Abstract: A cleaning unit is attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and a belt configured to contact the photosensitive drum. The cleaning unit includes: a frame; and a handle. The frame is configured to accommodate therein developing agent collected from the image forming apparatus. The handle includes: a pair of first parts; and a second part. Each of the pair of first parts extends from the frame in an extending direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum in a state where the cleaning unit is attached to the main body. The pair of first parts includes a lock mechanism for locking the cleaning unit to the main body. The second part extends in the axial direction and connects the pair of first parts to each other.

Abstract: A cartridge frame includes a protruding rib protruding toward a first frame, a first bearing supporting one end of a photosensitive drum in an axial direction, and a second bearing supporting an other end of the photosensitive drum in the axial direction. The first frame includes a first guide rail configured to, when a process cartridge is attached to an apparatus main body, guide the protruding rib to slide along the first guide rail. A second frame includes a second guide rail configured to, when the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, guide the second bearing to slide along the second guide rail. A size of the first guide rail in a width direction perpendicular to both the axial direction and an attachment direction of the process cartridge is smaller than a size of the second guide rail in the width direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a process cartridge; and an apparatus main body to which the process cartridge is attachable and from which the process cartridge is detachable. The process cartridge includes: a photoconductive drum, and an electrode connected to the photoconductive drum and having a contact surface facing downward. The apparatus main body includes: a support frame supporting one end portion of the process cartridge in an axis direction of the photoconductive drum, a ground metal plate supported by the support frame and connected to ground, and a spring supported by the support frame and configured to contact with the contact surface of the electrode from below to connect the electrode and the ground metal plate.

Abstract: A cleaning unit is attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and a belt configured to contact the photosensitive drum. The cleaning unit includes: a frame; and a handle. The frame is configured to accommodate therein developing agent collected from the image forming apparatus. The handle includes: a pair of first parts; and a second part. Each of the pair of first parts extends from the frame in an extending direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum in a state where the cleaning unit is attached to the main body. The pair of first parts includes a lock mechanism for locking the cleaning unit to the main body. The second part extends in the axial direction and connects the pair of first parts to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a process cartridge; and an apparatus main body to which the process cartridge is attachable and from which the process cartridge is detachable. The process cartridge includes: a photoconductive drum, and an electrode connected to the photoconductive drum and having a contact surface facing downward. The apparatus main body includes: a support frame supporting one end portion of the process cartridge in an axis direction of the photoconductive drum, a ground metal plate supported by the support frame and connected to ground, and a spring supported by the support frame and configured to contact with the contact surface of the electrode from below to connect the electrode and the ground metal plate.

Abstract: A cartridge frame includes a protruding rib protruding toward a first frame, a first bearing supporting one end of a photosensitive drum in an axial direction, and a second bearing supporting an other end of the photosensitive drum in the axial direction. The first frame includes a first guide rail configured to, when a process cartridge is attached to an apparatus main body, guide the protruding rib to slide along the first guide rail. A second frame includes a second guide rail configured to, when the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, guide the second bearing to slide along the second guide rail. A size of the first guide rail in a width direction perpendicular to both the axial direction and an attachment direction of the process cartridge is smaller than a size of the second guide rail in the width direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed which includes a housing, one or more drum cartridges, and one or more exposure heads. Each of the one or more drum cartridges includes a photoconductor drum and is installable in the housing. Each of the one or more exposure heads is configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor drum to light, and to be movable between an exposure position fit to expose the corresponding photoconductor drum to light and a retreated position away from the corresponding photoconductor drum. The housing has a groove through which to guide installation of the drum cartridge and in which to cause an exposure head in a corresponding exposure position to be located in place in a sub scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a cover, a maneuver lever, a first locking member, and a second locking member. The cover is attached to the housing and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The maneuver lever is attached to the cover and extends parallel to the rotation axis. The first and second locking members are attached to the cover and are configured to engage with the maneuver lever. The first locking member is rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the rotation axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The second locking member is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the maneuver lever moves from the closed position to the open position, each of the first locking member and the second locking member rotates from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed which includes a housing, one or more drum cartridges, and one or more exposure heads. Each of the one or more drum cartridges includes a photoconductor drum and is installable in the housing. Each of the one or more exposure heads is configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor drum to light, and to be movable between an exposure position fit to expose the corresponding photoconductor drum to light and a retreated position away from the corresponding photoconductor drum. The housing has a groove through which to guide installation of the drum cartridge and in which to cause an exposure head in a corresponding exposure position to be located in place in a sub scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a cover, a maneuver lever, a first locking member, and a second locking member. The cover is attached to the housing and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The maneuver lever is attached to the cover and extends parallel to the rotation axis. The first and second locking members are attached to the cover and are configured to engage with the maneuver lever. The first locking member is rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the rotation axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The second locking member is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the maneuver lever moves from the closed position to the open position, each of the first locking member and the second locking member rotates from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A drawer unit moves in a moving direction between an internal position inside the main housing and an external position outside the main housing. The drawer unit includes a drawer frame, a first exposure head, and a second contact member. The first exposure head moves between a first adjacent position at which the first exposure head is adjacent to the first photosensitive drum and a first spaced position at which the first exposure head is farther spaced away from the first photosensitive drum than at the first adjacent position. The second contact member is a part of the drawer unit other than the first exposure head. The first exposure head moves from the first adjacent position to the first spaced position due to a contact between the first contact member and the second contact member when the drawer unit moves from the internal position to the external position.

