Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of process units, a plurality of latent image carriers, an optical writing unit, an upper cover, and a pitch positioning member. The pitch positioning member including a plurality of abutting portions so as to regulate movements of the plurality of process units in the horizontal direction by abutting each of the plurality of process units. The pitch positioning member including a plurality of notches extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of each of the respective plurality of abutting portions with a predetermined pitch.

Abstract: An apparatus or an image forming apparatus including a main body having a first supporting leg configured to be connectable to the main body, a second supporting leg fixed to the main body, and the position of the main body to connect the first supporting leg is selectable. The apparatus may be stable on the installation surface if the center of gravity of the apparatus is transformed.

Abstract: A frame constitutes an apparatus, and includes a first side plate, a second side plate that faces the first side plate, and a connecting member between the first and second side plates. The connecting member includes a first-side connecting portion and a second-side connecting portion. The first-side connecting portion is connected to the first side plate so that the first side plate does not move with respect to the connecting member. The second-side connecting portion includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The second side plate moves with respect to the connecting member on a second-connecting-portion side with the first connecting portion as a center. The first and second side plates are attached with a cover member that is openable and closable from the front side of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a holding mechanism that holds an optical writing unit such that, at an operating position, the latent image writing unit is supported at three points with respect to the apparatus main body, and the latent image writing unit and the rotation axis are not in contact with each other.

Abstract: An image writing unit causes, upon being set in a write position, an optical system unit to be movable and positions the optical system unit, with a hitting portion of the optical system unit hitting a blocking portion in a chassis. A holding unit includes, in a state in which the image writing unit is set in the write position, a portion defining an opening that faces either one of an air intake unit and an air exhaust unit. The air intake unit blows an intake air to the optical system unit through the opening, or the air exhaust unit draws an exhaust air around the optical system unit through the opening.

Abstract: In an interlock device for turning a switch on and off in accordance with closing and opening of a plurality of covers covering a body of an electronic apparatus, one striker protrudes from each of the covers. An engagement member is provided inside the body of the electronic apparatus to move in a predetermined direction to contact and separate from the switch to turn the switch on and off. All the strikers contact the engagement member to turn on the switch when all the covers are closed. At least one of the strikers separates from the engagement member to turn off the switch when the corresponding cover is opened.

Abstract: When a lever is pulled upwards, an engaging member comes into contact with a retracted contacting member. An optical writing device rotates with a hooking member at a center and is lifted. As a result, positions of a first reference position component and a second reference position component switches from a contacting position to a retracted position. When the lever is pulled downward, the engaging member separates from the retracted contacting member. The optical writing device rotates in a counter-clockwise direction with the hooking member as the center. As a result, the positions of the reference position components switch from the retracted position to the contacting position. The reference position components come into contact with positioning members.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which prevents deformation of a structural frame caused by external force or weight of the apparatus itself, when set on a surface such as a conventional desk or floor, prevents image defects such as image deformation and the like without reducing the degree of accuracy of positioning support of respective printing devices inside the image forming apparatus, and furthermore also makes precise color matching possible while also being low price, easily assembled, compact, lightweight, highly reliable, and capable of obtaining high quality images. The structural frame of the image forming apparatus includes side wall portions made of resin and provided on either side of the apparatus, and at least two connectors formed from metal, for connecting the side wall portions, an image forming unit being supported by the side wall portions, and the connectors joining the side wall portions in substantially perpendicular and substantially horizontal directions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of suppressing drop in the write positional accuracy of the optical write while improving the maintenancability of the photosensitive bodies and the peripheral devices thereof, having a printer comprising four processing units each holding, in the inner part thereof, a photosensitive body for supporting a latent image on an endless moving surface, an optical write unit that is movable between an operate position where a write operation is performed for writing latent images on the surface of each of these photosensitive bodies and a retreat position where this write operation is not performed, and a support body for supporting each of the photosensitive bodies of the processing units and the optical write unit, the support body being configured as an integrally molded part by being united at the location for supporting each of the photosensitive bodies of the processing units and the location for supporting the optical write unit from (front-side panel and rear-side panel).

