Image forming apparatus, optical print head, and process cartridge with plates for positioning image bearing member and developing member

摘要

An image forming apparatus having an image bearing member, an optical print head to irradiate the image bearing member with light to form a latent image thereon, a developing device to develop the latent image with a developing agent to obtain a visual image, and front and rear plates that sandwich at least the image bearing member and the developing device from opposite directions to position at least the image bearing member and the developing device thereof, the plates having focus direction position determining reference surfaces and sub-scanning direction position determining reference surfaces the optical print head contacts to position the optical print head.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearing member; an optical print head that extends in a longitudinal direction along the image bearing member to irradiate the image bearing member with light to form a latent image thereon; a frame on which the optical print head is fixed, the frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the optical print head and extending on each end thereof beyond corresponding ends of the optical print head, and each end of the frame including a first wall that adjoins a second wall that is transverse to the first wall, the first wall extending along a same place of longitudinal extension as the optical print head, and the second wall extending longitudinally along an entirety of a lateral side length of the optical print head; a developing device to develop the latent image with a developing agent to obtain a visual image; and front and rear plates that sandwich at least the image bearing member and the developing device from opposite directions to position at least the image bearing member and the developing device, the plates having focus direction position determining reference surfaces and sub-scanning direction position determining reference surfaces that support the optical print head via the first and second walls of the frame, respectively, to position the optical print head, the focus direction position determining reference surfaces and the sub-scanning direction position determining reference surfaces of the front and rear plates, respectively, being located along an edge of a perimeter of the front and rear plates respectively, wherein a first end of the second wall of the frame in a longitudinal direction has a sub-scanning direction reference surface that abuts the sub-scanning direction position determining reference surface of the front plate, and a second end of the second wall of the frame which is opposite the first end has a sub-scanning direction adjustment member that abuts the sub-scanning direction position determining reference surface of the rear plate.