JP2011248182A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus to which a processing unit can be detached with a simple structure.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 10 includes a processing unit T detachably provided in an apparatus body 11, an outer cover 16 attached to the apparatus body 11, which outer cover 16 can be opened and closed, a rotary member 20 rotatably supported by the apparatus body 11, and a guiding path G. When the processing unit T is attached to a predetermined attachment position in the apparatus body 11, the guiding path G guides the processing unit T to the attachment position and when the processing unit T is detached from the apparatus body 11, the guide path G guides the processing unit T from the attachment position out of the apparatus body 11. When the rotary member 20 rotates in a first direction together with an opening operation of the outer cover 16, the rotary member 20 is directed to a first orientation for opening the guide path G, while when the rotary member 20 rotates in a second direction together with a closing operation of the outer cover 16, the rotary member 20 is directed to a second orientation for closing the guide path G.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that includes a processing unit that performs image forming processing on paper, and the processing unit is configured to be detachable.

  An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile includes a plurality of processing units in order to perform a predetermined image forming process on paper. Examples of the processing unit include a photosensitive drum unit on which a toner image is formed, and a developing unit that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum and forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum. Further, when the image forming apparatus is a tandem type, an intermediate transfer unit having an intermediate transfer belt to which a color toner image is transferred can be used.

  The processing unit is required to be easily attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus for maintenance, replacement, or the like. In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the image forming process unit (processing unit) is attached and detached as follows.

  That is, the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 has an open / close cover that is opened and closed when the image forming process unit is attached / detached, and a plurality of guide ribs are formed on the edge of the open / close cover on the side of the rotation fulcrum. The image forming process unit has a lock claw member for fixing the image forming process unit to a predetermined installation position in the apparatus main body. The lock claw member is provided at the rear end portion of the image forming process unit so as to be movable in the vertical direction when viewed from the mounting direction of the image forming process unit.

  When the image forming process unit is mounted in the apparatus main body, the lock claw member is guided in the apparatus main body by the guide rib, so that it is not caught in the gap between the opening / closing cover and the apparatus main body. As a result, the image forming process unit is smoothly guided into the apparatus main body. When the image forming process unit is guided to the predetermined installation position, the lock claw member is fitted into the lock groove formed at the predetermined installation position. Thereby, the image forming process unit is prevented from coming off.

JP 2008-129151 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, when removing the image forming process unit from the apparatus main body, the operator must first lift the lock claw member to release the engagement between the lock claw member and the lock groove. Thereafter, the image forming process unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body. As described above, the operation of removing the image forming process unit is troublesome. Further, since the lock claw member is a separate member from the image forming process unit, the cost increases accordingly.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with a simple configuration in which a processing unit can be easily attached and detached.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body, a processing unit that is detachably provided in the apparatus main body and performs image forming processing on paper, and the apparatus main body. An exterior cover that is attached so as to be openable and closable and is opened when the processing unit is attached and detached, and is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body, and in a first direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the exterior cover. A rotating member that rotates and rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction in conjunction with the closing operation of the exterior cover, and the processing unit is mounted at a predetermined mounting position in the apparatus main body. The processing unit is guided toward the mounting position, and when the processing unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the processing unit is guided out of the apparatus main body from the mounting position. And the pivot member takes a first posture to open the guide passage when the pivot member pivots in the first direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the exterior cover. When it rotates in the second direction in conjunction with the closing operation, it takes a second posture that closes the guide passage.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the exterior cover is opened, the rotating member takes the first posture of opening the guide passage, so that the operator only attaches / detaches the processing unit according to the guide passage. It's okay. In addition, when the processing unit is mounted and the exterior cover is closed, the rotating member takes the second posture of closing the guide passage, so that the processing unit is prevented from coming out of the mounting position. Thus, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the processing unit can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body simply by opening and closing the exterior cover.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide passage is between a first facing surface formed in the apparatus main body and a second facing surface formed in the rotating member and facing the first facing surface. When the rotating member is in the first posture, the second facing surface is separated from the first facing surface by a predetermined distance, and the processing unit passes through the guide passage. On the other hand, when the rotating member is in the second posture, the second facing surface is close to the first facing surface and does not allow the processing unit to pass through the guide passage.

