JP7229711B2 - image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording material, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine that employs an electrophotographic method.

In an image forming apparatus having an image reading section (reading section) at the top, if the recording material (sheet material) being conveyed is stuck (abnormally stopped) inside the image forming apparatus, the sheet material is jammed. User accesses inside the device. In this case, the reading unit is moved (displaced), the output stacking tray is opened (displaced), the process cartridge (cartridge) is removed from the image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body), and then the sheet material that has accumulated inside the apparatus main body A complicated process such as removing the

In order to simplify this complicated process, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the cartridge moves (displaces) in conjunction with opening and closing the door. Further, in Patent Document 2, a configuration is known in which a door opens in conjunction with movement of a reading unit.

JP-A-11-174933 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-123112

However, in Patent Document 1, when the cartridge moves (displaces) in conjunction with the door, in order to access the inside of the apparatus main body, it is necessary to move the image reading unit, open the door, and then take out the cartridge. there were. Further, in Patent Document 2, when the door is opened in conjunction with the image reading section, it is necessary to remove the cartridge after opening the door in order to clear the jam.

That is, in either case, since the image reading unit needs to be moved, there is a problem that a large space is required for the installation of the image forming apparatus in relation to the movement of the reading unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which an abnormally stopped recording material can be easily removed in a limited space without moving the image reading section.

To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a cartridge having an image reading unit for reading an image; a rotatable process means for forming the image on a recording material; An apparatus main body configured to be attachable/detachable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of means, comprising: an opening through which the cartridge passes when the cartridge is attached/detached; 1 and a second position in which the opening is opened, and the upper surface in the vertical direction when in the first position is the recording material on which the image is formed. an opening/closing member serving as a loading surface for stacking; and when the opening/closing member is at a first position, between the image reading unit and the cartridge in the vertical direction, In an image forming apparatus having the stacking surface, the cartridge can be moved between a third position where image formation is possible and a fourth position closer to the image reading unit than the third position. When viewed from the direction of the rotation axis , the first point of the opening/closing member at the second position and the second point of the cartridge at the fourth position. is greater than the distance between the first point of the opening/closing member at the first position and the second point of the cartridge at the third position; is shorter than the vertical distance of

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that facilitates taking out a recording material that has stopped abnormally in a limited space without moving the image reading section.

1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention 3 is a cross-sectional view after movement of a reading unit and an output stacking tray in the first embodiment; FIG. Configuration explanatory diagram in the first embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the periphery of the cartridge in the first embodiment; Operation explanatory diagram in the first embodiment Explanatory diagram during jam processing in the first embodiment Appearance perspective view in the second embodiment Configuration explanatory diagram in the second embodiment Operation explanatory diagram in the second embodiment Sectional view after movement of the reading unit and the discharge stacking tray in the third embodiment Configuration explanatory diagram in the third embodiment Explanatory diagram during jam processing in the third embodiment Operation explanatory diagram in the third embodiment

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<<1st Embodiment>>
(Image forming device)
An overview of the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an image reading section in this embodiment (illustrated as being movable, but may not be movable as will be described later). ), and a cross-sectional view after movement of the discharged sheet stacking tray and the cartridge. Here, an electrophotographic laser beam printer is exemplified as an image forming apparatus. part) 9 is installed.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment includes an apparatus main body 1 , a reading section 9 for reading an image, and a cartridge 8 . The cartridge 8 includes rotatable process means for forming a toner image as the image on a recording material. In this embodiment, the process means include a photosensitive drum as an image carrier and a developing roller as a developer carrier. It is an integrated process cartridge.

The apparatus main body 1 is configured such that the cartridge 8 is detachable in the direction of the rotation axis of the process means. As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 1 includes an opening W through which the cartridge 8 passes when the cartridge 8 is attached or detached, and a discharged sheet stacking tray 10 (which serves as an opening/closing member for opening/closing the opening W, as will be described later). function).

A sheet material (recording material) 4 stacked in a cassette 3 shown in FIG. An unfixed toner image (toner image) formed by the laser scanner 7 is transferred to the sheet material 4 in the transfer section 5 . Further downstream, the fixing section 6 fixes the transferred toner image onto the sheet material 4 by heat and pressure. The apparatus main body 1 includes a discharge section for discharging the sheet material 4 with the image formed thereon facing the stacking surface. Discharged to the top in the direction.

