Abstract: In a sheet discharging unit including a pair of sheet discharge rollers which discharges a sheet P, the outer diameter of a sheet discharge drive roller included in the pair of sheet discharge rollers is set so that the outer diameter of a straight portion which is a central portion in the width direction perpendicular to the discharging direction of the sheet P is larger than the outer diameters of both end portions in the width direction. Further, in the sheet discharging unit, the pair of sheet discharge rollers respectively include metal shafts extending in the width direction and elastic layers respectively wound around the metal shafts and continuously formed to be longer in the width direction than the width of a sheet P with a passable maximum size. Further, at least one elastic layer of the pair of sheet discharge rollers is formed of a foamed material.

Abstract: A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the process cartridges.

Abstract: A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the process cartridges.

Abstract: A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the process cartridges.

Abstract: A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the process cartridges.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus having sheet supply device, image forming device for forming an image on a sheet supplied by the sheet supply device, fixing device for fixing the image formed on the sheet, a sheet guide for guiding the movement of the sheet, and a control board bearing an element for controlling the image forming device, wherein the sheet guide positioned between the sheet supply device and the fixing device is provided substantially linearly in such a manner that the sheet moves in an inclined upward direction, and the control board is provided in a space under the sheet guide and at the bottom face of the apparatus.

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 device is provided with a film having an electrical conductive layer, a magnetic flux generating unit. An eddy current is generated on the electrical conductive layer by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generating unit. The electrical conductive layer generates heat, and an image is heated by the heat of the film. The film is provided with an elastic layer arranged on the image side of the electrical conductive layer, and a primer layer is arranged between the electrical conductive layer and the elastic layer. It is possible to effectuate a heating fixation that can be started quickly with generating no nonuniformity in the image gloss and maintaining a high image quality.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a rotatable image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a rotatable intermediate transfer member onto which the toner image on the image bearing member is transferred at a first transfer position, a rotatable transfer roller for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a transfer material at a second transfer position, and a rotatable conveyer for conveying the transfer material to the transfer roller at a conveying position.

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: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a feeding device for feeding the recording medium, an electrical equipment unit protruding outwardly in a horizontal direction from a conveying path and having a size greater than that of a maximum recordable recording medium fed by tile feeding device where the equipment unit is positioned below a mount portion of an image bearing member, the electrical equipment unit having a conductive member for contacting the image bearing member to ground the image bearing member, and a conduit, which is electrically connectable to the electrical equipment unit.

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 forming apparatus uses a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the apparatus, wherein the process cartridge has an image bearing member and a process device for performing a process on the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus has a frame including a circular arc-shaped guiding portion for guiding the process cartridge toward a predetermined mounted portion. A drive transmission transmits a driving force to the process cartridge mounted in the predetermined mounted position, an optical device illuminates the image bearing member with information light and a transfer device transfers a toner image from the image bearing member onto the recording medium. In addition, a conveyor conveys the recording medium through the frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the apparatus, wherein the process cartridge has an image bearing member and a process device for performing a process on the image bearing member. The image forming apparatus has a frame including a process cartridge positioning portion and a guide member, and a transfer device. The guide member included with the frame guides the recording medium to the process cartridge positioned by the process cartridge positioning portion, and the process cartridge positioning portion and the guide member are formed integrally With the frame by a molding method.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater, an endless film contacting the heater and a back-up member cooperative with the heater to form a nip with the film sandwiched between it and the heater. A recording material having an image is passed between the back-up member and the film to heat the image by heat from the heater through the film. A guide is disposed for guiding the film and allowing the film to extend loosely around the guide. The film is under tension at least upstream of the nip and in the nip when the film is driven and is not guided by the guide between the upstream guide portion and the nip.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; a film slidably contactable to the heater; a back-up rotatable member cooperative with the heater to form a nip therebetween with the film therebetween; a driver for driving the back-up rotatable member; wherein the film is driven only by a driving force of the back-up rotatable member; and a resin layer having a parting property, on a portion of the heater which is slidably contactable to the film.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heater; an endless film; a back-up member cooperative with the endless film to form a nip therebetween, wherein a recording material is conveyed with its lateral end aligned with a conveyance reference and has an image thereon, which is heated by heat from the heater; wherein a lateral shifting force of the endless film when the recording material is not passed through the nip is directed always toward the conveyance reference.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; a film movable together with a recording material; a driving rotatable member cooperative with the film to form a nip therebetween, whereby an image on a recording material being passed through the nip is heated by heat from the heater through the film; wherein the driving member has a circumferential length which increases toward longitudinal ends thereof.