  According to this configuration, since the guide passage is formed of the first facing surface formed in the apparatus main body and the second facing surface formed in the rotating member, a separate member different from the rotating member is used. The number of parts does not increase as compared with the configuration in which the guide passage is formed.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member supports the exterior cover so that it can be opened and closed. According to this configuration, compared to a configuration in which a mechanism for interlocking the opening / closing operation of the exterior cover and the rotating member is separately used, the first posture and the second posture of the rotating member are interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the exterior cover. It is easy to take.

  In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes a plurality of photosensitive drums arranged in parallel and on which a toner image is formed, and the processing unit circulates while contacting the peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum. The intermediate transfer unit includes an endless transfer belt, a driving roller and a driven roller around which the transfer belt is wound, and a transfer roller that presses the transfer belt against the peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum.

  According to this configuration, the intermediate transfer unit which is a consumable item can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the processing unit can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body with a simple configuration of opening and closing the exterior cover.

1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 schematically shows an internal structure of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view of an intermediate transfer unit. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the intermediate transfer unit in FIG. 3. It is a perspective view of the closed state of an upper cover. It is a perspective view of the open state of an upper cover, and shows a state where an intermediate transfer unit is mounted. FIG. 6 is a perspective view in which an upper cover is omitted in the state shown in FIG. 5, showing a state in which an intermediate transfer unit is mounted. It is a perspective view of a rotation member. It is a perspective view of the rotation member seen from the direction different from FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the rotation member was supported by the sheet metal frame. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the rotation member was supported by the sheet metal frame. It is a side view of an upper cover. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the upper cover was supported by the rotation member. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a procedure for passing an intermediate transfer unit through a guide path.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 is, for example, a tandem color printer, and includes an apparatus main body 11 having a box shape. The apparatus main body 11 includes a front cover 8, a back cover 9, a right side cover 7 and a left side cover 6 that form the appearance of the image forming apparatus 10. A paper discharge unit 15 for discharging paper is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 11. The left side cover 6 is provided with a manual feed tray 141 that can be freely opened and closed.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows the internal structure of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The apparatus main body 11 includes a plurality of processing units that perform image forming processing on the paper P. Specifically, the apparatus main body 11 is fixed to an image formed by the image forming unit 12 based on image information transmitted from an external device such as a computer and transferred to the paper P. It includes a fixing unit 13 that performs processing. Further, the apparatus main body 11 includes a paper storage unit 14 that stores the paper P.

  The image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on the paper P fed from the paper storage unit 14. In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 12 has a magenta color sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side. It includes a magenta unit 12M that uses toner, a cyan unit 12C that uses cyan toner, a yellow unit 12Y that uses yellow toner, and a black unit 12K that uses black toner.

  Each unit 12M, 12C, 12Y, 12K includes a photosensitive drum 121 and a developing device 122. The photosensitive drum 121 forms an electrostatic latent image and a toner image (visible image) along the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface, and corresponds to the development while rotating counterclockwise in FIG. Toner is supplied from the device 122. The photosensitive drums 121 of the units 12M, 12C, 12Y, and 12K are arranged in parallel. Each developing device 122 is supplied with toner from a toner container (not shown).

  A charging device 123 is provided immediately below each photosensitive drum 121, and an exposure device 124 is provided below each charging device 123. The circumferential surface of each photosensitive drum 121 is uniformly charged by a charging device 123, and laser light corresponding to each color based on image data input from a computer or the like is charged from the exposure device 124 to the circumference of the photosensitive drum 121 after charging. The surface is irradiated. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 121. When toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image from the developing device 122, a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  Above the photosensitive drum 121, a transfer belt 125 wound between a driving roller 125a and a driven roller 125b is disposed. The transfer belt 125 is pressed against the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 by a transfer roller 126 provided corresponding to each photosensitive drum 121, and is driven with a driving roller 125 a and a driven roller in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 121. Circulate between 125b.

