Author: claimsbot

1. A tissue box for dispensing tissues, said tissue box including:
a top wall having a first aperture for allowing tissues to be pulled from inside of the box;
a bottom wall having a second aperture for allowing tissues to be pulled from inside of the box;
a side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, the side wall defining a void inside the box for containing tissues; and
a dividing means within the void, supported between the top wall and the bottom wall for dividing the tissues into a first group that are able to be removed through the first aperture and a second group that are able to be removed through the second aperture,
whereby, in use, after the first group of tissues is used, the box may be inverted, whereupon the second group of tissues may be used.
2. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is in the form of a dividing wall.
3. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is arranged to be supported by a support means such that the weight of the second group of tissues does not significantly sag the dividing means.
4. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is positioned approximately half to two thirds of the way between the top wall and the bottom wall.
5. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is connected to the side wall.
6. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is supported by longitudinally extending flaps that are folded down in between the folded end flaps of the box.
7. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is provided by a second tissue box with both bottom walls for each tissue box secured to one another.
8. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is provided by the base of a first box attached to a side wall of a bottomless second box.
9. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the dividing means is part of a self supporting insert.
10. A tissue box according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is comprised of opposed end walls and opposed lateral walls, arranged to form a rectangle.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Noise suppressor apparatus for attachment to a firearm including a barrel of having a longitudinal axis, comprising the combination of:
a fixture adapted to be attached to the muzzle of the barrel coaxially therewith and including an annular ridge; and
a noise suppressor including a back section having a bore for coaxially receiving said fixture, said back section including a collar having an outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring having an annular wall rotatably secured to said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said annular wall, said opening being concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over said ridge, said opening being eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position of said ring for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over said ridge.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said fixture is a flash suppressor.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said fixture is received by said bore.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said ring is longitudinally translatable on said collar for urging said radial wall to engage said ridge when said fixture is received by said bore.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said fixture is received in said bore.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said ridge includes a forward surface engaging said back section when said fixture is received by said bore.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
said ridge includes a rear surface engaging said radial wall when said ring is at said second rotational position.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said annular wall of said ring is threadedly secured to said outer surface of said collar.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the diameter of said opening is greater than the diameter of said ridge.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the diameter of said bore is less than the diameter of said ridge.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:
the diameter of said opening is greater than the diameter of said ridge.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said back section includes a radial pin and said fixture includes a longitudinal groove for receiving said pin when said fixture is received by said bore.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said back section for releasably locking said ring in said second rotational position.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1, including:
a stop on said back section cooperating with said ring for restricting rotation of said ring between said first rotational position and said second rotational position.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said back section for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1, including:
a locking bar affixed to said back section and having a pawl; and
ratchet teeth on said ring engaging said pawl when said ring is in said second rotational position for locking said ring in said second rotational position.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
said locking bar includes a manually operable actuator for releasing said pawl from engagement with said ratchet teeth.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
said locking bar includes a second pawl for cooperating with said ratchet teeth when said ring is at said first rotational position, for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
19. Noise suppressor apparatus for attachment to a firearm including a barrel having a longitudinal axis, comprising the combination of:
a fixture adapted to be attached to the muzzle of the barrel coaxially therewith and including an annular ridge; and
a noise suppressor including a back section having a bore for coaxially receiving said fixture, said back section including a collar having an outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring rotatably secured to said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said outer surface of said collar, said opening being concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over said ridge, said opening being eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position of said ring for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over said ridge.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:
said fixture is a flash suppressor.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said flash suppressor is received by said bore.
22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said ring is longitudinally translatable on said collar for urging said radial wall to engage said ridge when said flash suppressor is received by said bore.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said flash suppressor is received in said bore.
24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said ridge includes a forward surface engaging said back section when said flash suppressor is received by said bore.
25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein:
said ridge includes a rear surface engaging said radial wall when said ring is at said second rotational position.
26. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said ring is threadedly secured to said outer surface of said collar.
27. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
the diameter of said opening is greater than the diameter of said ridge.
28. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
the diameter of said bore is less than the diameter of said ridge.
29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein:
the diameter of said opening is greater than the diameter of said ridge.
30. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
said back section includes a radial pin and said flash suppressor includes a longitudinal groove for receiving said pin when said fixture is received by said bore.
31. The apparatus according to claim 20, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said back section for releasably locking said ring in said second rotational position.
