JP2009186999A - Electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus improved in convenience, allowing easy replacement of a process cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a cartridge tray 56 movable in one direction for the body of a printer 50 while containing process cartridges 100 detachably arranged in parallel in the one direction, and a latching mechanism (recess 59c, roller 60) for latching the cartridge tray 59 to the body of the printer 50 while the cartridge tray 59 is moved from the body of the printer 50. At least one latching position where the cartridge tray 59 is to be latched to the body of the printer 50 by the latching mechanism, is provided between a position where the cartridge tray 59 is attached to the body of the printer 50 and a position where the cartridge tray 59 is drawn out to the maximum from the body of the printer 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a function of forming an image on a recording medium such as a sheet, such as a copying machine or a printer.

  Conventionally, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers are mainly used as follows. It includes a developing device that develops a latent image drawn on a photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive drum) with laser light, a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image to a sheet, and the transferred toner image on the sheet. And a fixing device for fixing to the apparatus.

  As a cartridge, developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means, and the like are integrally formed into a cartridge. The cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body and is provided so as to be replaceable by the user. Such a configuration facilitates maintenance of the apparatus main body.

With respect to the cartridge attachment / detachment configuration, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a system in which the intermediate transfer belt unit is a drawer configuration, the cartridge is pulled out, and the cartridge is attached / detached. There is also a method of exchanging cartridges by opening the main unit upper unit as the main unit upper unit.
JP 2003-316105 A

  However, in the case of the conventional technology as described above, there are concerns that the following problems will occur.

  In general, it is not necessary to replace all the multi-color process cartridges at the same time. Instead, the process cartridges are frequently used, but it is necessary to pull out all process cartridges, including those that do not require replacement. And the replacement was complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus with improved convenience, in which cartridge replacement can be easily performed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
An apparatus body having a transfer member for transferring a developer image to the recording medium;
A plurality of cartridges each including at least one of an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing roller that forms the developer image by developing the electrostatic latent image;
An inner position where all of the plurality of cartridges are positioned inside the apparatus main body, and an outer position where all of the plurality of cartridges are positioned outside the apparatus main body; A support member attached to the apparatus main body so as to be movable along the arrangement direction of the cartridges between,
When the support member moves from the inner position to the outer position, the support member is locked to the apparatus main body each time the cartridges of the plurality of cartridges are exposed to the outer side of the apparatus main body. Mechanism,
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus with improved convenience in which cartridge replacement can be easily performed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the scope to the following embodiments.

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a cartridge. Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer), a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, and the like.

  The cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of process means such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means is integrally formed.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

(Example)
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a laser beam printer as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the overall configuration and function of the laser beam printer (hereinafter, printer) 50 will be described.

  In the printer 50 main body, there are a laser scanner 51, a photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) as an image carrier, a developing roller 10 (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d), and an intermediate transfer belt as a transfer member. 52, a fixing unit 53, a discharge roller 54, and the like are installed.

  The photosensitive drum 1 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed on the outer peripheral surface by the laser light from the laser scanner 51. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed on the developing roller. 10 is developed to form a toner image (developer image).

  The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 52 side (transfer member side) at a nip formed by the contact between the photosensitive drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 52. When a color image is formed, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors are developed on the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, and toner images formed on the photosensitive drums are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 52. Sequentially superimposed and transferred.

  Next, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 52 is transferred to a recording material (recording medium, for example, paper) X.

  Further, the recording material X onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the nip portion of the fixing unit 53 where it is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the recording material X.

  The recording material X on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to a discharge portion 55 by a discharge roller 54.

  The photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) is a printer as a process cartridge 100 (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d) integrated with the developing roller 10 (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) or the like. It is provided so as to be detachable from the main body. As shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridges 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are arranged in parallel in one direction (D2 direction in FIG. 2) in the printer 50.

[Process cartridge]
Next, the process cartridge 100 (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the process cartridge 100 of the present embodiment.

  Here, the process cartridges 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d have the same structure except that different color toners are stored. As described above, a plurality of process cartridges having the same configuration are arranged in parallel in one direction in the printer 50.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a process cartridge 100 includes a charging roller 3 as a charging unit, a developing roller 10 as a developing unit, and a cleaning blade 2 as a cleaning unit that removes transfer residual toner on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. Are arranged integrally. Further, the process cartridge 100 includes a developing unit 9 provided with the developing roller 10 and a cleaning unit 5 provided with the cleaning blade 2. Here, the charging roller 3 and the developing roller 10 constitute process means for forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1.

