JP2023031750A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent damage to an exposure device.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus has: an image forming unit 20 that includes an image carrier and is detachably attached to an apparatus main body in a predetermined attachment and detachment direction; an exposure device that exposes the image carrier; a rotation transmission member that transmits rotation of a driving section to the image carrier; a holding member that is movably disposed inside the apparatus main body; and a regulation section that is formed between the holding member and the image forming unit 20, and prevents the image forming unit from being moved when the exposure device is placed at an exposure position where the exposure device exposes the image carrier. The image forming unit 20 is not moved by a force generated in a rotation transmission system. Damage to the exposure device can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, multifunction machines, etc., for example, printers have an image forming section, and the image forming section includes an image forming unit, an LED head as an exposure device, a transfer roller, and the like. is set up. Then, in the image forming unit, the surface of the photosensitive drum charged by the charging roller is exposed by the LED head to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed and transferred onto the photosensitive drum. A toner image is formed. The toner image is transferred onto a sheet of paper by the transfer roller, and fixed onto the sheet of paper by a fixing device (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100003).

JP 2020-95277 A

However, in the conventional printer, when the LED head is placed at the exposure position for exposing the surface of the photoreceptor drum, the image forming unit is disengaged due to the force generated in the rotation transmission system that transmits the rotation to the photoreceptor drum. It may be moved, in which case the LED head will be damaged.

The present invention solves the problems of conventional printers by preventing the image forming unit from being moved by the force generated in the rotation transmission system when the exposure device is placed at the exposure position, so that the exposure device can be An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which is not damaged.

For this purpose, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming unit that is provided with an image carrier that is rotatably disposed and that is detachable in a predetermined attachment/detachment direction with respect to the apparatus main body, and the image carrier. an exposure device for exposing an object; a rotation transmission member rotatably disposed within the apparatus main body for transmitting rotation of a drive unit to the image carrier; a holding member that holds the device, and a holding member formed between the holding member and the image forming unit to prevent the image forming unit from moving when the exposure device is placed at the exposure position for exposing the image carrier. and a regulating portion for blocking.

According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that is rotatably disposed and that is detachable in a predetermined attachment/detachment direction with respect to an apparatus main body; an exposure device for exposing an object; a rotation transmission member rotatably disposed within the apparatus main body for transmitting rotation of a drive unit to the image carrier; a holding member that holds the device, and a holding member formed between the holding member and the image forming unit to prevent the image forming unit from moving when the exposure device is placed at the exposure position for exposing the image carrier. and a regulating portion for blocking.

In this case, a regulating portion is formed between the holding member and the image forming unit, and the regulating portion prevents the image forming unit from moving when the exposure device is placed at the exposure position for exposing the image carrier. Therefore, the image forming unit will not be moved by the force generated in the rotation transmission system that transmits the rotation to the image carrier, and the exposure device will not be damaged.

It is a figure which shows the state which separated the head holder in embodiment of this invention from the head accommodation recessed part. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state of a printer when a front cover is opened according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. It is a figure which shows the state of a cooperation mechanism when the front cover is opened in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state of a cooperation mechanism when the front cover is closed in embodiment of this invention. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the image forming unit is removed from the apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a first cross-sectional view showing a state in which an image forming unit is attached to an apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a second cross-sectional view showing a state in which the image forming unit is attached to the apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the invention; It is a figure which shows the state which moved the head holder in embodiment of this invention below, and set|placed the LED head in the exposure position.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described.

2 is a perspective view of the printer according to the embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state of the printer when the front cover is opened according to the embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 4 is the printer according to the embodiment of the invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer; FIG. 2 and 3, the positive direction of the X-axis is the rearward direction of the printer 10, the negative direction of the X-axis is the frontward direction of the printer 10, the positive direction of the Y-axis is the leftward direction of the printer 10, and the negative direction of the Y-axis is the leftward direction of the printer 10. The direction is the right direction on the printer 10 , the positive Z-axis direction is the upward direction on the printer 10 , and the negative Z-axis direction is the downward direction on the printer 10 .

