Patent ID: 8145098

Claim:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a body defining an opening that provides access into the body; a cover provide to open and close the opening; a plurality of photosensitive members supported in the body; a light scanning device to irradiate a light on the plurality of photosensitive members, the light scanning device including a plurality of passage windows each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of photosensitive members; and a shutter device configured to open and close the plurality of passage windows in accordance with opening and closing of the cover, wherein the shutter device comprises at least one shutter unit including a first plurality of shutter plates, a second plurality of shutter plates and a first gear configured to rotate in a first direction when the cover opens and in a second direction when the cover closes, and each of the first and second plurality of shutter plates is configured to close a respective corresponding one of the plurality of passage windows when the first gear rotates in the first direction, and to open the respective corresponding one of the plurality of passage windows when the first gear rotates in the second direction.