An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body, a light source, a deflector to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system to image the deflected light beam onto the photoconductive body, a developing unit to supply developer to the photoconductive body, an optical sensor to detect the deflected light beam, a moving mechanism to move the developing unit to a first position and to a second position, and a controller configured to start driving the deflector, when the developing unit is in the second position, the light source to emit the light beam, thereby obtaining a detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, and after obtaining the detection signal of the light beam from the optical sensor, control the moving mechanism to move the developing unit to the first position.

A first replaceable unit is provided for use with a second replaceable unit in an electrophotographic image forming device. The first replaceable unit includes a latch movable between a latching position for latching the first replaceable unit to the second replaceable unit and an unlatching position for permitting the first replaceable unit to separate from the second replaceable unit. The latch is positioned to contact a latch catch on the second replaceable unit in order to prevent the first replaceable unit from separating from the second replaceable unit when the first replaceable unit is mated with the second replaceable unit and the latch is in the latching position. The latch includes a cam follower surface for contacting a camming surface on the second replaceable unit during mating of the first replaceable unit with the second replaceable unit to cause the latch to move toward the latching or unlatching position.

An image forming apparatus includes a transferred body to which a toner image is transferred, a transfer device, a contact-separation device, and circuitry. The transfer device transfers the toner image from the transferred body onto a recording medium. The contact-separation device includes a motor and drives the motor to move the transfer device away from or into contact with the transferred body. The circuitry causes the contact-separation device to move the transfer device away from or into contact with the transferred body. The circuitry moves the transfer device away from the transferred body to a first position during standby and locates the transfer device at a second position that is closer to a contact position at which the transfer device is configured to contact the transferred body than the first position in an interval between the recording medium and a succeeding recording medium.

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a developing device, a toner holder, a toner holder mount portion, and a locking member. The toner holder is dismountably mounted in the toner holder mount portion and stores toner for the developing device. The toner holder mount portion has a pair of side support rails supporting a side face of the toner holder. The locking member is adjacent to an end part, in the toner holder mounting direction, of at least one side support rail, and is swingable between a first position restraining mounting and dismounting of the toner holder and a second position allowing mounting and dismounting of the toner holder. The locking member, in the second position, is on the extension line of the side support rails and, together with the side support rails, guides the toner holder to and from the toner holder mount portion.

In an image-forming apparatus, a fixing device includes first and second fixing members; and a pressure modifying mechanism. The first and second fixing members form a nip. The pressure modifying mechanism modifies a nip pressure at the nip to one of a first nip pressure and a second nip pressure smaller than the first nip pressure. A controller performs: a converting process to convert print data into raster image data; an image-forming process to form a developer image on a sheet using the raster image data; and a fixing process to fix the developer image to the sheet with the fixing device at the first nip pressure. When a second converting process is not completed before a prescribed time following completion of a first fixing process has elapsed, the controller further performs a nip pressure reducing process to modify the nip pressure from the first to the second nip pressure.

An image forming apparatus including a main body casing, a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge. The main body casing has an opening and a slot extending in from the opening toward an inside of the main body casing along a first direction. The drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state where the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge are attached to the slot. The main body casing includes a drum guide groove configured to guide movement of the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a drum protrusion configured to be engaged with the drum guide groove. A width of the drum guide groove in the second direction is decreased toward the inside of the main body casing from the opening.

Power receiving unit, rotating component, process cartridge, and assembly and disassembly methods thereof are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mounted in an image formation apparatus configured with a swingable power output unit, an outer circumference of the power output unit contains a recessed portion, and the power receiving unit is engaged with the power output unit to receive a driving force. The power receiving unit comprises a wheel hub, a power receiving part, and a bias part. The wheel hub is disposed on an end of a rotating component in the process cartridge. The power receiving part includes a fixing protrusion and a notch that are oppositely disposed, the fixing protrusion is inserted into the recessed portion, and the notch provides a swinging space for the power output unit. The bias part provides a bias force toward the fixing protrusion for the power output unit.

An image forming apparatus set (200) includes an image forming apparatus (100) and a mounting base (3) on which the image forming apparatus (100) is placed. The mounting base (3) includes a locking mechanism (R). When the image forming apparatus (100) is placed at a first position in the mounting base (3), the locking mechanism (R) restricts movement of the image forming apparatus (100) relative to the mounting base (3). The locking mechanism (R) includes a first locking mechanism (4) and a second locking mechanism (R2). The first locking mechanism (4) restricts movement of the image forming apparatus (100) in a first direction (D1) relative to the mounting base (3). The second locking mechanism (R2) restricts movement of the image forming apparatus (100) in a second direction (D2) relative to the mounting base (3). The second direction (D2) is opposite to the first direction (D1).

An image forming unit insertable into an image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum and a drum case supporting the photosensitive drum. The drum case includes a guide configured to (i) at least partially engage with a solid head of the image forming apparatus when inserted into the image forming apparatus along a first direction and (ii) guide the solid head in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction when the solid head is selectively repositioned along the second direction toward the photosensitive drum.

The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge replaceable by detachably mounting to the image forming apparatus, a door that takes a closed state or an open state, a locking pin that switches a state of the regulation unit between a regulating state in which the replacement unit is prevented to be detached from the image forming apparatus and a release state in which the replacement unit is to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and a lock control unit (a control unit) that makes a determination as to whether or not the state of the regulation unit is to be switched from the release state to the regulating state, at a predetermined timing when initial processing is completed after a power source is turned on or a state of the door becomes the closed state from the open state.