotatable developer stirring member, a developer carrying member gear, a developer feeding member gear, a developer stirring member gear, a transmission member for transmitting a driving force to the developer carrying member, the developer feeding member and the developer stirring member, wherein the transmission member includes a first gear for transmitting the driving force to the developer carrying member gear, a second gear for transmitting the driving force to the developer feeding member gear, and a third gear for transmitting the driving force to the developer stirring member gear, in which the first gear, the second gear and the third gear are integrally molded. | 08-15-2013 |
20130230336 | ROLL MEMBER, CHARGING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A roll member includes a core; and an elastic layer which contains a rubber composition having a thiourethane bond represented by Formula (1) on the core: | 09-05-2013 |
20130243478 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME - A process cartridge detachably installable in an image forming apparatus including a first sub-unit to hold an image carrier, a second sub-unit to hold a developer bearing member, a first positioning member to position first ends of the image carrier and the developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction, respectively, and a second positioning member to position second ends of the image carrier and the developer bearing member opposite the first ends in the longitudinal direction, respectively. The second sub-unit has a protruding portion protruding outward to a first end of the second sub-unit beyond the first positioning member in the longitudinal direction. An opposing surface of the protruding portion provided to face the first positioning member is dimensioned to conform to a cross-section of the first positioning member perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. | 09-19-2013 |
20130243479 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usable with process cartridges that each include an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus includes a movable member that is movable between an inside of the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the drum while carrying the cartridges. A main assembly electrical contact is provided inside the main assembly along a movement path of the movable member. An intermediary electrical contact is provided and includes a first electrical contact portion that is disposed inside the movable member, with the intermediary electrical contact being electrically connectable to a cartridge electrical contact of a cartridge, and a second electrical contact portion is disposed outside the movable member, with the second electrical contact portion electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly. | 09-19-2013 |
20130243480 | DEVELOPING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention provides a developing member onto which a toner or the like is hard to fuse and with which toner conveying performance is unlikely to vary even through long-term usage. The developing member includes a substrate and a surface layer, the surface layer contains a polyurethane resin working as a binder resin and polyurethane resin particles dispersed in the binder resin, and the polyurethane resin working as the binder resin has, between two adjacent urethane bonds, a structure represented by a structural formula (1) and one or both of structures represented by structural formulas (2) and (3), and further has, between two adjacent urethane bonds, a structure represented by a structural formula (4). | 09-19-2013 |
20130243481 | PROCESS CARTRIGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum frame, a movable developing frame taking a position where the roller contacts the drum, and a force receiver having first and second force receivers for receiving first and second external forces. The second force receiver moves relative to the developing frame. The second force receiver takes a stand-by position retracted from an operating position when the first force receiver receives the first external force, and moves from the stand-by to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position. The distance the second force receiver moves from the stand-by to the operating position is larger than the distance the first force receiver moves by the first external force. | 09-19-2013 |
20130251400 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a drive source that generates a driving force, an image forming object on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed and that includes a rotatable shaft extending therethrough and rotates with the driving force that is input to one end of the rotatable shaft, and an extracting member that is provided at another end of the rotatable shaft of the image forming object and extracts, from the rotatable shaft, a driving force to be transmitted to a driven member excluding the image forming object. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251401 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus, including a photoreceptor; a charger; an irradiator; an image developer; a transferer; a fixer; and a cleaning blade formed of a strip-shaped elastic blade, removing a powder from the surface of the photoreceptor passing an edge line of the blade while contacting thereto, wherein the photoreceptor includes a crosslinked resin surface layer formed of at least one of an acrylic resin and a methacrylic resin, and the cleaning blade includes a contact point with the photoreceptor, including a substrate; a mixed layer formed of at least one of an acrylic resin and a methacrylic resin, located at the surface of the substrate; and a surface layer formed of at least one of an acrylic resin and a methacrylic resin, located on the surface of the substrate. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251402 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a first frame supporting the photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a process member actable on the developing roller; a second frame supporting the developing roller and the process member, the second frame being movable between a contact position where the developing roller contacts the drum and a spacing position where the developing roller is spaced from the drum; a developing device contact; and a process member contact, wherein when the second frame is moved between the contact position and the spacing position, a movement path of the developing device contact overlaps a movement path of process member contact, as seen along the axial direction. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251403 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The charging member includes: an electrically conductive support; and an electrically conductive surface layer, in which the surface layer includes a first polyrotaxane and a second polyrotaxane; the first polyrotaxane has a structure in which a first straight-chain molecule passes through an inside of a ring of a first cyclic molecule; the second polyrotaxane has a structure in which a second straight-chain molecule passes through an inside of a ring of a second cyclic molecule; and the first polyrotaxane and the second polyrotaxane are bound together through formation of a chemical bond between the first cyclic molecule and the second cyclic molecule. | 09-26-2013 |
20130259523 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A process cartridge usable with an image forming apparatus includes a developing member, a photosensitive medium to face the developing member, a pair of supporting plates to rotatably support the developing member and the photosensitive medium; a center moving member rotatably disposed on the supporting plate, the center moving member having a first position in which the photosensitive medium contacts the developing member and a second position in which the photosensitive medium is spaced apart from the developing member; and a separation restraining member formed so that when the center moving member locates at the second position, the separation restraining member restrains the center moving member from moving from the second position. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259524 | Image Forming Device Having Holder - In an image-forming device, a holder is configured to move between a position inside the main body and a position outside the main body and to hold a first process unit having a first supply roller and a second process unit such that the first and second process units are arranged in a row along a first direction. The holder has a first guide member positioned between the first and second process units in the first direction when the holder holds the first and second process units, the first guide member being configured to guide the first process unit into the holder. An upper end of the first guide member is positioned at a vertical level higher than the first supply roller when the holder holds the first process unit. | 10-03-2013 |
20130266338 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention provides an electrophotographic member capable of more definitely suppressing occurrence of a C set image. The electrophotographic member has a surface layer including a modified polysiloxane having a structure represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), G represents a bivalent group having an ethylene oxide chain represented by (—O—C | 10-10-2013 |
20130266339 | ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - Provided is an electro-conductive member showing small unevenness of the residual state of charge. The electro-conductive member is an electro-conductive member, comprising: a substrate whose surface is electro-conductive; and an electro-conductive elastic layer provided on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer is obtained by curing a mixture containing the following (A) to (D): (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two vinyl groups bonded to a silicon atom; (B) an organopolysiloxane represented by the following chemical structural formula (1); (C) a hydrogen polysiloxane having at least two hydrosilyl groups; and (D) carbon black (l, m, and n in the chemical structural formula (1) each independently represent a positive integer). | 10-10-2013 |
20130279936 | ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - To provide an electrically conducting member for electrophotography which can not easily come to change in electrical resistance value even upon application of direct current and also has made any ion conducting agent kept from bleeding. The electrically conducting member has an electrically conducting substrate and an electrically conducting layer; the electrically conducting layer containing an epichlorohydrin rubber having in the molecular structure at least an alkylene oxide (AO) unit, an epichlorohydrin (ECH) unit and a unit having a sulfonate ion; the AO unit being at least one unit of an ethylene oxide unit, a propylene oxide unit and a butylene oxide unit; and the AO unit(s) in the rubber being in a content of 5 to 60% by mass in total and the ECH unit in the rubber being in a content of 30% by mass or more. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279937 | DEVELOPING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a developing member capable of suppressing a variation in resistance even when exposed to a high-temperature, high-humidity environment for a long time period. The developing member comprises: a mandrel; an electro-conductive elastic layer provided on a periphery of the mandrel; and a surface layer provided on a surface of the elastic layer, wherein: the elastic layer contains a dimethyl silicone rubber and carbon black; and an amount α of a hydrogen atom bound to a silicon atom of the dimethyl silicone rubber, and an amount β of a hydrogen atom of methyl groups bound to a silicon atom of the dimethyl silicone rubber, satisfy a relationship of 2.5×10 | 10-24-2013 |
20130302064 | CHARGING ROLLER AND PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION - A roller for electrophotography is provided which has an electrically conductive support and an elastic layer as a surface layer, where the elastic layer holds spherical particles each having a plane on their peripheral surfaces, in such a way that part or the whole of the plane comes exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, and the plane of each of the spherical particles standing exposed to the surface of the elastic layer and a plane that is i) orthogonal to a straight line passing through an axis of a section orthogonal to an axis of the roller for electrophotography and being directed toward the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography and is ii) tangential to the peripheral surface of the roller for electrophotography forms an acute internal angle. | 11-14-2013 |
20130308977 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH STATIC ELIMINATOR - An image forming apparatus includes a housing with an inner space, a photosensitive drum, a drum unit, a rail member, and a static eliminator. The photosensitive drum includes a rotating shaft, and a circumferential surface to be drivingly rotated around the rotating shaft for carrying an image thereon. The drum unit is inserted in the inner space of the housing along an axis direction of the rotating shaft in a state that the photosensitive drum is integrally supported to be mounted in the inner space. The rail member extends along the axis direction in the inner space for guiding the drum unit in the axis direction when the drum unit is mounted. The static eliminator is fixed to the rail member, and disposed to face the photosensitive drum in the drum unit mounted in the inner space for irradiating the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum with static eliminating light. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308978 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive member unit including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing unit including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member, the developing unit being movable between a contact position in which the developing roller is contacted to the photosensitive member and a separated position in which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive member. The process cartridge also includes a drive transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force for driving the developing roller at one longitudinal end side of the developing unit. The drive transmitting portion provides to the developing unit a force for moving the developing unit in a direction from the separated position toward the contact position by receiving the driving force. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308979 | DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING CONTAINER, DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer bag | 11-21-2013 |
