Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body, a drawer, an image carrier, a developing unit which is provided to be movable with respect to the drawer, a contacting and spacing mechanism which is provided to at least one of the apparatus main body and the drawer, and which is configured to move the developing unit between a contacting position and a spacing position, a driving unit which is configured to drive the contacting and spacing mechanism, a cover, an interlocking mechanism which is configured to interlock with opening of the cover, wherein when the cover is opened, the interlocking mechanism performs a first operation of releasing the coupled state between the driving unit and the contacting and spacing mechanism, and a second operation of moving the developing unit to a drawn position while interlocking with the first operation.

Abstract: An image forming device having an detachable image forming unit that has an image carrier and an opening that exposes a part of the surface of the image carrier includes a determination unit that determines a cleaning time for the image carrier; and a rotation control unit that rotates the image carrier by a rotation unit that is less than or equal to a width of the opening, during the cleaning time.

Abstract: An image holding member unit includes an image holding member having a rotation shaft rotatably supported by a support member and holding a developer image on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a protective member moving between a first position and a second position, and a guide structure including a first link member of which an end is rotatably linked to the rotation shaft and the other end of which is rotatably linked to an end of the protective member in a circumferential direction of the image holding member and a second link member of which an end is rotatably linked to the other end of the protective member in the circumferential direction and the other end of which is rotatably linked to the support member and guiding the protective member between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A covers opening/closing sequence regulation system includes a first cover and a second cover openably and closably attached to a housing. The first and second covers are provided in a way that the first cover becomes openable and closable while the second cover is in a fully-closed state, and that the second cover becomes unable to be fully-closed from an opened state while the first cover is in a fully-closed state. A regulation mechanism is configured to stop the first cover in a spaced-out position, which is spaced out from a fully-closed position of the first cover, in an operation of closing the first cover toward the fully-closed position with the second cover being in an opened state. The second cover is openable and closable while the first cover is in the spaced-out position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive member, a developing unit, an exposure member including a light emitting element array, a covering member, and a cover operation mechanism. The developing unit includes a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer supplied to the photosensitive member. The exposure unit is configured to expose the photosensitive member to form a latent image on the photosensitive member. The covering member is configured to move between a cover position where the covering member covers the exposure member between the photosensitive member and the exposure member and a retracted position where the covering member is retracted from between the photosensitive member and the exposure member. The cover operation mechanism is configured to hold the covering member in the retracted position at least when the exposure member forms the latent image on the photosensitive member.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operating portion provided at a front part of a main assembly of the apparatus; a rear cover covering at least a part of a rear part of the main assembly; a holding mechanism for holding the rear cover relative to the main assembly; an opening and closing mechanism for upwardly moving the rear cover from a close position for covering the part of the rear part of the main assembly to an open position for exposing the part of the rear part and for downwardly moving the rear cover from the open position to the close position; a stabilizer for keeping the rear cover at the open position; an electrical component provided inside the rear cover at a position accessible from a front side of the main assembly when the rear cover takes the open position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed; charging means for contacting said image bearing member to charge a surface of said image bearing member; a frame supporting said image bearing member and said charging means; a covering member, demountably mounted to said frame, for protecting the surface of said image bearing member; and a spacer member including a spacing portion, movably provided on said covering member, for entering between said image bearing member and said charging means to space them therebetween, and a retaining portion, contacting said covering member when said spacing portion is not between said image bearing member and said charging means, for preventing said spacer member from disengaging from said covering member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an opening, a cover portion that can be disposed so as to cover the opening, a first connecting portion that connects the cover portion with the housing so that the cover portion is pivotable about a first pivotal axis and can switch between a closed state in which the opening is covered and an opened state in which the opening is exposed, a decorative portion that is disposed to be aligned with the cover portion on a side to the first pivotal axis in the cover portion, and forms a predetermined outer face of the housing along with the cover portion in the closed state, and a second connecting portion that connects the decorative portion with the housing so that the decorative portion is pivotable about a second pivotal axis, which is substantially parallel to the first pivotal axis.

Abstract: A separator hanger has a body with forward and rearward portions and a central portion interconnecting the forward and rearward portions. The rearward portion has side wing sections extending laterally in opposite directions beyond opposite side edges of the central portion with respective elements thereon adapted to extend through first slots in a packaging insert. The rearward portion also has a tail section between the side wing sections with an element thereon adapted to extend through a second slot in the packaging insert located between and offset from the first slots. Such elements provide the rearward portion in a threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach the rearward portion thereto. The forward portion is adapted to anchor the body to one portion of a device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to a position clear of another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert.

