A tension applying device that applies tension to a strip-shaped body supported on a support member, the tension applying device is provided with a moving body that supports the support member, a holding body movably supporting the moving body in a direction in which the tension is applied to the strip-shaped body, a tension spring exerting the tension to the strip-shaped body, a first spring support portion disposed in the holding body and supporting one end of the tension spring, a second spring support portion disposed in the moving body in order to support the other end of the tension spring and disposed on an upstream side from the first spring support portion in the direction in which the tension is applied, and an opening formed in the holding body and in a position corresponding to the second spring support portion.

An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a development unit including a developing member, a pressing member configured to press the development unit mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member or bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and an urging member configured to urge the pressing member, wherein, when mounting the development unit on the mounting unit, the development unit moves in a first direction from the pressing member toward the development unit, parallel to a direction in which the pressing member and the development unit are arranged side by side, wherein the pressing member is movable in the first direction, and wherein the urging member urges the pressing member to move the pressing member in the first direction.

A drive transmission device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and detachably attached to an apparatus body configured to include a driven body to which a driving force is transmitted, includes a first opposing body and a second opposing body disposed facing each other and forming a gap therebetween, a gear rotatably disposed in the gap formed between the first opposing body and the second opposing body, and a rotary shaft configured to receive the driving force from a drive source and rotate in the gap. One rotational axial end of the rotary shaft being passed through the second opposing body and rotatably supported by the second opposing body in the gap.

An image forming apparatus includes a mounting unit configured to mount a cartridge including a developing member by moving the cartridge in the insertion direction, and a pressing member having a first pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to separate the developing member from a photosensitive member. The pressing member has a second pressing portion configured to press the cartridge mounted on the mounting unit to bring the developing member into contact with the photosensitive member, and the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion integrally moves with the movement of the pressing member. The image forming apparatus also includes an elastic member configured to press the pressing member so that the second pressing portion presses the cartridge.

A fixing apparatus a tubular film, a nip forming member that contacts an inner surface of the film, and a roller that forms a nip portion together with the nip forming member via the film. The nip portion is an area where the film and the roller are in contact with each other and where a recording material is conveyed. The nip forming member has a protruding portion, protruding toward the roller and extending in a generatrix direction, that is provided on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in the nip in a conveying direction of the recording material. In the conveying direction of the recording material, an end portion of the protruding portion in the generatrix direction is arranged at a location different from a central portion of the protruding portion in the generatrix direction.

A nip-forming member includes: a first nip-forming member configured to be a main body of the nip-forming member; and a second nip-forming member disposed on a surface of the first nip-forming member, the surface facing the inner circumferential surface, the second nip-forming member extending in a direction orthogonal to a rotating direction of the fixing belt. Both ends of the second nip-forming member on an upstream side and a downstream side of the rotating direction are bent in a direction away from the nipping part, in order to create a pair of side-wall portions, so that the second nip-forming member has a concave cross-section for accommodating the first nip-forming member. The second nip-forming member has a restraining portion at a position located on the side-wall portion created on the upstream side, the restraining portion being configured to restrain the first nip-forming member not to be detached from the concave cross-section.

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, an opposed rotator disposed opposite the fixing rotator, a pressure pad, a lateral end heater, and a thermal conduction aid. The pressure pad presses against the opposed rotator via the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the opposed rotator. The lateral end heater is disposed on the pressure pad to heat a lateral end of the fixing rotator in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The thermal conduction aid is interposed between the pressure pad and the fixing rotator to decrease a temperature gradient of the fixing rotator in an axial direction of the fixing rotator. The pressure pad includes a nip-side face disposed opposite the thermal conduction aid. The lateral end heater includes a nip-side face being disposed opposite the thermal conduction aid and projecting beyond the nip-side face of the pressure pad.

A fixing device includes a rotatably-supported first fixing member and a second fixing member pressed against the first member. The second member includes a belt-shaped component, a support component, and a pressing component. The belt-shaped component extends in a width direction of a medium passing through a contact region between the belt-shaped component and the first member. The support component is disposed opposite the first member with the belt-shaped component interposed therebetween. The pressing component has a base end supported by the support component and a free end extending toward the contact region and presses the belt-shaped component against the first member. The pressing component has biasing portions arranged apart in the width direction and elastically deformable in correspondence with the medium thickness. The biasing portions are connected in the width direction by the free end. The free end is disposed at an upstream side in a medium transport direction.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion provided with an opening portion through which a cartridge is removably mounted and a cover member opening and closing the opening portion. An original reading portion is pivotable about a first rotation axis. The cover member is pivotable about a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis. A force is applied to pivot the original reading portion so that an engagement portion of the original reading portion slides on a sliding face of the cover member to apply a force from the engagement portion to the sliding face to pivot the cover member. In a cross section orthogonal to the first rotation axis, a first portion of the sliding face approaches the original reading portion from one end side on which the first and the second rotation axes are provided toward an opposite side.

In a fixing device according to the disclosure, a first surface of a restriction member is inclined so that, as the first surface goes further away from a nip portion, the first surface inclines toward a direction coming closer to an edge surface of the film, and the first surface is inclined so that, as the first surface comes downstream in the conveying direction, the first surface inclines toward a direction going further away from the edge surface of the film. A second surface is inclined so that, as the second surface comes closer to a center in the rotational axis direction of the film, the second surface inclines toward a direction coming closer to a roller, and inclines in a direction going downstream in the conveying direction.