Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an open/close member is provided to be movable to a main frame between an open position and a closed position. A sensitive image forming element is provided to be placed in an exposed condition when the open/close member is moved to the open position. A protection unit is provided to be movable to the sensitive image forming element between an active position and a retracted position, the protecting unit being moved to the active position when the open/close member is set at the open position, so that the protection unit protects the sensitive image forming element so as to prevent the sensitive image forming element from being erroneously touched, and the protection unit being moved to the retracted position when the open/close member is set at the closed position, so that the protection unit does not restrain an operation of the sensitive image forming element.

Abstract: An image transfer unit of an image formation apparatus is composed of a belt-shaped image bearing member on which a toner image is to be formed, a plurality of supporting and tension-application rollers which supports and provides tension to the belt-shaped image bearing member, an image transfer roller for transferring the toner image from the belt-shaped image bearing member to a transfer sheet, and a backup member having an outer peripheral elastic layer with a predetermined elasticity. The elastic layer of the backup member is urged with a predetermined pressure toward the image transfer roller via the belt-shaped image bearing member, with the belt-shaped image bearing member being held between the elastic layer of the backup member and the image transfer roller.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for feeding paper sheets one by one toward a body of an image recording apparatus has a feed roller and lap feed preventing device for preventing two or more paper sheets from being fed together. The lap feed preventing device is implemented as a reverse roller which is pressed against the feed roller and provided with a circumferential recess in a predetermined position thereof. When paper sheets each being formed with three holes for filing at spaced locations along the width thereof are used with the sheet feeder, the circumferential recess of the reverse roller coincides with the intermediate hole of each paper sheet being fed.