20130315620 | ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electro-conductive member for electrophotography, including an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer; and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus using the same. The layer contains a binder resin having a sulfo or a quaternary ammonium group as an ion exchange group, and an ion opposite in polarity to the ion exchange group. The resin has any one of structures represented by formulas (1)-1 and (1)-2, and any one of structures represented by formulas (2)-1 to (2)-3; and the resin has a molecular structure preventing occurrence of a matrix-domain structure. M represents an integer of 2-20, n represents an integer of 5-50, p represents an integer of 1-25, q represents an integer of 1-15, and r represents an integer of 1-12. | 11-28-2013 |
20130315621 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachable to an image forming apparatus main body includes an image bearing member, a developer bearing member, a developing frame member configured to support the developer bearing member and to be capable of assuming an abutting state and a separating state, and a force receiving portion configured to allow the developing frame member to enter the separating state by being pressed by a pressing portion, in which the force receiving portion includes a first portion to abut on the pressing portion and to extend along the inserting direction of the process cartridge, and a second portion provided on each of an upstream and downstream side of the first portion in the inserting direction, extending from the first portion in a direction crossing the inserting direction, and to abut on the pressing portion, and the force receiving portion has a space formed between the two second portions. | 11-28-2013 |
20130315622 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. | 11-28-2013 |
20130322919 | Image Forming Apparatus - There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main apparatus body, a photoconductor, an exposure mechanism, a frame, and a regulating mechanism. The regulating mechanism includes a fixing member, a movable member, and a biasing member. The frame includes a first contacting surface. The exposure mechanism includes second and third contacting surfaces, and the fixing member includes a fourth contacting surface, first and second facing surfaces. The movable member includes third and fourth facing surfaces. When the exposure mechanism is disposed at the approach position, the biasing member allows the second and third facing surfaces to make a contact with the second and third contacting surfaces, respectively. When the exposure mechanism is disposed at the separation position, the biasing member allows the first and fourth facing surfaces to make a contact with the first and fourth contacting surfaces, respectively. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322920 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes a frame configured to store developer, a developing roller arranged at an opening of the frame and configured to bear the developer and to form a developer image on an image bearing member, and a supply roller including a rotational shaft passing through a through-hole provided in the frame and configured to supply the developer to the developing roller, wherein the through-hole is formed so that the supply roller is insertable from an outside of the frame in an axial direction of the supply roller, and has such a size that the supply roller is insertable without rubbing an inner edge of the through-hole. | 12-05-2013 |
20130322921 | DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A development apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes | 12-05-2013 |
20130343780 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a drum, first and second guidable portions guidable by first and second guides when the cartridge enters or advances in the main assembly, first and second regulatable portions provided at leading and trailing sides of the cartridge with respect to the advancing direction and regulated by a first main assembly regulator when the process is advancing in the main assembly, and first and second positionable portions to be positioned at first and main assembly second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of a main assembly urging member after the first and second regulatable portions pass the first and second regulators, respectively. The cartridge is mounted to the main assembly with the first and second positionable portions at the first and second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of the urging member. | 12-26-2013 |
20140003838 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 01-02-2014 |
20140023395 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An image forming device, including a cylindrical photoreceptor drum, an end member having a tubular body which is mounted at an end portion of the photoreceptor drum and which has an outer circumferential surface serving as a sliding surface, and a bearing configured to have a hole which defines an inner peripheral surface that corresponds to a sliding surface, the bearing supporting the tubular body of the end member by inserting the tubular body into the hole, wherein a difference between an outside diameter of a part provided with the sliding surface of the end member and a diameter of the hole of the bearing is equal to or more than 0.06 mm and equal to or less than 0.5 mm. | 01-23-2014 |
20140029980 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a belt member for transferring a developed image, an opening provided to permit a cartridge including an image bearing drum to enter a main assembly, a first guide portion for guiding the cartridge through the opening from a position where a bottom end portion of the drum is below a transfer position where the drum and the belt member contact each other when the cartridge is mounted, and a second guide portion provided downstream of the first guide portion. The second guide portion guides the cartridge to a position where the bottom end portion of the drum is above the transfer position. In addition, a third guide portion, provided downstream of the second guide portion, guides the cartridge from the position where the bottom end portion is above the transfer position to the transfer position. | 01-30-2014 |
20140044451 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image rewriting apparatus for forming an image on a recording material. A process cartridge, including a photosensitive drum and a process device actable on the drum, is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus in a direction of an axis of the drum. The image forming apparatus includes a first positioning portion, provided above the cartridge, for positioning, with respect to a direction crossing with the axis of the drum, the drum at an upstream position with respect to a mounting direction in which the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus, and a second positioning portion, provided above the cartridge at a downstream position with respect to the mounting direction, for positioning the drum with respect to is direction crossing with the axis of the drum. A third positioning portion limits rotation of the cartridge relative to the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion when the main assembly coupling transmits a driving force to the drum coupling and positions the lower portion of the cartridge at an upstream position with respect to the mounting direction. | 02-13-2014 |
20140050503 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a first unit provided with an image bearing member and a second unit that is provided with a developer carrying member for carrying a developer, with the second unit being connected with the first unit so as to be movable between a contact position in which the developer carrying member is contacted with that image bearing member and a spacing position in which the developer carrying member is spaced from the image bearing member. The second unit includes a recess or opening into which a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly of the apparatus to apply a voltage to the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus and second unit is positioned in the spacing position. | 02-20-2014 |
20140050504 | ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPING TONER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrostatic image developing toner including: toner base particles each including a binder resin and a colorant; and an external additive, wherein the toner base particles each have protrusions on a surface thereof, an average of lengths of long sides of the protrusions is 0.1 μm or more but less than 0.5 μm, a standard deviation of the lengths of the long sides of the protrusions is 0.2 or less, a coverage rate of the protrusions on the surface of each toner base particle is 10% to 90%, and the external additive includes an external additive (A) which is fine inorganic particles each containing silicone oil. | 02-20-2014 |
20140056613 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the process cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof; ii) process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position, wherein when the process cartridge is dismounted from the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member moves from the rotational force transmitting angular position to the disengaging angular position. | 02-27-2014 |
20140064783 | ROTATIONAL FORCE TRANSMITTING PART - A rotating force transmitting part for an electrophotographic photosensitive drum for a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The rotating force transmitting part includes a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the state in which electrophotographic photosensitive drum is mounted to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from the rotational force transmitting angular position. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064784 | PACKAGED CARTRIDGE, PACKING MATERIAL AND CARTRIDGE - A packaged cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes: (i) a cartridge provided with a grip portion; (ii) a frame portion accommodating the cartridge, the frame portion including an opening and a recessed portion so that the grip portion is exposed through the opening so as to be capable of being gripped; and (iii) a cap portion movable, in a state in which the cartridge is accommodated in the recessed portion, relative to the frame portion between an open position where the opening is open and a closed position where the opening is closed. Such a gap is provided between the cartridge and an inner surface of the frame portion that when the frame portion is moved relative to the cap portion in an opening direction with a cap portion side of the packaged cartridge down, the cartridge interferes the inner surface of the frame portion. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064785 | CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a configuration in which a charging roller contact unit of a contact unit is located in a periphery of a mounting surface for mounting a cleaning blade of a drum cartridge frame, at least a part of the charging roller contact unit of the contact unit is formed in such a manner that an area of a cross section perpendicular to a direction approaching to the mounting surface of the cleaning blade becomes smaller with an approach to the mounting surface of the cleaning blade. | 03-06-2014 |
20140072335 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge, wherein both in the case where the developing unit is at the contact position and in the case where the developing unit is at the separation position, a first regulating portion that the image bearing member unit has and a first regulated portion that the developing unit has, are engaged with each other, whereby the position in the axial direction of the image bearing member is regulated, wherein in the case where the developing unit is at the separation position, a second regulating portion and a second regulated portion, overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and wherein in the case where the developing unit is at the contact position, the second regulating portion and the second regulated portion do not overlap each other in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. | 03-13-2014 |
20140072336 | Drum Cartridge - A drum cartridge including: a photosensitive drum; and a guide member configured to guide a recording medium towards the photosensitive drum and including, a first guide member having flexibility, extending towards the photosensitive drum, and having a guide surface configured to guide the recording medium, and a second guide member having flexibility, contacting a surface of the first guide member opposite to the guide surface, and supporting the first guide member, the second guide member including, a first part extending towards the photosensitive drum, and a second part bent continuously from a downstream end of the first part in a guide direction and extending towards a transfer position side, wherein, in the guide direction, a downstream end of the first guide member is arranged downstream of the downstream end of the first part. | 03-13-2014 |
20140072337 | Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Unit - Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above. | 03-13-2014 |
20140072338 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A process cartridge is configured to be mounted in an apparatus main body along a predetermined mounting direction. The process cartridge may include a photosensitive drum; a drum drive input member into which a driving force for rotating the photosensitive drum is configured to be inputted; and a frame which holds the photosensitive drum and the drum drive input member. The frame includes a substantially cylindrical first protecting member which is formed on the frame. The first protecting member is configured to accommodate the drum drive input member, and project in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum, wherein a projecting amount of a portion of the first protecting member which lies at a downstream side in the mounting direction is smaller than a projecting amount of a portion of the first protecting member which lies at an upstream side in the mounting direction. | 03-13-2014 |
