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 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 method is for manufacturing a support member for supporting a rotary member having a shaft. The support member is detachably assembled in an image-forming device. The support member has a pair of side plates opposed to each other through the rotary member. Each of the side plate receives the shaft of the rotary member. The method includes forming the pair of side plates through a punching process using the same die.

Abstract: A thermal fixing device includes: a fixing member configured to be in contact with a fixation medium; a first pressing member disposed to face the fixing member and presses the fixation medium to the fixing member; and a second pressing member disposed to face the fixing member at a position downstream in a conveyance direction of the fixation medium with respect to the first pressing member and presses the fixation medium to the fixing member, wherein the fixing member and the first pressing member apply to a developer on the fixation medium to be pressed by the first pressing member a temperature not lower than a glass transition point of the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including 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 unit, a conveying roller which contacts the recording sheet to be conveyed in the casing, conveys the recording sheet, and is supported to rotate by the casing, a cover which opens and closes an opening formed in a portion of the casing which corresponds to the conveying roller, and a pushing unit. If the cover is closed, the pushing unit exerts a pushing force to push the conveying roller toward the recording sheet to act on a spindle of the conveying roller. If the cover is opened, the pushing unit releases the pushing force by moving in association with the cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a pair of first foot portions which is disposed close to one side of a bottom surface of the apparatus body and has a first distance therebetween, and a pair of second foot portions which is disposed close to another side of the bottom surface and has a second distance therebetween, the second distance being shorter than the first distance, wherein the pair of second foot portions is attached to the apparatus body via a resilient member, the resilient member being vertically deformable.

Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism that attaches a cover body to a main body in a manner that the cover body is pivotably opened and closed, includes: a pin provided in one of the main body and the cover body; a link member pivotably provided in the other of the main body and the cover body, the link member having a first guide groove in which the pin is inserted and the pin slides during closing and opening of the cover body with respect to the main body; and a close motion braking member that is a separate member from the pin and the link member and is connected to the link member. The close motion braking member applies an external force to the link member to brake sliding of the pin in the first guide groove during closing of the cover body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a first driven roller that forms a first nip portion with a driving roller; a second driven roller that forms a second nip portion with the driving roller at a downstream side of the first nip portion; a first transfer passage into which the sheet passed through the first nip portion and sent from the second nip portion is transferred by a forward rotation of the driving roller; a second transfer passage into which the sheet passed through the first nip portion is transferred by the forward rotation of the driving roller without passing through the second nip portion; and a third transfer passage into which the sheet is transferred by a reverse rotation of the driving roller after a rear end of the sheet has passed through the first nip portion by the forward rotation of the driving roller.

Abstract: A thermistor is disposed confronting a surface of a heat roller on a downstream side in a rotational direction of a heat roller from a contact position between the heat roller and a pressure roller. Side guide members are provided on both sides of the thermistor and spaced away from the thermistor in the axial direction of the heat roller, and a regulating guide member is disposed connecting the side guide members on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the heat roller. In addition, a separation plate for separating a sheet of paper is provided at a predetermined space from the surface of the heat roller between the contact position and the thermistor in the rotational 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: An image forming apparatus includes an engagement piece, connected to a cylindrical member at a crease which extends in a direction crossing a circumferential direction of the cylindrical member, projecting radially outward from the cylindrical member. The engagement piece may engage with a gear to prevent the gear from detaching from the cylindrical member. In addition, the cylindrical member may include a concave portion to engage with a convex portion of the gear. Also, the gear may include a cover portion that includes a communication hole through which a tool may be inserted in order to configure the engagement piece.

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 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 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 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: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a pair of first foot portions which is disposed close to one side of a bottom surface of the apparatus body and has a first distance therebetween, and a pair of second foot portions which is disposed close to another side of the bottom surface and has a second distance therebetween, the second distance being shorter than the first distance, wherein the pair of second foot portions is attached to the apparatus body via a resilient member, the resilient member being vertically deformable.

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 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 apparatus including 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 unit, a conveying roller which contacts the recording sheet to be conveyed in the casing, conveys the recording sheet, and is supported to rotate by the casing, a cover which opens and closes an opening formed in a portion of the casing which corresponds to the conveying roller, and a pushing unit. If the cover is closed, the pushing unit exerts a pushing force to push the conveying roller toward the recording sheet to act on a spindle of the conveying roller. If the cover is opened, the pushing unit releases the pushing force by moving in association with the cover.

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.