Electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a plurality of process cartridges are detachably mountable by using a moving guide and an opening and closing member
US7466939B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G21/1839
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the process cartridges. The moving guide is moved in interlocking relationship with a closing motion of the opening and closing member from a load position, to which the process cartridges are loaded, to a mount position, in which the process cartridges are capable of performing an image forming operation, such that the process cartridges mounted to the load position can be moved to the mount position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.