20140086623 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH CARTRIDGE SUPPORT - An image forming apparatus, includes: a main body frame; a process cartridge which comprises a driven gear unit which is driven to form a visible image on an image carrying body; and a bracket device which comprises a bracket main body which is coupled to the main body frame, a driving gear unit which is supported to the bracket main body, and which is to be engaged with the driven gear unit, and a guide which guides the process cartridge into a mounting position in the main body frame. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086624 | CLEANING BLADE, CLEANING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a cleaning blade including a contacting corner portion which comes in contact with and cleans a surface of a member to be cleaned moving relative to the cleaning blade, a tip surface which configures one side with the contacting corner portion and faces an upstream side of the surface moving direction, a ventral surface which configures one side with the contacting corner portion and faces a downstream side, and a rear surface which shares one side with the tip surface and opposes the ventral surface. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086625 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Process Cartridge Detachably Mounted Therein - In an image forming apparatus, a cartridge is detachably mounted in a frame, the cartridge being located at a mounted position in the frame when the image forming apparatus is packaged with the cartridge mounted in the frame, the mounted position being defined in the frame in a mounting direction, in which the cartridge moves relative to the frame so as to be mounted in the frame. An attachment member is detachably attached to the cartridge when the image forming apparatus is packaged with the cartridge mounted in the frame. A restricting mechanism restricts mounting of the cartridge to the mounted position if the attachment member is attached to the cartridge, the restricting mechanism restricting the mounting of the cartridge at a position upstream of the mounted position in the mounting direction. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086626 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a main body including a fixing portion, a cartridge including a photosensitive member, a transfer unit disposed facing the photosensitive member of the cartridge, and a separation member configured to separate the photosensitive member from the transfer unit and including a fixing portion. The cartridge is configured to be disposed in a first position in the main body where the photosensitive member is separated from the transfer unit and in a second position in the main body where the photosensitive member contacts the transfer unit. When the separation member is fixed in the main body by engagement of the fixing portion of the separation member to the fixing portion of the main body, the cartridge is disposed in the first position, and when the separation member is removed from the main body, the cartridge is disposed in the second position. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086627 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS SYSTEM - A cartridge for an image forming apparatus including a movable member is provided with a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion movable between a first position and a second position, the cartridge includes a first engaged portion engageable with the first engaging portion; and a second engaged portion engageable with the second engaging portion, wherein by the first engaged portion being engaged with the first engaging portion in the process of mounting, the movable member is moved from the first position to the second position to permit the second engaged to pass the second engaging portion in a mounting direction. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086628 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS SYSTEM - A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a contact portion contactable to a first movable member of the apparatus in the process of mounting the cartridge to the image forming apparatus, wherein the contact portion passes the first movable member in the inserting direction, and the first movable member moves from the retracted position to the projection position, and then the second movable member moves from the blocking position to the open position, and the contact portion passes the second movable member in the inserting direction, by which the process cartridge can be mounted to a proper image forming apparatus. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086629 | CARTRIDGE - A cartridge detachably mountable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, includes a grip member that is provided on the frame member for gripping the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted on or dismounted from the apparatus body, the grip member including a first molded member that is integrally molded with the frame member, and a second molded member that is integrally molded on the first molded member with a second resin after the molding of the first molded member. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086630 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive drum; a charging roller for contacting and electrically charging the drum; a spacer for supporting a rotation shaft of the charging roller to space the drum from the charging roller; and an urging member for contacting the spacer to urge the charging roller toward the drum; wherein the spacer is movable between a first position for spacing the charging roller from the drum and a second position for contacting the charging roller to the drum, and an urging force of the urging member applied to the spacer is smaller when the spacer is in the second position than when the spacer is in the first position. | 03-27-2014 |
20140093273 | Image Forming Apparatus Provided with Mechanism to Move Developing Roller Relative to Photosensitive Drum - An image forming apparatus includes a main casing and a cartridge detachably mountable therein. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a developing roller disposed to oppose each other. The main casing includes: a metal frame for supporting the cartridge; a lock member supported to the metal frame and movable about a first axis to allow or restrict movement of the photosensitive drum relative to the metal frame; and a contact-separation member supported to the metal frame and movable about a second axis to allow contact and separation of the developing roller relative to the photosensitive drum. The lock member and the contact-separation member are aligned in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to an axis of the photosensitive drum such that the first axis is not overlapped with the contact-separation member or the second axis is not overlapped with the lock member in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093274 | IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS - An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation unit including an image carrier configured to carry a developer image; a drive unit configured to drive the image carrier; a holder provided with the drive unit; a transfer unit located to be opposed to the image carrier and configured to transfer the developer image from the image carrier on a transfer medium; and a switching unit configured to switch a position of the holder between an image formation position, at which the transfer unit transfers the developer image from the image carrier on the transfer medium, and a non-image formation position. The holder is configured to move together with the image formation unit. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093275 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit and a second process unit. The first process unit includes: a first photosensitive member configured to carry a first developer image to be transferred onto a transfer medium; and a blade member configured to scrape substances attached to a surface of the first photosensitive member off the surface of the first photosensitive member. The second process unit includes: a second photosensitive member configured to carry a second developer image to be transferred onto the transfer medium having the first developer image transferred thereon; and a holding member configured to remove substances attached to a surface of the second photosensitive member from the surface of the second photosensitive member, temporarily hold the substances and return the substances to the surface of the second photosensitive member. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093276 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus - A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mountable in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, a first outer side plate which is provided on one side of the photosensitive drums in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a second outer side plate which is provided on the other side of the photosensitive drums in the axial direction, and opposes the first outer side plate with the photosensitive drums interposed therebetween, and a plurality of input parts which are provided on ends of the photosensitive drums at the one side, respectively. An end face of each of the input parts being provided inward with respect to the outer surface of the first outer side plate. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093277 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member that can not easily cause charging lines even where it is an electrophotographic photosensitive member employing as a conductive layer a layer containing metal oxide particles is disclosed. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have such an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member has a conductive layer which contains titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus or tungsten. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093278 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A high quality electrophotographic member that is excellent in deformation recovery property under high-temperature and high-humidity and that also satisfies filming resistance under low-temperature and low-humidity is provided. | 04-03-2014 |
20140099144 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge includes a casing, a photosensitive drum having an axis L | 04-10-2014 |
20140105637 | Image Forming Apparatus and Photosensitive Unit - An image forming apparatus may include a moving unit configured to support a cartridge and to slide in a generally horizontal direction between multiple positions. For example, the positions may include a first position where the moving unit is located inside the main body and a second position where the moving unit is located outside the main body. Additionally or alternatively, the moving unit being may also move between the first position and a third position located below the first position. The moving unit may also be configured to electrically connect electrodes based on its movement. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105638 | Cartridge Detachably Mounted on Main Casing - A cartridge is detachably mountable on a main casing. The main casing is provided with a coupling member providing a driving force. The cartridge comprises: a first roller extending in a first direction and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis; a driving force receiving portion configured to receive the driving force from the coupling member to drive the first roller and rotate about a second rotational axis, the driving force receiving portion comprising a contact portion configured to be in contact with the coupling member; and a first gear comprising a gear tooth, the gear being configured to transmit the driving force received at the driving force receiving portion to the first roller. The contact portion is overlapped with the gear tooth when projected in the first direction. | 04-17-2014 |
20140112684 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In accordance with one embodiment, 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 vertical 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. | 04-24-2014 |
20140112685 | CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge for a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a rotatable driven coupling member including a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force and a driven side abutment to be abutted by a driving side abutment. The coupling member is slidable in a predetermined direction that is substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the coupling member. | 04-24-2014 |
20140112686 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a coupling member engageable with a rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force. The coupling member is capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force, a pre-engagement angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis from the rotational force transmitting angular position, and a disengaging angular position in which the coupling member is inclined away from the axis from the rotational force transmitting angular position. | 04-24-2014 |
20140126930 | PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A photosensitive drum, for use with an image forming apparatus, includes a cylinder, which has a photosensitive layer at its surface, to which a processing unit is contacted, and a flange provided at its longitudinal end portion. The flange includes a portion to be supported inside the cylinder by a supporting shaft supporting the photosensitive drum, and a supporting portion for supporting an inner peripheral portion of the cylinder in a contact area in which the processing unit contacts the cylinder. The supporting portion is placed in a state in which the supporting portion supports the inner peripheral portion of the cylinder by supporting the photosensitive drum by the supporting shaft. | 05-08-2014 |
