Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10095178-B2
Application number	US-201615060374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2014
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium includes an image-bearing-unit support member, a developing unit support member, a plurality of light exposure units, and a light-exposure-unit operating member. The image-bearing-unit support member is movable between the inside and the outside of the image forming apparatus while supporting a plurality of image bearing units which each include an image bearing member. The developing unit support member is movable independently of the image-bearing-unit support member. The plurality of light exposure units each cause a corresponding one of the image bearing members to be exposed to light so as to form an electrostatic latent image. The light-exposure-unit operating member moves the light exposure units relative to the developing unit support member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium, the apparatus comprising:
an image-bearing-unit support member that is movable between an inside and an outside of the image forming apparatus while supporting a plurality of image bearing units, which each include an image bearing member;
a belt member that contacts the plurality of image bearing members; and
an image-bearing-unit operating member that moves the image bearing units relative to the image-bearing-unit support member when the image-bearing-unit support member is inside the image forming apparatus, thereby moving the image bearing units from a contact position where the image bearing units contacts the belt member to a separate position where the image bearing units are separated from the belt member
wherein the image-bearing-unit operating member causes at least one of the plurality of image bearing units to be started to move from the contact position toward the separate position at different timing from timing at which the image-bearing-unit operating member causes the other image bearing unit or the other image bearing units to be started to move from the contact position toward the separate position.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image-bearing-unit operating member includes image-bearing-unit holding portions that are brought into contact with the image bearing units, so that the image bearing units are held so as to be separated from the belt member when the image-bearing-unit support member is moved.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image-bearing-unit operating member includes image-bearing-unit movement portions that are inclined relative to a movement direction of the image-bearing-unit support member and that are brought into contact with the image bearing units, so that the image bearing units are moved in a direction separating from the belt member.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an opening and closing member that opens and closes an opening through which the image-bearing-unit support member passes,
wherein the image-bearing-unit operating member moves the image bearing units in a direction separating from the belt member when the opening and closing member is opened, and
wherein the image-bearing-unit operating member moves the image bearing units in a direction approaching the belt member when the opening and closing member is closed.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image-bearing-unit support member includes a handle that is held when the image-bearing-unit support member is moved,
wherein the image-bearing-unit operating member moves the image bearing units in a direction separating from the belt member when the handle is held, and
wherein the image-bearing-unit operating member moves the image bearing units in a direction approaching the belt member when a held state of the handle is released.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a developing unit operating member that moves developing units, where each develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a corresponding one of the image bearing members, relative to the image-bearing-unit support member when the image-bearing-unit support member is inside the image forming apparatus.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the developing unit operating member causes at least one of the developing units to be started to move at different timing from timing at which the developing unit operating member causes the other developing unit or the other developing units to be started to move.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Ogino Hiroki
• Matsunaga Tomonori

Classifications

• G03G21/1671

  for the photosensitive element · CPC title

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G21/1633

  using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G2221/1654

  Locks and means for positioning or alignment · CPC title

• G03G21/1647 Primary

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title