Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, and an opening/closing cover configured to expose an opening portion of the apparatus body by being opened. The apparatus body includes a main body frame, a plurality of conveyance units being detachably attached to the main body frame through the opening portion, a control board configured to control the plurality of conveyance units, and a relay board configured to be electrically connected to the control board. The plurality of conveyance units respectively include a plurality of first connectors. The relay board includes a plurality of second connectors that are arranged to face the opening portion and that are configured to be connected to the plurality of first connectors, the relay board being arranged at a position not interfering with attachment/detachment loci in which the plurality of conveyance units are attached to and detached from the main body frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a casing accommodating an image forming unit, a fan, a duct member, an electric component, and a sensor unit. The casing includes a cover member, an air inlet opening, and an air outlet opening. The fan is configured to take in air from an upstream side in the second direction and blow out the air to a downstream side in the second direction such that the air flow flowing through the air inlet opening, the fan, the duct member, and the air outlet opening is generated. The sensor unit is arranged within a region between the air inlet opening and a rotational axis of the fan in the first direction, and is arranged on an upstream side of the fan in the second direction.

Abstract: A toner conveying apparatus includes a frame body, a conveyance member, a light transmission portion, a light emission portion, a light reception portion, and a rubbing member. The frame body forms a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion and is provided with a reception inlet for receiving toner from outside. The conveyance member is provided in the conveyance passage and rotates around a first rotation axis to convey the toner. The light transmission portion that is provided in the wall portion and has translucency. The light emission portion emits light toward an inside of the conveyance passage through the light transmission portion. The light reception portion receives the light emitted from the light emission portion through the light transmission portion. The rubbing member rubs on the light transmission portion by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis.

Abstract: A toner conveying apparatus includes a frame body, a conveyance member, a light transmission portion, a light emission portion, a light reception portion, and a rubbing member. The frame body forms a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion and is provided with a reception inlet for receiving toner from outside. The conveyance member is provided in the conveyance passage and rotates around a first rotation axis to convey the toner. The light transmission portion that is provided in the wall portion and has translucency. The light emission portion emits light toward an inside of the conveyance passage through the light transmission portion. The light reception portion receives the light emitted from the light emission portion through the light transmission portion. The rubbing member rubs on the light transmission portion by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an intermediary transfer member, a transfer portion, a cleaning portion, and an air blowing portion. The air blowing portion blows the air toward an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer member in a moving direction of the intermediary transfer member away from the transfer portion, at a position between the transfer portion and the cleaning portion with respect to a movement direction of the intermediary transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an intermediary transfer member, a transfer portion, a cleaning portion, and an air blowing portion. The air blowing portion blows the air toward an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer member in a moving direction of the intermediary transfer member away from the transfer portion, at a position between the transfer portion and the cleaning portion in a movement direction of the intermediary transfer member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet includes a main assembly, an image forming station provided in the main assembly and configured to form a toner image on the sheet, and a fixing portion provided in the main assembly and configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet, on the sheet, the fixing portion including a fixing rotatable member and a covering member covering the rotatable member. The image forming apparatus also includes a suction mechanism including a duct connected with an opening provided in the covering member, and a fan configured to suck air inside the covering member through the duct. The air sucked by the suction mechanism is discharged into a space in the main assembly other than a space through which the sheet passes.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; an image forming station provided in the main assembly and configured to form a toner image on the sheet; a fixing portion provided in the main assembly and configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet, on the sheet, the fixing portion including a fixing rotatable member and a covering member covering the rotatable member; and a suction mechanism including a duct connected with an opening provided in the covering member and a fan configured to suck air inside the covering member through the duct, wherein the air sucked by the suction mechanism is discharged into a space in the main assembly other than a space through which the sheet passes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a locking mechanism that locks an opening/closing door to an engagement position, the locking mechanism having a engaged member and an urging member that urges the engaged member; and an engagement member that is provided on the door and engages the engaged member; wherein an urging force acting on the engaged member from the urging member is converted from a first urging force to press out the engagement member to a second urging force to draw the engagement member into the engagement position when the door is closed; wherein the engagement member has a contacted region and the engaged member has a contact region that comes in contact with the contacted region; and wherein the contacted region elastically deforms when the contact region comes in contact with the contacted region.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a locking mechanism that locks an opening/closing door to an engagement position, the locking mechanism having a engaged member and an urging member that urges the engaged member; and an engagement member that is provided on the door and engages the engaged member; wherein an urging force acting on the engaged member from the urging member is converted from a first urging force to press out the engagement member to a second urging force to draw the engagement member into the engagement position when the door is closed; wherein the engagement member has a contacted region and the engaged member has a contact region that comes in contact with the contacted region; and wherein the contacted region elastically deforms when the contact region comes in contact with the contacted region.

Abstract: A container includes a collecting portion in which toner discharged from an apparatus body is accumulated, a conveying member that conveys the toner in the collecting portion in a direction away from an intake portion provided in the collecting portion, and a movable member movable in accordance with an amount of toner in the collecting portion and that causes, when the movable member reaches a first position, a detecting portion to detect an amount of toner in the collecting portion. The movable member includes a guiding portion that guides the toner in a direction away from the first position while the toner is conveyed by the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable belt; a transfer member opposed to the image bearing member with the belt therebetween; wherein the transfer member has a contact surface substantially parallel with a surface of the belt and contacted to the belt, and wherein when the belt is moving, the belt rubs the contact surface, and a toner image is transferred from such a part of image bearing member as is opposed to the contact surface; and a supporting member for supporting the transfer member, the supporting member being swingable.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member for supporting the cartridges, the cartridge supporting member being movable between an inside position which is in the main assembly the outside position which is out of the main assembly; a belt unit including a feeding belt for feeding a recording material on which the image is to be formed; and locking means for locking the cartridge supporting member and the belt unit in the state that the feeding belt and the cartridge are contacted to each other, wherein the belt unit and the cartridge supporting member in the state of being locked by the locking means are movable from the inside position to the outside position, and the feeding belt and the cartridge are capable of being spaced from each other by releasing the locking means

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable belt; a transfer member opposed to the image bearing member with the belt therebetween; wherein the transfer member has a contact surface substantially parallel with a surface of the belt and contacted to the belt, and wherein when the belt is moving, the belt rubs the contact surface, and a toner image is transferred from such a part of image bearing member as is opposed to the contact surface; and a supporting member for supporting the transfer member, the supporting member being swingable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable belt; a transfer member opposed to the image bearing member with the belt therebetween; wherein the transfer member has a contact surface substantially parallel with a surface of the belt and contacted to the belt, and wherein when the belt is moving, the belt rubs the contact surface, and a toner image is transferred from such a part of image bearing member as is opposed to the contact surface; and a supporting member for supporting the transfer member, the supporting member being swingable.