Image forming apparatus with a vibration prevention member

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image unit that includes an electrostatic latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed according to image data;
• a developing unit that includes a developer storage container that stores therein developer, and a developing roller that supplies the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier;
• a forcing unit that forces the developing unit towards the electrostatic latent image unit so that the developing roller moves adjacent to the electrostatic latent image carrier;
• a vibration absorbing member that is provided in contact with the developer storage container so as to absorb vibration of the developer storage container, the vibration being caused by external force;
• a housing in which the electrostatic latent image unit and the developing unit are arranged;
• and
• a guide rail that is positioned in the housing, and guides the developing unit so as to be pulled out from the housing, wherein
• the vibration absorbing member is provided between the guide rail and the developer storage container.

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image unit that includes an electrostatic latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed according to image data;
• a developing unit that includes a developer storage container that stores therein developer, and a developing roller that supplies the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier;
• a forcing unit that forces the developing unit towards the electrostatic latent image unit so that the developing roller moves adjacent to the electrostatic latent image carrier;
• a vibration absorbing member that is provided in contact with the developer storage container so as to absorb vibration of the developer storage container, the vibration being caused by external force;
• the vibration absorbing member is located in such a position as to force the developing unit towards the electrostatic latent image unit;
• and
• the vibration absorbing member is located vertically under the developer storage container.

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet, comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image unit that includes an electrostatic latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed according to image data;
• a developing unit that includes a developer storage container that stores therein developer, and a developing roller that supplies the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier;
• a forcing unit that forces the developing unit towards the electrostatic latent image unit to bring a first contact part of the developing unit in contact with a second contact part of the electrostatic latent image unit so that a gap between the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller is set to a specified value,
• an extractably inserted vibration absorbing member that is provided between the first and second contact parts;
• wherein the gap between the electrostatic latent image carrier and the developing roller remains at the specified value when the vibration absorbing member is removed;
• and
• wherein the image forming apparatus forms the image regardless of whether the vibration absorbing member is inserted or removed.