Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a pair of transport rollers that nip and transport a recording medium; an image forming device that is disposed on the downstream side of the pair of transport rollers in a recording-medium transport direction and forms an image on the recording medium; a pair of fixing members that are disposed on the downstream side of the image forming device in the recording-medium transport direction and fix the image formed on the recording medium while nipping and transporting the recording medium; a single driving source that rotationally drives both the pair of transport rollers and the pair of fixing members; and a releasing device that stops rotational driving of the pair of transport rollers by the driving source at a timing when the recording medium is transported while being nipped both between the pair of transport rollers and between the pair of fixing members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a transfer body that transports a recording medium in a contact region between the image carrier and the transfer body, a pair of transport members that are disposed upstream of the contact region in a transport direction, and transport the recording medium to the contact region, a guide member that includes, between the contact region and the pair of transport members, a portion on a downstream side in the transport direction which serves as a free end portion and a portion on an upstream side in the transport direction which is supported in a cantilever state, that guides a non-transfer surface of the recording medium, that is elastically deformed, and that has a cutout, and a detection unit that detects an image on an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier on a optical path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer body, a pair of transport members, and first and second guide members. The first and second guide members each have an upstream portion with respect to the transport direction that is cantilevered between the contact area of the transfer body and the image carrier, and the transport members. The first guide member guides the non-transfer surface of plain paper such that the plain paper contacts the image carrier upstream of the contact area with respect to the transport direction, and guides the non-transfer surface of heavy paper while being pressed by the non-transfer surface and elastically deformed to the transfer body side. The second guide member guides the transfer surface of plain paper while being elastically deformed to the image carrier side, and guides the transfer surface of heavy paper while being elastically returned to the transfer body side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an image, a transfer body that transports a recording medium in a contact region between the image carrier and the transfer body, a pair of transport members that are disposed upstream of the contact region in a transport direction, and transport the recording medium to the contact region, a guide member that includes, between the contact region and the pair of transport members, a portion on a downstream side in the transport direction which serves as a free end portion and a portion on an upstream side in the transport direction which is supported in a cantilever state, that guides a non-transfer surface of the recording medium, that is elastically deformed, and that has a cutout, and a detection unit that detects an image on an outer peripheral surface of the image carrier on a optical path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer body, a pair of transport members, and first and second guide members. The first and second guide members each have an upstream portion with respect to the transport direction that is cantilevered between the contact area of the transfer body and the image carrier, and the transport members. The first guide member guides the non-transfer surface of plain paper such that the plain paper contacts the image carrier upstream of the contact area with respect to the transport direction, and guides the non-transfer surface of heavy paper while being pressed by the non-transfer surface and elastically deformed to the transfer body side. The second guide member guides the transfer surface of plain paper while being elastically deformed to the image carrier side, and guides the transfer surface of heavy paper while being elastically returned to the transfer body side.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device that has a pair of fixing members that contacts each other at a contact region, rotates in a direction opposite to each other or circularly moves in a direction opposite to each other, transports a sheet which holds a toner image, and fixes the toner age on the sheet by heating and pressing the sheet during passing through the contact region; and a blocking member that blocks an air flow along at least one of the pair of the fixing member, the air flow flowing from a sheet outlet port side of the contact region to a sheet inlet side of the contact region, and the air flow being generated due to the rotation or the circular movement of the pair of the fixing members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a pair of transport rollers that nip and transport a recording medium; an image forming device that is disposed on the downstream side of the pair of transport rollers in a recording-medium transport direction and forms an image on the recording medium; a pair of fixing members that are disposed on the downstream side of the image forming device in the recording-medium transport direction and fix the image formed on the recording medium while nipping and transporting the recording medium; a single driving source that rotationally drives both the pair of transport rollers and the pair of fixing members; and a releasing device that stops rotational driving of the pair of transport rollers by the driving source at a timing when the recording medium is transported while being nipped both between the pair of transport rollers and between the pair of fixing members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that supports an image, a contact transfer member that sandwiches a transfer medium in a transfer area between the contact transfer member and the image carrier and electrostatically transfers the image on the image carrier onto the transfer medium, and a transfer medium guiding device to guide the transfer medium to the transfer area between the image carrier and the contact transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that supports an image, a contact transfer member that sandwiches a transfer medium in a transfer area between the contact transfer member and the image carrier and electrostatically transfers the image on the image carrier onto the transfer medium, and a transfer medium guiding device to guide the transfer medium to the transfer area between the image carrier and the contact transfer member. The transfer medium guiding device has a pair of guide chutes that guide the transfer medium to make the transfer medium contact the outside and upstream portion of the transfer area of the image carrier, an angle formed between a contact plane on the image carrier and the transfer medium at a contact point is 45° or more and 60° or less, and a distance between one of the guide chutes closer to the transfer area and the image carrier is 1.0 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a fixing unit for performing a fixing process by bringing a fixing member having a heat source and a pressurizing member having an elastic layer into contact with each other, wherein control is performed such that a portion in the vicinity of a deformed portion of the pressurizing member and the leading end of the transfer member do not coincide with each other.

Abstract: A print cartridge having: a housing; an image bearing member rotatably supported on the housing; and a power transmit member for connecting the image bearing member to a drive shaft of metal projected from a body of an apparatus. The print cartridge is withdrawable from the apparatus body. The image bearing member includes a cylindrical drum and a flange fixedly mounted on one end of the drum; the flange having a metal portion provided at a central portion thereof, and a resin portion provided around the metal portion. The metal portion has at an axis of rotation of the flange a shaft support portion for rotatably supporting the drive shaft. The metal portion has a first fitting portion provided on one side thereof directed toward the power transmit member. The power transmit member has a second fitting portion provided on one side thereof directed toward the flange. The first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted together in the direction of rotation of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an apparatus body having a guide rail and a print cartridge movable along the guide rail, in which the guide rail has an engaging portion, the print cartridge includes a holder member and a cover for covering the holder member, the cover having a notched portion and the holder member having an engagement portion which is adapted to be pushed so as to be engaged with the engaging portion of the guide rail, the holder member having an operating portion which is responsive to the engagement of the engagement portion with the engaging portion so as to be moved into and out of the cover through said notched portion of the cover. Since the print cartridge slides along the guide rail provided on the apparatus body, and therefore the print cartridge can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus body.