In this manner, the sheet material 4 that has passed through the conveying path for conveying the sheet material provided below the cartridge 8 in the vertical direction during image formation is ejected to the outside of the apparatus between the reading unit 9 and the cartridge 8. be. As will be described later, the main body of the apparatus is configured such that the conveying path can be accessed through the openings formed by displacing the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 and the cartridge 8, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge 8 has a first housing surface 8a on the farthest side from the reading unit 9, and a first housing surface 8a facing the first surface and facing the first surface. A second housing surface 8b on the side closer to the reading unit is provided.

Here, the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 functions as an opening/closing member that opens and closes the opening W through which the cartridge 8 passes when the cartridge 8 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1 . That is, the output stacking tray 10 has a first position in which the opening W is closed (during image formation) and a second position in which the opening W is open (during non-image formation such as when a jam occurs). It is possible to move between When the opening/closing member is displaced from the first position to the second position, the cartridge 8 can be displaced to the fourth position closer to the reading section 9 than the third position where image formation is possible.

In FIG. 2, the reading unit 9 and the discharged paper stacking tray 10 are rotatable about fulcrums R and S, respectively. As shown in FIG. can be rotated to exchange the cartridge 8. In FIG. 3, the output sheet stacking tray 10 rotates at a rotation angle P when the reading section 9 is opened, and at a rotation angle Q when the reading section 9 is closed.

In the present embodiment, there is a gap D (FIG. 3) between the discharge stacking tray 10 and the cartridge 8, forming an air path for blocking heat from the sheet materials 4 stacked on the discharge stacking tray 10. be done.

(Cartridge moving mechanism interlocking with output stacking tray)
With reference to FIG. 4, the configuration of the cartridge moving mechanism (moving mechanism that enables the cartridge to move) that interlocks with the discharge stacking tray in this embodiment will be described. The output stacking tray 10 is configured to be rotatable about a tray rotation shaft 11 as a first rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis direction of the above-described process means, and a tray gear coaxial with the tray rotation shaft 11. 12 are provided. In addition, an idler gear 13, which is a step gear, is provided by combining two types of coaxial gears having different numbers of teeth (an idler gear 13a with a small diameter and an idler gear 13b with a large diameter).

One idler gear 13 a of the idler gear 13 meshes with the tray gear 12 , and the other idler gear 13 b meshes with the CRG gear 14 related to the displacement of the cartridge 8 .

The CRG gear 14 is connected to a CRG rotation shaft 15 as a second rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis direction of the process means and different from the first rotation axis, and the CRG rotation shaft 15 is connected to the CRG 8. there is

Here, the configuration around the cartridge 8 will be described with reference to FIG. 5(a) is an overall view, FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of the driving side, and FIG. 5(c) is an enlarged view of the driven side. The cartridge 8 has a rotary shaft 15, and has a drive-side engagement portion 15a with a triangular prism-shaped convex tip on the drive side. The CRG gear 14 has a gear engaging portion 14a on the cartridge 8 side corresponding to the shape of the driving side engaging portion 15a, and the tip thereof has a triangular prism concave shape.

Further, the rotating shaft 15 is provided with a driven side engaging portion 15b having a hemispherical tip on the driven side. Also, the CRG bearing 16 has a hemispherical recess as an engaging portion, and is urged toward the driving side by a bearing spring 17 .

(Operation of Cartridge Moving Mechanism Interlocking with Output Stacking Tray)
3 to 7, the operation of the cartridge moving mechanism interlocked with the discharge stacking tray 10 will be described below. 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the operation in this embodiment. FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of the discharged paper stacking tray 10 and the cartridge 8 before and after movement, and FIG. 8 has moved.

In this embodiment, it is possible to rotate the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 without opening (moving) the reading section 9 above the apparatus main body 1. In this case, as shown in FIG. The rotation angle of the ejected sheet stacking tray 10 is smaller than when it is opened (moved).