20140133884 | MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIFYING, METHOD OF ELECTRIFYING, AND CONDUCTIVE MEMBER - A mechanism for electrifying a rotator that is used in an image forming apparatus includes a cloth-like or sheet-like conductive member, wherein part of the conductive member comes into contact with an object to be electrified and the other part of the conductive member comes into surface contact with any one contact member of the rotator, a rotating shaft that rotates together with the rotator, and a shaft where the rotator is rotatably supported, so that the object to be electrified and the contact member are electrically connected to each other through the conductive member. | 05-15-2014 |
20140161484 | CARTRIDGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CARTRIDGE - A method of manufacturing a cartridge including a first member having a flexible engaging portion and a second member having an engaged portion to be engaged with the engaging portion, configured to manufacture a cartridge by a process of engaging the engaging portion of the first member and the engaged portion of the second member; and a process of forming a third member configured to restrict a movement of the flexible engaging portion by letting a fluent material flow in between the first member and the second member and solidifying the fluent material. | 06-12-2014 |
20140161485 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE INCLUDING DEVELOPING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE INCLUDING DEVELOPING DEVICE - A developing device is provided capable of properly maintaining charging characteristics of developer and configured to be easily assembled. | 06-12-2014 |
20140161486 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided including a housing having a first opening and a second opening which are directed in a same direction; a plurality of developing units which are disposed in parallel with each other in the housing along an oblique direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, the developing units which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing along the oblique direction through the first opening; and a plurality of developer cartridges which correspond to the plurality of developing units, each of the developer cartridges being disposed in parallel with each other in the housing to be opposite to an end of a respective one of the developing units along a substantially horizontal direction in a longitudinal direction of the developing units, the developer cartridges which are configured to be attached to and detached from the housing through the second opening. | 06-12-2014 |
20140169829 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a drum unit supporing a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a driving roller for driving the roller; a drive receiving portion; a developing unit supporting the developing roller and the driving roller; and a connecting portion connecting the drum unit and the developing unit, the connecting portion being disposed below the driving roller. The developing unit is movable relative to the drum unit by rotating about the connecting portion between a contacting position in which the drum and the developing roller contact each other and a spacing position in which the drum and the developing roller are spaced from each other. A direction of the receiving portion is opposite to that of the developing roller, and is the same as athe developing unit rotation from the spacing position toward the contacting position. | 06-19-2014 |
20140178096 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEMBER - The present invention provides an electrophotographic electrically conductive member in which conductivity needed for a charging member is secured, and defects in an image attributed to uneven discharging can be minimized independently of a long-term use and an environment of use. An electrophotographic electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer includes an ion conductive resin having a quaternary ammonium ion in a molecule structure as a binder resin, and a carrier molecule represented by the following formula (1) or (2): | 06-26-2014 |
20140178097 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The cartridge also includes a developing frame supporting the developing roller. A force receiving member is provided, with the force receiving member including a spacing force receiving portion movable relative to the developing frame to move between a first position and a second position in which the spacing force receiving portion is retracted from the first position toward an inside of the developing frame. | 06-26-2014 |
20140178098 | Process Cartridge and Image Forming Device Having the Process Cartridge - In an image forming device, a process cartridge is detachably insertable in a process frame. The developing coupling is provided in the one end of the developing unit for transmitting an external rotation force to the developing unit. The developing coupling has: a rotation axis; and a drum shutter to be pivotally moved between a first position at which the drum shutter covers the photosensitive drum and a second position at which the drum shutter does not cover the photosensitive drum. A shutter portion covering the part of the photosensitive drum at the first position. The shutter portion is in direct confrontation with the developing unit at the second position. When the process cartridge is inserted in the process frame, the drum shutter is positioned at the second position whereas when the process cartridge is not inserted in the process frame, the drum shutter is positioned at the first position. | 06-26-2014 |
20140186072 | Developer Cartridge and Developing Unit Provided With The Same - A developer cartridge assembled to a developing device defining therein a developing chamber. The developer cartridge includes a first accommodating portion, and a first agitator. The first accommodating portion accommodates therein a developing agent and is positioned beside the developing device. The first accommodating portion includes a first wall part neighboring the developing device. The first wall part is formed with a first through-hole and a second through-hole. The first through-hole is open diagonally downward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The second through-hole is open diagonally upward from the first accommodating portion to the developing device. The first through-hole and the second through-hole allow communication between an interior of the first accommodating portion and the developing chamber. The first agitator is rotatably disposed in the first accommodating portion and in sliding contact with the first wall part in a vertical direction. | 07-03-2014 |
20140193172 | CLEANER, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE CLEANER - A cleaner is provided. The cleaner includes a cleaning blade having an edge to be contacted with a surface of a member to be cleaned while moving relative to the member to clean the surface of the member. The cleaning blade includes the edge, and first and second side surfaces, wherein the edge is disposed between the first and second side surfaces. When the cleaning blade is not contacted with the surface of the member to be cleaned, the first side surface is opposed to the surface of the member, and when the cleaning blade is contacted with the surface of the member, the edge, and the first and second side surfaces of the cleaning blade are contacted with the surface of the member. | 07-10-2014 |
20140193173 | Image Forming Device Having Feed Tray and Retaining Unit Retaining Photosensitive Drums - An image forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining unit; a feed tray; and a pickup roller. The retaining unit retains a plurality of photosensitive drums juxtaposedly arrayed and spaced away from each other in an array direction. The retaining unit is movable in the array direction between a mounted position in which the retaining unit is mounted in the main casing and a pulled-out position in which the retaining unit is pulled out of the main casing. The feed tray is configured to accommodate a first transferred medium. The pickup roller is configured to pick up the first transferred medium accommodated in the feed tray. The pickup roller is arranged to overlap with the retaining unit in the array direction. | 07-10-2014 |
20140199095 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has an improved structure which avoids additional expenses associated with packing a developing unit and allows the developing unit to be stably stored. The image forming apparatus may include a body, a first developing unit accommodating portion and a second developing unit accommodating portion disposed at different positions in the body, and a developing unit which is allowed to be detachably accommodated in the first developing unit accommodating portion and the second developing unit accommodating portion. When accommodated in the first developing unit accommodating portion, the developing unit may be disposed such that it does not perform image formation. When accommodated in the second developing unit accommodating portion, the developing unit may be disposed to perform image formation. | 07-17-2014 |
20140205318 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided including a body including an opening and a first coupler, a photoreceptor cartridge including a second coupler connected to the first coupler, a first gear connected to the second coupler, and a mounting portion, and attached to or detached from the body through the opening; and a development cartridge including a second gear connected to the first gear and attached or detached from the mounting portion through the opening while the photoreceptor cartridge is mounted in the body. | 07-24-2014 |
20140205319 | Image Forming Apparatus - A photosensitive-drum supporting member has a pair of side walls confronting both ends of each photosensitive drum. The photosensitive-drum supporting member supports the photosensitive drums between the side walls. The photosensitive-drum supporting member moves between: a stowed position at which the photosensitive-drum supporting member is stowed within an apparatus main body; and a moved position at which the photosensitive-drum supporting member is moved from the stowed position to outside the apparatus main body through an opening. Exposing members are provided at the photosensitive-drum supporting member such that the exposing members move between: an exposing position at which each exposing member is adjacent to a corresponding photosensitive drum; and a retracted position at which each exposing member is separated from the corresponding photosensitive drum and is engaged by an engaging part. The exposing members are accommodated within the photosensitive-drum supporting member both at the exposing position and at the retracted position. | 07-24-2014 |
20140205320 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes process units arranged in a predetermined direction to form a process-unit row, each having a photosensitive body and a developer container; a casing accommodating the process units and having a cover opening and closing an opening formed at one side in the predetermined direction, and an exposure member exposing the photosensitive body, and having a laser source, a deflector, and an optical element, and the exposure member is arranged facing the developer container of each process unit in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The process units are detachable from the casing, through the opening of the casing, and the developer container of one process unit arranged at one end of the process-unit row has a protruding portion protruding toward the exposure member to overlap with the exposure member in the orthogonal direction. | 07-24-2014 |
20140212168 | CONDUCTIVE MEMBER, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - The present invention provides a conductive member in which it is possible to control a variation in resistance due to physical stress from a contact member, and an uneven density in a halftone image can be prevented. | 07-31-2014 |
20140241754 | TONER CARTRIDGE PACKAGING - A toner cartridge packaging having a non-planar top surface is disclosed. | 08-28-2014 |
20140241755 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a drum frame supporting the drum, a force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for driving the drum from the main assembly, and a regulated portion, provided on the drum frame, for regulating rotation of the cartridge; a transfer member for transferring a developer image onto a toner image receiving member; a supporting member movable between an inside position and in which the supporting member detachably supports the cartridge and an outer position and in which the cartridge is mountable and demountable; a moving member capable of taking a first position in which the moving member urges the regulated portion to space the drum from the transfer member and a second position in which the moving member to contact the drum to the transfer member; and a regulating portion for engaging with the regulated portion to regulate rotation of the cartridge when the moving member is in the second position and the force receiving portion receives the force, and for permitting movement of the supporting member between the outer position and the inside position with the regulating portion being in engagement with the regulated portion to limit rotation of the cartridge. | 08-28-2014 |
20140314444 | INTERVAL SECURING MEMBER, DEVELOPING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An interval securing member configured to maintain a distance between an image bearing member and a developer bearing member includes a first image bearing member side contact portion that contacts with the image bearing member upstream in a rotation direction of the image bearing member from a nearest position where the distance between the image bearing member and the developer bearing member becomes the smallest, a first developing side contact portion that contacts with the developer bearing member upstream from the nearest position in a rotation direction of the developer bearing member, a second image bearing member side contact portion that contacts with the image bearing member downstream from the nearest position in the rotation direction of the image bearing member, and a second developing side contact portion that contacts with the developer bearing member downstream from the nearest position in the rotation direction of the developer bearing member | 10-23-2014 |
