Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor which is rotatable with respect to a body frame, an exposing member which is movable relative to the body frame, a spacing member which is provided between the exposing member and the photoreceptor to maintain a distance between the photoreceptor and the exposing member, a positioning member which makes a contact with the exposing member to position the exposing member in a direction of rotation of the photoreceptor, and a pressing member which is provided to the body frame to press the exposing member toward the photoreceptor and the positioning member. Accordingly, it is possible to position the exposing member accurately with respect to the photoreceptor, in any of the light-axis direction and the rotational direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: There is provided an exposure device including an exposure head having a light-emitting member which has a plurality of light-emitting sections arranged in a row and a casing which holds the light-emitting member and which is elongated in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction of a light emitted from the light-emitting sections; and an elongated frame member fixed to the casing and having a reference portion at which the frame member is positioned with respect to the light-emitting sections; wherein the frame member is fixed to the casing such that the frame member is positioned with respect to the light-emitting sections in both of the longitudinal direction and a width direction of the casing, the width direction being orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the optical axis direction. The exposure device is capable of performing exposure precisely at a desired exposure position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a casing, a first cover and a second cover. The first cover is rotatable between a first opened position to expose a first opening and a first closed position. The second cover is rotatable between a second opened position to expose a second opening and a second closed position. The first cover is sized and positioned relative to a toner cartridge to rotate to the first opened position to permit removal of the toner cartridge that is detached from a developing unit while the second cover is maintained in the second closed position. The first cover and the second cover are sized and positioned relative to the developing unit and a photosensitive body to rotate respectively to the first opened position and the second opened position to permit removal of the developing unit and the photosensitive body integrally.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, optical deflector, mirror, first photosensitive drum, and second photosensitive drum. The light source emits a first light beam and a second light beam. The optical deflector deflects the first light beam and the second light beam. The mirror has a reflecting part that reflects the deflected first light beam and a passing part that passes the deflected second light beam. The passing part is displaced from the reflecting part. The first photosensitive drum performs a development with a first toner having a first color. The reflected first light beam scans the first photosensitive drum in a main scanning direction. The second photosensitive drum performs a development with a second toner having a second color different from the first color. The passed second light beam scans the second photosensitive drum in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor which is rotatable with respect to a body frame, an exposing member which is movable relative to the body frame, a spacing member which is provided between the exposing member and the photoreceptor to maintain a distance between the photoreceptor and the exposing member, a positioning member which makes a contact with the exposing member to position the exposing member in a direction of rotation of the photoreceptor, and a pressing member which is provided to the body frame to press the exposing member toward the photoreceptor and the positioning member. Accordingly, it is possible to position the exposing member accurately with respect to the photoreceptor, in any of the light-axis direction and the rotational direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An optical scanning device is configured to cause a light beam to scan a photosensitive drum to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum. The optical scanning device includes light emitting units configured to emit light beams and a light deflecting unit having deflecting surfaces and being configured to cause the light beams emitted from the light emitting units to reflect at the deflecting surfaces and deflect and scan in a main scanning direction. Also, the device includes a lens disposed between the light emitting units and the light deflecting unit, the lens being configured to cause the light beams emitted from the light emitting units to be directed along the main scanning direction to the deflecting surfaces, and an aperture member disposed between the lens and the light deflecting unit, and having apertures formed in line in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor which is rotatable with respect to a body frame, an exposing member which is movable relative to the body frame, a spacing member which is provided between the exposing member and the photoreceptor to maintain a distance between the photoreceptor and the exposing member, a positioning member which makes a contact with the exposing member to position the exposing member in a direction of rotation of the photoreceptor, and a pressing member which is provided to the body frame to press the exposing member toward the photoreceptor and the positioning member. Accordingly, it is possible to position the exposing member accurately with respect to the photoreceptor, in any of the light-axis direction and the rotational direction of the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, optical deflector, mirror, first photosensitive drum, and second photosensitive drum. The light source emits a first light beam and a second light beam. The optical deflector deflects the first light beam and the second light beam. The mirror has a reflecting part that reflects the deflected first light beam and a passing part that passes the deflected second light beam. The passing part is displaced from the reflecting part. The first photosensitive drum performs a development with a first toner having a first color. The reflected first light beam scans the first photosensitive drum in a main scanning direction. The second photosensitive drum performs a development with a second toner having a second color different from the first color. The passed second light beam scans the second photosensitive drum in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A light source device and an exposure device are disclosed. A light source device includes: a semiconductor laser; a coupling lens; a holder; a sheet-metal member and a photopolymerizable resin. The coupling lens converts laser light from the semiconductor laser to a light flux. The coupling lens has an optical axis. The sheet-metal member holds the semiconductor laser and the coupling lens. The photopolymerizable rein is cured to fix the coupling lens on the sheet-metal member. An exposure device for forming an electrostatic latent image by scanning light on a photosensitive body includes: a light source device having a semiconductor laser; a coupling lens, a sheet-metal member and a photopolymerizable resin, a deflector and a scanning lens.