When a user accesses the inside of the apparatus main body 1, such as when a sheet material 4 stays (abnormally stops) inside the apparatus main body 1 and a jam occurs, first, as shown in FIG. rotate to Then, the tray gear 12 connected to the tray rotation shaft 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow b as the discharge stacking tray 10 rotates. The tray gear 12 rotates the idler gear 13 a and the idler gear 13 b rotates the CRG gear 14 . As the CRG gear 14 rotates, the CRG rotating shaft 15 and the cartridge 8 rotate in the direction of arrow c.

Since the idler gear 13b has more teeth than the idler gear 13a, the CRG gear 14 rotates more than the tray gear 12 rotates. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the amount of movement (displacement) B associated with the rotation when the cartridge 8 rotates to approach the output stacking tray 10 is the amount of movement (displacement) of the output stacking tray. Greater than A.

When viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the above-described process means, the first point T is located at the second position of the discharge stacking tray 10 functioning as an opening/closing member, and the first point T is located at the fourth position of the cartridge 8. The vertical distance z2 between the point U of 2 is as follows. That is, the distance z2 in the vertical direction during non-image formation is the first point T at the first position of the discharge stacking tray 10 functioning as an opening/closing member and the third point T of the cartridge 8 during image formation. is shorter than the vertical distance z1 between the second point U at the position of

Here, in this embodiment, during image formation, there is a discharge section for discharging the recording material toward the stacking surface, and the first point T at the first position (during image formation) corresponds to the sheet in the discharge section. This point is located at the most downstream end of the discharged paper stacking tray 10 in the direction in which the material is discharged. The second point U at the third position (at the time of image formation) is the most downstream end of the cartridge 8 at the time of image formation. Then, the second point U at the fourth position (during non-image formation) is the first point T at the first position on the discharge stacking tray 10 in the vertical direction, and the first point T at the second position. and point T.

Here, the device openings (openings) W and C shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 appear after the cartridge 8 and discharge stacking tray 10 are moved (displaced) to the second position and the fourth position, respectively. , the user can access the inside of the device body 1 from here. Then, the sheet material 4 staying inside the apparatus main body 1 can be removed from the apparatus opening portion C. As shown in FIG. The opening W (FIG. 6) is an opening that closes the discharge stacking tray 10 at the first position, and the opening C (FIG. 7) is between the cartridge 8 and the first housing surface 8a. is the opening of

In this manner, the cartridge 8 at the fourth position displaced from the third position is moved through the opening formed by the discharge surface of the discharge stacking tray 10 being displaced from the first position to the second position. It is possible to take out the sheet material that has avoided and stopped abnormally.

Here, in the present embodiment, when the cartridge 8 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1, apart from taking out the abnormally stopped sheet material, the reading unit 9 is rotated to move the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 to P shown in FIG. Rotate to position. When the user moves the cartridge 8 toward the driven side, the CRG bearing 16 (FIG. 5) is retracted. Then, the driving-side engaging portion 15a and the gear engaging portion 14a of the cartridge 8 are separated, and thereafter the cartridge 8 can be drawn forward.

As described above, the ejection surface of the ejection stacking tray 10 serving as an ejection unit in the present embodiment can be displaced from the first position during image formation to the second position closer to the reading unit 9 . When the discharge surface of the discharge stacking tray 10 is displaced, the cartridge 8 can be displaced to a fourth position closer to the reading unit 9 than the third position during image formation. Here, the amount of displacement of the cartridge from the second housing surface 8b at the third position to the first housing surface 8a at the fourth position is from the discharge surface at the first position to the discharge surface at the second position. greater than the displacement of

As described above, when the reading unit 9 does not move and the output stacking tray 10 moves within a small range, the user can access the inside of the apparatus main body 1, thereby improving usability and eliminating the need to move the reading unit 9. Therefore, the installation space of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

<<Second embodiment>>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG. Configurations similar to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

(Image forming device)
An overview of the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8A is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the CRG tray. In FIG. 8(a), a reading unit 9 is attached to the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 (uppermost in the vertical direction). A discharged paper stacking tray 10 is arranged on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 , and a rotatable flap 20 is arranged in front of the discharged paper stacking tray 10 . The flap 20 has a flap concave portion 20a in the central portion in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording material, so that the user can easily pick up the sheet materials 4 stacked on the discharge stacking tray 10. FIG.