20140314445 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a drum, first and second guidable portions guidable by first and second guides when the cartridge enters or advances in the main assembly, first and second regulatable portions provided at leading and trailing sides of the cartridge with respect to the advancing direction and regulated by a first main assembly regulator when the process is advancing in the main assembly, and first and second positionable portions to be positioned at first and main assembly second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of a main assembly urging member after the first and second regulatable portions pass the first and second regulators, respectively. The cartridge is mounted to the main assembly with the first and second positionable portions at the first and second positioners, respectively, by the urging force of the urging member. | 10-23-2014 |
20140321882 | COMPOSITION FOR FORMING CHARGE TRANSPORTING FILM, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a composition for forming a charge transporting film, including a solvent having a dielectric constant of 5.0 or more, at least one kind of compound selected from a group consisting of the following compounds (I-b), (I-c), and (I-d), fluorine-containing resin particles, and a fluorine-containing dispersant, the following compounds (I-b), (I-c), and (I-d) further represented by a compound represented by the following Formula (V) | 10-30-2014 |
20140328607 | DEVELOPER CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A developer conveyance apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a developer storage portion configured to store developer, a developer conveyance portion arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to convey the developer through rotation, a drive input portion configured to input a drive force to the developer conveyance portion, and a clutch arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to transmit the drive force from the drive input portion to the developer conveyance portion, the clutch stopping or decelerating a rotation of the developer conveyance portion when a requisite torque for rotating the developer conveyance portion exceeds a predetermined magnitude, wherein the clutch is arranged inside the developer storage portion and includes at least one clutch side conveyance portion which, when receiving the drive force from the drive input portion, conveys the developer in a developer conveyance direction in which the developer conveyance portion conveys the developer. | 11-06-2014 |
20140334843 | CHARGING MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - A charging member including an electro-conductive substrate, an electro-conductive elastic layer, and an electro-conductive surface layer, wherein the elastic layer includes a polymer having a unit derived from ethylene oxide and at least one particle selected from the group consisting of graphite particles and graphitized particles; wherein a particle-exposing portion where the particle is exposed is present on the surface of the elastic layer; the surface of the elastic layer including the particle-exposing portions is coated with the surface layer; the surface layer includes binder resin and resin particles dispersed in the binder resin and has a plurality of protrusions derived from the resin particles on the surface; when the resin particles in the surface layer are orthographically projected onto the surface of the elastic layer, areas other than projected areas of the resin particles on the surface of the elastic layer overlap the particle-exposing portion. | 11-13-2014 |
20140334844 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND DRUM UNIT - A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a first frame for supporting the developer regulating member; a fixing member for fixing the developer regulating member to the first frame; a second frame mounted to the first frame; and a molded resin portion formed by injecting a melted resin material into a space defined by the first and second frames. The molded resin portion is engaged with a first limiting portion provided as a part of the fixing member and projected into the space and is engaged with a second limiting portion provided as a part of the second frame to connect the first and second frame. | 11-13-2014 |
20140334845 | REGULATING DEVICE, IMAGE BEARING MEMBER CLEANING DEVICE, DEVELOPING DEVICE, CLEANING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer layer thickness regulating device includes a blade member for regulating a thickness of a layer of a developer on a surface of a developing roller rotatably supported by a developing container for accommodating the developer and includes a supporting member for supporting the blade member. The supporting member is capable of being fastened to a part of the developing container by a fastening member, and a position of the supporting member relative to a part of the developer container is adjustable with respect to a widthwise direction of the blade member, when the supporting member is fastened to the developing container by the fastening member, so as to fasten the blade member at a predetermined position relative to the developing container. The supporting member has a biting portion which is capable of biting into the part of the developing container when the supporting member is fastened by the fastening member. | 11-13-2014 |
20140348538 | ROTATION DRIVING FORCE TRANSMITTING MEMBER, PHOTORECEPTOR DRUM, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A rotation driving force transmitting member is disposed between a motor section and a main body of a photoreceptor drum. The rotation driving force transmitting member has a convex member which is provided on the photoreceptor drum side and includes a twisted convex portion with an elliptical cross-section and a concave member which is provided on the motor section side and includes a twisted concave portion with an elliptical cross-section, the concave portion being fitted in the convex portion. The rotation driving force transmitting member transmits rotation driving force by the motor section to the photoreceptor drum via the convex member and the concave member in a state where the convex member is subjected to a drawing force toward the concave member side, due to rotation of the motor section in a state where the convex portion and the concave portion are fitted in each other. | 11-27-2014 |
20140348539 | BRILLIANT TONER, DEVELOPER, TONER CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A brilliant toner includes toner particles which at least contain a brilliant pigment, a binder resin, and a release agent; and an external additive, wherein a ratio (X/Y) of a specific surface area X (m | 11-27-2014 |
20140363197 | Unit Provided With Guide Member Capable of Reliably Guiding Recording Medium - A unit for an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a photosensitive drum; and a guide member. The frame includes: first and second side plates spaced apart from each other in a first direction and a bridging member. The guide member bridges the first and second side plates; and guides a recording medium in a second direction. The guide member includes: first and second positioned portions fixed in position relative to the first and second side plates; and a supported portion supported to the bridging member. A downstream end of the guide member in the second direction and one of the first and second positioned portions define a first distance therebetween, and the downstream end and the supported portion define a second distance therebetween as viewed in the first direction. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. | 12-11-2014 |
20150010325 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes: a supporting member (tray) for supporting cartridges, wherein the tray is movable to an outside position, a first inside position, and a second inside position; a first positioning portion, provided in a main assembly, for positioning an associated cartridge of the cartridges when the tray is located at the first inside position, and a first preventing portion, provided in the main assembly, for preventing rotation of the associated cartridge about the first positioning portion; and a second positioning portion, provided to the tray, for positioning the associated cartridge when the tray is located between the outside position and the second inside position. The second positioning portion is in a state in which the second positioning portion is spaced from the associated cartridge, when the tray is located at the first inside position. | 01-08-2015 |
20150016838 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING MOLDED ARTICLES - A process cartridge including a first frame member molded by pouring a resin from a gate; a conductive sheet adhered integrally to a sheet adhering portion of the first frame member by molding of the resin; and a second frame member configured to define a toner storage portion by being coupled with the first frame member, wherein, the first frame member includes a bent portion at the sheet adhering portion, and a portion of the first frame member different in thickness is provided at an adjacent position to the adhering portion. | 01-15-2015 |
20150023688 | Cartridge - A cartridge may include a conveyor roller extending along a rotational axis and a bearing member for rotatably supporting the conveyor roller. The conveyor roller may include a larger-diameter portion for conveying a sheet, and a smaller-diameter portion. The bearing member may rotatably support the smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller, and engage the housing. In one or more arrangements, the entire smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller may be located at a more outward position, relative to a midpoint of the larger-diameter portion, than a portion of the bearing member supporting the smaller-diameter portion of the conveyor roller. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023689 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE CAPABLE OF RECOVERING WASTE TONER - The present invention provides a process cartridge capable of recovering waste toner. The process cartridge comprises a toner hopper unit and a waste bin unit. The toner hopper unit comprises a waste toner recovering port and the waste bin unit comprises a waste toner discharging port. The waste toner discharging port and the waste toner recovering port are butted with each other hermetically. The waste bin unit is provided with a waste toner conveying component for conveying the waste toner within the waste bin unit to the waste toner discharging port. The entire process of recovering and reusing the waste toner is automatically carried out during normal operation of the process cartridge and thus manual operation is not needed. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023690 | TONER SET FOR ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPER SET FOR ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPMENT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE SET, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A toner set for electrostatic image development includes a cyan toner, a magenta toner, and a yellow toner, wherein the Vicat softening temperatures of the toners are respectively in the range of from about 30° C. to about 60° C., and among the toners, the difference between the Vicat softening temperature of the toner having the highest Vicat softening temperature and the Vicat softening temperature of the toner having the lowest Vicat softening temperature is from about 1° C. to about 5° C. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023691 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Photosensitive Drum Moving Mechanism - An image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a retaining unit, and an endless belt. The retaining unit retains the plurality of photosensitive drums, and is movable between an internal position within the main casing and an external position outside of the main casing. The endless belt is configured to contact the plurality of the photosensitive drums, when the retaining unit is in the internal position and retains the plurality of the photosensitive drums therein. The retaining unit includes a plurality of pressing portions configured to exert pressure on the plurality of photosensitive drums toward the endless belt, when the retaining unit is in the internal position and retains the plurality of the photosensitive drums therein. | 01-22-2015 |
20150030350 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A process cartridge includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge includes a first wall having a first opening, a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening, and a first operating portion configured to operate together with the first shutter. The second cartridge is mountable onto and demountable from the first cartridge and contains a developer. The second cartridge includes a second wall facing the first wall and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a second shutter configured top open and close the second opening, and a second operating portion configured to operate together with the second shutter. The first cartridge further includes a third operating portion. When the second cartridge is mounted onto the first cartridge, the first operating portion and the third operating portion operate together through the second operating portion. | 01-29-2015 |
20150037066 | PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A process unit includes a first shaft portion at a first end of a photoreceptor drum that is fitted into a hole of a first receiving portion so as to move the photoreceptor drum from a front side of a mounting space to the inside of the mounting space. The photoreceptor drum is temporarily supported by a repulsive force of a cleaning blade and positioned in a predetermined position in the mounting space Then, in order to cause a lock member to support a second shaft portion at a second end of the photoreceptor drum, the lock member is retracted against a biasing force of a biasing member. The second shaft portion at the second end of the photoreceptor drum is supported by the lock member by a restoring force of the biasing member, so that the photoreceptor drum is locked in a mounted state. | 02-05-2015 |
