Patent ID: 8520046
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: B41J,G02B,G03G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a chassis; plural image bearing members; plural optical scanning devices having a same configuration and located on respective installation positions of the chassis after installed thereon to scan the plural image bearing members with light beams; and plural incompatibility imparting mechanisms located on the corresponding optical scanning devices and having a same configuration and a same initial state before the plural optical scanning devices are installed on the chassis, wherein each of the plural incompatibility imparting mechanisms is set to one of a plural incompatibility states during installation of the corresponding optical scanning devices to the respective installation positions, a change from a compatible state to an incompatibility state is caused by movement of part of the incompatibility imparting mechanism, relative to the optical scanning device, during installation of the plural optical scanning devices on the chassis, and when the plural optical scanning devices are detached from the chassis and then attached again thereto, the incompatibility imparting mechanisms in the respective incompatibility states physically prevent the corresponding optical scanning devices from being installed to positions other than the respective installation positions of the chassis.