Abstract: An optical scanner used for an image-forming device to form a color image includes a plurality of photosensitive drums for superimposing a developer image formed on each of the plurality of photosensitive drums. The optical scanner includes a casing, a plurality of light sources, a deflector, an optical system, and a storage device. The plurality of light sources is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of photosensitive drums. Each of the plurality of light source emits a laser beam. The deflector is provided in the casing for deflecting the laser beam. The optical system is provided in the casing for guiding the deflected laser beam to a corresponding one of the plurality of photosensitive drums to make the laser beam scan the corresponding one of the plurality of photosensitive drums. The storage device stores a characteristic related to the laser beam scanning the corresponding one of the photosensitive drums.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a frame, a light source, an optical member, and a spacer. The light source emits a light beam. The optical member is mounted on the frame to guide the light beam to a scanning target. The spacer maintains the optical member at a predetermined position with respect to the frame. The spacer is formed of a photocurable resin that is cured in response to a predetermined light having a wavelength within a prescribed range.

Abstract: In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; an exposure member which has a plurality of blinking sections and which exposes the photoconductive body; a support frame which is made of resin and which supports the exposure member; a roller shaft which is made of metal and provided on the support frame; a roller which is made of resin, which is rotatably provided on the roller shaft and which maintains a spacing distance between the exposure member and the photoconductive body; and a metal plate which supports and is electrically connected to the roller shaft and which is electrically grounded. With the image forming apparatus, it is possible to solve a problem caused when the roller shaft is electrically floated, and to suitably arrange parts or components around the roller shaft.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus which exposes an object includes an exposure member which has a plurality of blinking sections and which is elongated in a predetermined longitudinal direction; a support frame which supports the exposure member; a holder which supports the support frame to be movable relative to the holder; and a pressing member which is provided between the holder and the support frame and which presses the support frame in a direction away from the holder. Accordingly, the exposure apparatus can suppress the deformation of the exposure member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes: a photosensitive member; an exposure member; a support frame supporting the exposure member; a gap keeping member; a pressing member; and an adjustment member. The adjust member is disposed between the exposure member and the support frame and configured to adjust a gap between the exposure member and the support frame to allow the exposure member to move in an optical axis direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, an exposure unit which exposes the photoconductive body, a first pressing member which presses the exposure unit toward the photoconductive body, a first positioning member which makes a contact with the exposure unit, a second positioning member which is arranged at a side nearer to the photoconductive body than the first positioning member in an optical axial direction of light, and a second pressing member which presses the exposure unit toward the second positioning member. A point of action at which the first pressing member presses the exposure unit is positioned at a side nearer to the photoconductive body, than the first positioning member in the optical axial direction. It is possible to suppress a degradation of an image quality by suppressing an effect of vibrations with respect to the exposure unit.