20150037067 | Image Forming Device - In an image forming device, a retaining member is configured to retain a plurality of cartridges juxtaposedly arrayed in a prescribed direction. The retaining member is configured to move in the prescribed direction between a mounted position in which the retaining member is mounted in the main casing and a pulled-out position in which the retaining member is pulled out of the main casing. A belt is disposed above a plurality of photosensitive drums corresponding to the plurality of cartridges when the retaining member is in the mounted position. A tray is disposed below the retaining member when the retaining member is in the mounted position. A pickup roller configured to pick up a medium accommodated in the tray, a part of the pickup roller being arranged to overlap with a part of the retaining member in the prescribed direction when the retaining member is in the mounted position. | 02-05-2015 |
20150037068 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus may include: a process cartridge, an apparatus body and a spacing member. The process cartridge may be detachably mountable to the apparatus body and include a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive member, a developing unit having a developing roller, and a driving input part into which a driving force from the apparatus body is configured to be inputted. The apparatus body may include a driving input member which is configured to input the driving force. Additionally or alternatively, the spacing member may be attached to the process cartridge and configured to space the photosensitive member and the developing roller. The spacing member may include a first cover part which is located between the driving input part and the driving input member and covers at least a portion of the driving input part. | 02-05-2015 |
20150050044 | Process Unit - A process unit has an image carrying unit having an image carrying member configured to be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, and a developing agent removing member, a developing unit having a developing agent carrying member configured to be rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a waste developing agent collecting unit configured to collect the developing agent removed by the removing member from the image carrying member. The waste developing agent collecting unit is arranged on one side in the first direction with respect to the developing unit such that the waste developing agent collecting unit faces the developing unit, and the developing unit is connected to the waste developing agent collecting unit such that the developing unit being movable in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the waste developing agent collecting unit. | 02-19-2015 |
20150050045 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: a process unit having a photosensitive body extending in a first direction; a first roller disposed on one side in a second direction of the process unit, which is substantially perpendicular to a vertical direction and the first direction; an exposure unit; a fixing unit disposed on the other side in the second direction of the process unit; and a second roller disposed on an upper side of the fixing unit and on the other side in the second direction of the first roller and configured to transport the recording medium passed through the fixing unit to an outside of a casing. The casing includes a guide portion configured to guide the process unit into the casing, and the exposure unit is disposed on the one side in the second direction of the process unit and the guide portion. | 02-19-2015 |
20150063865 | TONER CONTAINER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, 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. | 03-05-2015 |
20150071678 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus, which contains: an image bearing member; a charging unit; an exposing unit; a developing unit; a transferring unit; and a cleaning unit, wherein the image bearing member contains an electrically conductive support, a photoconductive layer formed on the electrically conductive support, and a surface layer containing a binder resin and particles formed on a surface of the photoconductive layer, or contains the electrically conductive support, and the photoconductive layer formed on the electrically conductive support, wherein the cleaning unit contains a cleaning blade, which contains a cured composition containing a curing agent in a region of the cleaning blade, which is to be in contact with the image bearing member, and wherein the curing agent contains a polycyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and a (meth)acryloyloxy group. | 03-12-2015 |
20150078780 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. | 03-19-2015 |
20150093146 | CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes (i) a rotatable developing roller for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member; (ii) a first drive transmission member capable of receiving a rotational force originated by the main assembly; (iii) a second drive transmission member capable of coupling with the first drive transmission member and capable of transmitting the rotational force received by the first drive transmission member to the developing roller; and (iv) a coupling disconnection member including a force receiving portion capable of receiving the force originated by the main assembly, and an urging portion capable of urging at least one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member by the force received by the force receiving portion to separate one of the first drive transmission member and the second drive transmission member from the other, thereby disconnecting the coupling. | 04-02-2015 |
20150110522 | BEARING MEMBER, END MEMBER, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT, DEVELOPING ROLLER UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, AND BEARING MEMBER BODY - A bearing member is configured to be arranged in an end portion of a columnar rotary body, in which a shaft member is attached to the bearing member. The bearing member includes a body which includes a cylindrical body and a holding portion which is arranged inside the cylindrical body, and an intermediate member which is held by the holding portion of the body. The holding portion includes an intermediate member guide which guides the intermediate member so that the intermediate member rotates. The intermediate member includes a portion in which the shaft member is arranged. | 04-23-2015 |
20150110523 | Image Forming Apparatus Including Endless Belt Disposed Above Photosensitive Drum - An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a photosensitive drum, an endless belt disposed above the photosensitive drum, and a pressing member. The photosensitive drum includes a drum body and a flange portion that is provided on one end portion of the drum body. The flange portion has a contacted portion and a pressed portion. The pressing member presses the pressed portion upward to permit the photosensitive drum to be in contact with the endless belt. The frame has a positioning portion disposed above the pressing member and above the photosensitive drum. The positioning portion is configured to be in contact with the contacted portion and to position the photosensitive drum when the pressing member presses the pressed portion. The pressed portion is disposed farther from the drum body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum than the contacted portion. | 04-23-2015 |
20150117901 | PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAME - A process unit includes a rotatable image bearer to bear a toner image on a surface thereof; a developer bearer to supply developer to the image bearer and including a first range, a second range different in property from the first range and adjacent to the first range on an outer side in an axial direction via a first boundary, and a second boundary on an outer side of the first boundary in the axial direction; a cleaning member to remove residual developer from the image bearer; and an abutment part disposed to contact the surface of the image bearer to remove a foreign substance from the image bearer. The abutment part is disposed astride at least one of a first position on the image bearer corresponding to the first boundary, and a second position on the image bearer corresponding to the second boundary. | 04-30-2015 |
20150125178 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Housing Formed With Opening and Process Cartridge Mounted In the Housing - An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; and a process cartridge. The housing is formed with a first opening through which recording medium is to be introduced into an inside of the housing. The process cartridge is configured to be mounted in the inside of the housing and is provided with a photosensitive body. The process cartridge is provided with a process cartridge holding part configured to be held by a user so as to remove the process cartridge from the housing. The process cartridge holding part is configured such that in a state where the process cartridge is mounted in the inside of the housing, the process cartridge holding part prevents at least part of light that has entered the inside of the housing through the first opening from reaching the photosensitive body. | 05-07-2015 |
20150125179 | Cartridge Having a Plurality of Frames and Image Forming Apparatus Provided with the Cartridge - A cartridge includes a first frame, an image-carrying member, a transfer member, and a second frame. The image-carrying member is rotatably supported by the first frame and is configured to carry a developer image thereon. The transfer member is rotatably supported by the first frame and faces the image-carrying member. The transfer member is configured to transfer the developer image from the image-carrying member to a recording medium. The image-carrying member and the transfer member define a nip portion therebetween. The second frame is attached to the first frame and is disposed downstream from the nip portion in a passage direction in which a recording medium passes. The second frame defines at least part of a first opening. The first opening allows a recording medium that has passed through the nip portion to pass therethrough. | 05-07-2015 |
20150132024 | ELECTROCONDUCTIVE MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - It is an object of the present invention to provide an electroconductive member for electrophotography capable of suppressing image density unevenness caused by the adhesion of foreign matter. Provided is an electroconductive member for electrophotography, including at least: an electroconductive support, and a surface layer formed on an outer side of the electroconductive support, in which the surface layer includes a porous body, and in which the porous body satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the porous body has a co-continuous structure including at least a skeleton that is three-dimensionally continuous and a pore that is three-dimensionally continuous; (2) the porous body has electroconductivity; and (3) an average diameter of a maximum inscribed circle of an opening of the pore on a surface of the porous body is 3 μm or more and 8 μm or less. | 05-14-2015 |
20150139690 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main body having an opening; a developing cartridge, detachably installed in the main body through the opening in a first direction, which includes a photosensitive drum and a cleaning member for removing a toner remaining in the photosensitive drum; and a toner recycle unit, detachably installed in the developing cartridge through the opening in the first direction, which recovers the toner removed by the cleaning member, filters the recovered toner, and supplies the toner again to the developing cartridge. | 05-21-2015 |
20150309466 | END PORTION MEMBER, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A bearing member engageable and disengageable from a recessed portion of an image forming apparatus body is included. While the bearing member is engaged into the recessed portion, a cross-sectional area occupancy ratio which is a degree of area occupied by a cross-section of the bearing member to a cross-section of the recessed portion is 15% or higher and 75% or less. An outer peripheral shape of the bearing member in a cross-section is a hexagon, and assuming that a radius of a circumscribed circle of the hexagon is r | 10-29-2015 |
20150309471 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge attachable/detachable to/from an apparatus main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is configured such that the photosensitive unit and the development unit are coupled with each other at both ends in a direction parallel to a rotational center axis line of the photosensitive drum. Guide units are provided at one end of the photosensitive unit and at one end of the development unit, which are separated from each other when an external force does not work on the process cartridge. When the process cartridge is subjected to an impact in a direction in which the development roller approaches the photosensitive drum, the guide units are brought into contact with each other while the development unit rotates relative to the link member, and guide the development unit in a direction in which the development roller separates from the photosensitive drum. | 10-29-2015 |
20150323897 | IMAGING CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An imaging cartridge includes a photoconductive unit including a photoconductor on which an elastic latent image is formed; a development unit including a development roller that supplies toner to the photoconductor to develop the toner and a gap maintaining member that constrains an approach distance of the development roller with respect to the photoconductor; a first position determining portion provided in the development unit; a lateral bracket that is fixed to a side portion of the photoconductive unit and has a second position determining portion that guides the first position determining portion so as to movably support the development unit; and an elastic member that applies to the development unit an elastic force in a direction in which the development roller approaches the photoconductive unit. | 11-12-2015 |