In FIG. 8(b), the cartridge 8 is placed on a CRG tray 21 as a holder that holds the cartridge 8, and the CRG gear 14 described in the first embodiment is connected to the CRG tray 21. FIG.

(Cartridge moving mechanism interlocking with output stacking tray)
The configuration of the cartridge moving mechanism that interlocks with the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The discharged sheet stacking tray 10 is configured to be rotatable about a tray rotation shaft 11 and includes a tray gear 12 having the same center as the tray rotation shaft 11 . The idler gear 13 is a step gear in which two types of gears having different numbers of teeth (a small-diameter idler gear 13a and a large-diameter idler gear 13b) are combined. One idler gear 13 a of the idler gear 13 meshes with the tray gear 12 , and the other idler gear 13 b meshes with the CRG gear 14 . CRG gear 14 is connected to CRG tray 21 .

In this embodiment, the flap 20 is rotatable around a flap rotation center 20b and biased by a spring (not shown).

(Operation of Cartridge Moving Mechanism Interlocking with Output Stacking Tray)
9 and 10, the operation of the cartridge moving mechanism interlocked with the discharge stacking tray will be described. FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of the discharged sheet stacking tray 10, the cartridge 8, and the CRG tray 21 before and after movement. In this embodiment, since the ejected paper stacking tray 10 is rotated without opening (moving) the reading unit 9 above the apparatus main body 1, the ejected paper stacking tray 10 can be moved more easily than when the reading unit 9 is opened. The rotation angle is small.

When the discharge stacking tray 10 is rotated in the direction a shown in FIG. 9, the tray gear 12 connected to the tray rotating shaft 11 rotates in the direction b shown in FIG. The tray gear 12 rotates the idler gear 13 a and the idler gear 13 b rotates the CRG gear 14 . As the CRG gear 14 rotates, the CRG tray 21 rotates in direction c shown in FIG. 9, and the cartridge 8 placed on the CRG tray 21 also rotates.

Since the number of teeth of the idler gear 13b is set larger than that of the idler gear 13a, the amount of rotation of the CRG gear 14 is greater than the amount of rotation of the tray gear 12. As a result, the CRG tray 21 and the cartridge 8 are rotationally moved (displaced) so as to approach the discharge stacking tray 10, and the cartridge movement amount B shown in FIG. 10 is larger than the discharge stacking tray movement amount A. FIG.

That is, the discharge surface of the discharge stacking tray 10 as the discharge unit in this embodiment can be displaced from the first position during image formation to the second position closer to the reading unit 9 . When the discharge surface of the discharge stacking tray 10 is displaced, the cartridge 8 can be displaced to a fourth position closer to the reading unit 9 than the third position during image formation. Here, as described in the first embodiment, the amount of displacement from the second housing surface 8b at the third position of the cartridge to the first housing surface 8a at the fourth position is greater than the displacement from the ejection surface to the ejection surface at the second position.

As in the first embodiment, when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the above-described process means, the first point T at the second position of the discharge stacking tray 10 functioning as an opening/closing member and the first point T of the cartridge 8 The vertical distance z2 between the second point U located at position 4 and the second point U is as follows. That is, in FIG. 10, the distance z2 in the vertical direction during non-image formation is the first point T at the first position of the discharge stacking tray 10 functioning as an opening/closing member and the cartridge 8 during image formation. is shorter than the vertical distance z1 between the second point U at the third position of .

In this embodiment, the opening C as an opening different from the opening W shown in FIG. The user can access the inside of the device main body through this opening C. In this embodiment, the flap 20 is rotatable, so the opening C can be widened.

As described above, when the reading unit 9 does not move and the output stacking tray 10 does not move, the user can access the inside of the apparatus main body 1, thereby improving usability and eliminating the need to move the reading unit. Therefore, the installation space of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

<<Third embodiment>>
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. FIG. Configurations similar to those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. In the first and second embodiments, the displacements of the discharge stacking tray 10 and the cartridge 8 are rotational displacements, whereas in the present embodiment, the displacements of the discharge stacking tray 10 and the cartridge 8 are translational displacements (parallel displacements). ).

