Abstract: A holding member includes a first opposing portion (first inner wall surface) and a second opposing portion (second inner wall surface) which oppose side wall surfaces of a lens array. Side wall surfaces of the lens array on opposite end sides with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lens array are exposed from opposite ends of the first opposing portion and opposite ends of the second opposing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover pivotable on a body to close an opening at a closed position and open the opening at an open position, first and second replacement units having photosensitive drums, an optical print head pivotable in one direction, a spring, and a stopper. The spring applies, to the optical print head, a force for allowing the optical print head to pivot toward the one direction so that a movement of the optical print head with a pivotal movement of the cover from the open position to the closed position is prevented from being inhibited by the first developing cartridge. The optical print head, having the force applied the optical print head by the spring, so that movement of the optical print head with pivotal movement of the cover from the open to the closed position is prevented from being inhibited by the second developing cartridge.

Abstract: When an optical print head is positioned at an evacuation position, at least a part of a region where a first member and a third link member overlap with each other in the direction of a pivotal axis of the third link member rotating relative to the first link member overlaps with a sliding portion in the pivotal axis direction.

Abstract: A resin holding member is supported by a one link member and another link member at positions further outside from both ends of a lens array and both ends of a circuit board in a rotational axis direction of a photosensitive drum, but further inside from an abutting pin and another abutting pin. Force in the opposite direction from the gravitational direction is applied to a portion of the holding member between the link members in a state where the abutting pins are abutting a drum unit. Accordingly, warping of the holding member is suppressed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a third link portion which is rotatably connected to said first link portion at a position between said first connecting portion and said first moving portion so that said first moving portion and said second moving portion are moved toward said drum unit by rotation of said first link portion about said first connecting portion as a rotation shaft and by rotation of said second link portion about said second connecting portion as a rotation shaft in interrelation with slide of said slidable portion, and which is rotatable relative to the apparatus main assembly. The third link portion is out of contact with the optical print head at a portion corresponding to an end portion on the optical print head side.

Abstract: In a case where portions pressed by a moving mechanism and positions of positioning pins provided on one end and the other end of a print head in the longitudinal direction do not overlap with each other in a moving direction of the print head, when the print head is pressed by the moving mechanism with the positioning pins abutting against a drum unit, a force is applied to a region between the pressed portions provided at two portions of the print head in a pressing direction so that the print head is deformed. In view of the above, a protruding portion is provided which protrudes from a side wall surface of the print head in a direction perpendicular to both of the longitudinal direction of the print head and a moving direction of the print head, and which extends in the longitudinal direction of the print head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an LED print head exposing a photosensitive drum with light; a door arranged on one end side of the LED print head; a support portion for the LED print head operating in conjunction with opening and closing movements of the door, positioning the LED print head at a first position for exposing the photosensitive drum when the door is closed, and positioning the LED print head at a second position more apart from the photosensitive drum than the first position when the door is open; and a guide portion formed on the door and guiding a cleaning member to the LED print head, the guide portion having a first inclined surface which is lowered toward the LED print head so that the cleaning member is continuously held in contact with the LED print head under a state in which the door is open.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a movable optical print head including a light emitting element and a lens array, and a portion-to-be-contacted. The photosensitive drum and a light emergent surface of the lens array are spaced from each other to permit insertion of a cleaning member therebetween from an outside of the main assembly. The portion-to-be-contacted provided in a main assembly and configured to be contacted by the cleaning member to prevent further insertion of said cleaning member after said cleaning member cleans said light emergent surface by sliding on the light emergent surface from one end side toward the other end side of the light emergent surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of said lens array.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive drum, an optical print head that exposes the photosensitive drum and is insertable and removable through a front side of the apparatus body by an operator, a front plate that forms a part of a housing of the apparatus body and that includes an opening through which the optical print head passes when inserted and removed, a cable having one end connected to the optical print head and running along the optical print head toward the front side of the apparatus body when the optical print head is mounted to the apparatus body, and a connector which is arranged so as to have at least a part located on an outer side of the opening and to which another end of the cable is connected to be detachably attachable in order to transmit a drive signal to the optical print head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a photosensitive drum, an optical print head, a receiving portion, a portion-to-be-engaged, and a guiding portion. The guiding portion is provided between the portion-to-be-engaged and the receiving portion with an interval from both the portion-to-be-engaged and the receiving portion. The guiding portion guides movement of a cleaning member in a direction from the receiving portion toward the portion-to-be-engaged while limiting movement of the cleaning member in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the cleaning member to engage the engaging portion with the portion-to-be-engaged.

