Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a transfer member for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a sheet in contact with the image bearing member, and an openable unit including an openable member and a rotational shaft. In addition, a lock member locks the openable unit in a closed state by movement of the openable member, and a cam member, provided in the main assembly, rotatably moves the transfer member toward and away from the image bearing member. A force receiving portion, provided on the openable unit, receives a reaction force in contact with the cam member. The openable member includes the transfer member, and the cam member urges the force receiving portion when rotated to impart a force, for attracting the openable unit toward a locking direction by the lock member, to the openable member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover, including a rotational shaft, capable of opening and closing an opening by being rotated about the rotational shaft relative to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet; an opposing member, provided in the image forming portion, opposing the openable cover when the openable cover closes the opening; a contact member, provided on the openable cover, contactable to the opposing member; an urging member, provided on the openable cover, for urging the contact member toward the opposing member; and a locking member for locking the openable cover in a closed state relative to the main assembly. The image forming apparatus comprising a cam member, provided in the image forming portion, for moving the contact member toward and away from the opposing member by rotation of the cam member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a rotatable supporting member swingably supporting the rotatable supporting member, the rotatable supporting member being provided with a first gear portion and being rotatable while carrying a plurality of developing devices for developing the electrostatic image with toner; a drive transmission device for transmitting a rotational force to the rotatable supporting member, the drive transmission device being provided with a second gear portion engaged with first gear portion at an engagement position; and an opposing portion provided opposed to the rotatable supporting member with a gap therebetween which is smaller than an amount of engagement between the first gear portion and the second gear portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover capable of opening and closing an opening, an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet, and a cam member provided in the image forming portion for moving a contact member toward and away from an opposing member. A controller controls the image forming portion and rotation of the cam member. The controller stops an operation of the image forming portion when a detecting unit detects opening of the openable cover, and then controls rotation of the cam member at least one full turn when the detecting unit detects closing of the openable cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a rotatable supporting member swingably supporting the rotatable supporting member, the rotatable supporting member being provided with a first gear portion and being rotatable while carrying a plurality of developing devices for developing the electrostatic image with toner; a drive transmission device for transmitting a rotational force to the rotatable supporting member, the drive transmission device being provided with a second gear portion engaged with first gear portion at an engagement position; and an opposing portion provided opposed to the rotatable supporting member with a gap therebetween which is smaller than an amount of engagement between the first gear portion and the second gear portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an openable cover, including a rotational shaft, capable of opening and closing an opening by being rotated about the rotational shaft relative to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; an image forming portion for forming a toner image on a sheet; an opposing member, provided in the image forming portion, opposing the openable cover when the openable cover closes the opening; a contact member, provided on the openable cover, contactable to the opposing member; an urging member, provided on the openable cover, for urging the contact member toward the opposing member; and a locking member for locking the openable cover in a closed state relative to the main assembly. The image forming apparatus comprising a cam member, provided in the image forming portion, for moving the contact member toward and away from the opposing member by rotation of the cam member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus that has an elongated heater, a film having a surface which moves while in contact with a recording material bearing an image, wherein the image on the recording material is heated by heat emitted from the heater via the film. The heater has a substrate made of metal and the substrate has a convex portion in a longitudinal direction of the heater.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus which has an image bearing member for bearing an image, a transferring member for forming a transfer nip portion between the image bearing member and the transferring member, wherein a recording material is pinched and conveyed and an image on the image bearing member is transferred onto the recording material in the transfer nip portion, a rotary member contacted with the image on the recording material, and a driving roller for forming a fixing nip portion between the rotary member and the driving roller and for driving the rotary member, wherein the recording material bearing the image is pinched and conveyed and the image is fixed to the recording material in the fixing nip portion, and wherein regarding at least a recording material having a maximum size, while the image is being transferred in the transfer nip portion, the image is fixed in the fixing nip portion, and wherein a peripheral speed of the driving roller is always greater than a conve

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heater for heating an image which is not deformed easily even when a metal substrate is used as well as a manufacturing method of the heater and an image heating apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a sheet supply device having a detachable sheet supply roller for feeding stacked sheets, an image forming device having a process cartridge for forming an image on the sheet fed by the sheet supply device, a cartridge containing portion for detachably containing the process cartridge within a body of the image forming apparatus, and a sheet discharge device for discharging and stacking the sheets on which the images were formed by the image forming device. The sheet supply roller and the process cartridge are disposed adjacent to each other, and, after the process cartridge is disengaged from the cartridge containing portion, the sheet supply roller is mounted and dismounted through the cartridge containing portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises a sheet supporting means which is provided so as to be freely drawn out from the main body of an apparatus and supports sheets, a sheet feeding means abutting on the sheets supported by the sheet supporting means to feed the sheets, and a driving means for applying a driving force for feeding the sheets to the sheet feeding means, wherein the sheet supporting means is moved so as to be drawn out from the main body of the apparatus under the driving force of the driving means for driving the sheet feeding means while the sheets supported by the sheet supporting means are not present.

