Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover pivotable on a body to close an opening at a closed position and open the opening at an open position, first and second replacement units having photosensitive drums, an optical print head pivotable in one direction, a spring, and a stopper. The spring applies, to the optical print head, a force for allowing the optical print head to pivot toward the one direction so that a movement of the optical print head with a pivotal movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position is prevented from being inhibited by the first developing cartridge. The optical print head, having the force applied the optical print head by the spring, so that movement of the optical print head with pivotal movement of the cover from the open to the closed position is prevented from being inhibited by the second developing cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a third link portion which is rotatably connected to said first link portion at a position between said first connecting portion and said first moving portion so that said first moving portion and said second moving portion are moved toward said drum unit by rotation of said first link portion about said first connecting portion as a rotation shaft and by rotation of said second link portion about said second connecting portion as a rotation shaft in interrelation with slide of said slidable portion, and which is rotatable relative to the apparatus main assembly. The third link portion is out of contact with the optical print head at a portion corresponding to an end portion on the optical print head side.

Abstract: In a case where portions pressed by a moving mechanism and positions of positioning pins provided on one end and the other end of a print head in the longitudinal direction do not overlap with each other in a moving direction of the print head, when the print head is pressed by the moving mechanism with the positioning pins abutting against a drum unit, a force is applied to a region between the pressed portions provided at two portions of the print head in a pressing direction so that the print head is deformed. In view of the above, a protruding portion is provided which protrudes from a side wall surface of the print head in a direction perpendicular to both of the longitudinal direction of the print head and a moving direction of the print head, and which extends in the longitudinal direction of the print head.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus stores a plurality of candidate formulas in a memory. Each of the candidate formulas are a formula for calculating a prediction formula for calculating a predicted value of the color misregistration amount based on an external exposure device temperature which is a temperature of the atmosphere around the exposure device, an external machine temperature, and a heater temperature of a heater which heats the plurality of image forming units. The CPU determines the prediction formula from the plurality of candidate formulas according to the external exposure device temperature, the external machine temperature, and the heater temperature. The CPU calculates the predicted value of the color misregistration amount using the determined predicted formula, and perform a color misregistration correction according to the calculated predicted value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a movable optical print head including a light emitting element and a lens array, and a portion-to-be-contacted. The photosensitive drum and a light emergent surface of the lens array are spaced from each other to permit insertion of a cleaning member therebetween from an outside of the main assembly. The portion-to-be-contacted provided in a main assembly and configured to be contacted by the cleaning member to prevent further insertion of said cleaning member after said cleaning member cleans said light emergent surface by sliding on the light emergent surface from one end side toward the other end side of the light emergent surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of said lens array.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a photosensitive drum, an optical print head, a receiving portion, a portion-to-be-engaged, and a guiding portion. The guiding portion is provided between the portion-to-be-engaged and the receiving portion with an interval from both the portion-to-be-engaged and the receiving portion. The guiding portion guides movement of a cleaning member in a direction from the receiving portion toward the portion-to-be-engaged while limiting movement of the cleaning member in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member to engage the engaging portion with the portion-to-be-engaged.

Abstract: A simple structure is provided to move an optical print head toward a photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus includes an optical print head having a first link portion and a second link portion, a sliding portion configured to move by sliding as to an image forming apparatus main body, and an abutting portion where one end of the optical print head abuts. When the sliding portion moves by sliding, the first link portion and the second link portion pivot as to the sliding portion, with the one end of the optical print head abutting the abutting portion, and the optical print head moves toward the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum to rotate as to an apparatus main body, a print head having a connector and a light emitting element, a movement mechanism to move the print head between an exposing position and a retracted position, a support part rotatable and to support the movement mechanism, a cable, and an abutting portion. The cable supplies drive signals for driving the light emitting element to the print head. The cable extends toward an opposite side of the connector and is bent toward one direction or another direction of the support part. The abutting portion is provided to the support part, and abuts the cable bent portion in a direction from the retracted position toward the exposing position to cause the cable to flex between a connected portion to the connector and the bent portion, when the print head is at the retracted position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print head to expose a drum to light, a first supporting unit supporting the print head and to move to mounting and extraction positions, a cable to supply a print head driving signal, an abutting portion, and a second supporting unit having a holding unit to hold the cable and to support the first supporting member. When the print head moves to the mounting position from the extraction position in a state where the cable is connected to the print head, the abutting portion abuts on the cable in one area between a holding unit held portion and a print head connected portion and moves the one area in a direction in which the first supporting unit moves to the mounting position to form in the one area a curved area that is warped and curved toward the mounting position from the extraction position.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus including: a light source; a rotary polygon mirror configured to deflect a light beam emitted from the light source; an optical component of an incident optical system configured to introduce the light beam to the rotary polygon mirror; an optical box configured to contain the rotary polygon mirror and the optical component; and a supporting base installed between the light source and the rotary polygon mirror and configured to support the optical component, wherein the supporting base includes: a first dust-proof member configured to seal a boundary portion between the optical box and the supporting base; and a protrusion configured to enter an opening, which is formed in a side wall of the optical box from the inside of the optical box in a state in which the supporting base is mounted to the optical box, the light source being fixed to the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a movable optical print head including a light emitting element and a lens array, and a portion-to-be-contacted. The photosensitive drum and a light emergent surface of the lens array are spaced from each other to permit insertion of a cleaning member therebetween from outside of the main assembly. The portion-to-be-contacted is provided in the main assembly and configured to be contacted by the cleaning member to prevent further insertion of the cleaning member after the cleaning member cleans the light emergent surface by sliding on the light emergent surface from one end side toward the other end side of the light emergent surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lens array.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus including: a light receiving portion configured to receive a first laser beam to generate a synchronization signal; and a standing portion, wherein a first opening through which a part of the first laser beam that is emitted from a first light source and travels toward a rotary polygon mirror and the first laser beam that is emitted from the first light source and is deflected by the rotary polygon mirror pass and a second opening through which a part of the second laser beam that is emitted from a second light source and travels toward the rotary polygon mirror passes are provided in the standing portion, and wherein the first laser beam that is deflected by the rotary polygon mirror and passes through the first opening is incident on the light receiving portion.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an optical print head, a length of a cable from a regulating portion to a connecting portion in a state where the connecting portion is connected to a connector is set to a length that enables the connector to be located on a front side of an opening when the optical print head moves to a pull-out position in the state where the connecting portion is connected to the connector.