Abstract: A simple structure is provided to move an optical print head toward a photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus includes an optical print head having a first link portion and a second link portion, a sliding portion configured to move by sliding as to an image forming apparatus main body, and an abutting portion where one end of the optical print head abuts. When the sliding portion moves by sliding, the first link portion and the second link portion pivot as to the sliding portion, with the one end of the optical print head abutting the abutting portion, and the optical print head moves toward the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a movable optical print head including a light emitting element and a lens array, and a portion-to-be-contacted. The photosensitive drum and a light emergent surface of the lens array are spaced from each other to permit insertion of a cleaning member therebetween from outside of the main assembly. The portion-to-be-contacted is provided in the main assembly and configured to be contacted by the cleaning member to prevent further insertion of the cleaning member after the cleaning member cleans the light emergent surface by sliding on the light emergent surface from one end side toward the other end side of the light emergent surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lens array.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an optical print head, a length of a cable from a regulating portion to a connecting portion in a state where the connecting portion is connected to a connector is set to a length that enables the connector to be located on a front side of an opening when the optical print head moves to a pull-out position in the state where the connecting portion is connected to the connector.

Abstract: Provided are: a photosensitive drum rotatable with respect to an apparatus body; an optical print head that exposes the photosensitive drum to light in response to a drive signal from a controller provided in the apparatus body and is inserted and removed in a rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum from a front side of the apparatus body by an operator; a front plate that forms a part of the housing of the apparatus body on the front side of the apparatus body and is formed with an opening through which the optical print head to be inserted into and removed from the apparatus body passes; a cable that has one end connected to the optical print head and is wired along the optical print head toward the front side of the apparatus body in a state where the optical print head is mounted to the apparatus body; and a connector which is arranged so as to have at least a part located on an outer side of the opening and to which another end of the cable is connected to be detachably attachable in order t

Abstract: When an optical print head is positioned at an evacuation position, at least a part of a region where a first member and a third link member overlap with each other in the direction of a pivotal axis of the third link member rotating relative to the first link member overlaps with a sliding portion in the pivotal axis direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a holding member that holds a lens array and a circuit board. In the holding member, a portion where a light emission portion is attached, a portion where the lens array is attached, a portion where the circuit board is attached, and a portion where a first link member and a second link member are connected, are integrally molded as a molded resin article.

Abstract: An opening, from which a cleaning member is inserted from the outer side of a main body of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, is provided further toward the front side than an end portion of a front side of a holding member. The opening guides movement of the cleaning member in the direction of insertion as the inserted cleaning member moves toward the downstream side in the direction of insertion, so that downstream-side end portions of engaging portions in the insertion direction engage upstream-side end portions of protruding portions formed on the holding member in the direction of insertion.

Abstract: A holding member that holds an optical print head for exposing a photosensitive drum is provided with one abutting pin at each end thereof in the longitudinal direction. Each abutting pin has both a function of forming a gap between the optical print head and the photosensitive drum, and a function of restricting movement of the holding member in the X direction and Y direction. The holding member is supported by a link member further toward the side of the photosensitive drum than the lower end portion of the abutting pins.

Abstract: The length of an abutting pin of an optical print head is decided such that the upper end of the abutting pin when at a cleaning position is on the opposite side of a movement path of a cleaning member, from the upper end of another abutting pin of the optical print head when in an exposure position.

Abstract: An exposing unit includes a holding member, an abutting pin protruding on both sides in the vertical direction at the rear side of the holding member, a second support portion provided further to the rear side than the holding member, and a movement mechanism that causes the holding member to move between an exposure position and a retracted position. The second support portion has a gap formed where the rear side of the holding member moves in the vertical direction, and this gap restricts movement of the holding member in the left-and-right direction. The holding member that is moved from the retracted position toward the exposure position by the movement mechanism is guided by the gap formed in the second support portion so that the abutting pin abuts a fitting portion.