Abstract: An automatic brake control apparatus to be applied to a vehicle is configured to: detect, with an ultrasonic sensor, a position of an obstacle on reverse travel of the vehicle, in which the ultrasonic sensor is disposed in a rear part of the vehicle; set a brake operation area on plane coordinates corresponding to the detected position by the ultrasonic sensor; and actuate an automatic brake. The brake operation area includes a low-speed operation area and a high-speed operation area. The low-speed operation area is set on the reverse travel at a lower speed than a setting vehicle speed, and the high-speed operation area is set on the reverse travel at a higher speed than the setting vehicle speed. The high-speed operation area is wider than the low-speed operation area at least in a vehicle widthwise direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a driving source including an output shaft including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion; a first gear including (i) a first portion provided with a first opening and (ii) a second portion provided with a second opening having a smaller diameter than that of the first opening, and (iii) gear teeth formed on an outer peripheral surface of the second portion, the first gear being mounted on the output shaft such that the large diameter portion is inserted into the first opening and the small diameter portion is inserted into the second opening; and a second gear that engages with the gear teeth of the first gear and is driven by the first gear. Rotation of the first gear with respect to the output shaft is restricted by at least a part of the large diameter portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a control board, a draw-out unit including a photosensitive drum configured to bear a toner image and rotate about a rotation axis, a developing unit, and a unit contact, the developing unit including a developing roller and a memory, and a door configured to face the draw-out unit at a closed position. The door includes a door contact electrically connected to the control board. The draw-out unit includes a facing surface configured to face the door positioned at the closed position, and a grip portion provided at a center portion of the facing surface in an axial direction of the rotation axis. The unit contact is provided in a region outside an end surface of the grip portion in the axial direction and below the grip portion in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a control board, a draw-out unit including a photosensitive drum configured to bear a toner image and rotate about a rotation axis, a developing unit, and a unit contact, the developing unit including a developing roller and a memory, and a door configured to face the draw-out unit at a closed position. The door includes a door contact electrically connected to the control board. The draw-out unit includes a facing surface configured to face the door positioned at the closed position, and a grip portion provided at a center portion of the facing surface in an axial direction of the rotation axis. The unit contact is provided in a region outside an end surface of the grip portion in the axial direction and below the grip portion in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a control board, a draw-out unit including a photosensitive drum configured to bear a toner image and rotate about a rotation axis, a developing unit, and a unit contact, the developing unit including a developing roller and a memory, and a door configured to face the draw-out unit at a closed position. The door includes a door contact electrically connected to the control board. The draw-out unit includes a facing surface configured to face the door positioned at the closed position, and a grip portion provided at a center portion of the facing surface in an axial direction of the rotation axis. The unit contact is provided in a region outside an end surface of the grip portion in the axial direction and below the grip portion in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body including a control board, a draw-out unit including a photosensitive drum configured to bear a toner image and rotate about a rotation axis, a developing unit, and a unit contact, the developing unit including a developing roller and a memory, and a door configured to face the draw-out unit at a closed position. The door includes a door contact electrically connected to the control board. The draw-out unit includes a facing surface configured to face the door positioned at the closed position, and a grip portion provided at a center portion of the facing surface in an axial direction of the rotation axis. The unit contact is provided in a region outside an end surface of the grip portion in the axial direction and below the grip portion in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body and a unit detachably mounted to the apparatus body and comprising a unit body, a cam, a first movement member, and a second movement member. The unit includes a first contact portion, an urging portion, and a second contact portion. The second movement member is attachable to the first movement member in a first manner or a second manner. A detection pattern of a detection signal differs between a state in which the second movement member is in contact with the first contact portion and a state in which the second movement member is in contact with the second contact portion, and differs between a state in which the second movement member is attached in the first manner and a state in which the second movement member is attached in the second manner.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a transfer material transport guide is disposed in an optical sensor unit to support a color deviation sensor, which is disposed near an intermediate transfer belt. By changing the position of the optical sensor unit, the grounding path of the transfer material transport guide can be changed, and both transfer bias leak prevention for the transfer material transport guide and electrostatic breakdown prevention for the color deviation sensor can be implemented. As a result, the apparatus can be downsized, and when the intermediate transfer belt is replaced, the optical sensor unit can be moved to create a space necessary for the replacement.

Abstract: A separation cam is disposed on a shaft of an opposing roller. The separation cam rotates about the shaft in response to a separation unit separating an intermediate transfer belt from a photosensitive drum, and the separation cam thereby separates a secondary transfer roller from the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to carry a toner image; a cleaning member contacted to the image bearing member to clean a surface of the image bearing member by movement of the surface of the image bearing member: a supporting member configured to support the cleaning member; a case provided with a space configured to hold the supporting member therein; a viscoelasticity member; and a vibration controlling member configured to suppress vibration of the cleaning member, wherein the vibration controlling member is mounted on an outer surface of the case by the viscoelasticity member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body and a unit detachably mounted to the apparatus body and comprising a unit body, a cam, a first movement member, and a second movement member. The unit includes a first contact portion, an urging portion, and a second contact portion. The second movement member is attachable to the first movement member in a first manner or a second manner. A detection pattern of a detection signal differs between a state in which the second movement member is in contact with the first contact portion and a state in which the second movement member is in contact with the second contact portion, and differs between a state in which the second movement member is attached in the first manner and a state in which the second movement member is attached in the second manner.

