Image forming apparatus capable of guiding a latent image forming device

摘要

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a housing including an opening; an inner cover as a holder; a photoreceptor as a latent image carrier; and a recording head as a latent image forming device, to form a latent image on the photoreceptor, supported by the holder swingably about an end of the holder relative to the housing. The recording head moves between a latent image forming position and a retracted position when the holder moves to be opened or closed. The image forming apparatus further includes a first guide member at a first end to guide the recording head longitudinal end at a first end to the latent image forming position; and a second guide member at a second end to guide the recording head longitudinal second end, of which the length of the second guide member is shorter than the length of the first guide member.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a latent image carrier; a latent image forming device configured to form a latent image on a surface of the latent image carrier; a housing including an opening, the latent image carrier and the latent image forming device being accommodated in the housing; a holder swingably supporting the latent image forming device, the holder being swingably supported about an end thereof relative to the housing and moving the latent image forming device between a latent image forming position and a retracted position; a first guide member at a first end extending from the latent image forming position to the opening of the housing and configured to guide the latent image forming device longitudinal first end to the latent image forming position while regulating movement of the latent image forming device in a vertical direction; and a second guide member at a second end extending from the latent image forming position to the opening of the housing and configured to guide the latent image forming device longitudinal second end to the latent image forming position while regulating movement of the latent image forming device in the vertical direction, wherein the length of the second guide member from the latent image forming position to an end toward the opening is shorter than the length of the first guide member from the latent image forming position to the end toward the opening of the housing, and wherein a radius rb of the arc-shaped moving locus of the latent image forming device, at a side guided by the second guide member, rotating about the rotation supporting center of the holder is greater than a radius ra of the arc-shaped moving locus of the latent image forming device, at a side guided by the first guide member, rotating about the rotation supporting center of the holder.