32. The apparatus according to claim 20, including:
a stop on said back section cooperating with said ring for restricting rotation of said ring between said first rotational position and said second rotational position.
33. The apparatus according to claim 20, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said back section for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
34. The apparatus according to claim 20, including:
a locking bar affixed to said back section and having a pawl; and
ratchet teeth on said ring engaging said pawl when said ring is in said second rotational position for locking said ring in said second rotational position.
35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:
said locking bar includes a manually operable actuator for releasing said pawl from engagement with said ratchet teeth.
36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein:
said locking bar includes a second pawl for cooperating with said ratchet teeth when said ring is at said first rotational position, for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
37. Auxiliary apparatus for attachment to a firearm including a barrel having a longitudinal axis, comprising the combination of:
a fixture adapted to be attached to the muzzle of the barrel coaxially therewith and including an annular ridge; and
an auxiliary device having a bore for coaxially receiving said fixture, said device including a collar having an outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring having an annular wall rotatably secured to said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said annular wall, said opening being concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over said ridge, said opening being eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position of said ring for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over said ridge.
38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said fixture is received by said bore.
39. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:
said ring is longitudinally translatable on said collar for urging said radial wall to engage said ridge when said fixture is received by said bore.
40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said fixture is received in said bore.
41. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:
said annular wall of said ring is threadedly secured to said outer surface of said collar.
42. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:
the diameter of said opening is greater than the diameter of said ridge.
43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein:
the diameter of said bore is less than the diameter of said ridge.
44. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:
said auxiliary device includes a radial pin and said fixture includes a longitudinal groove for receiving said pin when said fixture is received by said bore.
45. The apparatus according to claim 37, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said auxiliary device for releasably locking said ring in said second rotational position.
46. The apparatus according to claim 37, including:
a stop on said auxiliary device cooperating with said ring for restricting rotation of said ring between said first rotational position and said second rotational position.
47. The apparatus according to claim 37, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said auxiliary device for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
48. The apparatus according to claim 37, including:
a locking bar affixed to said auxiliary device and having a pawl; and
ratchet teeth on said ring engaging said pawl when said ring is in said second rotational position for locking said ring in said second rotational position.
49. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
said locking bar includes a manually operable actuator for releasing said pawl from engagement with said ratchet teeth.
50. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein:
said locking bar includes a second pawl for cooperating with said ratchet teeth when said ring is at said first rotational position, for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
51. Auxiliary apparatus for attachment to a fixture coaxially secured to the barrel of a firearm having a longitudinal axis, the fixture including an annular ridge, the auxiliary apparatus comprising the combination of:
an auxiliary device having a bore for coaxially receiving the fixture, said device including a collar having an outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring rotatably secured to said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said outer surface of said collar, said opening being concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over the ridge, said opening being eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position of said ring for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over the ridge.
52. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said auxiliary device is a noise suppressor.
53. The apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the fixture is a flash suppressor.
54. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said fixture is received by said bore.
55. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein:
said ring is longitudinally translatable on said collar for urging said radial wall to engage said ridge when said fixture is received by said bore.
56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein:
said collar includes an edge about said bore engaging said ridge when said fixture is received in said bore.
57. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein:
said annular wall of said ring is threadedly secured to said outer surface of said collar.
58. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein:
the diameter of said opening is greater than the diameter of said ridge.
59. The apparatus according to claim 58, wherein:
the diameter of said bore is less than the diameter of said ridge.
60. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein:
said auxiliary device includes a radial pin and said fixture includes a longitudinal groove for receiving said pin when said fixture is received by said bore.
61. The apparatus according to claim 51, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said auxiliary device for releasably locking said ring in said second rotational position.
62. The apparatus according to claim 51, including:
a stop on said auxiliary device cooperating with said ring for restricting rotation of said ring between said first rotational position and said second rotational position.
63. The apparatus according to claim 51, including:
a locking device associated with said ring and said auxiliary device for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
64. The apparatus according to claim 51, including: a locking bar affixed to said auxiliary device and having a pawl; and
ratchet teeth on said ring engaging said pawl when said ring is in said second rotational position for locking said ring in said second rotational position.
65. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein:
said locking bar includes a manually operable actuator for releasing said pawl from engagement with said ratchet teeth.
66. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein:
said locking bar includes a second pawl for cooperating with said ratchet teeth when said ring is at said first rotational position, for releasably retaining said ring in said first rotational position.