Abstract: The photosensitive conductor unit includes a casing, and a protective cover, wherein: the casing includes an engaging portion on an insertion-side end and a guide portion slidably guiding the protective cover in proximity to an opposite end to the insertion-side end of the photosensitive conductor unit; the protective cover includes a hook portion engaging with the engaging portion, a positioning portion determining the position of the protective cover, a side wall covering an exposed portion of the surface by extending along an axial direction of the photosensitive conductor drum, and a rail portion extending in the insertion direction of the photosensitive conductor unit in proximity to both ends of the side wall in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive conductor drum and engaging with the guide portion such that the guide portion slidably guides the protective cover.

Abstract: 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 bringing the developing devices sequentially to a developing position by rotation thereof, the apparatus including 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.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a process frame that is removably installed into the main body; and a process cartridge that is detachably installed in the process frame; the process cartridge including: a photosensitive member; and a shutter member that is configured to be movable between a closed position where the photosensitive member is covered and an open position where the photosensitive member is exposed, wherein the shutter member moves from the closed position to the open position as the process frame is operated to be installed into the main body.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a rotatable image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed; charging means for contacting said image bearing member to charge a surface of said image bearing member; a frame supporting said image bearing member and said charging means; a covering member, demountably mounted to said frame, for protecting the surface of said image bearing member; and a spacer member including a spacing portion, movably provided on said covering member, for entering between said image bearing member and said charging means to space them therebetween, and a retaining portion, contacting said covering member when said spacing portion is not between said image bearing member and said charging means, for preventing said spacer member from disengaging from said covering member.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: image-holding members each holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that partially defines a space for accommodating the image-holding members; a cover that opens and closes the space, an inner side of the cover having rotation shaft insertion holes; a supporting shaft that supports the cover so the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover when the cover closes the space. The positioning mechanism includes at least two projections that project from either the frame member or the cover and are spaced apart in a direction of an axis of the supporting shaft such that lengths of perpendicular line segments from the two projections to the axis of the supporting shaft are different from each other. Projection insertion holes receive the corresponding projections when the cover is closed.

Abstract: A system for in situ replacement of a cartridge for an electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptive member in the cartridge; a retractable shield enclosing the photoreceptive member; and a retraction mechanism in the cartridge for retracting the retractable shield when the cartridge is inserted into the printer.

Abstract: A method for in situ replacement of a cartridge for an electrophotographic printer includes providing a photoreceptive member enclosed in a housing where the housing includes a retractable shield. The housing and photoreceptive member is inserted into the printer and the shield is retracted.

Abstract: 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, 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.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes an organic photo conductor, an OPC frame part to support the organic photo conductor, a developing roller to develop a latent image formed on the organic photo conductor by supplying a developer, a developing roller frame part to support the developing roller, a developer storing part to store the developer and provided with a supplying opening through which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, a spacer removably interposed between the OPC frame part and the developing roller frame part and spacing the OPC frame part from the developing roller frame part such that the organic photo conductor and the developing roller do not contact each other, a leakage preventer removably attached to and sealing the supplying opening, and a connecting part to connect the spacer with the leakage preventer. Thus, the spacer and the leakage preventer are capable of being removed simultaneously.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which an exposing unit is mounted on a cover unit for improved space utilization. The image forming apparatus includes a body, a plurality of developing units arranged in the body along vertical direction of the body, a cover unit that opens or closes a side of the body an exposing unit provided at the cover unit so as to move in association with the closing or opening movement of the cover unit. The image forming apparatus may also include an engagement member to limit the movement of the exposing unit and a shutter unit to selectively open an optical path of the exposing unit upon closure of the cover unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a cartridge for use therewith are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; a cartridge that stores a developer; and a supporting member that receives the cartridge, the supporting member being rotatably supported by the main body. The supporting member pivots between a reception position at which the cartridge is received into the main body and an exposure position at which the cartridge is exposed from the main body. The cartridge includes an inner chassis; an outer chassis comprising a shutter member; a first protrusion provided at one of the inner and outer chassis; and a second protrusion provided at the other chassis, wherein the first and second protrusions engage with the image forming apparatus, such that one is moved and the other is regulated, based on a position of the cartridge with respect to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A member for performing separation holding of a developing roller of a process cartridge is provided at a position opposite from a photosensitive drum with respect to a swing center. A detachably mountable protective cover is mounted to the process cartridge and a projection of the protective cover is inserted between the photosensitive drum and a developing device frame which supports the developing roller. The projection of the protective cover is inserted in a non-contact state with the photosensitive drum and the developing device frame.

