Functional unit positioning device and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a functional unit detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus;
• a biasing device that biases the functional unit in a unit-out direction, the biasing device including an actuator;
• and
• a stopper mechanism having a first stopper and a second stopper, the stopper mechanism exerting and releasing control over release of the functional unit, wherein
• the biasing device biases the functional unit so that the second stopper comes in contact with the first stopper to set the functional unit in a locked position in a unit in-out direction, and
• the biasing device is configured to change, using the actuator, the magnitude of a bias force on the functional unit from low to high when the functional unit is inserted and advanced up to a predetermined position into the image forming apparatus.

An apparatus comprising an apparatus body, a functional unit detachably attached to the apparatus body, and a functional unit positioning device for positioning the functional unit detachably attachable to the apparatus body, comprising:

• a biasing device that biases the functional unit in a unit-out direction;
• and
• a stopper mechanism having a first stopper and a second stopper, the stopper mechanism exerting and releasing control over release of the functional unit,
• wherein:
• the biasing device biases the functional unit so that the second stopper comes in contact with the first stopper to set the functional unit in a locked position in a unit in-out direction,
• the biasing device is configured to change the magnitude of a bias force on the functional unit from low to high when the functional unit is inserted and advanced up to a predetermined position into the apparatus body, and
• the biasing device includes an acting member that is movable in the unit in-out direction and that exerts a bias force on the functional unit in contact with the functional unit, a driving unit that produces the bias force by driving the acting member, and an elastic member that is between the acting member and the driving unit.

An apparatus comprising an apparatus body, a functional unit detachably attached to the apparatus body, and a functional unit positioning device for positioning the functional unit detachably attachable to the apparatus body, comprising:

• a biasing device that biases the functional unit in a unit-out direction;
• and
• a stopper mechanism having a first stopper and a second stopper, the stopper mechanism exerting and releasing control over release of the functional unit,
• wherein:
• the biasing device biases the functional unit so that the second stopper comes in contact with the first stopper to set the functional unit in a locked position in a unit in-out direction, and
• the biasing device is configured to change the magnitude of a bias force on the functional unit from low to high when the functional unit is inserted and advanced up to a predetermined position into the apparatus body,
• the apparatus further including a unit-insertion detecting unit that detects insertion of the functional unit into the apparatus body,
• wherein the biasing device changes the magnitude of the bias force from low to high when the unit-insertion detecting unit detects insertion of the functional unit.