  A tension roller 125c is provided between the driving roller 125a and the driven roller 125b and at a position close to the driven roller 125b. The tension roller 125c applies tension to the transfer belt 125 and is biased upward by a biasing force of a biasing member (not shown). In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit T (FIG. 3) is configured by the transfer belt 125, the driving roller 125a, the driven roller 125b, the transfer roller 126, the tension roller 125c, and the like. The intermediate transfer unit T is detachably provided in the apparatus main body 11 as will be described later.

  Along with the rotation of the transfer belt 125, first, primary transfer of a magenta toner image is performed on the surface of the transfer belt 125 by the photosensitive drum 121 of the magenta unit 12M. Next, the cyan toner image is transferred to the transfer position of the magenta toner image on the transfer belt 125 by the photosensitive drum 121 of the cyan unit 12C in an overcoated state. Similarly, the transfer of the yellow toner image by the yellow unit 12Y and the transfer of the black toner image by the black unit 12K are performed in the overcoating state. As a result, a color toner image is formed on the surface of the transfer belt 125.

  A drum cleaning device 127 that removes and cleans residual toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is provided at a position downstream of the developing device 122 when viewed from the rotation direction of each photosensitive drum 121. . The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 cleaned by the drum cleaning device 127 goes to the charging device 123 for a new charging process. Waste toner removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 by the drum cleaning device 127 is collected in a toner collection bottle (not shown) through a predetermined path.

  A sheet conveyance path 111 extending in the vertical direction is formed at a side position of the image forming unit 12. A conveyance roller pair 112 is provided at an appropriate position on the sheet conveyance path 111, and the sheet P from the sheet storage unit 14 is conveyed toward the transfer belt 125 by driving the conveyance roller pair 112. In addition, a secondary transfer roller 113 that is in contact with the surface of the transfer belt 125 at a position facing the driving roller 125 a is provided in the paper transport path 111. The secondary transfer roller 113 forms a transfer nip portion with the surface of the transfer belt 125. The sheet P is pressed and nipped by the transfer belt 125 and the secondary transfer roller 113 at the transfer nip portion, whereby the toner image on the transfer belt 125 is secondarily transferred to the sheet P.

  The paper storage unit 14 includes a manual feed tray 141 and a paper tray 142 that is detachably mounted at a position below the exposure device 124 in the apparatus main body 11. In the paper tray 142, a paper bundle P1 formed by stacking a plurality of papers P is stored. The paper tray 142 is configured by a box that opens upward, and the paper bundle P1 can be stored. The uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle P1 stored in the sheet tray 142 is fed out one by one toward the sheet conveyance path 111 by driving the pickup roller 143. The paper P fed out from the paper tray 142 is conveyed toward the transfer nip portion through the paper conveyance path 111 by driving the conveyance roller pair 112.

  The fixing unit 13 performs a fixing process on the toner image on the sheet P that has been secondarily transferred. The fixing unit 13 includes a heating roller 131 having an energized heating element as a heating source therein, a fixing roller 132 disposed opposite to the heating roller 131, and a fixing belt 133 stretched between the fixing roller 132 and the heating roller 131. And a pressure roller 134 disposed opposite to the fixing roller 132 with the fixing belt 133 interposed therebetween. The paper P supplied to the fixing unit 13 is subjected to a fixing process by obtaining heat from the fixing belt 133 while passing between the pressure roller 134 and the high-temperature fixing belt 133. The color-printed paper P that has been subjected to the fixing process is discharged toward the paper discharge receiving surface 151 of the paper discharge unit 15 through the paper discharge conveyance path 114 extended from the upper part of the fixing unit 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper discharge receiving surface 151 is constituted by the upper surface of the upper cover 16 (exterior cover). The upper cover 16 is attached to the apparatus main body 11 so as to be openable and closable, and has a pivot point on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction.

