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: In an image forming apparatus, a cover 558 rotates from an open position to a closed position, so that an urging portion 561 urges a first portion-to-be-urged 566, and a slidable portion 525 moves from a rear side toward a front side. By this, an optical print head 105 moves from a retracted position toward an exposure position. Thereafter, when the cover 558 further rotates, the urging portion 561 moves from the first portion-to-be-urged 566 onto a second portion-to-be-urged 567 and moves on the second portion-to-be-urged 567. By this, the slidable portion 525 and link portions 651-654 are kept in a rest state without being moved with rotation of the cover 558.

Abstract: A cleaning member for use in an image forming apparatus and configured to be inserted into the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a holding body that holds a substrate and lenses, the cleaning member comprising a rod, a cleaning portion provided in the rod to clean a light emission surface of each lens, a magnet attached to the rod, the magnet emitting a magnetic field to generates a magnetic force to draw the holding body thereto so that the cleaning portion maintains contact with the light emission surface, a yoke member attached to the rod and in contact with the magnet. The yoke member is configured to protrude, with respect to the magnet, towards a side on which the holding body is disposed, and a contact portion that is configured to contact the holding body and that to protrude, with respect to the yoke member, towards the above side.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print head to expose a drum to light, a first supporting unit supporting the print head and to move to mounting and extraction positions, a cable to supply a print head driving signal, an abutting portion, and a second supporting unit having a holding unit to hold the cable and to support the first supporting member. When the print head moves to the mounting position from the extraction position in a state where the cable is connected to the print head, the abutting portion abuts on the cable in one area between a holding unit held portion and a print head connected portion and moves the one area in a direction in which the first supporting unit moves to the mounting position to form in the one area a curved area that is warped and curved toward the mounting position from the extraction position.

Abstract: A cleaning member for use in an image forming apparatus and configured to be inserted into the apparatus, the apparatus comprising a holding body that holds a substrate and lenses, the cleaning member comprising a rod, a cleaning portion provided in the rod to clean a light emission surface of each lens, a magnet attached to the rod, the magnet emitting a magnetic field to generates a magnetic force to draw the holding body thereto so that the cleaning portion maintains contact with the light emission surface, a yoke member attached to the rod and in contact with the magnet. The yoke member is configured to protrude, with respect to the magnet, towards a side on which the holding body is disposed, and a contact portion that is configured to contact the holding body and that to protrude, with respect to the yoke member, towards the above side.

Abstract: A cleaning member that is used in an image forming apparatus and that is inserted from outside the image forming apparatus, the apparatus including a holding body that holds a substrate on which light emitting elements that expose a photosensitive drum are aligned and that holds lenses, the cleaning member including a rod-shaped rhabdoid formed of resin, a cleaning portion provided in the rhabdoid to clean a light emission surface of each lens, the cleaning portion moving together with the rhabdoid inserted in the image forming apparatus and opposing the light emission surface in an optical axis direction of the lens, and a magnet provided on the rhabdoid, the magnet emitting magnetic force that generates force drawing the holding body thereto so that the cleaning portion continues to contact the light emission surface.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a light deflecting unit, an optical member, a casing, a cover member, and a detecting unit. The cover member is provided with a first opening permitting passage of a light beam emitted from the light source, a second opening permitting passage of the light beam deflected by the deflecting unit, and third and fourth openings which are provided in positions on a side opposite from the first and second openings with respect to the deflecting unit. Through the third opening, an outflow of the air from the cover member by rotation of said deflecting unit is relatively high. Through the fourth opening, an inflow of the air into the cover member by rotation of said deflecting unit is relatively high. The detecting unit is provided at a position where the air flow blowing through the third opening hits the detecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print head to expose a drum to light, a first supporting unit supporting the print head and to move to mounting and extraction positions, a cable to supply a print head driving signal, an abutting portion, and a second supporting unit having a holding unit to hold the cable and to support the first supporting member. When the print head moves to the mounting position from the extraction position in a state where the cable is connected to the print head, the abutting portion abuts on the cable in one area between a holding unit held portion and a print head connected portion and moves the one area in a direction in which the first supporting unit moves to the mounting position to form in the one area a curved area that is warped and curved toward the mounting position from the extraction position.

Abstract: Provided are a first seating face and a second seating face, to which a lower side of a holding member of an optical print head being moved from an exposure position toward a retracted position by a movement mechanism strikes in the direction of movement thereof. A light emission face of a lens array of the holding member that has abutted the first seating face and second seating face is thereby positioned on a movement path of a rubbing portion provided on a cleaning member that is inserted from an opening.

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: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning device, wherein the optical scanning device includes: a holding member configured to integrally hold a first cleaning member and a second cleaning member; a first guide member configured to guide a movement of the holding member; a second guide member configured to guide a movement of the holding member, and wherein a first protruding portion that protrudes upward from an upper surface of the holding member is provided at a position closer to an end portion of the holding member than the first cleaning member, and a second protruding portion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the holding member is provided at a position closer to an end portion of the holding member than the second cleaning member, the first protruding portion and second protruding portion being for bending the holding member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, including an optical scanning device, wherein the optical scanning device includes: a holding member configured to integrally hold a first cleaning member and a second cleaning member; a first guide member configured to guide a movement of the holding member; a second guide member configured to guide a movement of the holding member; a first groove portion; a second groove portion, and wherein when the holding member moves from end portions of the first guide portion and the second guide portion to an opposite side with respect to a central portion side and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion of the holding member respectively pass in the first groove portion and the second groove portion, engagements of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion with the first guide portion and the second guide portion are released.

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: In an image forming apparatus, a cover 558 rotates from an open position to a closed position, so that an urging portion 561 urges a first portion-to-be-urged 566, and a slidable portion 525 moves from a rear side toward a front side. By this, an optical print head 105 moves from a retracted position toward an exposure position. Thereafter, when the cover 558 further rotates, the urging portion 561 moves from the first portion-to-be-urged 566 onto a second portion-to-be-urged 567 and moves on the second portion-to-be-urged 567. By this, the slidable portion 525 and link portions 651-654 are kept in a rest state without being moved with rotation of the cover 558.

Abstract: In the image forming apparatus, by rotation of a cover 558 from a closed position toward an open position, a pressing portion 561 urges a fourth portion-to-be-urged 568 (portion-to-be-urged), and a slidable portion 525 is slid (moved) from one end side toward the other end side with respect to a rotational axis direction of a photosensitive drum 103 by the urging, so that an optical print head 105 moves from an exposure position toward a retracted position.

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.