  Then, toner as a developer is accommodated in a developing frame (container) 8 as a developer accommodating portion provided in the developing unit 9, and the developing roller is rotated by a developer supply roller 6 (rotated clockwise in FIG. 5). 10 is coated with toner.

  The developing roller 10 is composed of an elastic rubber roller, and rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. The toner remaining on the developing roller 10 after development is removed by the developer supply roller 6. Thereafter, the toner is again supplied to the developing roller 10 by the developer supply roller 6.

  A cleaning blade 2 is disposed in the cleaning unit 5, and the transfer residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed and accommodated in the cleaning frame 4. The developing unit 9 is rotatably provided in the process cartridge in order to stably bring the developing roller 10 into contact with the photosensitive drum 1.

[Overview of process cartridge replacement method]
2 to 4 are views for explaining a process cartridge replacement method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a door 58 as an opening / closing member is opened with respect to the main body of the printer 50 in order to replace the process cartridge in the printer 50. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the process cartridge 100d can be replaced in the printer 50. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the process cartridge 100a can be replaced in the printer 50.

Hereinafter, a method for replacing the process cartridge of the laser beam printer will be described.

  As a moving unit (drawer unit), a means for moving while holding the process cartridge is referred to as a cartridge tray 56 in the following description, and the cartridge tray 56 will be described first. Here, the cartridge tray 56 functions as a support member that supports the process cartridge. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the cartridge tray 56.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge tray 56 includes storage portions 62a, 62b, 62c, and 62d that store process cartridges in parallel in one direction. The process cartridges 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are detachably accommodated in the accommodating portions 62a, 62b, 62c, and 62d, respectively.

  The cartridge tray 56 is supported by the tray holding member 57 with respect to the printer 50. When the door 58 is open as shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge tray 56 is along the directions of arrows D1 and D2 (cartridge arrangement direction) with respect to the printer 50. It is provided so as to be movable (can be pulled out). Here, the process cartridges 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d contain toners (developers) of, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

  Here, the directions D 1 and D 2 are directions in which a plurality of process cartridges 100 are arranged in parallel in the cartridge tray 56. The D2 direction (one direction) is a moving direction in which the intermediate transfer belt 52 moves when the toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred. More specifically, the intermediate transfer belt 52 is sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 52. This is the direction in which the toner image moves when the toner image is moved. The direction D2 is a direction toward the front (front side) when the printer 50 is installed. The direction D2 is a pulling direction (moving direction) in which the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out from the printer 50 main body. Further, the drawing direction of the cartridge tray 56 is provided so as to be a direction in which the recording material conveyance path is not provided. In FIG. 2, the arrow Y1 direction is the upward direction when the printer 50 main body is installed, and the arrow Y2 direction is the downward direction when the printer 50 main body is installed.

  Next, the operation of the cartridge tray 56 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 6A and 6B.

  The tray holding member 57 operates in conjunction with the movement of the door 58 as an opening / closing member, and the door 58 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the printer 50 main body.

  When removing the process cartridge 100 from the main body of the printer 50, the tray holding member 57 is moved in the Y1 direction from the position shown in FIG. In conjunction with this, the cartridge tray 56 also moves in the Y1 direction. As a result, the photosensitive drum 1 is retracted from the intermediate transfer belt 52 and floats. Here, the tray holding member 57 and the moving means provided in the main body of the printer 50 for moving (withdrawing) the tray holding member 57 constitute a retraction mechanism.

  Next, the retracting mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. 6A and 6B are views in which the cartridge tray 56 and the process cartridge 100 are removed from the printer 50 in order to explain the retracting mechanism. FIG. 6A is a view showing a state in which the door 58 is closed. At this time, on the front side of the tray holding member 57, a supported portion 571 provided on the tray holding member 57 is supported by a first support portion 502 fixed to the main body of the printer 50. Further, on the back side of the tray holding member 57, the tray holding member 57 and the printer 50 main body are coupled to each other by a link mechanism 501, and the link mechanism is supported by the second support portion 503. Thus, the tray holding member 57 is positioned on the printer 50 main body.

  When the door 58 is opened from this state, the state shown in FIG. 6B is obtained. That is, the urging portion 581 provided on the door 58 lifts the tray holding member 57 forward (D2 direction) and upward (Y1 direction). As a result, the link mechanism 501 also rotates, and the entire tray holding member 57 is lifted to the near side and upward.