In the figure, 10 is a printer, Bd is the main body of the printer 10, that is, the apparatus main body, and Cs is a housing that surrounds the apparatus main body Bd as the exterior of the printer 10. FIG.

The housing Cs includes a front wall Wf, a rear wall Wr, a left side wall Ws1 as a first wall member disposed on the left side of the front wall Wf when viewed from the front, and a front wall A right side wall Ws2 as a second wall member and a second side wall disposed on the right side of Wf when viewed from the front, and a top wall Wt are provided. The left side wall Ws1 and the right side wall Ws2 have a double structure and include inner panels In1 and In2 and outer panels Ou1 and Ou2 covering the inner panels In1 and In2, respectively.

A front cover Pf as a cover member is provided so as to be openable and closable from the upper half Wfa of the front wall Wf to the front half Wtb of the top wall Wt. By accessing the main body Bd, the image forming unit (developing device) 20 can be attached/detached to/from the apparatus main body Bd. A front panel 22f of the paper cassette 22, which serves as a medium storage section, is arranged so as to be openable and closable on the lower half of the front wall Wf. In the present embodiment, cut paper is used as the paper P as a medium accommodated in the paper cassette 22, but roll paper, fan folding paper, etc. can also be used.

An operation panel 65 is provided at a portion of the top wall Wt adjacent to the front wall Wf and the right side wall Ws2. The operation panel 65 includes a display section 66 including an LED screen for displaying the status of the printer 10, and an operation section 67 including switches, keys, and the like for the operator to input instructions to the printer 10. FIG. Note that when the operation panel 65 is formed by a touch panel, the display section 66 also functions as an operation section. A stacker sk as a medium stacking unit is formed from the central portion of the top wall Wt to the back wall Wr. A discharge port Hh1 is formed, and a discharge roller pair 26 as a discharge member is rotatably disposed adjacent to the discharge port Hh1.

Further, a top cover Pt is openable and closable at a portion of the top wall Wt adjacent to the left side wall Ws1, and the operator can access the inside of the left side wall Ws1 by opening the top cover Pt.

In the housing Cs, the image forming unit 20 and the paper cassette 22 are arranged detachably with respect to the apparatus main body Bd, and the LED head 21 as an exposure device is vertically movable. A transfer roller 24 as a transfer member is rotatably provided below the image forming unit 20, and a fixing device 25 as a fixing device is provided adjacent to the image forming unit 20. FIG.

The image forming unit 20 includes a main body portion 20a and a toner storage portion 17 as a developer storage portion for storing toner as a developer. A toner storage section 18 as a developer storage section is formed below the toner storage section 17 in the main body 20a, and the toner supplied from the toner storage section 17 is stored in the toner storage section 18. As shown in FIG.

The image forming unit 20 is rotatably disposed facing the photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, and adheres toner to the photosensitive drum 11 to form a developer image. a developing roller 12 as a developer carrying member for forming a toner image; a supply roller 13 as a developer supplying member for supplying toner to the developing roller 12; A charging roller 14 as a charging device for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is disposed with its tip pressed against the developing roller 12, and the toner supplied onto the developing roller 12 is thinned to form a developer. A developing blade 19 as a developer regulating member for forming a toner layer as a layer, a cleaning blade 15 as a cleaning member for scraping off and removing residual toner as transfer residual developer on the photosensitive drum 11, and the cleaning. A waste toner conveying path 16 is provided as a waste developer conveying path for conveying residual toner scraped and removed by the blade 15 as waste toner, which is a waste developer.

The LED head 21 is disposed facing the photosensitive drum 11 above the main body 20a, and exposes the photosensitive drum 11 charged by the charging roller 14 based on image data. An electrostatic latent image is formed as a latent image on the surface. The developing roller 12 forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image.