  In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit T is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 11 by opening the upper cover 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate transfer unit T has a housing 128 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the transfer belt 125. The housing 128 supports the transfer belt 125, the driving roller 125a, the driven roller 125b, the transfer roller 126, the tension roller 125c, and the like described with reference to FIG. The drive roller 125a is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the housing 128, and faces the secondary transfer roller 113 (FIG. 2). A portion of the transfer belt 125 that passes through the driving roller 125a forms a transfer nip portion with the secondary transfer roller 113 as described above.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 128 has a pair of guide protrusions 129 that protrude in the width direction of the transfer belt 125 in the vicinity of the drive roller 125 a. Further, the housing 128 has receiving seats 144, 145, and 146 for fixing the toner container on the upper surface thereof. Each toner container is omitted for clarity of illustration.

  5 to 7 are views showing an open / closed state of the upper cover 16. Specifically, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper cover 16 in a closed state, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper cover 16 in an opened state, showing a state in which the intermediate transfer unit T is mounted. FIG. 7 is a perspective view in which the upper cover 16 is omitted in the state shown in FIG. 5, and shows a state in which the intermediate transfer unit T is mounted.

  In the present embodiment, a guide passage G is provided in order to smoothly attach and detach the intermediate transfer unit T to and from the apparatus main body 11. The guide path G guides the intermediate transfer unit T toward the mounting position when the intermediate transfer unit T is mounted at a predetermined mounting position in the apparatus main body 11, and the intermediate transfer unit T is removed from the apparatus main body 11. At this time, the intermediate transfer unit T is guided out of the apparatus main body 11 from the mounting position.

  The guide path G is a path defined by the holding side plate 42 and the rotation member 20 and is a path that is opened or closed depending on the rotation posture of the rotation member 20.

  The holding side plate 42 is a member for positioning and holding the toner container with respect to the housing 128 of the intermediate transfer unit T, and is fixed to the sheet metal frame 40 positioned on the back surface of the front cover 8 and the back cover 9. . 6 and 7, the holding side plate 42 on the front cover 8 side is not shown. Each holding side plate 42 has a plurality of holding groove portions 46 for positioning and holding the end portion of the toner container. The holding side plate 42 has a side plate upper surface 48 that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet metal frame 40 and along the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer unit T that is mounted.

  The side plate upper surface 48 is inclined downward toward the drive roller 125a side of the mounted intermediate transfer unit T, and faces the rotating member 20 at a position near the drive roller 125a. A portion of the side plate upper surface 48 facing the rotating member 20 is a first facing surface 43. The first facing surface 43 constitutes a part of the guide passage G and has a first inclined surface 44 and a second inclined surface 45. The second inclined surface 45 is continuous with the receiving hole 47 (FIG. 10) of the guide protrusion 129 of the intermediate transfer unit T formed on the holding side plate 42.

  Next, the rotating member 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rotating member 20. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rotating member 20 viewed from a direction different from that in FIG. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing a state in which the rotating member 20 is supported by the sheet metal frame 40. FIG. The rotation member 20 integrally includes a rotation fulcrum part 21, a cover holding part 23, and an arc part 26 that connects the rotation fulcrum part 21 and the cover holding part 23. A pair of rotating members 20 are arranged corresponding to the holding side plate 42 on the back cover 9 side and the holding side plate 42 on the front cover 8 side.

  The rotation fulcrum portion 21 constitutes the rotation member 20 so as to be rotatable, and has a rotation shaft 22 that extends in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the frame surface of the sheet metal frame 40. The sheet metal frame 40 is formed with an insertion hole 41 into which the rotation shaft 22 is rotatably inserted. By inserting the rotation shaft 22 into the insertion hole 41, the rotation member 20 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the sheet metal frame 40, that is, the apparatus main body 11. The rotation shaft 22 protrudes from both side surfaces of the rotation fulcrum 21 in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the rotation member 20, and one protrusion is inserted into the insertion hole 41.

