Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a tray for supporting cartridges, wherein the tray is movable to an outside position, a first inside position, and a second inside position, a first positioning portion, provided in a main assembly, for positioning an associated cartridge of the cartridges when the tray is located at the first inside position, and a first preventing portion, provided in the main assembly, for preventing rotation of the associated cartridge about the first positioning portion. In addition, a second positioning portion, provided in the tray, positions the associated cartridge when the tray is located between the outside position and the second inside position. The second positioning portion spaced from the associated cartridge when the tray is located at the first inside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprises a cylinder having a photosensitive layer formed thereon, with the cylinder being rotatable about an axis thereof. A driving force transmitting part is securely fixed to one axial end of the cylinder. The driving force transmitting part includes (i) a gear encircling a peripheral portion of the driving force transmitting part and (ii) a projection disposed on a side of the gear opposite from the cylinder, with the projection having a base and a free end. At least a portion of a cross-section of the projection at the base is offset from a corresponding portion of a cross-section of the projection at the free end, as seen in a direction of the axis.

Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism has an apparatus body 2 and an opening and closing member 3 that opens and closes by rotating with respect to the apparatus body 2, and also has a rod-like metal shaft member 8 that is mounted in the apparatus body 2. The opening and closing member 3 is rotatably supported about the metal shaft member 8 through insertion of the opening and closing member 3 between a guiding surface 7a1 having a circular arc surface shape provided in the apparatus body 2, and a surface 8a of the metal shaft member 8.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprises a cylinder having a photosensitive layer formed thereon, with the cylinder being rotatable about an axis thereof. A driving force transmitting part is securely fixed to one axial end of the cylinder. The driving force transmitting part includes (i) a gear encircling a peripheral portion of the driving force transmitting part and (ii) a projection disposed on a side of the gear opposite from the cylinder, with the projection having a base and a free end. At least a portion of a cross-section of the projection at the base is offset from a corresponding portion of a cross-section of the projection at the free end, as seen in a direction of the axis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening; an door; a pressing member movable between a pressing position for fixing the cartridge to an image forming position, and a non-pressing position; an interrelating member for interrelations such that (i) with movement from the close position to the open position, the pressing member moves from the pressing position to the non-pressing position, and the cartridge moves from the image forming position to a retracted position, and (ii) with the inverse movement, the cartridge and the pressing member move inversely; and a limiter movable between a position for preventing the cartridge from moving against the pressing force, and a position for permitting the cartridge to move from the image forming position to the retracted position.

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes cartridge mounting portions for dismountably mounting cartridges and an intermediary transfer member onto which developed images formed on electrophotographic photosensitive drums are transferred. The apparatus also includes an image forming unit comprising the cartridge mounting portions and the intermediary transfer member. The unit is movable between a transfer position for transferring, onto a sheet, the developed images transferred onto the intermediary transfer member from the drums, a cartridge mounting and dismounting position for mounting and dismounting the cartridges relative to the cartridge mounting portions, and an intermediary transfer member mounting and dismounting position for mounting and dismounting the intermediary transfer member relative to a main assembly.

Abstract: When a toner image larger than a recording material is formed on an image bearing member, and the toner image is transferred onto the recording material as widely as possible to form an image without margins, a toner in a vicinity of an end portion of the recording material adheres to the recording material while remaining unfixed. In order to suppress the adhesion of the toner to the end portion of the recording material, the recording material is passed through a cleaning unit for the end portion of the recording material after fixation. In the cleaning unit, the recording material is sent askew. By being conveyed while an edge of the end portion of the recording material is rubbed against a cleaning member, the recording material becomes less subject to the adhesion of the toner at the end portion thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the

Abstract: A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes cartridge mounting portions for dismountably mounting cartridges; an intermediary transfer member onto which developed images formed on electrophotographic photosensitive drums are transferred, the intermediary transfer member being provided opposed to the drums; an image forming unit comprising the cartridge mounting portions and the intermediary transfer member, the unit being movable between a transfer position for transferring, onto a sheet, the developed images transferred onto the intermediary transfer member from drums, a cartridge mounting and dismounting position for mounting and dismounting the cartridges relative to the cartridge mounting portions, and an intermediary transfer member mounting and dismounting position for mounting and dismounting the intermediary transfer member relative to a main assembly; and a unit movement preventing means for permitting the unit to move the intermediary transfer member mounting and dismounting positio

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position.

Abstract: When a toner image larger than a recording material is formed on an image bearing member, and the toner image is transferred onto the recording material as widely as possible to form an image without margins, a toner in a vicinity of an end portion of the recording material adheres to the recording material while remaining unfixed. In order to suppress the adhesion of the toner to the end portion of the recording material, the recording material is passed through a cleaning unit for the end portion of the recording material after fixation. In the cleaning unit, the recording material is sent askew. By being conveyed while an edge of the end portion of the recording material is rubbed against a cleaning member, the recording material becomes less subject to the adhesion of the toner at the end portion thereof.

Abstract: A process cartridge, and a main assembly of an image forming apparatus to which the cartridge is detachably mountable. The main assembly includes a motor, a driving rotatable member for receiving a driving force from the motor, and a twisted hole substantially coaxial with the driving rotatable member. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, and a projection provided at a longitudinal end of the drum. When the driving rotatable member rotates with the hole and the projection engaged with each other, a rotational driving force is transmitted from the driving rotatable member to the drum through engagement between the hole and the projection with the projection being pulled into the hole.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the main assembly includes a motor, a main assembly side gear for receiving driving force from the motor, a hole defined by twisted surfaces, the hole being substantially coaxial with the gear, and a main assembly side grounding contact provided in the hole, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; process mechanisms actable on the photosensitive drum; and a projection engageable with the twisted surfaces, the projection being provided at a longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, wherein when the main assembly side gear rotates with the hole and projection engaged with each other, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear to the photosensitive drum through engagement between the hole and the projection; and a cartridge side grounding contact electrically connected with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for electrically grounding the

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing device that can be opened or closed with respect to a main body of an image forming apparatus, a plurality of image forming devices, a recording material containing device which contains a recording material and which can be detachably mounted on the main body, and a positioning device which positions the opening and closing device in an open state. By this arrangement, the ability to detach the image forming devices is improved without increasing the dimensions of the apparatus.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing device that can be opened from or closed to a main body of the image forming apparatus, a plural of image forming devices, a recording material containing device which contains a recording material and which can be detachably mounted on the main body, and a positioning device which positions the opening and closing device in an open state. The image forming apparatus is capable of improving operability of detachable image forming device without increasing the dimension of the apparatus.