The transfer roller 24 is disposed below the main body 20 a so as to face the photosensitive drum 11 , and transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 onto the paper P supplied from the paper cassette 22 .

The fixing device 25 includes a heating roller R1 as a first fixing member and a pressure roller R2 as a second fixing member, and a heating element such as a halogen lamp (not shown) is arranged in the heating roller R1. . In the fixing device 25, the toner image transferred to the paper P is heated by the heating roller R1 and pressed by the pressure roller R2 to be fixed on the paper P. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, 27 is a sealing member made of a film or the like, and the tip of the sealing member 27 is pressed against the developing roller 12. The sealing member 27 prevents the toner in the toner reservoir 18 from prevent it from leaking out.

The photosensitive drum 11, developing roller 12, supply roller 13, charging roller 14 and transfer roller 24 are rotated in the directions of the arrows.

The paper P in the paper cassette 22 is delivered by a delivery roller 23 to a paper transport path Rt1 as a medium transport path in the direction of arrow A, and transported by a transport roller pair m1 as a transport member. 24 (nip portion), the toner image is transferred in the direction of the arrow B, and the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 25 to form an image. Subsequently, the paper P is transported in the direction of arrow C, discharged in the direction of arrow D (outside the apparatus body Bd) by the discharge roller pair 26 through the discharge port Hh1, and stacked on the stacker sk.

By the way, for example, when the operator opens the front cover Pf and attaches or detaches the image forming unit 20 to/from the apparatus main body Bd, if the operator accidentally touches the LED head 21 or applies a shock to the LED head 21, The LED head 21 will be damaged.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a linking mechanism 33 (FIG. 5), which will be described later, is arranged between each of the inner panels In1 and In2 of the left side wall Ws1 and the right side wall Ws2 and the outer panels Ou1 and Ou2, and the front cover When Pf is opened, the LED head 21 is moved by the linking mechanism 33 and placed at the retracted position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of the linkage mechanism when the front cover is opened according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the linkage mechanism when the front cover is closed according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is removed from the apparatus main body, and FIG. 8 is a first cross section showing a state in which the image forming unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the apparatus main body. FIG. 9 and FIG. 9 are second cross-sectional views showing a state in which the image forming unit is attached to the apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 8, the positive direction of the X-axis is the rearward direction of the printer 10, the negative direction of the X-axis is the frontward direction of the printer 10, the positive direction of the Y-axis is the leftward direction of the printer 10, and the negative direction of the Y-axis is the leftward direction of the printer 10. The direction is the right direction on the printer 10 , the positive Z-axis direction is the upward direction on the printer 10 , and the negative Z-axis direction is the downward direction on the printer 10 . 8 is a cross-sectional view of an end portion of the image forming unit 20 where a rotation transmission system for transmitting the rotation of the drive motor to the photosensitive drum 11 is provided, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the central portion of the image forming unit 20. It is a diagram.

In the figure, Wf is the front wall, Pf is the front cover, Wfa is the upper half of the front wall Wf, Wtb is the front half of the top wall Wt, Bd is the device main body, 31 is a predetermined portion of the front cover Pf, and this embodiment In the form of 1, protrusions 33 as engaging portions protruding from the left and right side edges of the upper half Wfa are formed between the inner panels In1 and In2 and the outer panels Ou1 and Ou2 of the left side wall Ws1 and the right side wall Ws2. , a linking mechanism attached to the inner panels In1 and In2.

Next, the cooperation mechanism 33 will be described. Note that the linking mechanism 33 provided on the left side wall Ws1 and the linking mechanism 33 provided on the right side wall Ws2 differ only in the shape of a cam 41 as a moving member and as a guided member, which will be described later. structure is almost the same. Therefore, in FIGS. 5 and 6, only the linking mechanism 33 provided on the right side wall Ws2 will be illustrated and explained, and the description of the linking mechanism 33 provided on the left side wall Ws1 will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, when the operator opens the front cover Pf, the head holder 45, which will be described later, is moved upward by each of the linking mechanisms 33, whereby the LED head 21 is moved upward by the shield (not shown). It is placed in place behind the plate and covered by a shield plate.