  The cover holding part 23 is provided to hold the upper cover 16 and has a pair of first holding plate part 24 and second holding plate part 25. A clamping space S is defined between the first clamping plate portion 24 and the second clamping plate portion 25. As shown in FIG. 12, the upper cover 16 has a hook-shaped hinge portion 18 protruding from the one end portion at one end portion in the longitudinal direction. A pair of hinge portions 18 are provided in the width direction of the upper cover 16, and a hinge hole 19 is formed at the tip of each hinge portion 18. Further, the one end portion of the upper cover 16 has a pair of protruding pieces 17 a at positions outside the hinge portions 18 at both ends in the width direction and at positions below the paper discharge receiving surface 151. Each protruding piece 17 a protrudes toward the hinge portion 18.

  The upper cover 16 is supported by a rotating member 20 as shown in FIG. In other words, the other protruding portion of the corresponding rotating shaft 22 is inserted into the hinge hole 19 of each hinge portion 18 of the upper cover 16, and the protruding piece 17 a is inserted into the holding space S of the rotating member 20. And sandwiched between the first sandwiching plate portion 24 and the second sandwiching plate portion 25. Thus, the upper cover 16 is held by the rotating member 20 and can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 11. Accordingly, when the upper cover 16 is opened from the state shown in FIG. 5, the rotating member 20 rotates clockwise (first direction) in conjunction with the opening operation, and the upper cover 16 is in the state shown in FIG. When the closing operation is performed, the lens rotates counterclockwise (second direction opposite to the first direction) in conjunction with the closing operation.

  The rotating member 20 further includes a first surface portion 28 that extends obliquely downward from the second clamping plate portion 25 toward the rotating fulcrum portion 21 side, and a second surface that extends substantially parallel to the second clamping plate portion 25 from the first surface portion 28. And a surface portion 29. The first surface portion 28 and the second surface portion 29 constitute a second facing surface that faces the first facing surface 43 (the first inclined surface 44 and the second inclined surface 45) of the holding side plate 42, and the first facing surface A guide passage G is defined between 43 and the second facing surface.

  In this embodiment, when the intermediate transfer unit T is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 11, the rotating member 20 opens the guide passage G when it rotates in the first direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the upper cover 16. On the other hand, when the upper cover 16 is rotated in the second direction in conjunction with the closing operation of the upper cover 16, the second posture of closing the guide passage G is taken.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the intermediate transfer unit T is mounted at the mounting position in the apparatus main body 11 and the upper cover 16 is in the closed state, the rotating member 20 is the second member. That is, the first surface portion 28 of the rotating member 20 is close to the first inclined surface 44 in a state of facing the first inclined surface 44, and the second surface portion 29 is the first opposite surface. The second inclined surface 45 of 43 is opposed to the second inclined surface 45 by a predetermined distance.

  When the upper cover 16 is changed from the closed state shown in FIG. 5 to the open state shown in FIG. 6 in order to remove the intermediate transfer unit T from the apparatus main body 11, the rotating member 20 is interlocked with the opening operation of the upper cover 16. It rotates in the first direction (clockwise in FIG. 6) and takes the first posture. At this time, the first surface portion 28 is separated from the first inclined surface 44 as the rotating member 20 rotates in the first direction, and the second surface portion 29 is separated from the first inclined surface 44 by a predetermined distance. opposite. As a result, the guide passage G closed by the first surface portion 28 is released, and mounting of the intermediate transfer unit T is allowed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the operator inserts the guide protrusion 129 of the housing 128 of the intermediate transfer unit T into the released guide passage G according to the arrow 31 provided on the first surface portion 28, and the first inclined surface 44. When the guide protrusion 129 is moved along the second inclined surface 45, the guide protrusion 129 is received in the receiving hole 47 (FIG. 10). As a result, the intermediate transfer unit T is mounted at a predetermined mounting position. In FIG. 14, the upper cover 16 is omitted for clarity of illustration.

