Image forming apparatus capable of preventing damage during mounting of photosensitive-member unit

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body;

a photosensitive-member unit including a plurality of photosensitive members arranged in a first direction, the photosensitive-member unit being movable in the first direction to be mounted to or dismounted from a mount position in the apparatus main body;

a positioning member that is fixed to the apparatus main body and that is configured to contact the photosensitive-member unit when the photosensitive-member unit is mounted at the mount position, thereby positioning the photosensitive-member unit at the mount position relative to the apparatus main body; and

a friction applying member that is provided to one side of the apparatus main body with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the photosensitive-member unit being configured to slidingly contact the friction applying member when the photosensitive-member unit moves to the mount position, allowing the friction applying member to apply a frictional force to the photosensitive-member unit,

wherein each of the plurality of photosensitive members has a rotational axis extending in the second direction; and

wherein the friction applying member is disposed so as to contact the photosensitive-member unit from the second direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus main body is formed with a photosensitive-member unit mounting space for accommodating the photosensitive-member unit; and

wherein the friction applying member has a friction applying surface that faces in the second direction toward the photosensitive-member unit mounting space.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus main body has a positioning surface that is located at another side of the apparatus main body with respect to the second direction, the positioning surface being configured to contact the photosensitive-member unit mounted at the mount position, thereby positioning the photosensitive-member unit with respect to the second direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressing member that is provided to the one side of the apparatus main body, the pressing member being configured to elastically contact the photosensitive-member unit mounted at the mount position, thereby pressing the photosensitive-member unit in the second direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of developing units that is detachably mounted on the photosensitive-member unit for supplying developer to respective ones of the plurality of photosensitive members,

wherein the pressing member serves as a terminal that supplies electrical power to the plurality of developing units.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning member comprises an axial member that extends in the second direction; and

wherein the photosensitive-member unit is formed with a notched part that receives the axial member when the photosensitive-member unit is mounted at the mount position.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the notched part has edges that grips the axial member in a third direction intersecting with the first direction.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus main body has an upstream end and a downstream end with respect to a mounting direction in which the photosensitive-member unit is mounted; and

wherein the friction applying member is disposed at a position closer to the downstream end than to the upstream end.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a guide rail disposed in the apparatus main body and extending in the first direction, the guide rail being configured to guide movement of the photosensitive-member unit in the first direction,

wherein the friction applying member is disposed at a downstream side of the guide rail with respect to the mounting direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the photosensitive-member unit has a guide-rail supported member provided to a downstream end of the photosensitive-member unit in the mounting direction, the guide-rail supported member being supported by the guide rail when the photosensitive-member unit moves to the mount position; and

wherein the friction applying member is configured to contact the guide-rail supported member when the photosensitive-member unit moves to the mount position, thereby applying the frictional force to the photosensitive-member unit.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the guide-rail supported member comprises a roller member that rolls on the guide rail.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a roller supporting member provided to the apparatus main body at a position downstream of the guide rail in the mounting direction, the roller supporting member having:

a slanted surface that slants down toward a downstream side in the mounting direction; and

a roller receiving surface having a concave arc shape for receiving the roller member when the photosensitive-member unit is in the mount position.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the friction applying member is made of micro-cell urethane foam.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the friction applying member comprises a plate-shaped member having a predetermined thickness.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a film member that covers the friction applying member.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the friction applying member is formed of sheet metal.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide rail disposed in the apparatus main body and extending in the first direction, the guide rail being configured to guide movement of the photosensitive-member unit in the first direction,

wherein the apparatus main body is formed with a photosensitive-member unit mounting space for accommodating the photosensitive-member unit; and

wherein the friction applying member comprises a sheet-like member including:

a fixed part that is fixed to the guide rail; and

a bent part that is bent in a wide V-shape that protrudes toward inside of the photosensitive-member unit mounting space, the bent part being located a downstream side of the guide rail with respect to a mounting direction in which the photosensitive-member unit is mounted.

18. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body formed with an opening;

a sliding unit slidable to be mounted to or dismounted from a mount position in the apparatus main body through the opening;

a developing cartridge wherein the sliding unit is configured to detachably mount the developing cartridge thereon; and

a friction applying member disposed in the apparatus main body, wherein the sliding unit is configured to slidingly contact the friction applying member when the sliding unit slides to the mount position, allowing the friction applying member to apply a frictional force to the sliding unit,

wherein:

the sliding unit is slidable in a first direction; and

the friction applying member is disposed so as to contact the sliding unit from a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

19. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an apparatus main body formed with an opening;

a developing cartridge;

a sliding unit slidable to be mounted to or dismounted from a mount position in the apparatus main body through the opening, the sliding unit being configured to detachably mount the developing cartridge thereon; and

a friction applying member configured to generate a frictional force to reduce a momentum of the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides to the mount position, wherein:

the sliding unit is slidable in a first direction; and

the friction applying member is located between the apparatus main body and the sliding unit in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction when the sliding unit is in the mount position in the apparatus main body.