Positioning member for a separation electrode mounted on a clamshell-type copier

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a feeding path for feeding a sheet on which an image is to be formed;
• an endless latent image carrier;
• image forming means for forming a toner image on the latent image carrier;
• transfer means for transferring the toner image on the latent image carrier onto the sheet that is conveyed in the feeding path;
• separation means for supplying electric charges of an opposite polarity to that of electric charges on a back of the sheet to the back of the sheet in the feeding path at a position downstream of the transfer means, thereby separating the sheet from the latent image carrier, wherein said separation means has a discharge electrode for generating the electric charges of the opposite polarity, and insulating support block for supporting the discharge electrode, and a positioning rib provided on the support block and engageable with the positioning member;
• an openable and closable frame on which at least the separation means is movably provided and which is to be opened to free the feeding path;
• a main body frame on which at least the latent image carrier is provided;
• a positioning member, provided on the main body frame, for positioning the separation means by engagement with the separation means when the frame is closed;
• a rotary shaft provided in the support block;
• and
• a support hole, formed in the frame, for supporting the rotary shaft when inserted in the support hole.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a feeding path for feeding a sheet on which an image is to be formed;
• an endless latent image carrier;
• image forming means for forming a toner image on the latent image carrier;
• transfer means for transferring the toner image on the latent image carrier onto the sheet that is conveyed in the feeding path;
• separation means for supplying electric charges of an opposite polarity to that of electric charges on a back of the sheet to the back of the sheet in the feeding path at a position downstream of the transfer means, thereby separating the sheet from the latent image carrier;
• an openable and closeable frame on which at lest the separation means is movably provided and which is to be opened to free the feeding path;
• a positioning member for positioning the separation means by engagement with the separation means when the frame is closed;
• and
• a process cartridge on which at least the latent image carrier, the transfer means, and the positioning member are provided and which is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus so that the positioning member is provided on the process cartridge at a predetermined distance from the latent image carrier.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a feeding path for feeding a sheet on which an image is to be formed;
• an endless latent image carrier;
• image forming means for forming a toner image on the latent image carrier;
• transfer means for transferring the toner image on the latent image carrier onto the sheet that is conveyed in the feeding path;
• separation means for supplying electric charges of an opposite polarity to that of electric charges on a back of the sheet to the back of the sheet in the feeding path at a position downstream of the transfer means, thereby separating the sheet from the latent image carrier, wherein the separation means has a discharge electrode for generating the electric charges of the opposite polarity, and insulating support block for supporting the discharge electrode, and a positioning rib provided on the support block and engageable with the positioning member;
• an openable and closeable frame on which at least the separation means is movably provided and which is to be opened to free the feeding path;
• a process cartridge on which at least the latent image carrier is provided and which is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus;
• a positioning member, provided on the process cartridge, for positioning the separation means by engagement with the separation means when the frame is closed;
• a rotary shaft provided in the support block;
• and
• a support hole, formed int the frame for supporting the rotary shaft when inserted in the support hole.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a feeding path for feeding a sheet on which an image is to be formed;
• an endless latent image carrier;
• image forming means for forming a toner image on the latent image carrier;
• a transfer roller for transferring the toner image on the latent image carrier onto the sheet that is conveyed in the feeding path;
• a discharge electrode for supplying electric charges of an opposite polarity to that of electric charges on a back of the sheet to the back of the sheet in the feeding path at a position downstream of the transfer means, thereby separating the sheet from the latent image carrier;
• an openable and closable frame on which at least the separation means is movably provided and which is to be opened to free the feeding path;
• a positioning member for positioning the separation means by engagement with the separation means when the frame is closed;
• and
• a process cartridge on which at least the latent image carrier and the positioning member are provided, and which is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus so that the positioning member is provided on the process cartridge at a predetermined distance from the image carrier.