Image Forming Apparatus and Developing Unit For Use In Image Forming Apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a main body;
• a drum unit comprising a photosensitive drum configured to rotate about an axis extending in an axial direction and carry a developer image;
• a developing unit which comprises a developing roller configured to supply a developer to the photosensitive drum and is configured to be attached to and removed from the main body in the axial direction;
• an irradiating unit comprising a light emitting member and a cam follower, the light emitting member being configured to irradiate the photosensitive drum, and the irradiating unit being configured to move between a retracted position and a proximate position which is closer to the photosensitive drum than the retracted position;
• and
• a cam configured such that the cam flower follows the cam, in response to attachment of the developing unit to the main body, so as to move the irradiating unit from the retracted position to the proximate position, and such that the cam follower follows the cam, in response to removal of the developing unit from the main body, so as to move the irradiating unit from the proximate position to the retracted position.

A developing unit for use in an image forming apparatus, the developing unit comprising:

• a developing roller configured to rotate about an axis extending in an axial direction and supply a developer to a photosensitive drum;
• and
• a moving member extending in the axial direction and comprising a first acting portion and a second acting portion which are spaced from each other in the axial direction,
• wherein in response to attachment of the developing unit to the image forming apparatus along a predetermined direction while the axial direction of the developing roller is maintained parallel to the predetermined direction, the first acting portion and a second acting portion of the moving member are configured to act on a first reacting portion and a second reacting portion of an irradiating unit respectively, such that the irradiating unit moves from a retracted position to a proximate position which is closer to the photosensitive drum than the retracted position, and
• wherein in response to removal of the developing unit from the image forming apparatus along the predetermined direction, the first acting portion and the second acting portion of the moving member are configured to cancel the actions on the first reacting portion and the second reacting portion of the irradiating unit respectively, such that the irradiating unit moves from the proximate position to the retracted position.

A developing unit for use in an image forming apparatus, the developing unit comprising:

• a developing roller configured to rotate about an axis extending in an axial direction and supply a developer to a photosensitive drum;
• and
• a pressing portion,
• wherein in response to attachment of the developing unit to the image forming apparatus along a predetermined direction while the axial direction of the developing roller is maintained parallel to the predetermined direction, the pressing portion is configured to press a moving member against an urging force in a first direction along the predetermined direction such that a first acting portion and a second acting portion of the moving member act on a first reacting portion and a second reacting portion of an irradiating unit respectively so as to move the irradiating unit from a retracted position to a proximate position which is closer to the photosensitive drum than the retracted position, and
• wherein in response to removal of the developing unit to the image forming apparatus along the predetermined direction, the pressing portion is configured to release the moving member to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction such that the first acting portion and the second acting portion of the moving member cancel the actions on the first reacting portion and the second reacting portion of the irradiating unit respectively so as to move the irradiating unit from the proximate position to the retracted position.