Abstract: A waste-toner collection system includes a waste toner container that accumulate waste toner from a transport section. A tray has an upward opening for replacing the waste toner container and can be movable between a retracted position where the tray has been pushed horizontally into the apparatus body from a first side of the apparatus body, and a drawn-out position where the tray has been drawn horizontally out of the apparatus body from the first side, while holding the waste toner container. The waste toner container can be set in a collection position corresponding to the retracted position of the tray for allowing the waste toner container to receive waste toner discharged from the transport section, and a replacement position corresponding to the drawn-out position of the holder tray for allowing replacement to be performed through the container-replacement opening from above the tray.

Abstract: A developing apparatus. The developing apparatus includes a mainframe to hold a photosensitive medium and includes an opened top surface and a bottom surface with a photosensitive medium opening through which some part of the photosensitive medium is exposed, the mainframe to include two spaces formed at each side of the photosensitive medium that can receive toner and used toner, respectively; and a cover to cover the top surface of the mainframe.

Abstract: An image forming device is described according to an aspect comprises: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller opposed to the photoconductive drum; a developer container; a cartridge; a second portion; and a second terminal. The cartridge comprises: a cartridge frame; a memory unit; a first portion disposed at an upstream portion in a vicinity of an upstream end in an attachment direction of the cartridge frame; and a first terminal disposed at at least a part of the first portion and electrically connected to the memory unit. The second terminal is disposed at least a part of the second portion to contact with the first terminal and electrically connected to a controller disposed in the main body. One of the first portion and second portion receives the other of the first portion and second portion.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a first frame for supporting the photosensitive member; a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member; an opening, provided in the first frame, through which the photosensitive member is exposed; a shutter, provided on the first frame, movable between an open position in which the opening is uncovered and a closed position in which the opening is covered; and a spacer member movably provided on the shutter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of easily performing exchange in a process cartridge with a new cartridge and performing removal of a jammed sheet without detachment of a drawer from a casing. The drawer detachably holds a plurality of process cartridges, and is movable in frontward/rearward direction to one of an operable position where each photosensitive drum is in direct confrontation with a conveyer belt, a cartridge exchangeable position where all of the cartridges are positioned out of the casing, and a jammed sheet processing position ahead of the cartridge exchangeable position for removing a jammed sheet. A regulation mechanism is provided for selectively regulating the movement of the drawer dependent on detachment of a rearmost process cartridge from the drawer.

Abstract: A protection cover includes a cover base that covers and protects an external exposure portion of a photosensitive member and that comes into contact with an image forming apparatus housing body to movably guide a process cartridge; an extrusion member that is disposed in the cover base on a side opposite to an insertion direction of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus housing body and that moves in the insertion direction of the process cartridge to extrude the process cartridge from the cover base; and a restriction portion that is disposed in the extrusion member to restrict the process cartridge in the cover base in a state where the process cartridge is located in the cover base and to release the process cartridge from the cover base in a state where the process cartridge is inserted and mounted to the image forming apparatus housing body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a holding part that holds a detachable constituent component so that the detachable component is displaced to a detachment operating position and primary and secondary mounting completed positions as a result of link with opening/closing operations of an opening/closing part, and a connection part that is provided on the opening/closing part and in which a guide groove is formed which guides a projecting portion provided on the holding part. The guide groove of the connection part includes a narrow portion through which the projecting portion is caused to pass while the detachable constituent component is being displaced from the detachment operating position to the primary or secondary mounting completed position. The narrow portion has a groove width which is narrower than an outer dimension of the projecting portion.

