Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having an image forming unit, a document reader unit pivotable on the image forming unit through a hinge, a retainer to retain the document reader unit in the open position, is provided. The retainer includes a first link member rotatably coupled with the image forming unit and the document reader unit through a first coupling section and a second coupling section; a second link member rotatably coupled with the image forming unit and the document reader unit through a third coupling section and a fourth coupling section; and a tension coil spring. The first link member includes a first contacting part that faces and contacts the second link member along a tensile direction of the tension coil spring when the document reader unit is in a closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a process unit configured to be attached to and removed from the main body, the process unit being configured to integrally hold a plurality of image carriers arranged in a first direction; a plurality of developing cartridges provided in corresponding association with the image carriers, the developing cartridges configured to be attached to and removed from the process unit, each of the developing cartridges including a corresponding developer carrier, each of the developing cartridges being configured to supply developer to a corresponding image carrier; and a pressing mechanism provided in the main body, the pressing mechanism configured to press the developing cartridges, when attached to the process unit, in a direction that the developer carriers contact the image carriers.

Abstract: There is provided an opening and closing apparatus, including: a main body; an openable body pivoting between a closed position and an open position; a connecting part connecting an end of the main body and an end of the openable body; a rack provided in one of the main body and the openable body; and an arm, wherein a part, of a pitch line of the rack, which makes contact with a pitch circle of the pinion in a state that the openable body is positioned in the vicinity of the closed position is an inclined line which is inclined to approach the other of the main body and the openable body having no rack, as the inclined line is farther away from the connecting part with the openable body being in the closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having an image forming unit, a document reader unit pivotable on the image forming unit through a hinge, a retainer to retain the document reader unit in the open position, is provided. The retainer includes a first link member rotatably coupled with the image forming unit and the document reader unit through a first coupling section and a second coupling section; a second link member rotatably coupled with the image forming unit and the document reader unit through a third coupling section and a fourth coupling section; and a tension coil spring. The first link member includes a first contacting part that faces and contacts the second link member along a tensile direction of the tension coil spring when the document reader unit is in a closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft.

Abstract: Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.

Abstract: A boss for a self-tapping screw is described including a main body having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, a plurality of reinforcing ribs connected with an outer peripheral surface, and a plurality of inner wall portions extending parallel to the central axis, each of the plurality of inner wall portions being disposed at a portion of the inner peripheral surface opposite across the main body to a corresponding one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs, each of the plurality of inner wall portions including a specific portion opposite to the corresponding one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs across the main body, the specific portion being closer to the central axis than other portions of the each of the inner wall portions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft.

Abstract: Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a housing. Inside the housing, there are provided an image carrying member, a developing unit, a driving force transmission unit, a contact/separation mechanism, a transmission enable/disable mechanism, a cover movably supported by the housing, and a single link member configured to move in association with an opening/closing movement of the cover. When the link member moves in association with the opening movement of the cover, the contact/separation mechanism moves the developing unit to a detachable position, and the transmission enable/disable mechanism moves the driving force transmission unit to the transmission cutoff position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft.

Abstract: Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a first frame, and a first beam, is provided. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum which is rotatable about a rotation axis and a developer device which supplies developer agent to the photosensitive drum. The first frame is made of resin and formed in a shape of a plate. The first frame is arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit. The first beam is formed in an elongated shape. The first beam is arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame. The first beam includes a resilient part configured to be resiliently deformable in a direction orthogonal to the planar face of the first frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a process unit configured to be attached to and removed from the main body, the process unit being configured to integrally hold a plurality of image carriers arranged in a first direction; a plurality of developing cartridges provided in corresponding association with the image carriers, the developing cartridges configured to be attached to and removed from the process unit, each of the developing cartridges including a corresponding developer carrier, each of the developing cartridges being configured to supply developer to a corresponding image carrier; and a pressing mechanism provided in the main body, the pressing mechanism configured to press the developing cartridges, when attached to the process unit, in a direction that the developer carriers contact the image carriers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main frame and a holder. The holder holds a plurality of photosensitive drums arrayed in a predetermined direction. The holder includes a pair of side plates each positioned at each axial end portion of each photosensitive drum, and each having an upstream end portion in the accommodating direction, and a pair of protruding portions each protruding outward in the axial direction from the upstream end portion of each side plate. The main frame includes a pair of positioning portions and a pair of support portions. The pair of positioning portions is configured to be in contact with each protruding portion from below and on a downstream side of the protruding portion in the accommodating direction. The pair of support portions is positioned downstream of the pair of positioning portions in the accommodating direction and configured to support the pair of side plates.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body having an opening; a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor and removably mountable to the main body through the opening by moving the photoconductor unit in a first direction; an exposure member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the exposure member closer to and further from the photoconductor. The moving mechanism includes: a fixed shaft having an axial line thereof fixed relative to the main body; a first arm including one end portion thereof which is supported rotatably around the axial line of the fixed shaft; a movable shaft having an axial line thereof which is movable relative to the main body; and a second arm including: one end portion supporting the exposure member; and another end portion connected to the first arm via the movable shaft, and the second arm being swingable around the axial line of the movable shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main frame; a drawer; a plurality of cartridges; a contact member; and an urging member. The main frame includes a cover and a positioning portion. The cover is movable between a closed position covering the opening and an open position exposing an opening of the main frame. The drawer is movable relative to the main frame in a prescribed direction. The plurality of cartridges is detachably mounted in the drawer. The contact member is configured to contact the drawer in response to the movement of the cover to the closed position. The urging member is disposed between the cover and the contact member. The urging member is configured to urge the contact member toward the drawer in response to the movement of the cover to the closed position such that the drawer is pressed against the positioning portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit, a first frame, and a first beam, is provided. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum which is rotatable about a rotation axis and a developer device which supplies a developer agent to the photosensitive drum. The first frame is made of resin and formed in a shape of a plate. The first frame is arranged on one end, along an axial direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum, of the image forming unit. The first beam is formed in an elongated shape. The first beam is arranged along and fixed to a planar face of the first frame. The first beam includes a resilient part configured to be resiliently deformable in a direction orthogonal to the planar face of the first frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a process unit configured to be attached to and removed from the main body, the process unit being configured to integrally hold a plurality of image carriers arranged in a first direction; a plurality of developing cartridges provided in corresponding association with the image carriers, the developing cartridges configured to be attached to and removed from the process unit, each of the developing cartridges including a corresponding developer carrier, each of the developing cartridges being configured to supply developer to a corresponding image carrier; and a pressing mechanism provided in the main body, the pressing mechanism configured to press the developing cartridges, when attached to the process unit, in a direction that the developer carriers contact the image carriers.