Abstract: An apparatus includes: a main body; a moving member movable between an accommodation position and a separation position; a driving member rotatably provided in the main body; a passive member rotatably provided in the moving member and is opposed to the driving member in a rotation axis direction; and a driving force transmitting member provided between the driving member and the passive member. The driving force transmitting member is movably supported in the driving member along the rotation axis direction, a first connecting unit is engaged with the driving member and the driving force transmitting member by an unevenness so as to be movable in a first diameter direction, and a second connecting unit is engaged with the driving force transmitting member and the passive member by an unevenness so as to be movable in a second diameter direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which may include an apparatus body, a feed tray, an image forming unit, an eject section and a first transport mechanism forming a first transport path extending between the feed tray and the eject section via the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus may also include a second transport mechanism forming a second transport path that extends between a branch position located downstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path and a merge position located upstream of the image forming unit on the first transport path. The second transport mechanism may be configured to transport the recording medium along the second transport path and reintroduce the recording medium to the first transport path from the merge position. At least one part of the second transport mechanism and the feed tray may be incorporated in a detachable unit.

Abstract: A gear mechanism is provided and includes a first sun gear; a first planetary gear configured to mesh with the first sun gear; a first arm configured to keep a distance between the first sun gear and the first planetary gear and configured to swing around a rotation axis of the first sun gear; a second sun gear; a second planetary gear configured to mesh with the second sun gear; a second arm configured to keep a distance between the second sun gear and the second planetary gear and configured to swing around a rotation axis of the second sun gear; and an interlocking unit configured to connect the first arm and the second arm with each other for interlocking the swinging of the first arm and the second arm, the interlocking unit configured to move independently of rotations of the first sun gear and the second sun gear.

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 to and away 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 apparatus includes: a main body; a supporting member having a first side wall and a second side wall, the supporting member configured to be movable between an accommodation position and a withdrawn position, the supporting member configured to be removable from the apparatus main body by being withdrawn further from the withdrawn position; a first frame facing the first side wall and a second frame facing the second side wall; a lock member configured to be movable between a lock position and a release position; and a restriction unit provided on the second side wall and the second frame, the restriction unit configured to restrict a rotation of the supporting member by coming contact with the supporting member when the supporting member, which is locked into the withdrawn position, rotates to the first frame side of the apparatus main body.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an elastic roller that rotates in contact with a recording medium to apply a force thereto, a rigid roller disposed facing the elastic roller and that contacts the recording medium, and a pressing device that applies pressing force to each end of the elastic roller or the rigid roller in an axial direction to press one of the elastic roller and the rigid roller against the other. The elastic roller includes a straight roller portion disposed in a specified region extending from a center of the elastic roller toward each end of the elastic roller in the axial direction, and taper roller portions that sandwich the straight roller portion in the axial direction. Each taper roller portion has an outside diameter decreasing from an outer end of the straight roller portion toward an outer end of the elastic roller in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: upper frames opposed to each other across an image forming unit; a scanner supporting member that couples the upper frames and supports the scanner unit; and a frame coupling member that couples the upper frames on an opposite side of the scanner supporting member across the photoconductor unit; lower frames, each of which has an upper surface including a plurality of lower supporting portions each contacting a lower end of a respective one of the upper frames, and a lower surface including a bottom supported portion opposed to a placing surface. A stiffness of each of the upper frames in a substantially planar direction along the vertical direction is greater than a stiffness of each of the lower frames along the vertical direction between the lower supporting portions and the bottom supported portion.

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 device having a frame, a door, and a movable image forming unit to be assembled in the frame when the door is open. Positioning of the image forming unit relative to the frame and a closing position of the door are maintainable when the door is closed. When the door is closed, a hook at the door side is engaged with a hook of a lock unit at the frame side. The lock unit is movable in association with the movement of the door to its closed position to move a pressure portion, so that a part of the image forming unit is pressed by the pressure portion for positioning.

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 to and away 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 can include a main body, and a drum unit movable between an inside position which is inside of the main body and an outside position. The drum unit may include a photosensitive drum. Also, a displacing member may be provided that can be displaced to a first position where the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum and a second position where a developing roller separates from the photosensitive drum.

