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.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet, a casing which houses the image forming unit and holds the image forming units, a conveying roller which applies a conveying force to the recording sheet by contacting with the recording sheet, a first roller which is fixed to a position confronting the conveying roller, the first roller pushing the recording sheet toward the conveying roller and being rotatable, a second roller which is arranged at a position confront the conveying roller and downstream side of the first roller in a conveying direction, the second roller being displaceable, and a roller displacing mechanism which displaces the second roller in such a manner as to change a distance between the second roller and the conveying roller.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a plurality of components that cooperate to form an image on a recording medium; and a housing that accommodates the components therein. The housing has a side wall unit. The side wall unit includes: a resin frame defining, on its one side, an opened accommodating space; and a first sheet metal frame that is fixed to one side of the resin frame, on which the opened accommodating space is defined, to close the accommodating space. At least one of the components is accommodated in the accommodating space enclosed by the resin frame and the first sheet metal frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a scanner unit which performs an exposure process by irradiating beams to the image carrier, a scanner supporting plate which supports the scanner unit, a pair of sidewall frames which supports both lateral ends of the scanner supporting plate, a beam structure which is disposed between the pair of sidewall frames in at least one of a front side and a rear side of the scanner unit, and a reinforcing plate which is disposed opposite to the scanner supporting plate with interposing the scanner unit therebetween and is disposed between the pair of the sidewall frames in a non-fixed state to the scanner supporting plate and the scanner unit.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a side wall unit including: a resin frame having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; and a sheet metal frame that is mounted over at least a part of the first surface of the resin frame and is fixed to the resin frame by at least one screw. The resin frame has at least one fixing threaded boss on the second surface, each fixing threaded boss being located at a position corresponding to one of the at least one screw and having a threaded hole opened on the first surface to receive the screw. Each fixing threaded boss includes an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, both of which extend from the second surface in a direction away from the sheet metal frame, tip ends of the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral walls being connected, the inner peripheral wall being located around the threaded hole.

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 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: 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: An image forming device includes a changeover flap, a cover, a flap displacement mechanism, an inlet end, an outlet end, and a first conveyer passage extending from the outlet end. A second conveyer passage is bifurcated from the first conveyer passage at a bifurcated portion. The changeover flap is provided at the bifurcated portion and is pivotally movable. The flap displacement mechanism includes a pivot arm pivotally movable. The pivot aim includes a free end portion provided with a linking portion to which the changeover flap is pivotally movably connected. The pivot arm and the changeover flap is configured to change an angle therebetween in accordance with a pivotal movement of the changeover flap and the pivot arm in interlocking relation to the pivotal movement of the cover from its closed position to its open position to displace the linking portion toward the cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit which has an image carrier and a scanner unit which exposes the image carrier to light, a pair of sheet metal frames which support and position the process unit and the scanner unit, and a pair of resin frames which support at least one module of the image forming apparatus other than the process unit and the scanner unit.

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 of the invention also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.

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: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording sheet includes a housing having an exhaust outlet and an image forming unit disposed in the housing and configured to form an image on a recording sheet. A duct in the housing may have an inlet at a first end in the housing, and communicate with the exhaust outlet at a second end in the housing. The image forming apparatus includes an exhaust fan disposed between the exhaust outlet and the duct, and being configured to cause air entering the duct from the inlet to go toward the exhaust outlet; a first filter disposed in the duct to cover the inlet and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air, and a second filter disposed in the duct downstream from the first filter in a direction of airflow and being configured to remove dust suspended in the air.

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: 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 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: 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 comprising 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 comprising: 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 is provided.

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.