Abstract: An image forming cartridge includes a photoconductor; a charger with a charging member contactable with the photoconductor; a case that accommodates the photoconductor and the charger; a cover which is detachably attached to the case and covers at least a part of the photoconductor; and a separating member which is located, on the cover, between a region other than the region of the photoconductor where an image is formed and the charger and separated them from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a casing, a photosensitive unit removably mountable in the casing, and a protective member. The photosensitive unit includes a plurality of photosensitive members. The protective member is removably attached to the photosensitive unit and includes: a covering plate which opposes the plurality of photosensitive members to cover the plurality of photosensitive members when protecting the photosensitive members; a written part arranged on the covering plate, and including operation information related to the image forming apparatus written thereon; and a support part which supports the photosensitive unit so that the photosensitive members and the covering plate are separated by an interval when protecting the photosensitive members.

Abstract: A positioning guide is configured to guide a rotational axis of a photosensitive body when a process cartridge is mounted on a main body, and to determine a position of the rotation axis of the photosensitive body with respect to the main body in a mounting state in which the process cartridge has been mounted on the main body. A photosensitive body drive gear is configured to be capable of rotating in a forward and reverse direction and to transmit a rotational drive force to the photosensitive body in the mounting state. A regulating member is configured to be in a lock state and an unlock state. In the lock state, the regulating member prohibits the rotational axis of the photosensitive body from moving in the mounting/removing direction. The rotational axis of the photosensitive body is released from the regulating member in the unlock state.

Abstract: An image forming device having a frame, a door, and a movable image forming unit to be assembled in the frame when the door is open. The image forming unit has a support shaft, and frame has a hole on which the support shaft abuts for positioning of the image forming unit relative to the frame when the door is closed. A lock unit formed with a recessed portion is movable in association with the movement of the door. When the door is open, the lock unit is at its abutment position so that the support shaft abuts the recessed portion. When the door is closed the lock unit is moved so that the support shaft is brought into abutment with the hole.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a cylindrical image carrier, a developing roller, a process case, and a cover removably fitted to the process case. The image carrier and the developing roller are relatively movable in the process case between a contact position in which the image carrier contacts the developing roller and a separated position in which the image carrier is separated from the developing roller. A releasing member is provided at the cover. The releasing member can be interposed into a released position between an end portion of the image carrier and an end portion of the developing roller. In a state in which the cover is fitted to the process case and covers the image carrier, the releasing member is movable from an unreleased position, in which the contact between the image carrier and the developing roller is not released, to a released position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording paper fed from a paper cassette, the apparatus comprises: a housing that accommodates the paper cassette to be drawn toward the front side of the housing and has an opening in the side surface of the housing; and a lid body including a covering part and a sliding part that slidably supports the covering part, the covering part having a member that covers the opening of the side surface of the housing and projects toward the inner side than the opening, the covering part and the sliding part integrally separating from the opening, and the covering part sliding in parallel to the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes; a main body; a detachable member; a cover; a displacement member movable between a preventing position and a permitting position; a one-way link mechanism provided for displacing the displacement member from the preventing position to the permitting position when the cover is opened from a state in which the cover is closed and the displacement member is disposed in the preventing position, and for keeping the displacement member in the permitting position when the cover is closed from a state in which the cover is opened; a position detection unit for detecting a position of the displacement member right after a power supply unit has been switched on; and a history determination unit for determining an existence of a history showing an opening and closure of the cover while the power supply unit is left off based on the position of the displacement member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a container that contains a visualizing agent consumed with an operation of forming a visual image on a recording medium; a holding unit that detachably holds the container; and a regulating unit that is disposed in a packing member for packing the image forming apparatus and engages with a part of the container so as to prevent the container from departing from the holding unit.

Abstract: A separator hanger has a body with forward and rearward portions and a central portion interconnecting the forward and rearward portions. The rearward portion has side wing sections extending laterally in opposite directions beyond opposite side edges of the central portion with respective elements thereon adapted to extend through first slots in a packaging insert. The rearward portion also has a tail section between the side wing sections with an element thereon adapted to extend through a second slot in the packaging insert located between and offset from the first slots. Such elements provide the rearward portion in a threaded relationship with the packaging insert so as to detachably attach the rearward portion thereto. The forward portion is adapted to anchor the body to one portion of a device so as to thereby constrain the packaging insert to a position clear of another portion of the device located nearby the packaging insert.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a frame having an opening for exposing the image bearing member; a movable shutter member movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening; and a holding portion for abutting to the shutter member to hold the shutter member at the closing position, wherein the shutter member is elastically deformable to ride over the holding portion to permit the shutter member to move from the closing position to the open position.

