Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a guide portion provided to a supporting member, engages a cartridge and guides the cartridge, to move the cartridge toward a mounting portion. A regulated portion provided to a frame, and a regulating portion provided to the supporting member, regulates the position of the regulated portion when the cartridge is at a position not engaged with the guide portion. The supporting member is configured with an upstream side of a light emitting surface being opened with regard to mounting the cartridge to the mounting portion in the mounting direction. A gap is formed between the frame and the light emitting surface when the regulated portion is in contact with the regulating portion and the position of the regulated portion is being regulated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a guide portion provided to a supporting member, engages a cartridge and guides the cartridge, to move the cartridge toward a mounting portion. A regulated portion provided to a frame, and a regulating portion provided to the supporting member, regulates the position of the regulated portion when the cartridge is at a position not engaged with the guide portion. The supporting member is configured with an upstream side of a light emitting surface being opened with regard to mounting the cartridge to the mounting portion in the mounting direction. A gap is formed between the frame and the light emitting surface when the regulated portion is in contact with the regulating portion and the position of the regulated portion is being regulated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in a state of carrying a first cartridge and a second cartridge, and a drawn position in which said first cartridge and said second cartridge are mountable and demountable relative to said cartridge supporting member. The supporting member includes a first mounting portion for a first cartridge, and a second mounting portion for a second cartridge which is disposed upstream of said first mounting portion with respect to a supporting member drawing direction. A first guide portion for the first cartridge, and a second guide portion for said second cartridge, wherein a downward movement distance of said second cartridge when the cartridge is demounted from said second mounting portion is larger than that of said first cartridge.

Abstract: A toner storage unit provided in an image forming apparatus that enables a user to replace the toner storage unit when the user opens the door of the image forming apparatus, moves a developing cartridge in a direction corresponding to removal of the developing cartridge, and places the developing cartridge in the toner storage unit replacement position where the toner storage unit can be removed and replaced.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in which a drawer supporting a cartridge is mounted in an apparatus main body, and an impact when a drawer is mounted into the apparatus main body may be suppressed to prevent a developer from scattering within a developer container. The drawer supporting the cartridge is movable between an inside position in the apparatus main body and a pullout position at which the cartridge is mounted and removed. On a forward side of the inside position, a force giving portion for giving a force to the drawer in a direction opposite to a mounting direction is provided. The force giving portion gives the force gradually to the drawer along with movement of the drawer in the mounting direction. With this structure, it is possible to suppress the scattering of the developer in the cartridge caused by the impact on mounting.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a main cartridge configured to be attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, and a sub cartridge configured to be attachable to the main cartridge, wherein the main cartridge includes a moving member configured to be capable of moving between a first position for preventing, by the moving member contacting the apparatus body, the main cartridge from entering the inside of the apparatus body and a second position for allowing the main cartridge to enter the inside of the apparatus body, and a regulation member capable of moving between a regulation position for locking the moving member at the first position and an allowable position for allowing the moving member to move to the second position, and wherein the regulation member moves to the allowable position by attaching the sub cartridge to the main cartridge.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the cartridge containing a developer for effecting development and including a force receiving portion, wherein the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and an urging member for urging the cartridge; wherein by mounting the cartridge, the force receiving portion receives a force from the urging member to urge the developing roller to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a transfer member for transferring a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a mounting portion for demountably mounting a cartridge, the image formation unit being movable, in a state that the cartridge is demountably mounted, between a transfer position for transferring the developed image, and a mounting and demounting position, different from the transfer position, and a regulating member for limiting movement of the cartridge mounted to the mounting portion, when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position, the regulating member being movable between a regulating position for limiting the movement of the cartridge, and a permitting position for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge, and the regulating member being in a regulating position when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position.

Abstract: Provided is a configuration in which a scanner is mounted to a cartridge door via an elastic member, and the scanner is positioned relative to a frame that can be mounted to and demounted from an apparatus main body and that supports an intermediate transfer member and a photosensitive member using an urging force of the elastic member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a door 10 openable with respect to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a drum cartridge 8 detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main assembly, and detachably mountable developing cartridges 4k-4y provided above the drum cartridge 8, wherein the door 10 includes a positioning urging portion 26 contacting the developing cartridges in a state in which the door 10 is closed, the door 10 includes drum cartridge mounting and demounting guides 28R and 28L for regulating the drum cartridge 8 so as to pass along a non-interference path with the positioning urging portion 26 in contact to the drum cartridge 8 when the drum cartridge 8 is demounted from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in a state of carrying a first cartridge and a second cartridge, and a drawn position in which said first cartridge and said second cartridge are mountable and demountable relative to said cartridge supporting member. The supporting member includes a first mounting portion for a first cartridge, and a second mounting portion for a second cartridge which is disposed upstream of said first mounting portion with respect to a supporting member drawing direction. A first guide portion for the first cartridge, and a second guide portion for said second cartridge, wherein a downward movement distance of said second cartridge when the cartridge is demounted from said second mounting portion is larger than that of said first cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is provided with guide portions to be used to mount a cartridge group including plural cartridges in the image forming apparatus. Some of the guide portions are used also to mount an alternative cartridge, which is configured to occupy two or more of plural mounting spaces, in the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge supporting member carrying a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The cartridge supporting member includes a first guide portion for guiding mounting and demounting of the first cartridge relative to a first mounting portion, and a second guide portion for guiding mounting and demounting of the second cartridge relative to a second mounting portion. When the second cartridge is dismounted from the second mounting portion, the second cartridge moves in a downstream direction with respect to a drawing direction, and wherein a distance of movement, in the downstream direction, of the second cartridge along the second guide portion from the second mounting portion until the second cartridge is dismounted is greater than a distance of movement, in the downstream direction, of the first cartridge along the first guide portion from the first mounting portion until the first cartridge is dismounted.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is provided with guide portions to be used to mount a cartridge group including plural cartridges in the image forming apparatus. Some of the guide portions are used also to mount an alternative cartridge, which is configured to occupy two or more of plural mounting spaces, in the image forming apparatus.