Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing drum; an exposing unit for exposing the drum; an electric circuit board provided substantially perpendicularly to an apparatus installing floor; a driving unit for supplying a driving force; a first metal plate supporting the exposing unit; a second metal plate supporting the electric circuit board; and a third metal plate supporting the driving unit. At least one of the first, second and third plates is provided at each of four sides of the apparatus, the four sides being substantially perpendicular to the floor. The first, second and third plates are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: A driving-force transmission member includes a coupling portion that includes a driving-force transmission surface and that transmits a driving force to a cartridge coupling, a first helical gear portion that engages with a driven gear of a cartridge to transmit the driving force, and a second helical gear portion that engages with a drive gear to receive the driving force. The portions rotate integrally with each other when the driving-force transmission member rotates about the axis of rotation. The driving-force transmission surface is shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission member. Helical teeth of the first helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in the same direction as the driving-force transmission surface. Helical teeth of the second helical gear portion are shaped with a twist in a direction opposite to the twist direction of the helical teeth of the first helical gear portion.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cooling device for cooling a plurality of cartridges, and a plurality of shielding members for shielding the plurality of openings, respectively. Each developing member is movable between a first position at which the developing member is brought into contact with a photosensitive member and a second position at which the developing member is caused to separate from the photosensitive member. Each of the plurality of shielding members is caused to move in association with a position of the developing member of the cartridge opposed to the opening to be shielded by the each of the shielding members. A gap between the opening and the shielding member the second position of the developing member is smaller than a gap therebetween at the first position of the developing member is.

Abstract: A main control circuit (11) for driving a motor is configured so as to have: a Pch FET (T11), which is provided in series with a diode (D1), and the source (S) of which is connected to a secondary-side contact (MC2) of a main contactor (MC) while the drain (D) is connected to the anode (A) of the diode (D1); and a gate voltage generation circuit (12) for the Pch FET (T11). The gate voltage generation circuit is formed so as to have a first resistor (R11), one end (R11a) of which is connected to the source (S) of the Pch FET (T11), and the other end (R11b) of which is connected to the gate (G) of the Pch FET (T11), and a second resistor (R12), one end (R12a) of which is connected to the gate (G) of the Pch FET (T11) and the other end (R12b) of which is connected to the negative-electrode-side line (L2) of a battery.

Abstract: A frame for an image forming apparatus, includes: first and second plate members; a bent portion provided as a part of the first plate member and bent along the second plate member; a portion-to-be-fixed provided as a part of the bent portion; a positioning portion, provided on the first plate member, for positioning the second plate member relative to the first plate member by being abutted vertically against the second plate member, wherein a free end projects toward the second plate member more than the portion-to-be-fixed; and a fixing portion, provided as a part of the second plate member, to which the portion-to-be-fixed is fixed. The second plate member is deformed to contact and deform the fixing portion to the portion-to-be-fixed while the second plate member is in contact to the positioning portion, so that the first plate member and the second member are fixed to each other.

Abstract: The dental handpiece has a handpiece body having a mixture transfer line for transferring a mixture of air and powder, and a nozzle connected to the handpiece body for injecting the mixture transferred through the mixture transfer line, and performs dental treatment by injecting the mixture onto tooth surface. The nozzle is rotatably connected to the handpiece body via rotary means. With this nozzle connection, during subgingival treatment with the nozzle being inserted subgingivally at its end and moved along the tooth surface, the entire handpiece body is not required to be moved from side to side over a wide amplitude, which improves work efficiency in dental treatment.

Abstract: A nozzle for a dental handpiece is composed of a connector portion to be connected to a handpiece body, and a nozzle body, which is provided near its end with a notch of a substantially rectangular section cut out from the front face into the lateral faces, the notch forming upstream and downstream faces. The nozzle has a channel and an injection port thereof for transferring the mixture and a channel and an injection port thereof for transferring water, separate from each other. The channel for the mixture extends through the nozzle body along the front face from the connector portion to near the end, with said injection port for the mixture opened in the upstream face. The downstream face is provided with a guide for receiving the mixture injected through the injection port for the mixture and guiding the injected mixture outside the notch.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image bearing member; a plurality of second image bearing members; an endless belt opposing the first and second image bearing members; a driving roller; a supporting roller; a first transfer member opposing the first image bearing member; a plurality of second transfer members provided opposing the second image bearing members; and a supporting member for supporting the second transfer members. The supporting member is movable between a first position as a contact position and a second position as a spaced position. When image formation is effected in a state in which the supporting member is positioned in the first position, a nip between the first image bearing member and the belt member is positioned to be spaced from a rectilinear line connecting contact positions of the belt member with the second image bearing members.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (100) including: a cartridge tray (5) movable between an inside position (IP) and an outside position (OP) of a main body of the apparatus with supporting a cartridge (8); a light emitting member (9) having a plurality of light emitting elements for emitting light to expose a photosensitive member in accordance with image information; a support (7) that supports the light emitting member so that the light emitting member assumes between an exposure position (LP) at which the photosensitive member is exposed with the light emitting element and a retracted position (RP) retracted from the exposure position; and an interlocking device (130, 170) that moves the support between the exposure position and the retracted position in association with movement of the tray toward the outside and inside positions.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cooling device for cooling a plurality of cartridges, and a plurality of shielding members for shielding the plurality of openings, respectively. Each developing member is movable between a first position at which the developing member is brought into contact with a photosensitive member and a second position at which the developing member is caused to separate from the photosensitive member. Each of the plurality of shielding members is caused to move in association with a position of the developing member of the cartridge opposed to the opening to be shielded by the each of the shielding members. A gap between the opening and the shielding member the second position of the developing member is smaller than a gap therebetween at the first position of the developing member is.