67. Firearm apparatus comprising the combination of:
a firearm including a barrel having a longitudinal axis;
a fixture attached to the muzzle of said barrel coaxially therewith and including an annular ridge; and
an auxiliary device having a bore for coaxially receiving said fixture, said device including a collar having an outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring rotatably secured to said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said outer surface of said collar, said opening being concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over said ridge, said opening being eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position of said ring for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over said ridge.
68. The apparatus according to claim 67, wherein said auxiliary device is a noise suppressor.
69. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein said fixture is a flash suppressor.
70. Firearm apparatus comprising the combination of:
a firearm including a barrel having a longitudinal axis;
an annular ridge on a forward portion of said barrel; and
an auxiliary device having a bore for coaxially receiving said forward portion of said barrel, said device including a collar having an outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring rotatably secured to said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said outer surface of said collar, said opening being concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over said ridge, said opening being eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position of said ring for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over said ridge.
71. The apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said auxiliary device is a noise suppressor.
72. A method of attaching a noise suppressor to the barrel of a firearm having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
providing a flash suppressor with an annular ridge;
coaxially affixing said flash suppressor to the muzzle of the barrel;
providing a noise suppressor including a bore and a collar having a threaded outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring having an annular wall threaded onto said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said annular wall;
rotating said ring on said collar until said opening is concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over said ridge;
placing said noise suppressor to the firearm with said flash suppressor received by said bore; and
threading said ring on said collar until said opening is eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over said ridge.
73. The method according to claim 72, including:
releasably restraining said ring against rotation on said collar when said ring is at said first rotational position.
74. The method according to claim 72, including:
after the threading step, unthreading said ring on said collar until said ring is at said first rotational position; and
longitudinally withdrawing said noise suppressor from said flash suppressor.
75. The method according to claim 72, including:
releasably locking said ring against rotation on said collar when said ring is at said second rotational position.
76. The method according to claim 75, including:
unlocking said ring;
unthreading said ring on said collar until said ring is at said first rotational position; and
longitudinally withdrawing said noise suppressor from said flash suppressor.
77. The method according to claim 76, including:
after the unthreading step, releasably restraining said ring against rotation on said collar.
78. A method of attaching an auxiliary device to the barrel of a firearm having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
providing an annular ridge on a forward portion of the barrel;
providing an auxiliary device including a bore and a collar having a threaded outer surface eccentric about said bore, and a ring having an annular wall threaded onto said outer surface of said collar, said ring including a radial wall having a circular opening eccentric relative to said annular wall;
rotating said ring on said collar until said opening is concentric relative to said bore at a first rotational position of said ring for permitting said ring to pass over said ridge;
placing said auxiliary device to the firearm with said forward portion of said barrel received by said bore; and
threading said ring on said collar until said opening is eccentric relative to said bore at a second rotational position for causing said radial wall to block passage of said ring over said ridge.
79. The method according to claim 78, including:
releasably restraining said ring against rotation on said collar when said ring is at said first rotational position.
80. The method according to claim 78, including:
after the threading step, unthreading said ring on said collar until said ring is at said first rotational position; and
longitudinally withdrawing said auxiliary device from the forward portion of the barrel.
81. The method according to claim 78, including:
releasably locking said ring against rotation on said collar when said ring is at said second rotational position.
82. The method according to claim 81, including:
unlocking said ring;
unthreading said ring on said collar until said ring is at said first rotational position; and
longitudinally withdrawing said auxiliary device from the forward portion of the barrel.
83. The method according to claim 82, including:
after the unthreading step, releasably restraining said ring against rotation on said collar.
84. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said noise suppressor and said fixture include interacting parts preventing rotation of said noise suppressor with respect to the barrel when said fixture is received by said bore.
85. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:
said noise suppressor and said fixture include interacting parts preventing rotation of said noise suppressor with respect to the barrel when said fixture is received by said bore.
86. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:
said auxiliary device and said fixture include interacting parts preventing rotation of said auxiliary device with respect to the barrel when said fixture is received by said bore.
87. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein:
said auxiliary device and said fixture include interacting parts preventing rotation of said auxiliary device with respect to the barrel when said fixture is received by said bore.

