ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20070160385A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Hiromi, Imaizumi, Chikara, NOGUCHI, Tomio
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/110
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1623 Means to access the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1684 using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges

Abstract

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is detachably mountable, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main assembly frame having an opening; a main assembly door movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an opening position for opening the opening; a tray for carrying the cartridge, the tray is movable among a latent image formation position which is inside the main assembly frame and is taken when the main assembly door is at the closing position and in which a latent image can be formed on the drum, a mounting and demounting position which is taken when the main assembly door is at the opening position in which the tray is protruded out of the main assembly frame through opening to permit mounting and demounting of the cartridge thereto, and a movable position which is between the mounting and demounting position and the latent image formation position in which the tray is movable to the latent image formation position in interrelation with movement of the main assembly door from the opening position to the closing position; a regulating member movable between a regulating position for regulating movement of the main assembly door from the opening position to the position when the tray is a mounting and demounting position side beyond the movable position, and a permitting position for permitting movement of the main assembly door from the opening position to the closing position when the tray is at the movable position.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member is detachably mountable, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

a main assembly frame having an opening;

a main assembly door movable between a closing position for closing said opening and an opening position for opening said opening;

a tray for carrying said process cartridge, said tray is movable among a latent image formation position which is inside said main assembly frame and is taken when said main assembly door is at the closing position and in which a latent image can be formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a mounting and demounting position which is taken when said main assembly door is at the opening position in which said tray is protruded out of said main assembly frame through opening to permit mounting and demounting of said process cartridge thereto, and a movable position which is between said mounting and demounting position and said latent image formation position in which said tray is movable to said latent image formation position in interrelation with movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position;

a regulating member movable between a regulating position for regulating movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said position when said tray is a mounting and demounting position side beyond said movable position, and a permitting position for permitting movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position when said tray is at said movable position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting member, connected with said main assembly door and supported movably relative to said main assembly frame, for movably supporting said tray, wherein said main assembly door is prevented from moving to said closing position by said supporting member moving to abut said regulating member in interrelation with movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer member, provided in said main assembly frame and contactable to said electrophotographic photosensitive member, for moving a toner image from said electrophotographic photosensitive member to a transfer material, wherein the transfer material is contacted to said electrophotographic photosensitive member when said tray is at said latent image formation position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said regulating member moves from said regulating position to said permitting position in interrelation with movement of said tray to said movable position from a position which is a mounting and demounting position side beyond said movable position.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tray urges said regulating member to move said regulating member from said regulating position to said permitting position in interrelation with movement of said tray to said movable position from a position which is a mounting and demounting position side beyond said movable position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion abuttable to said regulating member in interrelation with movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position to regulate movement of said main assembly door to said closing position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said engaging portion engages with a portion to be engaged at said permitting position in interrelation with movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position to permit movement of said main assembly door to said closing position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a supporting member, connected with said main assembly door and supported movably relative to said main assembly frame, for movably supporting said tray, wherein said supporting member is provided with said engaging portion.

6. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member is detachably mountable, said electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

a main assembly frame having an opening;

a main assembly door movable between a closing position for closing said opening and an opening position for opening said opening;

a tray for carrying said process cartridge, said tray is movable among a latent image formation position which is inside said main assembly frame and is taken when said main assembly door is at the closing position and in which a latent image can be formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a mounting and demounting position which is taken when said main assembly door is at the opening position in which said tray is protruded out of said main assembly frame through opening to permit mounting and demounting of said process cartridge thereto, and a movable position which is between said mounting and demounting position and said latent image formation position in which said tray is movable to said latent image formation position in interrelation with movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position;

a regulating member movable between a regulating position for regulating movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position when said tray is at a position which is a mounting and demounting position side beyond said movable position and a permitting position for permitting movement of said main assembly door from said opening position to said closing position when said tray is at said movable position.