Image forming apparatus including a casing and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the casing

• US 8,918,012 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Miwa, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Royer, William J
• Application Number:
  US13/834,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20130259520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 399/107, 399/110, 399/111, 399/125
• US Class Current: 399/110
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1619 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1633 using doors or covers G03G21/1638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1853 the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a casing having an opening that is open upward, a cover configured to open and close the opening, a process cartridge, and a guide. The guide is configured to guide the process cartridge in the casing while changing a position of the process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a first guided portion and a second guided portion. The guide includes a first guide configured to guide the first guided portion and a second guide configured to guide the second guided portion. The second guide has an upper portion disposed on an upstream side in an attaching direction of the process cartridge, and a lower portion extending smoothly from a lower end of the upper portion to a stop position in which the second guided portion is disposed. The lower portion is curved away from the first guide.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a casing having an opening that is open upwardly;

a cover configured to open and close the opening;

a process cartridge including a photosensitive member, the process cartridge being configured to be attached to or removed from the casing through the opening; and

a guide configured to guide the process cartridge in the casing while changing a position of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is attached to or removed from the casing,

wherein the process cartridge includes a first guided portion disposed proximate to the photosensitive member and a second guided portion disposed in a position further away from the photosensitive member than the first guided portion,

wherein the guide includes a first guide configured to guide the first guided portion and a second guide configured to guide the second guided portion, and

wherein the second guide has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being disposed on an upstream side in an attaching direction of the process cartridge, the lower portion extending smoothly from a lower end of the upper portion to a stop position in which the second guided portion of the process cartridge attached to the casing is disposed, and the lower portion being curved away from the first guide.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge includes a handle portion for holding during attachment or removal, the handle portion being disposed closer to the second guided portion than the first guided portion.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cover includes a pressing portion protruding inside the casing when the cover closes the opening, and the pressing portion is configured to, when the cover is closing the opening, contact the process cartridge being attached inside the casing and press the process cartridge toward an attachment position in which the process cartridge is attached to the casing.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an exposure unit,

wherein the pressing portion includes a plurality of pressing portions arranged in an axial direction of the photosensitive member, and

wherein light emitted from the exposure unit passes between the plurality of pressing portions.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the handle portion is disposed below a portion of the photosensitive member to be exposed by the exposure unit when the process cartridge is attached to the casing.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the opening of the casing is smaller in size than the process cartridge in a direction in which the photosensitive member and the handle portion are arranged.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the second guide is disposed lower than a lower end of the first guide.