In an image forming apparatus having a drum unit and a developing unit attachable to or detachable from an apparatus body, when the drum unit is inserted into or removed from the apparatus body, operation in the following first to third sections occurs in order or reverse. The first section is a predetermined section on a removal side from the innermost position of the drum unit. In the first section, the developing unit is inserted/removed integrally with the drum unit. In the second section, only the drum unit is inserted or removed. Meanwhile, the developing unit gradually rotates to switch the contact or separated states in conjunction with the insertion or removal of the drum unit. In the third section, only the drum unit is inserted into or removed from the apparatus body while the developing unit is separated.

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus housing, and an imaging module that is removably installed in the apparatus housing. The imaging module includes an image carrier unit that is capable of carrying an image, an image writer unit that writes an image on the image carrier unit, and a module housing that registers and removably holds the image carrier unit and the image writer unit. A fastening unit that registers the module housing with respect to the apparatus housing and that removably fastens the module housing is disposed between the apparatus housing and the module housing.

A cover covering an image bearing member such that the image bearing member is kept unexposed includes a holding portion holding an end portion of a sealing sheet sealing an opening portion such that an initial developer is accommodated in an accommodating chamber, due to release of the seal of the opening portion with the sealing sheet, the initial developer accommodated in the accommodating chamber moves from the accommodating chamber to a second chamber through the opening portion, and the seal of the opening portion with the sealing sheet is released due to movement of a casing with respect to the cover and detachment of the cover from the casing, responsive to an operation of movement of a cartridge in an attachment direction, with the holding portion holding the end portion of the sealing sheet and a regulation portion regulating movement of the cover.

An image forming apparatus includes a belt component, a first detachable unit that faces the belt component in an area where an outer surface of the belt component faces upward, a first housing component that houses the first detachable unit and is drawable from and loadable into the apparatus, a second detachable unit that faces the belt component in an area where the outer surface of the belt component faces downward, and a second housing component that houses the second detachable unit and is drawable from and loadable into the apparatus. With the first housing component being drawn from the apparatus, the first detachable unit is detachable from and attachable to the first housing component in a side-to-side direction. With the second housing component being drawn from the apparatus, the second detachable unit is detachable from and attachable to the second housing component in an upward direction.

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, a developing unit, a supporting frame, a retainer and a sheet member. The image carrier unit includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing unit develops the electrostatic latent image with toner. The supporting frame supports the image carrier unit and the developing unit in an attachable and detachable manner. The retainer is supported by the supporting frame in a turnable manner, and positions the image carrier unit and the developing unit to the supporting frame by being turned upward. The sheet member closes a gap between the supporting frame and the retainer. The sheet member has an upper section supported by the retainer and a lower end section supported by the supporting frame, and at least one of the upper end section and the lower end section is configured to be detachable.

A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member configured to carry developer, and a developer supply member configured to supply the developer to the developer carrying member, the developer supply member including a shaft, first and second driving members disposed at a first end and a second end of the shaft, respectively, and a toner supply unit disposed between the first end and the second end of the shaft, wherein the first driving member receives a driving force for rotating the developer supply member, and the second driving member outputs the driving force, and wherein the second driving member is mounted to the shaft without play in a rotational direction of the developer supply member with respect to the shaft.

An image forming apparatus includes a lubricant application target member, an application roller which is provided at a position adjacent to the lubricant application target member to apply a lubricant to the lubricant application target member, a lubricant support member which supports the lubricant, and a movement mechanism which includes a guide coupled to the lubricant support member and extending along a linear direction. An engaging portion engages with the guide and restricts movement of the lubricant support member in a linear direction of the guide by engagement of the guide with the engaging portion.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus includes a discharge tray for supporting the recording medium, an internal unit disposed inside the apparatus main body, and a door serving as a part of outer surface members of the apparatus main body, the door being opened and closed to expose and cover an inside of the apparatus main body to the outside, wherein, by opening of the door, a fixing member that fixes the discharge tray to the apparatus main body is exposed to the outside, and removing of the fixing member from the apparatus main body allows the discharge tray to be detached from the apparatus main body without removing the outer surface members other than the door, and wherein detaching of the discharge tray from the apparatus main body allows the internal unit to be accessed.

An image forming apparatus includes: a first guide that is provided in an apparatus housing and configured to suspend and hold a first unit including an image holder so that the first unit is movable in an insertion and removal direction; a second guide that is provided in the apparatus housing and configured to suspend and hold a second unit including a developer holder so that the second unit is movable in an insertion and removal direction; and a pedestal that is disposed on a front side in the insertion and removal direction with respect to the first guide and the second guide, supports, from below in a gravity direction, the first unit and the second unit while the first unit and the second unit are inserted into the apparatus housing, and does not contact with the first unit and the second unit located in the apparatus housing.

An image forming apparatus includes a support frame, a driving device including a first supporting portion configured to hold the drive source on a first surface and configured to rotatably support the drive gear on a second surface, and a second supporting portion configured to support the drive gear with the first supporting portion, a board holding member disposed in a manner overlapping the first supporting portion in a rotational axis direction of the drive gear, and a third supporting portion disposed between the first supporting portion and the board holding member in the rotational axis direction, and configured to support the board holding member, one end of the third supporting portion being fixed to a side of the first surface of the first supporting portion by a first fastening member, another end of the third supporting portion being fixed to the board holding member by a second fastening member.