Abstract: A frame structure usable in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material using a laser source, the apparatus includes a first wall; a second wall opposed to the first wall; first and second connecting members bridging between the first wall and the second wall; a scanner supporting member for supporting an optical device between the first connecting member and the second connecting member; a motor supporting member for supporting a motor between the scanner supporting member and the first wall; wherein the walls, connecting members, scanner supporting member and motor supporting member are integrally molded.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; an endless film loosely trained around the heater; a pressing roller cooperative with the heater to form a nip with the film interposed between the pressing roller and the heater; a driver for driving the pressing roller; a guiding member for guiding an inside surface of the film, and extended along the pressing roller; wherein the guiding member has, at an end portion, a film guiding surface which is inclined relative to an axis of the pressing roller.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first member; a second member for forming a nip in cooperation with the first member; a first frame for supporting the first frame a second frame connected to the first member frame rotation about a rotational axis; a first pressing member for pressing the second member toward the first member, away from the second frame; and a second pressing member for applying an additional pressure between the first and second frames so that an additional pressure is applied between the first and second member.

Abstract: A gear unit usable with an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, an image fixing unit for fixing on a recording material a toner image formed on the image bearing member and transferred to the recording material from the image bearing member, and a feeder for feeding the recording material, the gear unit includes an image bearing member driving gear for transmitting a driving force to the image bearing member; fixing device driving gear for transmitting a driving force to the fixing unit; a feed drive gear for transmitting a driving force to the feeder: a supporting member for supporting the image bearing member driving gear, the image fixing device driving gear and the feed driving gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing a recording operation with respect to a recording medium, includes an image forming device for forming an image on a recording medium, a recording medium receiver for receiving the recording medium on which the image is formed, and a laser beam emitter, arranged below the recording medium receiver, for emitting a laser beam in accordance with image information so as to cause the image forming device to form an image. The laser beam emitter is arranged below the recording medium receiver to emit a laser beam obliquely upward.

Abstract: The sheet discharge apparatus includes a first sheet discharge path for discharging a sheet and a second sheet discharge path for discharging the sheet. The apparatus further includes a sheet stacking tray on which the sheets discharged through the second sheet discharge path and which is pivotally mounted on a body of the apparatus, a reverse rotation guide rotatably supported by the sheet stacking tray and forming a part of the first sheet discharge path, and a holder for holding the reverse rotation guide in a position where the reverse rotation guide forms a part of the first sheet discharge path in a condition that the sheet stacking tray is closed with respect to the body of the apparatus and for releasing the reverse rotation guide to permit the reverse rotation guide to thereby retard to a retard position where the reverse rotation guide is retarded from a stacking surface of the sheet stacking tray not to prevent the sheet from being directed in the sheet stacking tray.

Abstract: An assembling method of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes preparing a frame, a feeding unit having a feeding roller, electrical component unit having electrical components and an outer cover; mounting the feeding unit and the electrical component unit to the frame from a position of the frame which takes a bottom position upon installation of the image forming apparatus; and then overturning of the frame; mounting the outer cover to the frame from a position which takes a top position upon installation of the frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the image forming apparatus including a mounting device for mounting a process cartridge having an image bearing member comprising a helical gear, and a process device actable on the image bearing member; a feeder for feeding the recording material; and projection device for projecting image information light onto the image bearing member in a direction from a projection reference disposed at one side of an axis of the image bearing member to the other side; a positioning reference for positioning the image bearing member in its axial direction; feed guide reference for guiding the recording material fed by the feeder; and wherein the positioning reference, the feed guide reference and the projection reference are disposed in a same side of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a heating member; a film in slidable contact with the heating member; a pressing roller cooperable with the heating member to form a nip with the film therebetween; wherein the pressing roller comprises a core metal of aluminum; and a metal member for transferring heat from the heating member.