Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to heat a recording material at a use position, an opening and closing member, and a drawer unit. In a state where the fixing device is at the use position, part of the fixing device is located in a space for the drawer unit to pass through when moved from a first inner position to a first outer position so that movement of the drawer unit from the first inner to the first outer position is restricted. The fixing device is retracted from the use position to a retracted position so that the movement of the drawer unit from the first inner to the first outer position is allowed. Part of the fixing device at the retracted position is at a position higher than a position of an upper cover portion of the opening and closing member at a closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording material includes an apparatus main body having a first end provided with an opening and having a second end, a fixing device to heat the recording material, an opening and closing member, a drawer unit having a first photosensitive drum, and a transfer device. When being moved from a first inner position inside the apparatus main body to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body through the main body opening, the drawer unit is to be moved in a moving direction intersecting with a rotation axis of the first photosensitive drum, and is to be moved away from the second end. When being moved from a second inner position inside the apparatus main body to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body, the transfer device is moved away from the second end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer unit, and a transfer device a including a belt. When image formation on a recording material is performed, the drawer unit is at a first apparatus main body inner position and the transfer device is at a second apparatus main body inner position. In this drawer unit state, (a) a part of the transfer device is disposed downstream of the drawer unit in a moving direction in which the drawer unit moves from the first inner position to a first apparatus main body outer position, and (b) in a vertical direction, an area where the part of the transfer device is positioned overlaps, at least in part, with an area where the drawer unit is positioned. The transfer device includes a cleaning member to clean the belt and is accommodated in the part of the transfer device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer unit, and a transfer device including a belt. The drawer unit includes a first cartridge, a support member to which the first cartridge is detachably attached, and a first photosensitive drum disposed on the support member or the first cartridge. The drawer unit is moved to a first inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body. The transfer device is moved to a second inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body. The belt contacts the first photosensitive drum with the transfer device at the second inner position. The transfer device is moved from the second inner to the second outer position when the drawer unit is moved from the first inner to the first outer position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, first and second transfer members, and a control unit. The control unit includes a first state where both the first and second transfer members are separated from the intermediate transfer member, a second state where the first transfer member contacts the intermediate transfer member and the second transfer member is separated from the intermediate transfer member, and a third state where both the first and second transfer members contact the intermediate transfer member. The control unit controls the driving member to move the moving unit, controls switch the first state to the second state and thereafter switch the second state to the third state. A rotation speed of the driving member when the second state is switched to the third state is lower than a rotation speed of the driving member when the first state is switched to the second state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a belt, a contact member, a rotation shaft member, a cam, an opposing member, and a damper. The belt receives a toner image from the image bearing member. The cam rotates in tandem with the rotation shaft member and contacts or separates the contact member and the belt. The opposing member is disposed to face the rotation shaft member in a direction intersecting with a rotation shaft member shaft direction. The damper member has a first flexible portion and a second flexible portion that are elastically deformable by contacting with the opposing member. In either contact operation or separation operation of the contact member to/from the belt, the damper member rotates in tandem with rotation of the rotation shaft member so that both the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion contact with the opposing member and are elastically deformed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer member, first and second transfer members, and a control unit. The control unit includes a first state where both the first and second transfer members are separated from the intermediate transfer member, a second state where the first transfer member contacts the intermediate transfer member and the second transfer member is separated from the intermediate transfer member, and a third state where both the first and second transfer members contact the intermediate transfer member. The control unit controls the driving member to move the moving unit, controls switch the first state to the second state and thereafter switch the second state to the third state. A rotation speed of the driving member when the second state is switched to the third state is lower than a rotation speed of the driving member when the first state is switched to the second state.

Abstract: A bearing which supports one end side of a driving roller includes a first restriction portion which is restricted from rotating and moving with respect to a first frame, and a bearing which supports the other end side of the driving roller includes a second restriction portion which is restricted from rotating and moving with respect to a second frame. As viewed from a direction perpendicular to a width direction of an intermediate transfer belt, a phase of shape of the first restriction portion in a state of being held by the first frame and a phase of shape of the second restriction portion in a state of being held by the second frame are equal to each other.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a sheet conveyor configured to convey a sheet, a guide configured to form a conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and a sensor disposed on a same side as the guide with respect to the conveyance path. The guide includes a retracted portion disposed over a first region in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, the retracted portion being retracted with respect to a second region of the guide in the sheet width direction so as not to come into contact with the sheet passing through the conveyance path, the first region including a detection region of the sensor in the sheet width direction, the second region being a sheet passing region of the sheet in the sheet width direction excluding the first region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a toner image, a transfer unit having an endless belt, a positioning unit that positions the transfer unit, and a secondary transfer member. The secondary transfer member is in touch with the endless belt to form a secondary transfer portion. When the toner image is transferred to the endless belt from the image bearing member, the secondary transfer member transfers the toner image from the endless belt at the secondary transfer portion to a transfer material. The positioning unit includes a first abutting face to position the transfer unit in a conveyance direction and a second abutting face to position the transfer unit in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction. An attaching/detaching direction of the transfer unit is a direction intersecting with a surface of the transfer material to which the toner image is transferred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that bears a toner image, a transfer unit having an endless belt, a positioning unit that positions the transfer unit, and a secondary transfer member. The secondary transfer member is in touch with the endless belt to form a secondary transfer portion. When the toner image is transferred to the endless belt from the image bearing member, the secondary transfer member transfers the toner image from the endless belt at the secondary transfer portion to a transfer material. The positioning unit includes a first abutting face to position the transfer unit in a conveyance direction and a second abutting face to position the transfer unit in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction. An attaching/detaching direction of the transfer unit is a direction intersecting with a surface of the transfer material to which the toner image is transferred.

Abstract: A bearing which supports one end side of a driving roller includes a first restriction portion which is restricted from rotating and moving with respect to a first frame, and a bearing which supports the other end side of the driving roller includes a second restriction portion which is restricted from rotating and moving with respect to a second frame. As viewed from a direction perpendicular to a width direction of an intermediate transfer belt, a phase of shape of the first restriction portion in a state of being held by the first frame and a phase of shape of the second restriction portion in a state of being held by the second frame are equal to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus includes a first and second object. A first urging member is provided between the electrically conductive wire, and arranged to urge towards the first object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive wire and the first object to each other. A second urging member is provided between the second object and the electrically conductive wire, and arranged to urge towards the second object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive wire and the second object to each other. The electrically conductive wire is formed of a material having an elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the first urging member and that of the second urging member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an object, an electrically conductive member; and an urging member arranged to urge the electrically conductive member towards the object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive member and the object to each other. In the image forming apparatus, the electrically conductive member is formed of a material having a low elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the urging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an object, an electrically conductive member; and an urging member arranged to urge the electrically conductive member towards the object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive member and the object to each other. In the image forming apparatus, the electrically conductive member is formed of a material having a low elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the urging member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: To efficiently transmit drive through couplings on one and another sides during forward rotation and reverse rotation. When first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a forward direction, first and third drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the forward direction while producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are drawn to each other in the rotational axis direction. When the first and second couplings are brought into engagement with each other and rotated in a reverse direction, second and fourth drive transmission surfaces are brought into contact with each other to be rotated in the reverse direction without producing components of force in directions in which the first and second couplings are separated from each other in the rotational axis direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus arranged to form an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an object, an electrically conductive member; and an urging member arranged to urge the electrically conductive member towards the object and to electrically couple the electrically conductive member and the object to each other. In the image forming apparatus, the electrically conductive member is formed of a material having a low elastic coefficient that is lower than that of the urging member.