Patent ID: 6349189
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
In a hopper-integrated developing unit for an image forming apparatus, said unit comprising:a case comprising a body and side plates; a supply roller, a developing roller, and a photosensitive roller housed in said case; a supply roller retaining shaft around which said supply roller is attached, said shaft extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, said shaft rotatably held by the side plates of said case at said first and second ends; a developing roller retaining shaft around which said developing roller is attached, said shaft extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, said shaft rotatably held by the side plates of said case at said first and second ends; two photosensitive drum retaining shafts, each of said shafts extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, said shafts respectively fixed to said side plates at said first ends and respectively inserted into an interior of said photosensitive drum at said second ends; and supply roller, developing roller, and drum roller driving gears, said gears respectively fitted around said retaining shafts and thereby transmitting rotating forces to said supply roller, said developing roller, and said photosensitive drum while being rotated together; the improvement comprising:a removal-restricting means for allowing said supply roller retaining shaft and said developing roller retaining shaft to be combined with, and to be removed from the side plates of said case only at a predetermined engagement state of said driving gears.