Abstract: A casing of an optical scanning apparatus housing a rotary polygon mirror and an optical member: a mounting portion on which a sound insulation member separating the optical member from the rotary polygon mirror is mountable; a first support portion supporting a transparent member which covers an opening of the casing on which the sound insulation member is mounted; a second support portion supporting a transparent member which covers the opening of the casing on which the sound insulation member is not mounted and is thicker than the transparent member to be supported by the first support portion; and a bearing surface of the second support portion located on an inner side of the casing than a bearing surface of the first support portion so that light beam emission surfaces of the transparent members to be supported by the first and second support portions are on a substantially same plane.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a holding member that holds a lens array and a circuit board. In the holding member, a portion where a light emission portion is attached, a portion where the lens array is attached, a portion where the circuit board is attached, and a portion where a first link member and a second link member are connected, are integrally molded as a molded resin article.

Abstract: An opening, from which a cleaning member is inserted from the outer side of a main body of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, is provided further toward the front side than an end portion of a front side of a holding member. The opening guides movement of the cleaning member in the direction of insertion as the inserted cleaning member moves toward the downstream side in the direction of insertion, so that downstream-side end portions of engaging portions in the insertion direction engage upstream-side end portions of protruding portions formed on the holding member in the direction of insertion.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes: a casing having a bottom face; a cylindrical portion having a first opening through which a laser beam from a light source passes; a light-transmitting member arranged between the cylindrical portion and a rotary polygon mirror; a plate spring fixing the light-transmitting member; and a sealing member between the cylindrical portion and the plate spring, wherein a width of the first opening narrows progressively in a insertion direction of the plate spring, the sealing member comes into contact with the cylindrical portion in a first region when the plate spring is inserted, and in a second region closer to the bottom face than the first region, a region, in which the sealing member comes into contact with the cylindrical portion, expands toward a center part from two end portions of a leading end portion of the sealing member as the plate spring is inserted further.

Abstract: The length of an abutting pin of an optical print head is decided such that the upper end of the abutting pin when at a cleaning position is on the opposite side of a movement path of a cleaning member, from the upper end of another abutting pin of the optical print head when in an exposure position.

Abstract: An exposing unit includes a holding member, an abutting pin protruding on both sides in the vertical direction at the rear side of the holding member, a second support portion provided further to the rear side than the holding member, and a movement mechanism that causes the holding member to move between an exposure position and a retracted position. The second support portion has a gap formed where the rear side of the holding member moves in the vertical direction, and this gap restricts movement of the holding member in the left-and-right direction. The holding member that is moved from the retracted position toward the exposure position by the movement mechanism is guided by the gap formed in the second support portion so that the abutting pin abuts a fitting portion.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus including: a light source; a rotary polygon mirror configured to deflect a light beam emitted from the light source; an optical component of an incident optical system configured to introduce the light beam to the rotary polygon mirror; an optical box configured to contain the rotary polygon mirror and the optical component; and a supporting base installed between the light source and the rotary polygon mirror and configured to support the optical component, wherein the supporting base includes: a first dust-proof member configured to seal a boundary portion between the optical box and the supporting base; and a protrusion configured to enter an opening, which is formed in a side wall of the optical box from the inside of the optical box in a state in which the supporting base is mounted to the optical box, the light source being fixed to the opening.