Patent ID: 9612567
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: G03G

Claim:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of photosensitive bodies; a plurality of illumination units respectively opposed to the plurality of photosensitive bodies, and each configured to emit static eliminating light onto a surface of the corresponding photosensitive body; a light emitter that serves as light source; a light guide unit configured to guide light from the light emitter toward the plurality of illumination units; a driving mechanism configured to switch between allowing the illumination unit to emit light and restricting the illumination unit from emitting light, to the photosensitive body; a control unit configured to cause the driving mechanism to perform a light emitting operation including allowing the illumination unit opposed to the photosensitive body being used for image forming to emit light to the photosensitive body, and restricting the illumination unit opposed to the photosensitive body not being used for the image forming from emitting light to the photosensitive body; and a shielding member extending along the illumination unit so as to cover the illumination unit and configured to rotate about the illumination unit, the shielding member including a transmission path formed in a part of a circumferential surface in a rotating direction so as to transmit the light emitted from the illumination unit toward the photosensitive body, and being configured to transmit the light toward the photosensitive body or block the light, wherein the driving mechanism is configured to rotate the shielding member about the illumination unit, and the control unit is configured to cause the driving mechanism to rotate the shielding member opposed to the photosensitive body used for image forming to a position that allows the light to pass the transmission path, and rotate the shielding member opposed to the photosensitive body not used for the image forming to a position that restricts the light from passing the transmission path, thereby allowing the driving mechanism to perform a light emitting operation.