1-10. (canceled)
11. An optical module comprising:
a base table;
a plurality of optical-waveguide devices mounted on said base table, said plurality of optical-waveguide devices each including an optical waveguide;
an optical system including an optical lens, said optical system being configured to optically couple said plurality of optical-waveguide devices; and
a support unit configured to support at least one of said plurality of optical-waveguide devices on said base table,
wherein said support unit includes:
a fixing member having a base of a substantially rectangular solid shape fixed onto said base table, and a pair of upright walls standing upright on a top surface of said base and extending to oppose each other; and
a sub-mount unit of a substantially rectangular solid shape sandwiched between opposing wall surfaces of said pair of upright walls at opposing side surfaces thereof, the sub-mount unit being supported by said upright walls apart from said base.
12. The optical module according to claim 11, wherein said sub-mount unit includes a first sub-mount made of a metal supported by said upright walls, and a second sub-mount made of a nonmetal material supported by said first sub-mount and mounting thereon said optical-waveguide device.
13. The optical module according to claim 11, wherein said base table and said fixing member, as well as said fixing member and said sub-mount unit, are fixed together by spot welding.
14. The optical module according to claim 11, wherein a gap between a bottom surface of said sub-mount unit and said top surface of said base is filled with a filling member made of a heat-conductive material.
15. The optical module according to claim 14, wherein said filling member includes solder having a melting point that is higher than a melting point of solder that fixes said base table within a package.
16. The optical module according to claim 15, wherein said bottom surface of said sub-mount unit and said top surface of said base are plated prior to being filled by said filling member.
17. A method of manufacturing an optical module comprising:
preparing a fixing member including a base of a substantially rectangular solid shape and a pair of upright walls standing on a top surface of said base and extending to oppose each other;
preparing a plurality of optical-waveguide devices each having an optical waveguide;
mounting at least one of said plurality of optical-waveguide devices on a sub-mount unit of a substantially rectangular solid shape having two opposing surfaces having therebetween an offset distance that is adapted to an offset distance between said pair of upright walls;
inserting said sub-mount unit mounting thereon said optical-waveguide device while sliding said opposing surfaces on wall surfaces of said two upright walls; and
optically coupling said at least one of said plurality of optical-waveguide devices with another of said plurality of optical-waveguide device via an optical system including an optical lens, and thereafter fixing together said sub-mount unit and said fixing member and fixing together said fixing member and said base table.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least said opposing surfaces of said sub-mount unit and said upright walls of said fixing member are each made of a metal, and said optically coupling uses spot welding.
19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:
filling a gap between a bottom surface of said sub-mount unit and said top surface of said base with a filling member made of a heat-conductive material.
20. the method according to claim 17, wherein said sub-mount unit includes a first sub-mount made of a metal supported by said upright walls, and a second sub-mount made of a nonmetal material supported by said first sub-mount and mounting thereon said optical-waveguide device.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image carrier rotatably provided therein and configured to carry an image on a circumferential surface of the image carrier;
at least one exposure device configured to expose a plurality of exposure positions on the circumferential surface of the image carrier with light;
a drive device configured to drive the image carrier to rotate;
a first meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the image carrier;
a second meshing member positioned to convey a drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member by one of a direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member and a timing belt spanned around the first and second meshing members; and
at least one pair of meshing members positioned to convey the drive force generated by the drive device to the second meshing member, the at least one pair of meshing members connecting to each other by one of a direct meshing engagement and a timing belt,
wherein the first meshing member has a plurality of teeth between first and second exposure positions of the plurality of exposure positions, the plurality of teeth on the first meshing member has a number of teeth which is an integer multiple of a number of teeth on the second meshing member, the first and second meshing members have numbers of teeth whose ratio is an integer, and the meshing members of the at least one pair have numbers of teeth whose ratio is an integer.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member by the direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member, and the first and second meshing members comprise gears.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gears comprise helical gears.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member by the timing belt, and the first and second meshing members comprise pulleys.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the at least one pair of meshing members include a third meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the second meshing member and a fourth meshing member positioned to mesh with the third meshing member to convey the drive force generated by the drive device to the third meshing member;
the third and fourth meshing members comprise gears;
the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member by the timing belt; and
the third and fourth meshing members have a reduction ratio which is greater than a reduction ratio of the first and second meshing members.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member by the direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member;
the at least one pair of meshing members include a third meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the second meshing member and a fourth meshing member positioned to convey the drive force generated by the drive device to the third meshing member by a timing belt spanned around the third and fourth meshing members; and
the first and second meshing members have a reduction ratio which is greater than a reduction ratio of the third and fourth meshing members.