For this purpose, each of the linking mechanisms 33 includes a cam member 35 as a first linking member disposed movably in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) as the operator opens and closes the front cover Pf, and the cam member 35 and a lever member 36 as a second linking member arranged to be swingable with respect to the apparatus main body Bd along with the movement of the apparatus main body Bd, and a lever member 36 extending between the left side wall Ws1 and the right side wall Ws2 of the apparatus main body Bd. A head holder 45 as a third linking member and as a holding member is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) as the lever member 36 swings. The LED head 21 is attached and held at the lower end of the holder 45 .

The cam member 35 is provided with the cam 41, and the front end of the cam 41 is formed with a contact surface s1 to be brought into contact with the projection 31. dt1 is formed through the shaft groove dt1, and a long hole h1 as a guide portion is formed extending in the vertical direction on the rear end side of the shaft groove dt1. Then, at positions corresponding to the shaft grooves dt1 in the inner panel In2 of the right side wall Ws2, they are protruded toward the outer panel Ou2 at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction, and serve as engaging members and as guide members. A pair of guide shafts ps1, ps2 as are formed. The cams 41 are movably disposed along the guide shafts ps1 and ps2, and while the cams 41 are moved, the guide shafts ps1 and ps2 are relatively moved within the shaft grooves dt1.

That is, as the guide shafts ps1 and ps2 are moved within the shaft groove dt1, the cam 41 is guided and the cam member 35 is moved in the front-rear direction. In order to prevent the guide shafts ps1 and ps2 from coming off the shaft groove dt1, E-rings (not shown) as fixing members are engaged with the tips of the guide shafts ps1 and ps2.

The lever member 36 includes a lever 43 having a "<" shape, and a guide shaft as a locking member that is moved along the elongated hole h1 at the end of the lever 43 on the cam member 35 side. ps3 is formed to protrude toward the cam 41 . A sleeve (not shown) having a cylindrical shape is formed in the central portion of the lever 43 so as to protrude toward the inner panel In2 side and the outer panel Ou2 side. A long hole h2 is formed as a guide portion by extending radially outward from the . At a position corresponding to the sleeve on the inner panel In2, a swing shaft sh1 that supports the lever member 36 is arranged so as to protrude toward the outer panel Ou2 and pass through the sleeve. A torsion spring (not shown) as a first biasing member is externally fitted to the portion of the sleeve that protrudes toward the inner panel In2, one end of the torsion spring is fitted to a predetermined position of the lever member 36, and the other end It is locked to a predetermined location of the inner panel In2. As a result, the lever member 36 is biased clockwise in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the cam member 35 is biased forward.

Further, when the cam member 35 is moved in the front-rear direction, the guide shaft ps3 is moved along the long hole h1, and the lever member 36 is swung with respect to the apparatus main body Bd.

The head holder 45 slides along the guide groove dt2 the holder bosses bs1 and bs2 which are formed to protrude from both the left and right ends, and one of the holder bosses bs1 and bs2 in the present embodiment. , while sliding the lower holder boss bs1 along the elongated hole h2.

Next, the operation of the linking mechanism 33 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the front cover Pf is opened by the operator, the biasing force of the torsion spring moves the cam member 35 forward and rotates the lever member 36 clockwise. As a result, the head holder 45 is moved upward, and the LED head 21 is retracted from the exposure position to the retracted position and covered with the shielding plate.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the front cover Pf is closed, the protrusion 31 is brought into contact with the contact surface s1 of the cam 41, and the cam member 35 is moved against the urging force of the torsion spring. is moved rearward, and the lever member 36 is rotated counterclockwise. As a result, the head holder 45 is moved downward, and the LED head 21 is placed at the exposure position for exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 (FIG. 4).

