JPH02230165A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate replenishment of consumables and replacement of a process unit by displacing the holding means or loading means of the process unit from a 1st normal position to a 2nd position when the shortage of consumables is detected. CONSTITUTION:Toner is gradually consumed in the developing unit of the process cartridge C. When an alarm is issued to replace the process cartridge C according to a signal from a toner residual detecting means, one of displacement locks between the fixed guide member 21 and movable guide member 22 of a cartridge holding member is released. Then, when a lock release knob 18 is operated to open and turn an upper enclosure B with respect to a lower enclosure A, the process cartridge C automatically moves from the 1st position, that is, a retreat position, where it is fixed and held with respect to the fixed guide member 21, to the 2nd position protruding outside the open side of the upper enclosure B. The top of the protruding cartridge C is gripped to easily remove the cartridge C from the cartridge holding member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Application in Industry) The present invention provides a system for replacing specific image forming process equipment in a timely manner or replenishing consumable materials for the process equipment in a timely manner. Related to image forming devices such as copying machines and printers. (Prior Art) In the above, the consumables (agents) include, for example, the developer in the developing device and the paper (transfer material, photosensitive paper, printing paper, etc.) in the paper feed unit. In addition, image forming process equipment that needs to be replaced in a timely manner is, for example, a disposable developer containing a predetermined amount of developer or a refill developer container, or a device that is compatible with the main body of the device, which stores developers of different colors. A so-called process in which a flexible developing device and multiple image forming process devices (e.g. photoreceptor, Wfllt device, developing device, cleaning device, etc.) are assembled into a set and can be freely attached to and removed from the main body of the device. These include cartridges and paper cassettes that are removable from the paper feed unit. Therefore, when the consumables of the process equipment containing consumables are consumed and reach a state of shortage (including use-up) below a predetermined amount, or the disposable developing device or process cartridge reaches its usage limit ( When it comes to durability, service life), it is detected by the detection means and the warning means (lighting of a lamp, sound of a buzzer, display, etc.) is activated and a warning message to that effect is displayed to the operator. Operators typically perform operations such as replenishing consumables and replacing process equipment such as process cartridges that have reached the end of their service life with new process equipment. (Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventional image forming stirrups of this type have no means for detecting when consumables are in short supply or when process equipment has reached the end of its service life, and displaying a warning to that effect. , there is no connection with subsequent maintenance workability. ! The notification means only issues a warning, and the operator follows the prescribed operating procedure based on the warning display to install the process cartridge, the developer to be refilled with consumables, the replenishing developer container, the paper cassette, etc. Take out the stirrup from the specified installation position on the wooden body, replenish the developer and paper, and then install it again in the specified installation position on the main body of the device. The equipment was removed from the stirrup and reinstalled with new process equipment, and the maintenance workability was generally poor. Therefore, the present invention provides an improved image forming apparatus that is designed to make it easier to replenish consumables and replace process equipment in such an image forming apparatus. (Means for Solving the Problems) (1) The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that uses a specific image forming process device by replacing it in a timely manner or by replenishing consumables for the process device in a timely manner. In this case, the holding means or mounting means on the apparatus main body side of the process equipment is placed in the first position where the process equipment is properly positioned and held, and in the first position where the process equipment is easily attached or detached or the consumables are replenished. This image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is configured to be able to be selectively displaced to a second position different from the first position. (2) The present invention further provides means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables contained in the image forming process equipment held by the holding means or mounting means on the apparatus main body side regarding the image forming device described in (1) above. 1. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the holding means or the mounting means of the process equipment can be moved from the first position to the second position when a shortage of consumables is detected. (3) Furthermore, the present invention relates to the image forming apparatus according to (1) or (2) above, in which the holding means or the mounting means of the process equipment is moved from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the release operation of the holding means or the mounting means. This is an image forming device that is characterized by displacement. (Function) In other words, for process equipment that is used by replacing the old with a new one or replenishing consumables as appropriate for the main body of the image forming apparatus, the holding means or mounting means of the equipment on the mounting body side is set as described above (
As in 1), the consumables are configured to be selectively displaceable between the first position and the second position, or as in (2), in conjunction with a consumables remaining amount detection means, when a shortage of consumables is detected. By making it movable from the first position to the second position, or by making it movable from the first position to the t52 position l in conjunction with the release operation of the holding means or mounting means as in (3), When replacing process equipment with a new one or replenishing consumables for the equipment, use the holding means or attachment means on the wooden body of the equipment to make it easier to attach and detach the equipment from the means. Since it can be or is displaced to the second position, maintenance work efficiency is improved. (Example) The device of this example is an electrophotographic laser beam printer that uses a process cartridge that can be attached and removed from the main body of the device. Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the schematic internal configuration of the device.