7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image carrier rotatably provided therein and configured to carry an image on a circumferential surface of the image carrier;
at least one exposure device configured to expose a plurality of exposure positions on the circumferential surface of the image carrier with light;
a drive device configured to drive the image carrier to rotate;
a first meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the image carrier;
a second meshing member positioned to convey a drive force generated by the drive device to the first meshing member via a timing belt spanned around the first and second meshing members; and
a tension roller positioned to press against a surface of the timing belt to tension the timing belt,
wherein the timing belt has a conveyance distance between the first and second exposure positions, and the conveyance distance is an integer multiple of a peripheral length of the tension roller.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
the first meshing member comprises a pulley; and
the conveyance distance is conveyed by one rotation of the first meshing member.
9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image carrier rotatably provided therein and configured to carry an image on a circumferential surface of the image carrier;
at least one exposure device configured to expose a plurality of exposure positions on the circumferential surface of the image carrier with light;
a drive device configured to drive the image carrier to rotate;
at least one pair of meshing members positioned to convey a drive force generated by the drive device to the image carrier; and
a cleaning device configured to clean the circumferential surface of the image carrier while being driven by the drive device to slide in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning device,
wherein the image carrier is rotated between the first and second exposure positions for a time which is an integer multiple of a time for sliding the cleaning device by one reciprocating motion.
10. An image forming apparatus comprising:
image carrying means for carrying an image;
exposing means for exposing a plurality of exposure positions on the image carrying means;
driving means for driving the image carrying means to rotate;
a first meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the image carrying means;
a second meshing member positioned to convey a drive force generated by the driving means to the first meshing member by one of a direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member and a timing belt spanned around the first and second meshing members; and
at least one pair of meshing members positioned to convey the drive force generated by the driving means to the second meshing member, the at least one pair of meshing members connecting to each other by one of a direct meshing engagement and a timing belt,
wherein the first meshing member has a plurality of teeth between first and second exposure positions of the plurality of exposure positions, the plurality of teeth on the first meshing member has a number of teeth which is an integer multiple of a number of teeth on the second meshing member, the first and second meshing members have numbers of teeth whose ratio is an integer, and the meshing members of the at least one pair have numbers of teeth whose ratio is an integer.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the driving means to the first meshing member by the direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member, and the first and second meshing members comprise gears.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gears comprise helical gears.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the driving means to the first meshing member by the timing belt, and the first and second meshing members comprise pulleys.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:
the at least one pair of meshing members include a third meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the second meshing member and a fourth meshing member positioned to mesh with the third meshing member to convey the drive force generated by the driving means to the third meshing member;
the third and fourth meshing members comprise gears;
the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the driving means to the first meshing member by the timing belt; and
the third and fourth meshing members have a reduction ratio which is greater than a reduction ratio of the first and second meshing members.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:
the second meshing member conveys the drive force generated by the driving means to the first meshing member by the direct meshing engagement with the first meshing member;
the at least one pair of meshing members include a third meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the second meshing member and a fourth meshing member positioned to convey the drive force generated by the driving means to the third meshing member by a timing belt spanned around the third and fourth meshing members; and
the first and second meshing members have a reduction ratio which is greater than a reduction ratio of the third and fourth meshing members.
16. An image forming apparatus comprising:
image carrying means for carrying an image;
exposing means for exposing a plurality of exposure positions on the image carrying means;
driving means for driving the image carrying means to rotate;
a first meshing member positioned to rotate coaxially and unitarily with the image carrying means;
a second meshing member positioned to convey a drive force generated by the driving means to the first meshing member via a timing belt spanned around the first and second meshing members; and
a tension roller positioned to press against a surface of the timing belt to tension the timing belt,
wherein the timing belt has a conveyance distance between the first and second exposure positions, and the conveyance distance is an integer multiple of a peripheral length of the tension roller.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
the first meshing member comprises a pulley; and
the conveyance distance is conveyed by one rotation of the first meshing member.
18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
image carrying means for carrying an image;
exposing means for exposing a plurality of exposure positions on the image carrying means;
driving means for driving the image carrying means to rotate;
at least one pair of meshing members positioned to convey a drive force generated by the driving means to the image carrying means; and
cleaning means for cleaning the image carrying means while being driven by the driving means to slide in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning means,
wherein the image carrying means is rotated between the first and second exposure positions for a time which is an integer multiple of a time for sliding the cleaning means by one reciprocating motion.