Abstract: An image forming device, which is configured to form an image on a sheet, includes a main body casing, a catch tray provided on the main body casing to be loaded with the sheet discharged in a first direction with the image formed thereon, and a cover configured to cover a downstream-side face of the main body casing in the first direction in an openable and closable manner. The catch tray is disposed such that a downstream-side end thereof in the first direction faces an upstream-side end of the cover in the first direction. The downstream-side end of the catch tray and the upstream-side end of the cover are configured to mutually overlap when viewed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a body casing having on upper surface thereof a paper ejection tray on which a sheet of paper ejected after formation of an image is stacked; a side cover capable of opening and closing a side surface of the body casing on the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper so as to cover the side surface of the body casing; and an extension tray being attached to an upper portion of the side cover. The extension tray is capable of extending to the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper with respect to the paper ejection tray so as to support an end portion of the sheet of paper.

Abstract: An image forming device includes, a main casing, a drawer unit, and a transfer unit. The main casing has a first frame formed with a first opening and a second frame formed with a second opening. The main casing has a first inner space in communication with the first opening and the second opening. The drawer unit is movable between a first position and a second position. The drawer unit is accommodated in the first inner space when the drawer unit is in the first position. The drawer unit is partially drawn out from the first inner space through the first opening when the drawer unit is in the second position. When the drawer unit is moved to the second position, a mounting space is formed for allowing the first transfer unit to be mounted in the second inner space.

Abstract: This is a shroud for housing a replacement photoconductive drum. The shroud has an open gap at its top portion and this gap is covered by at least two overlapping flexible strips that are configured to allow a handle structure to pass therethrough on its way to an exit in the shroud where the photoconductive drum is pushed out of the shroud when installing the drum in a marking machine.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a photosensitive unit rotatably supporting the drum, and a protecting cover mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, for protecting the drum exposed to the outside of the photosensitive unit. The protecting cover includes a guide for guiding the cartridge to an inside of the main body along a longitudinal direction of the drum, a positioned portion at a leading end of the cover so as to be abutted against a positioning portion of the main body, for positioning the cover in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and an engaged portion at the leading end so as to be engaged with an engaging portion of the main body in the inserting direction, for regulating detachment of the protecting cover from the apparatus main body from an upstream side thereof in the insertion direction.

Abstract: A communication unit has a first conveyance part connected to a toner cartridge and provided with a feed port for a toner from the toner cartridge, and a second conveyance part connected to a developing device and provided with a replenishment port for a toner to the developing device. In a state locked by the lock mechanism, the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part are connected to each other, and the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are opened, allowing for a toner replenishment. In a lock-released state, the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are closed by a circular arc-shaped shutter member and a rotary shutter member, allowing the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part to be separable from each other.

Abstract: When the time period is night, processing advances to step S13 to set the initialization speed of a line feed motor to the first speed (v1), and to step S15 to execute initialization operation of the line feed motor at the first speed (v1). When the time period is morning or daytime, the processing advances to step S12 to detect a cover open/closed state. When the cover is open, the processing advances to step S13 to set the initialization speed of the line feed motor to the first speed (v1). When the cover is closed, the processing advances to step S14 to set the initialization speed of the line feed motor to the second speed (v2) which is higher than the first speed (v1). The processing advances to step S15 to execute initialization operation of the line feed motor at the second speed (v2).

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material. A plurality of cartridges is detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member for supporting the cartridges. The cartridge supporting member is movable between an inside position inside the main assembly and an outside position outside the main assembly. The apparatus also includes a shutter member movably provided on the cartridge supporting member. The shutter member is movable between an open position in which a photosensitive member supported by the cartridge supporting member is exposed and a closed position in which the photosensitive member is protected.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a body; a supply tray attached to the body for putting a recording sheet thereon; a recording mechanism provided in a middle of a feed path defined in the body for recording an image on the recording sheet; a feeding mechanism which has an arm pivotably supported at one of opposite ends thereof and a feeding roller rotatably provided in the other of the opposite ends of the arm, and which is configured such that the recording sheet is fed toward the recording mechanism by rotating of the feeding roller held in contact with the recording sheet; a discharge opening provided in the body for discharging the recording sheet therethrough; a cover supported by the body to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position; and a cover-arm interlock mechanism which permits the arm to pivot such that the feeding roller contacts the recording sheet when the cover is positioned at the open position, and which positions the arm such that the feeding roller is away from the