(Image forming device)
An overview of the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows a cross section after movement (displacement) of the reading unit 9, the discharge stacking tray 10, and the cartridge 8 in this embodiment. The reading unit 9 is rotatable, and the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 is configured to be vertically translatable (translatable). The user can also replace the cartridge 8 after rotating the reading unit 9 and moving the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the ejected sheet stacking tray 10 moves to P when the reading unit 9 is open, and to Q when the reading unit 9 is closed. As shown in FIG. 11, there is a gap D between the discharged paper stacking tray 10 and the cartridge 8, which in this embodiment cuts off the heat from the sheet materials 4 stacked on the discharged paper stacking tray 10. An air path and an optical path from the laser scanner 7 are provided.

(Cartridge moving mechanism interlocking with output stacking tray)
The configuration of the cartridge moving mechanism that interlocks with the discharge stacking tray 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 12 . FIG. 12 shows a state in which the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 is closed. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the operation in this embodiment, and is an enlarged view of the cartridge moving mechanism interlocked with the discharged sheet stacking tray 10. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 13, the ejected sheet stacking tray 10 has an ejected sheet stacking tray boss 32 protruding to the side, and the apparatus main body 1 has an ejected sheet stacking tray guide 30 for guiding the movement of the ejected sheet stacking tray boss 32 . . The cartridge 8 is placed on the CRG tray 21 and has a protruding CRG tray boss 35 on the side of the CRG tray 21 . The device main body 1 has a CRG tray guide 31 that guides the movement of the CRG tray boss 35 .

The device body 1 has a plurality of pulleys 34a, 34b, and 34c as pulleys 34 shown in FIG. It is held in the center and moves up and down as the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 moves up and down. Also, the pulley 34b and the pulley 34c are fixed to the apparatus main body 1. As shown in FIG. The wire 33, one end of which is coupled to the CRG tray 21, is fixed to the device main body 1 at the opposite end via a pulley 34a.

(Operation of Cartridge Moving Mechanism Interlocking with Output Stacking Tray)
12 to 14, the operation of the cartridge moving mechanism that interlocks with the discharged sheet stacking tray 10 in this embodiment will be described below. 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining the operation in this embodiment, and show the arrangement of the ejected sheet stacking tray 10, the cartridge 8, and the CRG tray 21 before and after movement. In the present embodiment, the ejected sheet stacking tray 10 can be moved (displaced) without opening (moving) the reading section 9 above the apparatus main body 1, so compared to the case where the reading section 9 is opened, The amount of movement of the output stacking tray 10 is small.

When the user accesses the inside of the apparatus main body 1, for example, when the sheet material 4 stays inside the apparatus main body 1 (abnormal stoppage), first, the discharge stacking tray 10 is translated (displaced) in the direction of arrow k shown in FIG. ). When the discharged paper stacking tray 10 moves along the discharged paper stacking tray guide 30, the pulley 34a arranged on the discharged paper stacking tray 10 moves in the direction of the arrow m.

As the pulley 34a moves, the wire 33 is pulled, and the CRG tray 21 is pulled up in the direction of the arrow n through the pulleys 34b and 34c fixed to the device main body 1. FIG. The CRG tray 21 ascends (displaces) in the direction of arrow n while the CRG tray boss 35 at the end is guided by the CRG tray guide 31 .

Since the ejected sheet stacking tray 10 moves up and down together with the pulley 34 a , the amount of movement of the CRG tray 21 connected to the end of the wire 33 is greater than the amount of movement of the ejected sheet stacking tray 10 . As a result, the cartridge 8 is lifted (displaced) together with the CRG tray 21 so as to approach the discharged sheet stacking tray 10, and the cartridge movement amount B is larger than the discharged sheet stacking tray movement amount A. FIG.

As in the above-described embodiment, when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the above-described process means, the first point T at the second position of the discharge stacking tray 10 functioning as an opening/closing member and the fourth point T of the cartridge 8 are positioned. The vertical distance z2 between the second point U at the position of and is as follows. That is, in FIG. 14, the distance z2 in the vertical direction during non-image formation is the first point T at the first position of the discharge stacking tray 10 functioning as an opening/closing member and the cartridge 8 during image formation. is shorter than the vertical distance z1 between the second point U at the third position of .