The wooden example device consists of a lower casing A that includes the four sides of the front plate, back plate, bottom plate and right side plate, and an upper casing B that includes the two sides of the device, the top plate and the left side plate. The casing B can be freely rotated to open and close from the closed state shown in Fig. 5 to the open and raised state shown in Fig. 6, and vice versa, about the hinge axis O arranged on the lower side of the left side plate with respect to the lower casing A. It is. 7th
The figure shows a front view of the device with the upper housing B open and raised. In FIG. 5, C is a process cartridge that can be freely attached to and removed from the main body of the apparatus as described later, and FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge taken out of the apparatus. The process cartridge C of this example includes a rotating drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) as an image carrier, and a charger that uniformly charges the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1 positively or negatively. 2, a developing device 3 that develops the static Tft latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum with toner, and a cleaning device 4 that cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum after the image transfer. It is configured so that it can be attached to and detached from the main body of the device all at once. 5 is a laser beam scanner,
Reference numeral 6 indicates a paper (transfer material) cassette that is detachable from the right side plate of the receiver, 7 is a paper feed roller, 8 is a paper guide, 9 is a pair of registration rollers, 10 is a paper guide, l1
12 is a paper transport unit, 13 is a fixing device,
14 is a paper transport section, 15 is a paper discharge coater, and 16 is a paper discharge tray formed by tilting the top plate of the upper housing B downward to the left. The principles and processes of image formation are well known, so we will only give a brief explanation. That is, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated clockwise at a predetermined circumferential speed based on an image forming start signal, and the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charger 2. Next, the *11 photosensitive drum surface is scanned from a laser beam scanner 5 by a computer, word processor, etc. (not shown).
A target image is formed on one surface of the rotating photosensitive drum by scanning exposure with a laser beam L that is modulated and output in accordance with time-series electrical digital pixel signals of the target image input from an image reading device, facsimile transmitter, etc. Electrostatic latent images are formed sequentially. Reference numeral 5a denotes a reflecting mirror that deflects the output beam L from the scanner 5 to the exposure portion of the photosensitive drum 1. The formed latent image is sequentially developed as a toner image in the developing device 3, and the developed image is separated and fed one by one from the cassette 6 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 7, and the guide plate 8, registration roller pair 9, The images are sequentially transferred onto the transfer material P that is synchronously conveyed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer charger 11 via the guide plate IO. The transfer material P that has undergone the image transfer is transferred to the fixing device 1 via the conveyance section l2.
3, the image is fixed, the sheet is conveyed upward by the conveyance section 14, and is discharged from the discharge port 15 to the discharge tray 16 with the image surface facing downward. After the image has been transferred, the surface of the photosensitive drum is cleaned by a cleaning device 4 to remove residual toner after transfer and other contaminants adhering to the drum surface, and is then returned green and used for image formation. Reference numeral 1a denotes a movable drum shutter provided in the process cartridge C, and when the cartridge C is taken out of the apparatus, it is in a closed position where the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 1, which is the externally exposed surface, is hidden as shown in FIG. held, drum 1
This prevents damage to the surface and changes in characteristics due to exposure to external light.
