Frame structure and an image forming apparatus using such a frame structure

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• laser beam emitting means for projecting image light onto an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a motor;
• feeding means for feeding the recording material;
• and
• a frame structure including:
• a first wall;
• a second wall opposed to said first wall;
• and
• a mounting member for detachably mounting a process cartridge to said image forming apparatus, said mounting member being provided between said first wall and said second wall, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means actable on the photosensitive member;
• a guide member bridging between said first wall and said second wall, wherein said guide member guides the recording material toward the photosensitive member in the process cartridge;
• a fixing means supporting member briding between said first wall and said second wall, wherein said fixing means supporting member supports fixing means for fixing a toner image formed on the recording material, and said fixing means supporting member is disposed downstream of said mounting member with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material;
• a scanner supporting member, which supports said laser beam emitting means for emitting a laser beam to be projected onto the photosensitive member in the process cartridge, that is disposed between said guide member and said fixing means supporting member, with respect to the recording material feeding direction, said scanner supporting member being also disposed between said first wall and said second wall, wherein said scanner supporting member supports said laser beam emitting means so as to be juxtaposed with said process cartridge at a position downstream of said process cartridge when it is mounted, with respect to a recording material feeding direction;
• and a motor supporting member for supporting said motor between said scanner supporting member and said first wall, wherein a side wall is provided between said laser beam emitting means supported on said scanner supporting member and a motor supported on a motor supporting member;
• and said motor supported on said motor supporting member is disposed in a space sandwiched between said first wall and said side wall, and wherein said first wall, said second wall, said guide member, said fixing means supporting member, said scanner supporting member, said side wall and said motor supporting member are integrally molded.

A frame structure usable in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material using an optical device and laser beam emitting device, said structure comprising:

• a first wall;
• a second wall opposed to said first wall;
• a process cartridge mounting member disposed between said first wall and said second wall, wherein a process cartridge mountable to said mounting member includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a recording material guiding member and an image fixing device supporting member bridging between said first wall and said second wall, said image fixing device supporting member being disposed downstream of said mounting member with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material;
• a laser beam emitting device supporting member disposed between said recording material guiding member and said image fixing device supporting member, with respect to the feeding direction of the recording material, and between said first wall and said second wall, wherein said laser beam emitting device supporting member supports said laser beam emitting means so as to be juxtaposed with said process cartridge at a position downstream of said process cartridge when it is mounted, with respect to a recording material feeding direction;
• a motor supporting member disposed adjacent a location where said laser beam emitting device supporting member meets said first wall;
• a recording material cassette guide portion disposed towards a bottom portion of said frame structure and adjacent one longitudinal end of said frame structure;
• a reflection mirror supporting portion disposed towards a top portion of said frame structure;
• a cover guide supporting portion;
• a recording material conveyance guide path reversing portion disposed adjacent another longitudinal end of said frame structure opposite said one longitudinal end;
• and
• a side wall provided between said laser beam emitting device supporting member and said motor supporting member, and said motor supported on said motor supporting member is disposed in a space sandwiched between said first wall and said side wall, and
• wherein said first wall, said second wall, said process cartridge mounting member, said recording material guiding member, said image fixing device supporting member, said laser beam emitting device supporting member, said motor supporting member, said recording material cassette guide portion, said reflection mirror supporting portion, said cover guide supporting portion, said recording material conveyance guide path reversing portion, and said side wall are integrally molded.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming apparatus comprising:

• a frame structure usable in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material using a laser beam emitting means, said frame structure including a first wall;
• a second wall opposed to said first wall;
• a process cartridge mounting member disposed between said first wall and said second wall, wherein a process cartridge mountable to said mounting member includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process device actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a recording material guiding member and an image fixing device supporting member bridging between said first wall and said second wall, said image fixing device supporting member being disposed downstream of said mounting member with respect to a feeding direction of the recording material;
• a laser beam emitting device supporting member disposed between said recording material guiding member and said image fixing device supporting member, with respect to the feeding direction of the recording material, and between said first wall and said second wall;
• a motor supporting member disposed adjacent a location where said laser beam emitting device supporting member meets said first wall;
• a recording material cassette guide portion disposed towards a bottom portion of said frame structure and adjacent one longitudinal end of said frame structure;
• a reflection mirror supporting portion disposed towards a top portion of said frame structure;
• a cover guide supporting portion;
• a recording material conveyance guide path reversing portion disposed adjacent another longitudinal end of said frame structure opposite said one longitudinal end;
• and a side wall provided between said laser beam emitting device supporting member and said motor supporting member, and said motor supported on said motor supporting member is disposed in a space sandwiched between said first wall and said side wall, and wherein said first wall, said second wall, said process cartridge mounting member, said recording material guiding member, said image fixing device supporting member, said laser beam emitting device supporting member, said motor supporting member, said recording material cassette guide portion, said reflection mirror supporting portion, said cover guide supporting portion, said recording material conveyance guide path reversing portion, and said side wall are integrally molded;
• a laser beam emitting device provided on said laser beam emitting device supporting member that projects image light onto an image bearing member, wherein said laser beam emitting device supporting member supports said laser beam emitting means so as to be juxtaposed with said process cartridge at a position downstream of said process cartridge when it is mounted, with respect to a recording material feeding direction;
• and
• a feeding device that feeds the recording material.