20150331364 | UNIT, CLEANING UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A cleaning unit usable with an image forming apparatus includes a cleaning blade, supported by a frame and including a free end contactable to an image bearing drum, for removing a developer from the drum; a first seal provided between the frame and the blade by injection molding into the frame adjacent to a longitudinal end portion of the blade, the first seal being effective to prevent developer leakage; and a second seal provided between the drum and the frame in contact with the free end of the blade adjacent to the longitudinal end portion, wherein the first seal includes a seal portion contacting the blade, and a seat supporting the second seal, the seat being deformable to move the second seal to urge the second seal to the free end of the blade when the drum is mounted to the frame. | 11-19-2015 |
20150346620 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes an undercoat layer that includes metal oxide particles and a compound represented by formula (1). | 12-03-2015 |
20150346681 | Replaceable Unit for an Image Forming Device Having Magnets of Varying Angular Offset for Toner Level Sensing - A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet pass near at least a portion of an inner wall of the housing forming the reservoir during rotation of the first and second magnets. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir. | 12-03-2015 |
20150355559 | CHARGE TRANSPORT SUBSTANCE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - The present invention is to provide a charge transport substance having high resistance to stress within electrophotographic processes, an electrophotographic photoreceptor which has excellent high-speed responsiveness, shows a sufficient residual potential, and has high resistance to stress within electrophotographic processes, an electrophotographic cartridge, and an image-forming apparatus. The invention provides a charge transport substance having a specific structure. The invention further provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a photosensitive layer which contains the charge transport substance having a specific structure, an electrophotographic cartridge, and an image-forming apparatus, equipped with this electrophotographic photoreceptor. | 12-10-2015 |
20150355567 | CHARGING MEMBER, MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR CHARGING MEMBER, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - Provided is a charging member capable of suppressing adhesion of smear on its surface and suppressing generation of a C set image as well. | 12-10-2015 |
20150362888 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Belt Unit And Supporting Member - In an image forming apparatus, both a drum cartridge and a developer cartridge are detachably supported by a supporting member. The drum cartridge has an abutment portion. The developer cartridge includes a developer gripping portion. The developer gripping portion has a moving portion. The moving portion moves between a protruding position and an accommodated position. When the drum cartridge is mounted to the supporting member the abutment portion abuts against the moving portion to cause the moving portion to move to the accommodated position. When the drum cartridge is removed from the supporting member, abutment of the abutment portion against the moving portion is released to cause the moving portion to move to the protruding position. | 12-17-2015 |
20150362891 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - 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. | 12-17-2015 |
20160004213 | Cartridge Configured of Two Units and Image Forming Apparatus that Accommodates the Cartridge - A cartridge mountable in an image forming apparatus includes a first unit that stores developer and a second unit that accommodates the first unit. The first unit includes a first detected part configured to be displaced irreversibly from a first-unit new-product position to a first-unit used position upon receipt of a driving force from the image forming apparatus, the first detected part contacting a detector provided in the image forming apparatus while being displaced from the first-unit new-product position to the first-unit used position to be detected by the detector. The second unit includes a second detected part configured to be displaced irreversibly from a second-unit new-product position to a second-unit used position upon receipt of a driving force from the image forming apparatus, the second detected part contacting the detector while being displaced from the second-unit new-product position to the second-unit used position to be detected by the detector. | 01-07-2016 |
20160004214 | Image Forming Apparatus Including Endless Belt Disposed Above Photosensitive Drum - An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a photosensitive drum, an endless belt disposed above the photosensitive drum, and a pressing member. The photosensitive drum includes a drum body and a flange portion that is provided on one end portion of the drum body. The flange portion has a contacted portion and a pressed portion. The pressing member presses the pressed portion upward to permit the photosensitive drum to be in contact with the endless belt. The frame has a positioning portion disposed above the pressing member and above the photosensitive drum. The positioning portion is configured to be in contact with the contacted portion and to position the photosensitive drum when the pressing member presses the pressed portion. The pressed portion is disposed farther from the drum body in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum than the contacted portion. | 01-07-2016 |
20160011562 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 01-14-2016 |
20160011563 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME | 01-14-2016 |
20160018777 | BEARING MEMBER, END MEMBER, PHOTORECEPTOR-DRUM UNIT, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - There is provided a bearing member which is disposed at an end section of a photoreceptor drum for attaching a shaft member that transmits a rotating force to the bearing member, the bearing member including a tubular body, and a holding section which is disposed inside the tubular body attachably and detachably, and holds a rotating force transmission pin provided in the shaft member, wherein the holding section includes at least two swing grooves provided extending along an axial direction of the tubular body, and opposing each other, and introduction grooves, each having one end communicating with the swing groove and the other end communicating with an outside of the swing groove, and the introduction grooves in a posture in which the shaft member transmits the rotating force are disposed entirely at a position to be lower than an entirety or a part of the rotating force transmission pin. | 01-21-2016 |
20160018784 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a drum unit supporting a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a driving roller for driving the roller; a drive receiving portion; a developing unit supporting the developing roller and the driving roller; and a connecting portion connecting the drum unit and the developing unit, the connecting portion being disposed below the driving roller. The developing unit is movable relative to the drum unit by rotating about the connecting portion between a contacting position in which the drum and the developing roller contact each other and a spacing position in which the drum and the developing roller are spaced from each other. A direction of the receiving portion is opposite to that of the developing roller, and is the same as the developing unit rotation from the spacing position toward the contacting position. | 01-21-2016 |
20160026151 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a supporting member that detachably supports a cartridge between a first position at an image formable position and a second position retracted from the first position. A first engaging portion in the main assembly supports the cartridge by engaging with a first engaged portion on the cartridge when the supporting member is in the first position, and a second engaging portion in the main assembly suppresses rotation of the cartridge about the first engaging portion by engaging with a second engaged portion provided on the cartridge when the supporting member is in the first position. When the supporting member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engaged portion moves to a side downstream of the second engaging portion with respect to a movement direction of the supporting member to disengage from the second engaging portion. | 01-28-2016 |
20160033933 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING CARTRIDGE TO IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus that uses a cartridge, includes a protruding portion that engages with an engaging portion of the cartridge; and a first gear that engages with a second gear of the cartridge, wherein while the cartridge is being inserted into the image forming apparatus, the protruding portion maintains a distance of separation, between the first gear and the second gear in a direction crossing a face that transports a recording medium, until the protruding portion engages with the engaging portion. | 02-04-2016 |
20160041521 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing roller being movable relative to the drum frame between a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a force receiving member, provided movably relative to the developing frame, for receiving an external force, wherein the force receiving member is capable of taking an operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position by receiving the external force, and a stand-by position retracted from the operating position; an urging portion for urging the force receiving member from the stand-by position toward the operating position; and an engaging portion for engaging with the force receiving member to hold the force receiving member in the stand-by position against an urging force of the urging portion. force of the urging portion. | 02-11-2016 |
20160048103 | BEARING MEMBER, END MEMBER, PHOTOSENSITIVE DRUM UNIT, DEVELOPING ROLLER UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, AND BEARING MEMBER BODY - A bearing member is configured to be arranged in an end portion of a columnar rotary body, in which a shaft member is attached to the bearing member. The bearing member includes a body which includes a cylindrical body and a holding portion which is arranged inside the cylindrical body, and an intermediate member which is held by the holding portion of the body. The holding portion includes an intermediate member guide which guides the intermediate member so that the intermediate member rotates. The intermediate member includes a portion in which the shaft member is arranged. | 02-18-2016 |
20160048105 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. | 02-18-2016 |
20160054673 | CHARGING ROLL, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a charging roll, including a core body, and an elastic layer that is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the core body, wherein, with respect to an approximation curve that extends an outer curve of the axial direction of the core body of an outer circumferential surface in a region other than both end portions of the outermost layer up to both end portions of the outermost layer, a maximum increase amount of the outer curve in both end portions of the outermost layer is equal to or less than 60 μm, and wherein a coefficient of friction of the outer circumferential surface at a position showing the maximum increase amount of the outer curve in both end portions of the outermost layer is equal to or less than 0.3, and a variation amount of the coefficient of friction is equal to or less than 30%. | 02-25-2016 |
20160054682 | DEVELOPER CONTAINER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A contacting portion of a shutter appears in front of a container opening to be at a position where the contacting portion contacts with a sealing member provided in an edge of a storage body opening of a developer storage body when the shutter is at an opening position, and is separated from the sealing member to move into a container frame when the shutter moves from the opening position to a closing position. A non-contacting portion of the shutter is provided on an upstream-side of the contacting portion in a moving direction from the opening position to the closing position and is positioned inside the frame when the shutter is at the opening position, and moves to a position where the non-contacting portion appears in front of the container opening without making contact with the sealing member when the shutter moves from the opening position to the closing position. | 02-25-2016 |
20160054703 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit, and a transfer unit and satisfies the following formulae (1) to (3): | 02-25-2016 |
20160062309 | MULTICOLOR MOLDED COMPONENT AND CARTRIDGE - A multicolor molded component used in an image forming apparatus includes a molded portion molded with a first resin, and a bearing portion configured to be movable with respect to the molded portion, and to support a rotating member. The molded portion includes a regulation portion, and the bearing portion is formed by injection molding to be engaged with the regulation portion in such a manner as to be movable in a first direction with respect to the molded portion. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062311 | Cartridge Provided with Protection Cover Capable of Protecting Developer Carrier and Image Forming Apparatus Provided with the Same - A cartridge includes: a first cartridge; a second cartridge; and a protection cover. The first cartridge includes: a photosensitive body; a photosensitive-body accommodating portion for accommodating the photosensitive body; and a cartridge mounting portion. The second cartridge is detachably mounted in the first cartridge and includes a developer carrier. The protection cover provides an attached state to be attached to the second cartridge and a detached state to be detached from the second cartridge. The protection cover at the attached state faces the developer carrier to protect the developer carrier. The second cartridge provides an accommodated position to be accommodated in the cartridge mounting portion when the protection cover is at the attached state, and a mounted position to be mounted in the cartridge mounting portion when the protection cover is at the detached state. | 03-03-2016 |
