An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an image formation unit; an apparatus main body including therein the image formation unit; a cover rotatable about a first rotation axis to open and close the apparatus main body; an exposure unit including an exposure head; and a holding member fixed to an inner surface of the cover and holds the exposure unit. The holding member includes a first support portion at a side of the holding member closer to the first rotation axis and a second support portion at a side of the holding member farther from the first rotation axis. The first support portion supports the exposure unit to be rotatable, about a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis, and the second support portion supports the exposure unit to be swingable in directions closer to and away from the inner surface of the cover.

A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus cover, first and second exposure units, and an orientation setting mechanism. The apparatus cover opens or closes by pivoting about a rotation fulcrum with respect to an apparatus body. The first exposure unit is disposed at a first position, on an inner surface, spaced apart from the rotation fulcrum. The second exposure unit is disposed at a second position, on the inner surface, closer than the first position to the rotation fulcrum. The orientation setting mechanism sets an orientation of the first exposure unit to a first direction approaching the apparatus body in a closed state. The orientation setting mechanism sets it to a second direction further away than the first direction from the rotation fulcrum and sets the orientation of the second exposure unit to a third direction between the first and second directions when the opening angle is a first angle.

An image forming apparatus includes a covering provided along a side surface of a body of the image forming apparatus, provided with a rotation shaft on a lower side of the covering, and provided to be openable and closable with respect to the body; an interior section provided on a side of the covering near the body, releasably coupled to the covering by a coupling portion, and provided to be openable and closable with respect to the body; a first limit portion that is attached to the interior section and the body, and that limits a maximum opening angle between the interior section and the body; and a second limit portion that is attached to the covering and the body, and that limits a maximum opening angle between the covering and the body to an angle larger than the maximum opening angle between the interior section and the body.

A counterbalance dampener disposed between a printer chassis and the automatic duplexer unit includes a pair of support links pivotably connected at distal ends to the chassis and the automatic duplexer unit. A pinion disposed at the distal end of the support link connected to the automatic duplexer unit rotates when the automatic duplexer unit descends into an open configuration. The pinion is in communication with a rack that translates linearly to compress a spring which provides a countering force to slow the descent of the automatic duplexer unit.

In an image forming apparatus, if a path for transferring heat generated by a drive integrated circuit to a frame (a heat dissipation plate) of an apparatus main body has a point that divides the path, foreign matter such as dirt and dust can be caught at the point, so that heat dissipation efficiency can decrease due to presence of such foreign matter. Therefore, a configuration is provided in which a drive integrated circuit and a frame (a heat dissipation plate) provided in a cover are connected by a heat transfer member, so that a heat transfer path from the drive integrated circuit to the frame has no point that divides the path.

Provided is a locking mechanism in which when the urging force of an urging member is larger than the magnetic force of a magnet in the non-excited state, a plunger can be held at a first position, and when the urging force of the urging member is smaller than the magnetic force of the magnet in the non-excited state, the plunger can be held at a second position.

A sheet conveying apparatus to convey a sheet to an image forming unit includes a main body, an opening/closing member, and first, second, and third portions. The opening/closing member can be opened and closed with respect to the main body, and the first, second, and third portions pivotably support the opening/closing member. The second support portion is provided below the first support portion and above the third support portion. Each of the first, second, and third portions include a projecting portion and a hole portion. A difference between a greatest length of the third projecting portion and a diameter of the third hole portion is larger than a difference between a greatest length of the first projecting portion and a diameter of the first hole portion and is larger than a difference between a greatest length of the second projecting portion and a diameter of the second hole portion.

A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.

A counterbalance dampener disposed between a printer chassis and the automatic duplexer unit includes a pair of support links pivotably connected at distal ends to the chassis and the automatic duplexer unit. A pinion disposed at the distal end of the support link connected to the automatic duplexer unit rotates when the automatic duplexer unit descends into an open configuration. The pinion is in communication with a rack that translates linearly to compress a spring which provides a countering force to slow the descent of the automatic duplexer unit.