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: A pressing member applies a pressing force to a trailing end in a direction which intersects a predetermined reference direction, allowing the pressing force to have both a first component in the predetermined reference direction and a second component perpendicular to the predetermined reference direction. A trailing end is pressed in the predetermined reference direction by the first component. In the mounted state, the leading end is in contact with the reference member at two contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface defines a first positioning direction being perpendicular to the first contact surface and intersecting the predetermined reference direction.

Abstract: A cover opening and closing mechanism, including: a housing; a cover; a first locking mechanism having a first stopper portion and a first receiving portion which are brought to a locked state when the cover is in the closed position; and a second locking mechanism having a second stopper portion and a second receiving portion which are brought to a locked state when the cover is in the closed position, and wherein, when the cover is moved to the closed position, the first stopper portion and the first receiving portion move with respect to each other in a first direction, move with respect to each other in a second direction, and thereafter are brought to the locked state, and the second stopper portion moves in the second direction in connection with movement of the first stopper portion so that the second locking mechanism is brought to the locked state.

Abstract: A pressing member applies a pressing force to a trailing end in a direction which intersects a predetermined reference direction, allowing the pressing force to have both a first component in the predetermined reference direction and a second component perpendicular to the predetermined reference direction. A trailing end is pressed in the predetermined reference direction by the first component. In the mounted state, the leading end is in contact with the reference member at two contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface defines a first positioning direction being perpendicular to the first contact surface and intersecting the predetermined reference direction.

Abstract: A holder unit is configured to hold a plurality of photosensitive drums such that the plurality of photosensitive drums are arrayed in a predetermined direction and juxtaposed with each other with a space between neighboring photosensitive drums. A plurality of developing units is held by the holder unit, each is provided in association with each photosensitive drum, and each includes a developing roller displaceable between a contact position where the developing roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum and a spaced position where the developing roller is spaced away from the photosensitive drum. A spacer member has a plurality of retaining portions each in association with each developing unit and configured to retain each developing unit at the spaced position, and a linking portion integral with the retaining portions and configured to connect neighboring retaining portions therethrough in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An image forming device having a frame, a door, and a movable image forming unit to be assembled in the frame when the door is open. The image forming unit has a support shaft, and frame has a hole on which the support shaft abuts for positioning of the image forming unit relative to the frame when the door is closed. A lock unit formed with a recessed portion is movable in association with the movement of the door. When the door is open, the lock unit is at its abutment position so that the support shaft abuts the recessed portion. When the door is closed the lock unit is moved so that the support shaft is brought into abutment with the hole.

Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism is provided. The driving force transmission mechanism includes an input member including a concave shape portion; a rotation driving shaft; and a driving force transmission member that is configured to rotate in a rotation direction of the rotation driving shaft together with the rotation driving shaft. A protrusion is formed on a surface of a tip end portion of the driving force transmission member, the surface is opposed to the concave shape portion, the protrusion is configured to be engaged, from an inner side, with an edge of the concave shape portion when the tip end portion is in a contact with the edge of the concave shape portion and is tilted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image electrophotographically, comprises an image transfer unit which transfers a toner image to a recording medium, a fixing unit comprising a heat roller and a pressure roller, a conveying direction change unit which changes a conveying direction of the recording medium discharged from the fixing unit upwardly, a discharge roller which discharges the recording medium, of which conveying direction has been changed by the conveying direction change unit, to a discharge part, and a curl removing roller which is provided on a conveying extending between the conveying direction change unit and the discharge roller and bends the recording medium in an opposite direction from a bend direction imparted to the recording medium at the heat roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body; a tandem type photosensitive unit, retaining photosensitive drums, mounted in the body and movable along the arrangement direction of the drums; and a developer cartridge provided for each drum, retaining a developing roller and detachably mounted on the unit. The apparatus also includes a translation member provided in the body and movable in the arrangement direction; and a link member corresponding to each cartridge and displaced to a position where a first end portion opposed to a prescribed portion of each cartridge, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion and pressed by the translation member so the first end portion presses the prescribed portion to separate the roller from the drum and a position where the translation member is released from pressing the second end portion and the first end portion is released from pressing the prescribed portion.