  As the photosensitive drum 1 is lifted from the intermediate transfer belt 52 in this manner, the photosensitive drum 1 is slid against the intermediate transfer belt 52 when the cartridge tray 56 slides in the directions D1 and D2 by being guided by the tray holding member 57. Is prevented. Thereafter, the cartridge tray 56 can be pulled out from the main body of the printer 50 by pulling out in the D2 direction with the cartridge tray 56 moved in the Y1 direction (the movement locus at this time is indicated by an arrow Y3 in FIG. 2).

  Conversely, a case where the process cartridge 100 is mounted on the printer 50 will be described.

  The cartridge tray 56 roughly holds the process cartridge 100 (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d), and when the door 58 is closed after being accommodated in the printer 50, the tray holding member 57 and the cartridge tray 56 are shown in FIG. Move in the Y2 direction. Thereafter, the position of the process cartridge 100 is determined by being pressed from above with respect to a positioning portion provided on a side plate (not shown) of the printer 50, and the photosensitive drum 1 and the intermediate transfer belt 52 come into contact with each other. In this way, the process cartridge 100 is returned to the mounting state (mounting state of the cartridge tray 56) as shown in FIG. That is, the cartridge tray 56 returns to the position in the main body (inside position) for positioning the process cartridge 100 in the main body of the printer 50 (inside the apparatus main body).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge tray 56 is provided with partition plates 61 (61a, 61b, 61c) between the process cartridges. 59a, 59b, 59c) are provided at predetermined intervals.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tray holding member 57 is provided with a roller 60 as a rotating member so that the cartridge tray 56 can move smoothly.

  When the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out, the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out while sliding on the roller 60 provided on the tray holding member 57, and the cartridge tray 56 is pulled each time the recess 59 (59 a, 59 b, 59 c) is applied to (engaged with) the roller 60. Is configured to stop. That is, the cartridge tray 56 is locked to the printer 50 main body every time each process cartridge is exposed to the outside of the printer 50 main body. Here, the recesses 59 (59a, 59b, 59c) and the roller 60 constitute a locking mechanism that locks the cartridge tray 56 to the printer body in a state where the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out from the printer 50 body.

  A configuration in which the cartridge tray 56 stops will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. 8A and 8B are schematic perspective views showing a case where the roller 60 is viewed from the direction A (the lower side of the tray) in FIG. 3, and FIG. 8A shows a state in which the cartridge tray 56 is moving, and FIG. Indicates a state in which the cartridge tray 56 is stopped.

  A state where the cartridge tray 56 stops at the position of the recess 59c in order to replace the process cartridge 100d will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out along the tray holding member 57 in the direction of arrow B1 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B (corresponding to the direction D2 shown in FIG. 2). Then, the cartridge tray 56 moves while sliding on the roller 60 that is driven to rotate. By providing the roller 60, the cartridge tray 56 can be smoothly put in and out.

  Thereafter, when the concave portions 59c provided at both ends of the cartridge tray 56 reach the position of the roller 60, the concave portion 59c rides on the roller 60, and then the cartridge tray 56 moves in the direction of arrow B3 shown in FIG. 8B (Y2 shown in FIG. 2). To the direction). In this way, the movement operation of the cartridge tray 56 is stopped by the roller 60 being sandwiched (engaged) by the recess 59c. In this way, the cartridge tray 56 is locked to the printer 50 main body. When the movement operation of the cartridge tray 56 stops, the cartridge tray 56 falls in the direction of the arrow B3 shown in FIG. 8B, so that the user can obtain a click feeling (operation feeling).

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the process cartridge 100d can be taken out from the printer 50, and the process cartridge 100d can be replaced.

  Thereafter, when the process cartridge 100c is subsequently taken out, the recess 59c provided in the cartridge tray 56 gets over the roller 60 when the process cartridge 100c is further pulled out in the direction of the arrow B1 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. When the concave portion 59b reaches the position of the roller 60, the cartridge tray 56 stops by performing the same movement as that of the concave portion 59c. In this state, the process cartridge 100c can be replaced. The same applies to the process cartridge 100b.

  Regarding the replacement of the process cartridge 100a located on the farthest side (upstream) in the drawing direction (D2 direction), it can be taken out and replaced as follows.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the cartridge tray 56 is pulled in the direction of the arrow D <b> 2 shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge tray 56 is stopped by a not-shown stopper (regulator) provided in the printer 50. In this state, the process cartridge 100a can be taken out and replaced with respect to the cartridge tray 56. Here, the stopper locks the cartridge tray 56 to the printer 50 main body at the position where the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out from the printer 50 main body to the maximum extent (this position is referred to as “attachment / detachment position” = “outside position”). The printer 50 is provided to stop and restrict the movement operation.