20160070228 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING DEVELOPER CARTRIDGES AND CARTRIDGE SUPPORTING MEMBER - An image forming apparatus includes process units and developer cartridges; a process unit supporting member; a cartridge supporting member; and a moving mechanism. Each developer cartridge includes a transporting member configured to transport developer to a corresponding process unit. The moving mechanism is configured to move each transporting member between a communicated position, in which developer is transported to the corresponding process unit, and an interrupted position, in which transporting of developer to the corresponding process unit is interrupted. The transporting member positioned in the interrupted position allows the cartridge supporting member to move from an attached position to a withdrawn position and allows the process unit supporting member to be withdrawn, and the transporting member positioned in the communicated position prevents the cartridge supporting member from moving from the attached position to the withdrawn position and prevents the process unit supporting member from being withdrawn. | 03-10-2016 |
20160070229 | Image Forming Apparatus and Image Forming Unit - Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above. | 03-10-2016 |
20160085201 | CLEANING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is provided a cleaning apparatus including a cleaning member configured to collect developer on an image bearing member, and a storage chamber configured to store the developer, wherein cross-sectional areas of a lengthwise center and an end portion of the storage chamber in a lengthwise direction of the storage chamber are different, the cross sections being orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. | 03-24-2016 |
20160085206 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a main body of the apparatus, a cartridge support member, an openable and closable member configured to open and close an opening portion, a linkage mechanism configured to link the openable and closable member and the cartridge support member to each other, and a locking portion configured to prevent the cartridge support member from being detached from the main body of the apparatus. The locking of the cartridge support member by the locking portion is released by releasing the linkage by the linkage mechanism to move the cartridge support member relative to the locking portion. | 03-24-2016 |
20160085207 | Image Forming Apparatus Having Waste Toner Collecting Function From a Plurality of Photosensitive Drums - An image forming apparatus includes a main frame, a plurality of process cartridges, a cartridge-supporting body, a belt, a waste toner cartridge, a contact-separation mechanism, and a collective conveying unit. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a drum cleaning unit collecting waste toner on the drum. The cartridge-supporting body is movable between an internal position inside the frame and an external position outside the frame. The belt confronts the process cartridges in the internal position. The waste toner cartridge accommodates the waste toner collected from the drums. The contact-separation mechanism moves the cartridge-supporting body between a contact position where the drums are in contact with the belt and a separated position where the drums are out of contact with the belt. The collective conveying unit aggregates waste toner collected from drums and conveys collectively the aggregated waste toner to the waste toner cartridge. | 03-24-2016 |
20160115163 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND IMIDE COMPOUND - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes, in the following order, a support member, an undercoat layer adjacent to the support member, and a photosensitive layer adjacent to the undercoat layer. The undercoat layer contains a polymer produced by polymerizing a composition containing a crosslinking agent and a compound expressed by general formula (1). | 04-28-2016 |
20160124325 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND CHLOROGALLIUM PHTHALOCYANINE CRYSTAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer in this order. The photosensitive layer contains a chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal obtained by mixing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal and an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution. | 05-05-2016 |
20160124326 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND CHLOROGALLIUM PHTHALOCYANINE CRYSTAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer in this order. The photosensitive layer contains a chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal. The chlorogallium phthalocyanine crystal has one or more peaks in each of a wavelength range of 646 nm or more and 668 nm or less and a wavelength range of 782 nm or more and 809 nm or less in an absorption spectrum. When a peak with a maximum absorbance among the peaks in the wavelength range of 646 nm or more and 668 nm or less is assumed to be a first peak and a peak with a maximum absorbance among the peaks in the wavelength range of 782 nm or more and 809 nm or less is assumed to be a second peak, an absorbance of the first peak is larger than an absorbance of the second peak. | 05-05-2016 |
20160124383 | END MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD OF SEPARATING PROCESS CARTRIDGE - Provided is an end member which allows appropriate transmission of rotary power, and smooth attachment and detachment with respect to an apparatus body. The end member includes a tubular bearing member and a shaft member that is held by the bearing member. The shaft member includes a turning shaft which moves in an axial line direction in accordance with turning about an axial line, a rotary power reception member which is arranged at one end of the turning shaft and includes an engagement member engaging with a drive shaft of an image forming apparatus body, and a regulation member which is pressed to engage with or be detached from the turning shaft or the rotary power reception member, whereby the engagement member switches between an engagement posture and a non-engagement posture with respect to the drive shaft. | 05-05-2016 |
20160131984 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a charge transport layer containing (α) a charge transporting compound, (β) a binding resin in a proportion in the range of 50% by mass to 200% by mass relative to the mass of the charge transporting compound, (γ) a compound being at least one of xylene and toluene with a content in the range of 0.01% by mass to 2.00% by mass relative to the total mass of the charge transport layer, and (δ) a cycloalkanone with a content in the range of 0.01% by mass to 1.20% by mass relative to the total mass of the charge transport layer. | 05-12-2016 |
20160139516 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS - An electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, and a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer on the support, wherein the charge generating layer includes a gallium phthalocyanine crystal in which an organic compound is contained, wherein the organic compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylformamide, N-propylformamide, N-vinylformamide and N-methylpyrrolidone, the content of the organic compound is 0.1% by mass or more and 1.5% or less based on a gallium phthalocyanine in the gallium phthalocyanine crystal, and the charge transporting layer includes a polyester resin having a structural unit represented by formula (1). | 05-19-2016 |
20160139555 | LUBRICANT SUPPLYING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A lubricant supplying device includes a lubricant supplier contacting an image bearer, a solid lubricant contacting the roller, a detector detecting a lubricant amount, and a controller controlling a supplying of the roller based on a detector detection. The detector outputs to the controller a first signal of a near-end state when the amount reaches a first amount, a second signal of an end state when the amount reaches a second amount smaller than the first amount, and a third signal of an absolute end state when the amount reaches a third amount smaller than the second amount. The controller temporarily stops the supplying when the second signal is output, cancels a roller temporary stopped state even when lubricant replacement is not completed after this state, stops the supplying when the third signal is output, and maintains a roller stopped state until the replacement is completed after this state. | 05-19-2016 |
20160154325 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160154326 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160154328 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160154329 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160154373 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE USED FOR THE SAME | 06-02-2016 |
20160154374 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160154375 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 06-02-2016 |
20160154376 | ROTATIONAL FORCE DRIVING ASSEMBLY AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE | 06-02-2016 |
20160161871 | ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a substrate, an undercoat layer overlying the substrate, and a photosensitive layer overlying the undercoat layer. The undercoat layer includes a binder resin, a metal oxide particle and a compound having a thiol group. | 06-09-2016 |
20160161901 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus, the cartridge including an image bearing member and a cleaning member which abuts against the image bearing member to remove a remained developer on the image bearing member; an inputting portion into which information for taking out the cartridge from the image forming apparatus is inputted; and an execution portion capable of executing, after an operation of forming an image on a recording material is finished, an operation of rotating the image bearing member in a direction reverse to a rotation direction of the image bearing member and an second operation of rotating the image bearing member in the rotation direction of the image bearing member when the information is inputted to the inputting portion. | 06-09-2016 |
20160161912 | CONNECTOR, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A connector includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member retains an integrated circuit having multiple first electrodes in a secured state and is externally contactable with the multiple first electrodes. The second connector member is attachable to and detachable from the first connector member and has a connection unit that is directly connected to the multiple first electrodes of the integrated circuit when the first connector member is attached to the second connector member. | 06-09-2016 |
20160179050 | POSITIONAL CONTROL FEATURES BETWEEN REPLACEABLE UNITS OF AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING DEVICE | 06-23-2016 |
20160179052 | Image Forming Apparatus | 06-23-2016 |
20160179053 | POSITIONAL CONTROL FEATURES FOR AN IMAGING UNIT IN AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING DEVICE | 06-23-2016 |
20160187844 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE - The invention relates to a process cartridge, which comprises a process cartridge housing, a photosensitive member, a driving force receiving opening, a retractable mechanism and a control mechanism, wherein the photosensitive member is arranged inside the process cartridge housing; the driving force receiving opening is connected with the photosensitive member and provides a driving force for the photosensitive member; the retractable mechanism allows the driving force receiving opening to extend or retract in the axial direction of the photosensitive member; and the control mechanism controls the extension and retraction of the retractable mechanism. | 06-30-2016 |
20160252871 | CLEANING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 09-01-2016 |
20160252877 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND APPARATUS MAIN BODY FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 09-01-2016 |
20160252879 | SIDE MEMBER, CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 09-01-2016 |
20170235251 | DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 08-17-2017 |
20170235275 | Image Forming Apparatus Comprising Process Cartridge | 08-17-2017 |
20170235276 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 08-17-2017 |
20190146405 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 05-16-2019 |
20190146410 | CARTRIDGE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS | 05-16-2019 |
20220137545 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, a first photoconductive drum and a second photoconductive drum, a first exposing head having a first boss and rotatably coupled to the cover, a second exposing head having a second boss and rotatably coupled to the cover, and a cam rotatably coupled to each of the first exposing head and the second exposing head. The cam is configured to rotate each of the first exposing head and the second exposing head. The cam includes (i) a first elongated hole into which the first boss fits and extending a direction intersecting a movement direction in which the cam moves and (ii) a second elongated hole into which the second boss fits and extending in a direction intersecting the movement direction of the cam. | 05-05-2022 |
20220137547 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge including a developing roller and movable between a contact position and a spaced position, a first spacing member configured to move the developing cartridge between the contact position and the spaced position, a first cam configured to move the first spacing member, and a lock member movable between a lock position at which the photoconductive drum is locked to the housing and a lock releasing position at which the lock of the photoconductive drum with respect to the housing is released. The lock member is configured to move from the lock releasing position to the lock position by being pushed by the first spacing member. | 05-05-2022 |