That is, the discharge surface of the discharge stacking tray 10 as the discharge unit in this embodiment can be displaced parallel to the first position during image formation to the second position closer to the image reading unit. When the ejection surface of the ejection stacking tray 10 is displaced, the cartridge 8 can be displaced parallel to the third position during image formation to a fourth position closer to the reading unit 9 .

In this embodiment, the opening C as an opening different from the opening W shown in FIG. The user can access the interior of the apparatus main body 1 through this opening C. As shown in FIG. Then, the sheet material 4 that has accumulated (abnormally stopped) inside the apparatus main body 1 can be removed.

As described above, when the reading unit 9 does not move and the output stacking tray 10 moves within a small range, the user can access the inside of the apparatus main body 1, thereby improving usability and eliminating the need to move the reading unit 9. Therefore, the installation space of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

(Modification)
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, a monochrome image forming apparatus provided with one process cartridge has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a color image forming apparatus having a plurality of process cartridges.

In the above-described embodiments, the cartridge is a process cartridge integrally including a photosensitive drum as an image carrier and a developing roller as a developer carrier as process means, but the present invention is not limited to this. do not have. The process means may be a drum cartridge including a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, or a developing cartridge including a developing roller as a developer carrier.

(Modification 2)
In the above-described second and third embodiments, the CRG tray 21 holding the cartridge 8 is configured to be displaced in conjunction with the vertical movement of the discharge stacking tray 10. 8 may be configured to be displaced directly. Further, in the third embodiment, the CRG tray 21 and the output stacking tray 10 may be operated separately, such as rotating the CRG tray 21 .

8 Cartridge 9 Image reading unit (reading unit) 10 Eject paper stacking tray

Claims (13)

an image reading unit for reading an image;
a cartridge comprising rotatable process means for forming the image on a recording material;
An apparatus main body configured such that the cartridge is detachable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the process means, comprising: an opening through which the cartridge passes when the cartridge is attached or detached; and the opening. It is movable between a first position in which the opening is closed and a second position in which the opening is opened, and when the opening is in the first position, the upper surface in the vertical direction is aligned with the image. an opening/closing member serving as a loading surface on which the recording materials are stacked ;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the loading surface is between the image reading unit and the cartridge in the vertical direction when the opening/closing member is at the first position,
a moving mechanism for moving the cartridge between a third position where image formation is possible and a fourth position closer to the image reading unit than the third position;
When viewed from the direction of the rotation axis, the vertical direction between the first point of the opening and closing member at the second position and the second point of the cartridge at the fourth position. the distance is greater than the vertical distance between the first point of the opening/closing member at the first position and the second point of the cartridge at the third position; An image forming apparatus characterized by being short. a discharge unit for discharging the recording material toward the stacking surface;
The first point is the most downstream end point of the opening/closing member at the first position, and the second point is at the third position, in the ejection direction of the recording material from the ejection section. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the point is located at the most downstream end of a certain cartridge. a conveying path for conveying a recording material is provided below the cartridge at the third position in the vertical direction;
The apparatus main body is configured so that the transport path can be accessed through the opening when the opening/closing member and the cartridge are at the second position and the fourth position, respectively. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1 or 2. The opening/closing member is configured to be rotationally movable about a first rotation axis parallel to the direction of the rotation axis between the first position and the second position,
the moving mechanism is configured to rotate the cartridge between the third position and the fourth position about a second rotation axis parallel to the direction of the rotation axis;
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are located at different positions. The opening/closing member is configured to translate between the first position and the second position, and the moving mechanism moves the cartridge between the third position and the fourth position. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be able to move in parallel. The second point at the fourth position is vertically between the first point at the first position and the first point at the second position. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the image reading section is provided at the highest position in the vertical direction. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is interlocked with displacement of the opening/closing member. having a tray for holding the cartridge;
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving mechanism displaces said cartridge together with said tray. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a process cartridge integrally including a developer carrier and a photosensitive drum as the process means. 10. The image according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum as the process means or a developing cartridge having a developer carrier as the process means. forming device. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one cartridge is provided for monochrome image formation. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said cartridges are provided for color image formation.

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