Abstract: A drawer unit moves in a moving direction between an internal position inside the main housing and an external position outside the main housing. The drawer unit includes a drawer frame, a first exposure head, and a second contact member. The first exposure head moves between a first adjacent position at which the first exposure head is adjacent to the first photosensitive drum and a first spaced position at which the first exposure head is farther spaced away from the first photosensitive drum than at the first adjacent position. The second contact member is a part of the drawer unit other than the first exposure head. The first exposure head moves from the first adjacent position to the first spaced position due to a contact between the first contact member and the second contact member when the drawer unit moves from the internal position to the external position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a conveyance roller, a registration roller disposed on a conveyance path extending from the conveyance roller to the image forming unit, the registration roller being configured to perform skew correction for a sheet by contacting a leading end of the sheet in a conveyance direction while rotation of the registration roller is being stopped, and rotating after a lapse of a particular period of time since the rotation of the registration roller has been stopped, a driving source configured to supply a driving force to the conveyance roller and the registration roller, and a controller configured to determine the particular period of time based on a cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the conveyance roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing including a first side frame, a second side frame, and an opening, a cartridge configured to be attached to and removed from the casing through the opening, and an openable member configured to open and close the opening. A first side and a second side of the cartridge are supported by the first side frame and the second side frame, respectively, when the cartridge is attached to the casing. A part of the cartridge attached to the casing protrudes in a removal direction of the cartridge relative to an end of each of the first side frame and the second side frame in the removal direction. The openable member includes a wall portion. When the openable member closes the opening, the wall portion of the openable member is spaced apart in the removal direction from the part of the cartridge attached to the casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding mechanism configured to re-feed the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-feeding mechanism includes a fixed guide configured to guide the sheet fed in a sheet feed direction and having a guide surface partially defining re-feeding path through which the sheet passes, a base guide disposed downstream of the fixed guide, and a movable guide having a guide surface and configured to guide the sheet guided by the fixed guide and to move toward and away from the base guide. The fixed guide includes an engaging portion and the movable guide includes an engaging portion. The guide surface of the movable guide is positioned relative to the guide surface of the fixed guide when the engaging portion of the movable guide engages the engaging portion of the fixed guide.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a body having a pair of frames, and an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding path which is used when the sheet, on one surface of which an image has been formed by the image formation unit, is fed again to the image formation unit. The re-feeding path includes a first path vertically extending from a downstream side, in a sheet feed direction, of the image formation unit, a second path extending horizontally, and a curved portion connecting the first path and the second path. The pair of frames are connected with a metal plate which is formed and arranged to extend along the curved portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a conveyance roller, a registration roller disposed on a conveyance path extending from the conveyance roller to the image forming unit, the registration roller being configured to perform skew correction for a sheet by contacting a leading end of the sheet in a conveyance direction while rotation of the registration roller is being stopped, and rotating after a lapse of a particular period of time since the rotation of the registration roller has been stopped, a driving source configured to supply a driving force to the conveyance roller and the registration roller, and a controller configured to determine the particular period of time based on a cumulative number of sheets conveyed by the conveyance roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing including a first side frame, a second side frame, and an opening, a cartridge configured to be attached to and removed from the casing through the opening, and an openable member configured to open and close the opening. A first side and a second side of the cartridge are supported by the first side frame and the second side frame, respectively, when the cartridge is attached to the casing. A part of the cartridge attached to the casing protrudes in a removal direction of the cartridge relative to an end of each of the first side frame and the second side frame in the removal direction. The openable member includes a wall portion. When the openable member closes the opening, the wall portion of the openable member is spaced apart in the removal direction from the part of the cartridge attached to the casing.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a body having a pair of frames, and an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding path which is used when the sheet, on one surface of which an image has been formed by the image formation unit, is fed again to the image formation unit. The re-feeding path includes a first path vertically extending from a downstream side, in a sheet feed direction, of the image formation unit, a second path extending horizontally, and a curved portion connecting the first path and the second path. The pair of frames are connected with a metal plate which is formed and arranged to extend along the curved portion.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a body having a pair of frames, and an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding path which is used when the sheet, on one surface of which an image has been formed by the image formation unit, is fed again to the image formation unit. The re-feeding path includes a first path vertically extending from a downstream side, in a sheet feed direction, of the image formation unit, a second path extending horizontally, and a curved portion connecting the first path and the second path. The pair of frames are connected with a metal plate which is formed and arranged to extend along the curved portion.