Image forming apparatus and main assembly of the image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9310756-B2
Application number	US-201414582421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2014
Priority date	Dec 26, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening through which a cartridge is to be mounted, an openable member movable between a closed position and an open position, and a cartridge, including a portion-to-be-urged, detachably mountable to the main assembly in a mounting completion position. When the openable member is open, a supporting surface is capable of guiding the cartridge to the opening, and during a closing operation, an urging portion and the portion-to-be-urged contact each other to push the cartridge toward the mounting completion position. When the openable member is in the closed position, a spacing is provided between the recessed portion and the portion-to-be-urged. The cartridge is a process cartridge having a photosensitive member unit and a developing device unit including the portion-to-be-urged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:
a main assembly provided with an opening through which a cartridge is to be mounted into and demounted from said main assembly;
an openable member movable between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is open; and
a cartridge, including a portion-to-be-urged, detachably mountable to said main assembly in a mounting completion position,
wherein said openable member includes a guiding portion including a supporting surface, a recessed portion provided partway of the supporting surface, and an urging portion as a part of said supporting surface,
wherein when said openable member is in the open position, said supporting surface is capable of guiding said cartridge to the opening,
wherein during a closing operation of said openable member, said urging portion and said portion-to-be-urged contact each other to push said cartridge toward the mounting completion position,
wherein when said openable member is in the closed position, a spacing is provided between said recessed portion and said portion-to-be-urged, and
wherein said cartridge is a process cartridge comprising:
a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive drum;
a developing device unit, including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, rotatable relative to said photosensitive member unit; and
an urging member for urging said developing roller toward said photosensitive drum,
wherein said developing device unit includes said portion-to-be-urged.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said developing device unit includes a side member rotatably connected with said photosensitive member unit at one end portion of said developing device unit with respect to an axial direction of said developing roller, and
wherein said side member includes said portion-to-be-urged.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said developing device unit includes a side member rotatably connected with said photosensitive member unit at each end portion of said developing device unit with respect to an axial direction of said developing roller, and
wherein said side member includes said portion-to-be-urged.

4. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:
a main assembly provided with an opening through which a cartridge is to be mounted into and demounted from said main assembly;
an openable member movable between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is open; and
a cartridge, including a portion-to-be-urged, detachably mountable to said main assembly in a mounting completion position,
wherein said openable member includes a guiding portion including a supporting surface, a recessed portion provided partway of said supporting surface, and an urging portion as a part of said supporting surface,
wherein when said openable member is in the open position, said supporting surface is capable of guiding said cartridge to the opening,
wherein during a closing operation of said openable member, said urging portion and said portion-to-be-urged contact each other to push said cartridge toward the mounting completion position,
wherein when said openable member is in the closed position, a spacing is provided between said recessed portion and said portion-to-be-urged,
wherein said cartridge is a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum,
wherein said developing cartridge includes a side member at one end portion with respect to an axial direction of said developing roller, and
wherein said side member includes said portion-to-be-urged.

5. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:
a main assembly provided with an opening through which a cartridge is to be mounted into and demounted from said main assembly;
an openable member movable between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is open; and
a cartridge, including a portion-to-be-urged, detachably mountable to said main assembly in a mounting completion position,
wherein said openable member includes a guiding portion including a supporting surface, a recessed portion provided partway of said supporting surface, and an urging portion as a part of said supporting surface,
wherein when said openable member is in the open position, said supporting surface is capable of guiding said cartridge to the opening,
wherein during a closing operation of said openable member, said urging portion and said portion-to-be-urged contact each other to push said cartridge toward the mounting completion position,
wherein when said openable member is in the closed position, a spacing is provided between said recessed portion and said portion-to-be-urged,
wherein said cartridge is a developing cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum,
wherein said developing cartridge includes a side member at each end portion with respect to an axial direction of said developing roller, and
wherein said side member includes said portion-to-be-urged.

6. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:
a main assembly provided with an opening through which a cartridge is to be mounted into and demounted from said main assembly;
an openable member movable between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is open; and
a cartridge, including a portion-to-be-urged, detachably mountable to said main assembly in a mounting completion position,
wherein said openable member includes a guiding portion including a supporting surface, a recessed portion provided partway of said supporting surface, and an urging portion as a part of said supporting surface,
wherein when said openable member is in the open position, said supporting surface is capable of guiding said cartridge to the opening,
wherein during a closing operation of said openable member, said urging portion and said portion-to-be-urged contact each other to push said cartridge toward the mounting completion position,
wherein when said openable member is in the closed position, a spacing is provided between said recessed portion and said portion-to-be-urged, and
wherein said cartridge is a toner cartridge for accommodating a toner to be supplied to a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said toner cartridge includes a side member at one end portion with respect to a longitudinal direction, and
wherein said side member includes said portion-to-be-urged.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said toner cartridge includes a side member at each end portion with respect to a longitudinal direction, and
wherein said side member includes said portion-to-be-urged.

9. A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in a mounting completion position, said image forming apparatus comprising:
a main assembly provided with an opening through which said cartridge is to be mounted into and demounted from said main assembly;
an openable member movable between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is open, said openable member including a recessed portion and an urging portion; and
a cartridge,

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Koishi Isao
• Fukasawa Yu
• Kusudo Ryoji

Classifications

• G03G21/1661 Primary

  means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus (G03G21/1604, G03G21/1642 take precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1633

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

• G03G21/1853

  the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member · CPC title