  When the upper cover 16 is changed from the open state shown in FIG. 6 to the closed state shown in FIG. 5 after the intermediate transfer unit T is mounted, the rotating member 20 rotates in the second direction in conjunction with the closing operation of the upper cover 16. Move to take the second posture. At this time, the first surface portion 28 is in a state of facing and close to the first inclined surface 44 as the rotating member 20 rotates in the second direction, and the second surface portion 29 is opposed to the second inclined surface 45. It becomes a state. As a result, the released guide passage G is closed by the first surface portion 28. Therefore, the guide protrusion 129 is prevented from coming out of the receiving hole 47, and the intermediate transfer unit T is prevented from coming out of the mounting position. The degree of proximity of the first surface portion 28 to the first inclined surface 44 is appropriately set to such an extent that the guide protrusion 129 is not allowed to pass through the guide passage G.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment described above, the guide path G is released by the rotating member 20 only by opening the upper cover 16, and the operator moves the intermediate transfer unit T according to the guide path G. It can be attached to the main body 11. Further, after the intermediate transfer unit T is mounted, the guide path G is blocked by the rotating member 20 simply by closing the upper cover 16, and the intermediate transfer unit T is prevented from coming out of the mounting position. As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit T, which is a consumable item, can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 11 simply by opening and closing the upper cover 16.

  Further, the guide passage G is formed by the first facing surface 43 formed on the holding side plate 42 and the second facing surface (the first surface portion 28 and the second surface portion 29) formed on the rotating member 20. The number of parts does not increase as compared with the configuration in which the guide passage G is formed using a separate member different from the rotating member 20.

  Furthermore, since the rotating member 20 supports the upper cover 16 so that it can be opened and closed, the upper cover 16 can be opened and closed as compared with a configuration in which a mechanism for interlocking the opening and closing operation of the upper cover 16 and the rotating member 20 is separately used. It becomes easy to cause the rotating member 20 to take the first posture and the second posture in conjunction with the operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Apparatus main body 16 Upper cover (exterior cover)
20 Rotating member 21 Rotating fulcrum portion 22 Rotating shaft 23 Cover holding portion 28 First surface portion 29 Second surface portion 43 First facing surface 44 First inclined surface 45 Second inclined surface G Guide path T Intermediate transfer unit

Claims (4)

The device body;
A processing unit which is detachably provided in the apparatus main body and performs image forming processing on paper;
An exterior cover that is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and is opened when the processing unit is attached and detached;
The apparatus main body is rotatably supported, rotates in the first direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the exterior cover, and second opposite to the first direction in conjunction with the closing operation of the exterior cover. A rotating member that rotates in a direction;
When the processing unit is mounted at a predetermined mounting position in the apparatus main body, the processing unit is guided toward the mounting position, and when the processing unit is removed from the apparatus main body, the processing unit is A guide passage for guiding the device from the mounting position outside the main body,
With
When the pivoting member pivots in the first direction in conjunction with the opening operation of the exterior cover, the pivoting member takes a first posture to open the guide passage, while in conjunction with the closing operation of the exterior cover. An image forming apparatus that takes a second posture of closing the guide passage when rotated in the second direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The guide passage is defined between a first facing surface formed in the apparatus main body and a second facing surface formed in the rotating member and facing the first facing surface,
When the rotating member is in the first posture, the second facing surface is separated from the first facing surface by a predetermined distance to allow the processing unit to pass through the guide passage, When the rotating member is in the second posture, the second facing surface is close to the first facing surface and does not allow the processing unit to pass through the guide path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The rotating member is an image forming apparatus that supports the exterior cover so that it can be opened and closed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A plurality of photosensitive drums arranged in parallel and on which toner images are formed;
The processing unit includes an endless transfer belt that circulates while being in contact with the peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum, a driving roller and a driven roller around which the transfer belt is wound, and the transfer belt that is connected to the periphery of each photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus which is an intermediate transfer unit including a transfer roller pressed against a surface.

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