Abstract: A driving device to be used in an image forming apparatus includes an input gear; a partly non-toothed gear having a toothed portion engageable with the input gear and having a non-toothed portion; a holding member capable of placing the partly non-toothed gear in a holding state in which the non-toothed portion opposes the input gear and the partly non-toothed gear is not engaged with the input gear and capable of placing the partly non-toothed gear in a released state in which the holding state is released; a cylindrical member rotatable by receiving a rotational force; and an entering portion which is rotatable together with the partly non-toothed gear and which is capable of entering an inside of the cylindrical member and capable of receiving the rotational force from the cylindrical member by a frictional force between the entering portion and the cylindrical member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first drum to be subjected to image formation by exposing to light said first drum at an exposure position to form a latent image and then by transferring a toner image, formed by developing the latent image with toner, onto a transfer material at a transfer position; a second drum to be subjected to image formation by exposing to light said second drum at an exposure position to form a latent image and then by transferring a toner image, formed by developing the latent image with toner, onto the transfer material at a transfer position; a first gear provided coaxially and integrally with the first drum; a second gear provided coaxially and integrally with the second drum; a driving source for rotationally driving the first and second drums; and a branch gear, meshable with the first gear at a first mesh point and meshable with the second gear at a second mesh point, for transmitting a driving force from the driving source to the first gear and second gear.

Abstract: The sheet discharging apparatus for discharging sheets to a stacking portion by a discharging portion, including an opening/closing member openable and closable with respect to a main body of the apparatus; a lever member rotatably provided on the opening/closing member above the stacking portion and capable of taking a suspended posture by an own weight of the lever member in a position where the opening/closing member is closed; and a delay mechanism which delays a rotation of the lever member toward the suspended posture caused by the own weight of the lever member, when the opening/closing member is shifted from an open position to a closed position. It can be prevented from being caught by the sheet when the upper cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a laser scanner configured to irradiate a photoconductive drum with light and having a cover glass transmitting the light, a laser shutter movable between a closed position, where the laser shutter blocks an optical path of the light emitted from the laser scanner through the cover glass toward the photoconductive drum, and an open position, where the laser shutter opens the optical path, and a cleaning member with which the cover glass is cleaned, the cleaning member being supported by the laser shutter in such a manner as to be movable along the laser shutter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, an optical unit provided below the photosensitive drum and including a cover glass for transmitting light emitted toward the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the cover glass. The cleaning member includes a cleaning sheet configured to move foreign substances on the surface, and a wiping member configured to wipe foreign substances from the surface. The cleaning sheet and the wiping member move in contact with the surface of the cover glass when the cleaning member cleans the surface. The wiping member moves in contact with a portion of the surface of the cover glass after the cleaning sheet moves in contact with the portion. Accordingly, the cover glass can be reliably cleaned even when an unexpectedly large number of foreign substances that vary in particle size and shape adhere to the cover glass.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image forming unit configured to form an image, a belt for transferring an image formed by the image forming unit onto a recording material, and an opening and closing unit having the belt and openable and closable relative to a main body of the apparatus. The belt is provided above the image forming unit, and the image forming unit is removable from the main body of the apparatus when the opening and closing unit is open. The opening and closing unit slides substantially horizontally, thereby opening and closing relative to the main body of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a flexible sleeve, a sliding member for sliding on the inner periphery of the sleeve, and a back-up member for forming a nip portion together with the sliding member through the sleeve. A recording material for bearing an image is heated while being held and conveyed by the nip portion, and a regulation member is set by facing the edge surface of the sleeve in the generatrix direction to regulate the movement of the sleeve in the generatrix direction, the regulation member having a regulation surface with which the edge surface of the sleeve contacts when the sleeve moves in the generatrix direction. The regulation surface of the regulation member has a curved-surface area in which a line when the regulation surface is cut at a virtual plane almost parallel with the nip portion is a curved line expanded toward the edge surface of the sleeve. Thereby, an image heating apparatus is provided which is able to restrain deterioration of the durability of the flexible sleeve.

Abstract: The sheet discharging apparatus for discharging sheets to a stacking portion by a discharging portion, including an opening/closing member openable and closable with respect to a main body of the apparatus; a lever member rotatably provided on the opening/closing member above the stacking portion and capable of taking a suspended posture by an own weight of the lever member in a position where the opening/closing member is closed; and a delay mechanism which delays a rotation of the lever member toward the suspended posture caused by the own weight of the lever member, when the opening/closing member is shifted from an open position to a closed position. It can be prevented from being caught by the sheet when the upper cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes a flexible sleeve, a sliding member for sliding on the inner periphery of the sleeve, a back-up member for forming a nip portion together with the sliding member through the sleeve, wherein a recording material for bearing an image is heated while being held and conveyed by the nip portion and a regulation member set by facing the edge surface of the sleeve in the generatrix direction to regulate the movement of the sleeve in the generatrix direction, the regulation surface having a regulation surface with which the edge surface of the sleeve contacts when the sleeve moves in the generatrix direction, wherein the regulation surface of the regulation member has a curved-surface area in which a line when the regulation surface is cut at a virtual plane almost parallel with the nip portion is a curved line expanede toward the edge surface of the sleeve.