Abstract: A separation cam is disposed on a shaft of an opposing roller. The separation cam rotates about the shaft in response to a separation unit separating an intermediate transfer belt from a photosensitive drum, and the separation cam thereby separates a secondary transfer roller from the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an optical sensor including a light emitting portion, a light receiving portion and a cover member, a cleaning member, and a supporting member movable between a proximity position where the optical sensor opposes the image bearing member with a predetermined distance and a spaced position where the optical sensor is spaced from the image bearing member by a distance more than the predetermined distance to form a cleaning space between the optical sensor and the image bearing member. When the supporting member is in the proximity position, the cleaning member is in a retracted position retracted from an opposing space between the optical sensor and the image bearing member. When the supporting member is in the spaced position, the cleaning member is in a cleaning position for cleaning the cover member with the cleaning member.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus wherein a transfer material transport guide 35 is disposed in an optical sensor unit 29 to support a color deviation sensor, which is disposed near an intermediate transfer belt 6. By changing the position of the optical sensor unit 29, the grounding path of the transfer material transport guide 35 can be changed, and both the transfer bias leak prevention for the transfer material transport guide 35 and the electrostatic breakdown prevention for the color deviation sensor can be implemented. As a result, the apparatus can be downsized, and only when the intermediate transfer belt is replaced, the optical sensor unit 29 can be moved to create a space necessary for the replacement.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to carry a toner image; a cleaning member contacted to the image bearing member to clean a surface of the image bearing member by movement of the surface of the image bearing member: a supporting member configured to support the cleaning member; a case provided with a space configured to hold the supporting member therein; a viscoelasticity member; and a vibration controlling member configured to suppress vibration of the cleaning member, wherein the vibration controlling member is mounted on an outer surface of the case by the viscoelasticity member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member configured to carry a toner image; a cleaning member contacted to the image bearing member to clean a surface of the image bearing member by movement of the surface of the image bearing member: a supporting member configured to support the cleaning member; a case provided with a space configured to hold the supporting member therein; a viscoelasticity member; and a vibration controlling member configured to suppress vibration of the cleaning member, wherein the vibration controlling member is mounted on an outer surface of the case by the viscoelasticity member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door; a discharging portion provided in the main assembly and provided with a first opening for discharging toner; and a toner receptor detachably mounted to the door to accommodate the toner, the toner receptor being provided with a second opening cooperative with the first opening to form a toner flow passage, wherein the receptor is movable, in a state that it is mounted on the door, between a contacting position in which the receptor contacts the discharging portion such that the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening and a spacing position in which the receptor is spaced from the discharging portion, and wherein the receptor mounted on the door is movable between the contacting and the spacing positions in a direction inclined with respect to a contact plane of the discharging portion relative to the receptor.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus is equipped with a stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a rotator conveying a sheet by rotating in a contact state with the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a separating member pressing the rotator and separating the sheets one by one at a contact portion where the rotator and the separating member contact each other, and a holder holding the separating member. A guide portion is rotatably provided with the holder and capable of guiding a front end of the sheet to the contact portion, and a regulating portion regulates the guide portion from rotating in a direction approximating the rotator in a state where the guide portion contacts against the regulating portion. The guide portion can be rotated in a direction separating from the rotator in a state where the separating member presses the rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; a door; a discharging portion provided in the main assembly and provided with a first opening for discharging toner; and a toner receptor detachably mounted to the door to accommodate the toner, the toner receptor being provided with a second opening cooperative with the first opening to form a toner flow passage, wherein the receptor is movable, in a state that it is mounted on the door, between a contacting position in which the receptor contacts the discharging portion such that the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening and a spacing position in which the receptor is spaced from the discharging portion, and wherein the receptor mounted on the door is movable between the contacting and the spacing positions in a direction inclined with respect to a contact plane of the discharging portion relative to the receptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an optical sensor including a light emitting portion, a light receiving portion and a cover member, a cleaning member, and a supporting member movable between a proximity position where the optical sensor opposes the image bearing member with a predetermined distance and a spaced position where the optical sensor is spaced from the image bearing member by a distance more than the predetermined distance to form a cleaning space between the optical sensor and the image bearing member. When the supporting member is in the proximity position, the cleaning member is in a retracted position retracted from an opposing space between the optical sensor and the image bearing member. When the supporting member is in the spaced position, the cleaning member is in a cleaning position for cleaning the cover member with the cleaning member.