  Further, regarding the replacement of the process cartridge 100, for example, a case where only the 100c is replaced will be described.

  Similarly, when replacing only one process cartridge 100c, the cartridge tray 56 is similarly pulled out in the direction of arrow D2 shown in FIG. Then, the concave portion 59c of the cartridge tray 56 is first applied to the roller 60 provided on the tray holding member 57, and the cartridge tray 56 stops. When the cartridge tray 56 is further pulled in the direction of the arrow D2 in this state, the recess 59c gets over the roller 60, and the cartridge tray 56 can be further pulled out. Then, the process cartridge 100c can be replaced in a state where the concave portion 59b comes to the position of the roller 60 and the cartridge tray 56 is stopped.

  When the process cartridge 100 is attached to the printer 50 main body, the procedure is the reverse of the above procedure.

For example, when the process cartridge 100d is mounted, the cartridge tray 56
Is pulled out to a position where the roller 60 of the tray holding member 57 and the recess 59c are engaged (state shown in FIG. 3), and the process cartridge 100d is placed on the cartridge tray 56.

  Thereafter, the cartridge tray 56 is pushed in the direction of the arrow D1 shown in FIG. 2 so that the concave portion 59c gets over the roller 60, so that the cartridge tray 56 is smoothly accommodated in the printer 50 thereafter.

  Then, by closing the door 58, the tray holding member 57 and the cartridge tray 56 move in the direction of the arrow Y2 shown in FIG. 2, and then the photosensitive drum 1 is imaged by a pressing member (not shown) provided in the printer 50. It is positioned at a positioning portion (not shown) of the forming apparatus. As a result, the photosensitive drum 1 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 52.

  Here, market research results show that the black process cartridge is most frequently used.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the process cartridge 100d containing black toner is arranged in the direction in which the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out, that is, the head (downstream) in the direction of arrow D2 (one direction) shown in FIG. In other words, a process cartridge with a high replacement frequency is arranged at the top in the direction in which the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out, and the cartridge tray 56 is locked when the process cartridge with a high replacement frequency is pulled out from the main body of the printer 50.

  With this configuration, when the user replaces the topmost process cartridge (process cartridge 100d) in the direction of pulling out the cartridge tray 56, it is not necessary to pull out all the cartridge trays 56, thereby reducing the complexity associated with the replacement. Can do. Thus, replacement of the black process cartridge, which is often consumed more frequently than other process cartridges, is facilitated.

  On the other hand, for example, when the innermost side of the cartridge tray 56 (the inside of the printer) is a black process cartridge, it is necessary to pull out the cartridge tray 56 every time in order to replace the black process cartridge. In such a case, there is a concern that the burden on the user increases due to the weight or the like.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a configuration is provided in which the process cartridge 100 is accommodated in the cartridge tray 56 that can be pulled out from the main body of the printer 50 and the process cartridge is exchanged by front access. When the predetermined process cartridge is replaced, the cartridge tray 56 stops with a click feeling at a predetermined position where replacement is easy, so that the process cartridge replacement operation can be easily performed. Therefore, usability (convenience) can be improved.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a printer provided with a process cartridge 100d having a large toner storage amount with respect to the printer shown in FIG. 1 as another embodiment.

  As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, among the process cartridges 100, a process cartridge 100d having a larger maximum amount of toner storage than the other process cartridges 100 (100a, 100b, 100c) is arranged as follows. Is also possible. That is, the process cartridge 100d is arranged at the top in the direction in which the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out, that is, in the direction of arrow D2 shown in FIG.

At this time, it is assumed that black toner is contained in the process cartridge 100d having a larger toner storage capacity than the others. As described above, it is possible to reduce the replacement frequency of the black process cartridge by increasing the toner accommodation amount of the black process cartridge 100d, which has a high replacement frequency due to high consumption.

  Here, when one process cartridge has a larger amount of toner than the other process cartridges, the weight of the cartridge tray 56 becomes heavier. In such a case, a large load is applied to the cartridge tray 56 when the process cartridge is replaced. Therefore, when a process cartridge having a large amount of toner is disposed at the innermost position of the cartridge tray 56, it is necessary to pull out the cartridge tray 56 every time for cartridge replacement, which places a heavy burden on the user when replacing the cartridge. There is concern about becoming.

  In this sense as well, the burden on the user can be reduced by arranging the black process cartridge 100d having a large-capacity toner storage unit at the forefront in the direction in which the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out. Improves.

  In the above-described embodiment, the position where the cartridge tray 56 is locked to the main body of the printer 50 is such that the roller 60 of the tray holding member 57 is engaged with the recesses 59a, 59b and 59c provided in the cartridge tray 56, respectively. It was a position to do.

