Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to heat a recording material at a use position, an opening and closing member, and a drawer unit. In a state where the fixing device is at the use position, part of the fixing device is located in a space for the drawer unit to pass through when moved from a first inner position to a first outer position so that movement of the drawer unit from the first inner to the first outer position is restricted. The fixing device is retracted from the use position to a retracted position so that the movement of the drawer unit from the first inner to the first outer position is allowed. Part of the fixing device at the retracted position is at a position higher than a position of an upper cover portion of the opening and closing member at a closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording material includes an apparatus main body having a first end provided with an opening and having a second end, a fixing device to heat the recording material, an opening and closing member, a drawer unit having a first photosensitive drum, and a transfer device. When being moved from a first inner position inside the apparatus main body to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body through the main body opening, the drawer unit is to be moved in a moving direction intersecting with a rotation axis of the first photosensitive drum, and is to be moved away from the second end. When being moved from a second inner position inside the apparatus main body to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body, the transfer device is moved away from the second end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer unit, and a transfer device a including a belt. When image formation on a recording material is performed, the drawer unit is at a first apparatus main body inner position and the transfer device is at a second apparatus main body inner position. In this drawer unit state, (a) a part of the transfer device is disposed downstream of the drawer unit in a moving direction in which the drawer unit moves from the first inner position to a first apparatus main body outer position, and (b) in a vertical direction, an area where the part of the transfer device is positioned overlaps, at least in part, with an area where the drawer unit is positioned. The transfer device includes a cleaning member to clean the belt and is accommodated in the part of the transfer device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drawer unit, and a transfer device including a belt. The drawer unit includes a first cartridge, a support member to which the first cartridge is detachably attached, and a first photosensitive drum disposed on the support member or the first cartridge. The drawer unit is moved to a first inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a first outer position outside the apparatus main body. The transfer device is moved to a second inner position inside the apparatus main body and to a second outer position outside the apparatus main body. The belt contacts the first photosensitive drum with the transfer device at the second inner position. The transfer device is moved from the second inner to the second outer position when the drawer unit is moved from the first inner to the first outer position.

Abstract: A movable-side magnet is provided to a movable portion in a vacuum chamber. A drive unit is provided outside the vacuum chamber, and drives the movable portion by exerting magnetic force on the movable-side magnet. The drive unit has a first magnet, a second magnet, and a moving mechanism (moving member). The first magnet exerts magnetic force of attracting the movable-side magnet. The second magnet is provided to be adjacent to the first magnet, and exerts magnetic force of repelling the movable-side magnet. The moving mechanism integrally moves the first magnet and the second magnet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; an openable member, provided with a portion-to-be-engaged, for covering a mounting portion; an engaging member provided on the main assembly for engaging with the portion-to-be-engaged of the openable member positioned at a closed position so as to restrict movement of the openable member relative to the main assembly; a locking portion for locking the engaging member in an engaged state with the portion-to-be-engaged by restricting movement of the engaging member; an electric driving portion for unlocking the locking portion; a discriminating portion for discriminating that a consumable mounted is in an exchange state in which the consumable is to be exchanged; and a controller for driving the electric driving portion so as to unlock the locking portion when the controller receives, from the determining portion, a signal for determining that the consumable is in the exchange state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; an openable member, provided with a portion-to-be-engaged, for covering a mounting portion; an engaging member provided on the main assembly for engaging with the portion-to-be-engaged of the openable member positioned at a closed position so as to restrict movement of said openable member relative to the main assembly; a locking portion for locking the engaging member in an engaged state with the portion-to-be-engaged by restricting movement of the engaging member; an electric driving portion for unlocking the locking portion; a discriminating portion for discriminating that a consumable mounted is in an exchange state in which the consumable is to be exchanged; and a controller for driving the electric driving portion so as to unlock the locking portion when the controller receives, from the determining portion, a signal for determining that the consumable is in the exchange state.

Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a first lock portion supported movably with respect to an apparatus body between a first locking position where the first lock portion locks a retention portion at a retaining position and a first releasing position where the first lock portion releases a lock of the retention portion and the first lock portion, a second lock portion supported movably with respect to the apparatus body between a second locking position where the second lock portion locks the first lock portion at the first locking position and a second releasing position where the second lock portion releases a lock of the first lock portion and the second lock portion, and a regulation portion provided on a sheet supporting portion, and configured to abut against the second lock portion positioned at the second locking position and regulate a movement of the second lock portion to the second releasing position in a state where the sheet supporting portion is attached to the apparatus body.

Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet supporting portion attached detachably with respect to the apparatus body, a conveyance guide supported movably with respect to the apparatus body between a guide position and a lowered position, a retention portion supported movably with respect to the apparatus body between a retaining position where the retention portion retains the conveyance guide at the guide position and an allowing position where the retention portion allows the conveyance guide to move to the lowered position, and a regulation mechanism configured to regulate a movement of the retention portion to the allowing position from the retaining position in a state where the sheet supporting portion is attached to the apparatus body and configured to allow the retention portion to move to the allowing position in a state where the sheet supporting portion is removed from the apparatus body.

Abstract: A rotational axis line of the image bearing member is parallel to a pivotal axis line of the handle. When the handle is grasped, the process cartridge body in a non-used state is inclined so that the image bearing member is positioned upward relative to a horizontal surface, and the process cartridge body from which developer has been consumed is inclined so that the image bearing member is positioned downward relative to the horizontal surface.

Abstract: A cartridge insertable into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a first unit including a first bearing portion for supporting an image bearing member, a second unit including a second bearing portion for supporting a developer carrying member, and a storing medium including an electrical contact. The second bearing portion is provided inside the first bearing portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image bearing member. At least a part of the storing medium is supported by the second unit and is provided at a position outside the second bearing portion and inside an outermost configuration of the first unit with respect to the rotational axis direction. The electrical contact is faced toward a downstream with respect to an inserting direction of the cartridge into the main assembly.

Abstract: A rotational axis line of the image bearing member is parallel to a pivotal axis line of the handle. When the handle is grasped, the process cartridge body in a non-used state is inclined so that the image bearing member is positioned upward relative to a horizontal surface, and the process cartridge body from which developer has been consumed is inclined so that the image bearing member is positioned downward relative to the horizontal surface.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer chamber in which developer is accommodated, a developer supplying chamber in which a developer carrying member for developing a latent image forming on an image bearing member is rotatably provided and which is provided with an opening communicating with the developer chamber, a sealing member for sealing the opening, and a feeding member for feeding the developer from the developer chamber to the developer supplying chamber through the opening. The feeding member is rotatably provided in the developer chamber and has a rotation center below a rotation center of the developer carrying member. A part of the developer supplying chamber defining a periphery of the opening and a part of a lower inner surface of the developer supplying chamber are provided in the same plane, and the same plane is flush with or provided above a lower inner surface of the developer chamber.

Abstract: A cartridge insertable into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a first unit including a first bearing portion for supporting an image bearing member, a second unit including a second bearing portion for supporting a developer carrying member, and a storing medium including an electrical contact. The second bearing portion is provided inside the first bearing portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image bearing member. At least a part of the storing medium is supported by the second unit and is provided at a position outside the second bearing portion and inside an outermost configuration of the first unit with respect to the rotational axis direction. The electrical contact is faced toward a downstream with respect to an inserting direction of the cartridge into the main assembly.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer chamber in which developer is accommodated; a developer supplying chamber in which a developer carrying member for developing a latent image forming on an image bearing member is rotatably provided and which is provided with an opening communicating with the developer chamber; a sealing member for sealing the opening; and a feeding member for feeding the developer from the developer chamber to the developer supplying chamber through the opening, wherein the feeding member is rotatably provided in the developer chamber and has a rotation center below a rotation center of the developer carrying member. A part of the developer supplying chamber defining the opening and a part of a lower inner surface of the developer supplying chamber are provided in the same plane, and the same plane is flush with or provided above a lower inner surface of the developer chamber.