Abstract: A main control circuit (11) for driving a motor is configured so as to have: a Pch FET (T11), which is provided in series with a diode (D1), and the source (S) of which is connected to a secondary-side contact (MC2) of a main contactor (MC) while the drain (D) is connected to the anode (A) of the diode (D1); and a gate voltage generation circuit (12) for the Pch FET (T11). The gate voltage generation circuit is formed so as to have a first resistor (R11), one end (R11a) of which is connected to the source (S) of the Pch FET (T11), and the other end (R11b) of which is connected to the gate (G) of the Pch FET (T11), and a second resistor (R12), one end (R12a) of which is connected to the gate (G) of the Pch FET (T11) and the other end (R12b) of which is connected to the negative-electrode-side line (L2) of a battery.

Abstract: A frame for an image forming apparatus, includes: first and second plate members; a bent portion provided as a part of the first plate member and bent along the second plate member; a portion-to-be-fixed provided as a part of the bent portion; a positioning portion, provided on the first plate member, for positioning the second plate member relative to the first plate member by being abutted vertically against the second plate member, wherein a free end projects toward the second plate member more than the portion-to-be-fixed; and a fixing portion, provided as a part of the second plate member, to which the portion-to-be-fixed is fixed. The second plate member is deformed to contact and deform the fixing portion to the portion-to-be-fixed while the second plate member is in contact to the positioning portion, so that the first plate member and the second member are fixed to each other.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cooling device for cooling a plurality of cartridges, and a plurality of shielding members for shielding the plurality of openings, respectively. Each developing member is movable between a first position at which the developing member is brought into contact with a photosensitive member and a second position at which the developing member is caused to separate from the photosensitive member. Each of the plurality of shielding members is caused to move in association with a position of the developing member of the cartridge opposed to the opening to be shielded by the each of the shielding members. A gap between the opening and the shielding member the second position of the developing member is smaller than a gap therebetween at the first position of the developing member is.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a separating member, which is provided between a light emitting device and a drum bearing portion, for supporting the light emitting device to a separated position when the cartridge is shipped while being packed together, the separating member being provided to a regulating member for regulating a supply of a developer at a shipping mode. With this structure, when the image forming apparatus is shipped while the cartridge is packed together, the light emitting device as an exposure apparatus and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is separated from each other, whereby the reliability during the transportation while packing the cartridge together may be enhanced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image bearing member; a plurality of second image bearing member; an endless belt opposing the first and second image bearing members; a driving roller; a supporting roller; a first transfer member opposing the first image bearing member; a plurality of second transfer members provided opposing the second image bearing members; and a supporting member for supporting the second transfer members. The supporting member is movable between a first position as a contact position and a second position as a spaced position. When image formation is effected in a state in which the supporting member is positioned in the first position, a nip between the first image bearing member and the belt member is positioned closer to a side where the supporting roller is positioned than a rectilinear line connecting contact positions of the belt member with the second image bearing members.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (100) including: a cartridge tray (5) movable between an inside position (IP) and an outside position (OP) of a main body of the apparatus with supporting a cartridge (8); a light emitting member (9) having a plurality of light emitting elements for emitting light to expose a photosensitive member in accordance with image information; a support (7) that supports the light emitting member so that the light emitting member assumes between an exposure position (LP) at which the photosensitive member is exposed with the light emitting element and a retracted position (RP) retracted from the exposure position; and an interlocking device (130, 170) that moves the support between the exposure position and the retracted position in association with movement of the tray toward the outside and inside positions.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge tray movable between an inside position and an outside position of a main body of the apparatus with supporting a cartridge, a light emitting member having a plurality of light emitting elements for emitting light to expose a photosensitive member in accordance with image information, and a support that supports the light emitting member between an exposure position at which the photosensitive member is exposed with the light emitting element and a retracted position retracted from the exposure position. In addition, an interlocking device moves the support between the exposure position and the retracted position in association with movement of the tray toward the outside and inside positions.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a cooling device for cooling a plurality of cartridges, and a plurality of shielding members for shielding the plurality of openings, respectively. Each developing member is movable between a first position at which the developing member is brought into contact with a photosensitive member and a second position at which the developing member is caused to separate from the photosensitive member. Each of the plurality of shielding members is caused to move in association with a position of the developing member of the cartridge opposed to the opening to be shielded by the each of the shielding members. A gap between the opening and the shielding member the second position of the developing member is smaller than a gap therebetween at the first position of the developing member is.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a separating member, which is provided between a light emitting device and a drum bearing portion, for supporting the light emitting device to a separated position when the cartridge is shipped while being packed together, the separating member being provided to a regulating member for regulating a supply of a developer at a shipping mode. With this structure, when the image forming apparatus is shipped while the cartridge is packed together, the light emitting device as an exposure apparatus and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is separated from each other, whereby the reliability during the transportation while packing the cartridge together may be enhanced.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a separating member, which is provided between a light emitting device and a drum bearing portion, for supporting the light emitting device to a separated position when the cartridge is shipped while being packed together, the separating member being provided to a regulating member for regulating a supply of a developer at a shipping mode. With this structure, when the image forming apparatus is shipped while the cartridge is packed together, the light emitting device as an exposure apparatus and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is separated from each other, whereby the reliability during the transportation while packing the cartridge together may be enhanced.