Abstract: A housing structure includes a first structure, which has body frames and a first shaft supported by the body frames, a second structure to be movably supported between an opened position and a closed position by the first shaft, and a positioning device to position the second structure in relation to the first structure in the closed position. The positioning device includes a first engagement portion provided on the first structure, a second engagement portion provided on the second structure and engaged with the first engagement portion in the closed position, a first biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the second structure, and a second biasing device to bias the second engagement portion toward the first structure. The positioning device positions the second structure in relation to the first structure by biasing forces of the first biasing device and the second biasing device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member carrying a latent image and a development device disposed along a surface of the image carrying member. The development device includes a developer storing case storing a developer, a developer carrying member carrying the developer to develop the latent image with the developer in an area in which the surface of the developer carrying member faces the surface of the image carrying member, a developer supplying member supplying the developer carrying member with the developer, a metal member extending in an axial direction of the developer carrying member to receive heat conducted from the developer, and a heat releasing device provided on at least one of the outer sides of the developer storing case in the axial direction of the developer carrying member and disposed in contact with the metal member to release the heat conducted from the metal member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier, at least one developing device disposed to contact the latent image carrier to develop the latent image with developer stored therein, a cooling mechanism including at least one cooling device disposed close to the developing device to cool the developing device, a developer amount detector electrically connected to the developing device to detect an amount of the developer remaining in the developing device, and a cooling mechanism controller connected to the cooling mechanism to change a cooling power of the cooling mechanism according to a detection result generated by the developer amount detector. The developing device includes a rotary member whose shaft is rotationally supported by at least one bearing and is not to be supplied with new developer while any developer remains therein.

Abstract: An attaching structure of supporting legs for an apparatus is disclosed. The attaching structure of the supporting legs for the apparatus includes plural supporting leg attaching sections on a bottom section of a main body of the apparatus, and plural supporting legs each of which is attached to one of the supporting leg attaching sections in which the number of the supporting leg attaching sections is greater than the number of the supporting legs. Each of the supporting legs includes an elastic member which contacts an apparatus setting up surface and an elastic member holding section having a concave section inside which the elastic member is engaged. An exposure distance of the elastic member from the elastic member holding section in the height direction of the apparatus is less than a distance between the bottom section of the main body of the apparatus and the apparatus setting up surface in the height direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover frame that holds a held shaft of an optical writing unit to allow a free movement thereof and urges the optical writing unit in a predetermined direction by using an urging coil spring to bring the held portion shaft of the optical writing unit separated from the writing operation position into contact with a contact target portion thereof.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a photoreceptor carries a latent image on its looped surface. An optical writing unit moves between an operating position at which writing of a latent image is performed on the looped surface of the photoreceptor and a standby position at which writing is not performed. A developing device develops the latent image carried on the photoreceptor. A reference position member is located at a reference position for positioning the optical writing unit. A positioning member positions the optical writing unit. A bias coil spring biases the reference position member so that the reference position member contacts the positioning member.

Abstract: An attaching structure of supporting legs for an apparatus is disclosed. The attaching structure of the supporting legs for the apparatus includes plural supporting leg attaching sections on a bottom section of a main body of the apparatus, and plural supporting legs each of which is attached to one of the supporting leg attaching sections in which the number of the supporting leg attaching sections is greater than the number of the supporting legs. Each of the supporting legs includes an elastic member which contacts an apparatus setting up surface and an elastic member holding section having a concave section inside which the elastic member is engaged. An exposure distance of the elastic member from the elastic member holding section in the height direction of the apparatus is less than a distance between the bottom section of the main body of the apparatus and the apparatus setting up surface in the height direction.

Abstract: When a lever is pulled upwards, an engaging member comes into contact with a retracted contacting member. An optical writing device rotates with a hooking member at a center and is lifted. As a result, positions of a first reference position component and a second reference position component switches from a contacting position to a retracted position. When the lever is pulled downward, the engaging member separates from the retracted contacting member. The optical writing device rotates in a counter-clockwise direction with the hooking member as the center. As a result, the positions of the reference position components switch from the retracted position to the contacting position. The reference position components come into contact with positioning members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a holding mechanism that holds an optical writing unit such that, at an operating position, the latent image writing unit is supported at three points with respect to the apparatus main body, and the latent image writing unit and the rotation axis are not in contact with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a removable body that is removably set in a main body of the image forming apparatus, and an engaging mechanism that causes the removable body and the main body to engage with each other when the removable body is lifted by a user.

Abstract: A biasing unit biases an exposing unit with respect to a main unit in at least one direction in a direction approaching the main body, so that the exposing unit makes contact with the main body in at least one portion to determine a position of the exposing unit with respect to the main body. A buffer unit relieves an impact the exposing unit receives from the main body, provided at or near the portion where the exposing unit makes contact with the main body. An attachment forming portion is provided for attaching the buffer unit in switching a functional state of the buffer unit between a buffer functional state and a buffer non-functional state.