  Also in this case, as described above, it is preferable to provide a process cartridge having a higher replacement frequency than other process cartridges at the top of the direction in which the cartridge tray 56 is pulled out (the direction of the arrow D2 shown in FIG. 2) because consumption is the highest. . With such a configuration, the cartridge tray 56 is locked to the main body of the printer 50 by the engagement between the recess 59c and the roller 60 in a state where only the process cartridge having a high replacement frequency is pulled out from the main body of the printer 50. . As a result, the replacement work of the process cartridge having a high replacement frequency is facilitated.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the roller 60 is attached to the tray holding member 57 and the cartridge tray 56 has the recess 59 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even when the roller 60 is arranged in the cartridge tray 56 and the corresponding recess 59 is provided in the tray holding member 57, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. In other words, any one of the cartridge tray 56 and the tray holding member 57 may be provided with a recess and the cartridge tray 56 or the tray holding member 57 may be provided with a roller. In this embodiment, the process cartridge has been described using the photosensitive drum 1. However, the present invention can be applied to a cartridge that does not have the photosensitive drum 1. In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer member is used as the transfer member. However, the transfer member may be a recording medium transport member that transports the recording medium and transfers the developer image onto the recording medium.

  In the above-described embodiment, the roller 60 that engages with the concave portion 59 of the cartridge tray 56 is taken as an example of the means for stopping the cartridge tray 56. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even when a convex portion is provided on the tray holding member 57 instead of the roller 60, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the cartridge tray 56 is provided with a plurality of recesses 59 (59a, 59b, 59c), and only one roller 60 that engages with the recesses is provided in the tray holding member 57. It is not a thing. In order to make the movement of the cartridge tray 56 smoother as the rollers 60 engaged with the recesses, for example, a plurality of rollers may be arranged. In such a case, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained by making the interval between the plurality of rollers 60 and the interval between the plurality of recesses 59 the same.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining replacement | exchange of the process cartridge of the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining replacement | exchange of the process cartridge of the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining replacement | exchange of the process cartridge of the Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the process cartridge of the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the evacuation mechanism of the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the cartridge tray of the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the roller part of the cartridge tray and tray holding member of the Example of this invention, Comprising: It is the schematic perspective view seen from the A direction shown in FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus including process cartridges having different capacities. FIG.

1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) Photosensitive drum 3 Charging roller 8 Developing frame 9 Developing unit 10 (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) Developing roller 50 Image forming apparatus 52 Intermediate transfer belt 56 Cartridge tray 57 Tray holding member 59 (59a, 59b, 59c) Recess 60 Roll 100 (100a, 100b, 100c, 100d) Process cartridge

Claims (7)

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
An apparatus body having a transfer member for transferring a developer image to the recording medium;
A plurality of cartridges each including at least one of an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing roller that forms the developer image by developing the electrostatic latent image;
An inner position where all of the plurality of cartridges are positioned inside the apparatus main body, and an outer position where all of the plurality of cartridges are positioned outside the apparatus main body; A support member attached to the apparatus main body so as to be movable along the arrangement direction of the cartridges between,
When the support member moves from the inner position to the outer position, the support member is locked to the apparatus main body each time the cartridges of the plurality of cartridges are exposed to the outer side of the apparatus main body. Mechanism,
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: The locking mechanism is
A recess provided in either the support member or the apparatus main body;
A convex portion provided on the other of the support member or the apparatus main body;
Have
At least one of the concave portion and the convex portion is arranged at a predetermined interval along the arrangement direction;
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is locked with respect to the apparatus main body by the engagement of the concave portion and the convex portion.   The convex portion is a rotating member that is rotatable in contact with the one of the supporting member or the apparatus main body in order to move the supporting member from the inner position to the outer position. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus described in 1. Each of the plurality of cartridges contains a developer used for the developing roller,
4. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a developer stored in a cartridge located closest to the outer position among the plurality of cartridges is black. 5. apparatus. Each of the plurality of cartridges contains a developer used for the developing roller,
5. The amount of developer stored in a cartridge located closest to the outer position among the plurality of cartridges is larger than the amount of developer stored in other cartridges. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.   6. The electrophotographic image according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cartridges includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image developed by the developing roller is formed. Forming equipment. The apparatus main body has a retracting mechanism for retracting the support member from the transfer member,
The said support member is movable in the said arrangement | positioning direction with respect to the said apparatus main body in the state retracted | saved from the said transfer member by the said retracting mechanism, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

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