Therefore, when the operator opens the front cover Pf and attaches or detaches the image forming unit 20 to or from the apparatus main body Bd, the LED head 21 is not accidentally touched or impacted. .

Between the inner panels In1 and In2 of the main body Bd of the apparatus, a guide Gd is formed so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle so as to be higher toward the front and lower toward the rear. In the space Sp, the image forming unit 20 can be slid along the guide Gd to be attached/detached.

Further, a body gear gr1 as a rotation transmission member for transmitting rotation to the photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably disposed adjacent to the rear end (that is, the bottom end) of the guide Gd in the apparatus body Bd. When the unit 20 is attached to the apparatus main body Bd, the main body gear gr1 and the drum gear gr2 attached to one end of the photoreceptor drum 11 are engaged with each other, and the rotation of a drive motor (not shown) serving as a driving section for image formation is rotated by the main body gear. The power is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 11 by the meshing of the gears gr1 and gr2, and the photosensitive drum 11 is rotated, and the developing roller 12, the supply roller 13, the charging roller 14 and the like are rotated. A rotation transmission system for transmitting the rotation of the driving motor to the photosensitive drum 11 is configured by the body gear gr1 and the drum gear gr2.

The shaft sh2 of the photoreceptor drum 11 is rotatably supported by side frames (not shown) disposed on both left and right sides of the image forming unit 20. As shown in FIG.

Further, holding projections 51 are formed to protrude slightly forward of the rear ends of the guides Gd in the inner panels In1 and In2, and the photosensitive drums 11 are positioned with respect to the apparatus body Bd by the holding projections 51. At the same time, the shaft sh2 of the photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably supported.

For this purpose, a groove m1 with an open front is formed in the holding projection 51 and directed obliquely upward, and both ends of the shaft sh2 of the photoreceptor drum 11 extending through the side frame are rotatably disposed in the groove m1. be considered. The groove m1 is formed parallel to the guide Gd so as not to interfere with the movement of the shaft sh2 when the image forming unit 20 is slid along the guide Gd from the apparatus body Bd.

When the front cover Pf is closed with the image forming unit 20 attached to the apparatus main body Bd, the LED head 21 is placed at the exposure position as described above. Further, support posts 53 are formed on both ends of the main body 20a of the image forming unit 20 so as to protrude upward, and are fitted into positioning holes h3 formed on both ends of the LED head 21. As shown in FIG.

Above the photosensitive drum 11 in the body portion 20a, a recess for accommodating the lower end of the head holder 45, that is, a head accommodating recess 55 is formed extending in the left-right direction. , an exposure hole h4 for passing light emitted from the LED head 21 is formed extending in the left-right direction.

By the way, when the image forming unit 20 is attached to the apparatus main body Bd and the front cover Pf is closed, the LED head 21 is placed at the exposure position. The LED head 21 placed at the exposure position is driven to form an image on the paper P. After that, when the image formation is completed, the drive motor is stopped and the rollers of the image forming unit 21 are cleaned. is inverted for Accordingly, the body gear gr1 is rotated in the opposite direction, and at this time, a reaction force is transmitted from the body gear gr1 to the drum gear gr2, and a force is generated to move the image forming unit 20 along the guide Gd in the detaching direction.

At this time, if the image forming unit 20 is moved, the LED head 21 will be damaged.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the image forming unit 20 is moved between the head holder 45 and the image forming unit 20 when the LED head 21 is placed at the exposure position where the photosensitive drum 11 is exposed. A movement restricting portion Ar1 (FIG. 10), which will be described later, is formed as a restricting portion in order to prevent movement.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the head holder in the embodiment of the present invention is separated from the head housing recess, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the In each figure, the positive direction of the X-axis is the rearward direction of the printer 10, the negative direction of the X-axis is the frontward direction of the printer 10, the positive direction of the Y-axis is the leftward direction of the printer 10, and the negative direction of the Y-axis is the The right direction in the printer 10 , the positive Z-axis direction is the upward direction in the printer 10 , and the negative Z-axis direction is the downward direction in the printer 10 .

