Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film; a plate heater including an electrode portion, wherein a lubricant is applied in a region where the heater contacts the film; a supporting member; and a sealing member contacting a surface of the heater where the electrode portion of the heater is provided, the sealing member being provided at a position closer to a center of the heater than the electrode portion is. The sealing member includes an engaging portion engaging with an end portion of the supporting member with respect to a widthwise direction of the heater and a cantilever contact portion contacting the surface of the heater where the electrode portion is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an LED unit capable of being in an exposing position or a retracted position, and a cartridge capable of being inserted into or pulled out with the LED unit in the retracted position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the sheet and includes a roller. The control unit controls a roller rotational speed. Where both a first loop amount of the sheet at one side in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction and a second loop amount of the sheet at the other side in a width direction are within a predetermined range, the control unit switches a roller rotational speed for controlling a loop amount of the sheet between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. Where either the first or second loop amount is not within the predetermined range, the control unit sets the roller rotational speed into a predetermined speed without switching the roller rotational speed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film; a plate heater including an electrode portion, wherein a lubricant is applied in a region where the heater contacts the film; a supporting member; and a sealing member contacting a surface of the heater where the electrode portion of the heater is provided, the sealing member being provided at a position closer to a center of the heater than the electrode portion is. The sealing member includes an engaging portion engaging with an end portion of the supporting member with respect to a widthwise direction of the heater and a cantilever contact portion contacting the surface of the heater where the electrode portion is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a feed portion, a transfer portion transferring a toner image on a sheet fed by the feed portion, and a switching portion. The switching portion switches the sheet stacking portion between a grounded condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically earthed and an insulated condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically insulated. The sheet stacking portion is switched into the insulated condition in a state in which the transfer bias is applied and the sheet stacking portion is switched into the grounded condition in a state in which no transfer bias is applied.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the sheet and includes a roller. The control unit controls a roller rotational speed. Where both a first loop amount of the sheet at one side in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction and a second loop amount of the sheet at the other side in a width direction are within a predetermined range, the control unit switches a roller rotational speed for controlling a loop amount of the sheet between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. Where either the first or second loop amount is not within the predetermined range, the control unit sets the roller rotational speed into a predetermined speed without switching the roller rotational speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an LED unit capable of being in an exposing position or a retracted position, and a cartridge capable of being inserted into or pulled out with the LED unit in the retracted position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an LED unit capable of being in an exposing position or a retracted position, and a cartridge capable of being inserted into or pulled out with the LED unit in the retracted position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a feed portion, a transfer portion transferring a toner image on a sheet fed by the feed portion, and a switching portion. The switching portion switches the sheet stacking portion between a grounded condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically earthed and an insulated condition in which the sheet stacking portion is electrically insulated. The sheet stacking portion is switched into the insulated condition in a state in which the transfer bias is applied and the sheet stacking portion is switched into the grounded condition in a state in which no transfer bias is applied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image onto a sheet. The fixing unit fixes the toner image onto the sheet and includes a roller. The control unit controls a roller rotational speed. Where both a first loop amount of the sheet at one side in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction and a second loop amount of the sheet at the other side in a width direction are within a predetermined range, the control unit switches a roller rotational speed for controlling a loop amount of the sheet between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. Where either the first or second loop amount is not within the predetermined range, the control unit sets the roller rotational speed into a predetermined speed without switching the roller rotational speed.

Abstract: A sheet storing portion is maintained in a state in which a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are stacked is electrically insulated, when the sheet storing portion is contained in a containing portion of an image forming apparatus body at the time of formation of an image. The sheet stacking portion is switched from the insulation state to a grounding state in which the sheet stacking portion is grounded through a ground portion by a switching portion through an operation of drawing the sheet storing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, detection units, and a control unit. The control unit switches a sheet speed at the fixing unit to either a first or second sheet speed that is faster than the first sheet speed based on a first detection unit signal where the control unit detects that both a loop amount of a sheet loop at second and third detection unit positions are greater than or less than a predetermined amount. The control unit sets the fixing unit sheet speed as a predetermined sheet speed between the first and second sheet speed where the control unit detects that one of two loop amounts detected the second and third detection units is greater than the predetermined amount when the other one of the two loop amounts is less than the predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a first moving member pressed and moved by an openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and switching a cartridge from a state where the cartridge is positioned in an image forming position to a state where the positioning is released; and a second moving member pressed and moved by the openable/closable member when the openable/closable member is opened, and moving the exposure member from an exposure position to a retracted position, wherein when the positioning of the cartridge is released, a reaction force applied from the first moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a first peak, when the exposure member is moved to the retracted position, a reaction force applied from the second moving member to the openable/closable member reaches a second peak, and timing of the first peak is different from timing of the second peak.

Abstract: A sheet storing portion is maintained in a state in which a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are stacked is electrically insulated, when the sheet storing portion is contained in a containing portion of an image forming apparatus body at the time of formation of an image. The sheet stacking portion is switched from the insulation state to a grounding state in which the sheet stacking portion is grounded through a ground portion by a switching portion through an operation of drawing the sheet storing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, detection units, and a control unit. The control unit switches a sheet speed at the fixing unit to either a first or second sheet speed that is faster than the first sheet speed based on a first detection unit signal where the control unit detects that both a loop amount of a sheet loop at second and third detection unit positions are greater than or less than a predetermined amount. The control unit sets the fixing unit sheet speed as a predetermined sheet speed between the first and second sheet speed where the control unit detects that one of two loop amounts detected the second and third detection units is greater than the predetermined amount when the other one of the two loop amounts is less than the predetermined amount.