In the figure, 11 is a photosensitive drum, 12 is a developing roller, 14 is a charging roller, 20 is an image forming unit, 20a is a main body, 21 is an LED head, 45 is a head holder, and 54 is a head accommodating recess.

BB direction inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the AA direction, which is the attachment/detachment direction of the image forming unit 20, is provided on the upper edge of the vertical wall 58 behind the head accommodating recess 54 of the image forming unit 20. A regulating surface SA is formed on a plane extending in the BB direction, and a regulating surface SB is formed on a plane extending in the BB direction at the lower edge of the rear surface of the head holder 45 so as to face the regulating surface SA. A movement restricting portion Ar1 is formed by the surfaces SA and SB. The BB direction is the direction in which the guide Gd (FIG. 7) extends, and the angle θ is
0<θ<90 [°]
be made.

Therefore, even if a force is generated to move the image forming unit 20 along the guide Gd in the detaching direction when image formation is completed and the driving motor is stopped, the image forming unit 20 is moved by the movement restricting portion Ar1. Since movement can be blocked, damage to the LED head 21 can be prevented. The BB direction is also inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the movement direction of the head holder 45, and therefore the regulation surfaces SA and SB are formed to be inclined with respect to the movement direction of the head holder 45 as well. be.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the movement restricting portion Ar1 is formed between the head holder 45 and the image forming unit 20, and the movement restricting portion Ar1 allows the LED head 21 to expose the photosensitive drum 11 for exposure. Since it is possible to prevent the image forming unit 20 from being moved when it is placed in position, the image forming unit 20 is moved by the force generated in the rotation transmission system that transmits the rotation to the photosensitive drum 11. Therefore, the LED head 21 is not damaged.

Also, since the BB direction is different from the moving direction of the head holder 45, it is possible to suppress the generation of frictional force between the regulating surfaces SA and SB.

Although the printer 10 having one image forming unit 20 has been described in this embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a printer having a plurality of image forming units.

Further, in the present embodiment, the direct transfer type printer 10 that directly transfers the toner image onto the paper P has been described. It can also be applied to an intermediate transfer type printer that transfers an image onto a sheet of paper P. FIG.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the LED head 21 is vertically movable, but the LED head 21 can also be rotated or oscillated.

Although the printer 10 has been described in this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to image forming apparatuses such as copiers, facsimile machines, and multi-function machines.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

10 Printer 11 Photosensitive Drum 20 Image Forming Unit 21 LED Head 45 Head Holder Ar1 Movement Regulating Part Bd Apparatus Main Body gr1 Main Body Gear

Claims (6)

(a) an image forming unit having a rotatably disposed image carrier and detachable from the apparatus main body in a predetermined detachable direction;
(b) an exposure device for exposing the image carrier;
(c) a rotation transmission member that is rotatably disposed in the apparatus main body and that transmits rotation of the drive section to the image carrier;
(d) a holding member that is movably disposed in an apparatus main body and holds the exposure device;
(e) a regulating portion formed between the holding member and the image forming unit to prevent the image forming unit from being moved when the exposure device is placed at the exposure position for exposing the image carrier; and an image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion has a restricting surface that is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the attachment/detachment direction. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the restricting surface is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the moving direction of the holding member. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding member is moved as the cover member is opened and closed, and the exposure device is placed at the exposure position when the cover member is closed. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation transmission member is meshed with gears of the image carrier, and transmits the rotation of the drive section to the image carrier by the meshing of the gears. 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a guide for slidably attaching and detaching the image forming unit is formed in the apparatus main body in the attachment and detachment direction.

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