When the cartridge C is installed in the apparatus as shown in FIG. 5, the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is opened and the transfer charger 1 is
(5th
Figure 8 (shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 8). ff+8 In the process cartridge C shown in the figure, 3a is a developing sleeve of the developing device 3, 3b is a blade that regulates the toner thickness on the developing sleeve, 3c is a replenishment toner storage container for the developing device 3, and 3d is the remaining amount of toner in the developing device 3. Detection means. 3e and 3f are rotating members for stirring toner provided inside the developing device 3 and the replenishment toner storage container 3c, respectively. 4a
is a cleaning blade of the cleaning device 4, and the edge portion of the blade rubs the surface of the photosensitive drum to scrape off residual toner and the like on the drum surface. lb is an exposure slit window provided on the top surface of the cartridge exterior, and the laser beam L from the laser beam scanner 5●5a enters the photosensitive drum 1 in the cartridge C through this slit window 1b. Among the process equipment mentioned above, laser beam scanner 5, paper cassette 6, paper feed rotor 7●Guide plate 8●
Registration roller pair 9●Guide plate 10φTransfer charger 11
- The transport section 12 and the fixing device l3 are arranged on the lower housing A side of the device, and the process cartridge C, the reflection mirror 5a,
The conveyance section 14, paper ejection roller 15, and paper ejection tray 16 are arranged on the upper housing B side of the apparatus. Process cartridge C
is detachably set in the cartridge holder, which will be described later, provided on the back side of the top plate of the upper housing B. The closed state (Fig. 5) of upper housing B relative to lower housing A is maintained by a locking mechanism (not shown). When the lock release knob 18 (Figures 3 and 4) is operated to release the lock, the upper casing B opens and rotates from the lower casing A around the hinge axis O by the force of an opening biasing means (not shown). Part 6, 7, 3-4
As shown in the figure, it is held at a predetermined opening angle posture. On the other hand, when the upper housing B in the open and raised state is opened by grasping the handle 17 and sufficiently closed against the lower housing A against the biasing force of the biasing means and rotated, the locking mechanism operates and the housing is closed. It is maintained in the state. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge holding section disposed on the back side of the upper housing B, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a moving drive mechanism for a movable guide member of the holding section. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 indicates a fixed guide member of the cartridge holding section which is integrally attached and supported in the upper casing B of the apparatus, and 22 a movable guide member provided inside the fixed guide member so as to be freely slidable. The process cartridge C is held by being inserted into and removed from the inside of this movable guide member 22.

23 (Fig. 2) is a vertical shaft which is rotatably disposed on the inner surface of the fixed guide member 2 with its upper and lower ends supported by bearing members (not shown), 24 is a pinion fixed to this vertical shaft 23, and 25 −
26 is a shaft 23 coaxially with the binion at the top and bottom of this binion.
Or the first and second ratchet wheels, 2 provided integrally with the binion 24.
Reference numeral 7 designates a torsion coil spring that is loosely fitted around the shaft 23, and its lower end is locked and fixed to the first ratchet wheel 25. The upper end portion is locked and fixed to the fixed guide member 2l side, which is a fixed member. A rack 28 is integrally provided on the outer surface of the movable guide member 22, and is constantly engaged with the pinion 24. Reference numeral 29 denotes a swinging engagement pawl member (stopper) for the first ratchet wheel 25, which is held at the tip of the plunger of the electromagnetic solenoid 30. This W magnetic solenoid 3
0 is attached and held on the fixed guide member 21 side. When the solenoid 30 is not energized, the biasing spring 31 moves the pawl member 29 forward with respect to the first ratchet wheel 25, and the distal end pawl portion engages with the pawl portion 25a of the first ratchet wheel 25, causing the pawl member 29 to move forward relative to the first ratchet wheel 25. car 2
Stop rotating 5. When the solenoid 30 is energized, the pawl member 29 moves backward from the first ratchet wheel 25 against the biasing spring 31 and is held in a state in which it is not engaged with the ratchet wheel 25. #The lock of the pawl wheel 25 is released. Reference numeral 33 designates a rocking engaging pawl member (stopper) for the second ratchet wheel 26, which is freely rotatable around a vertical shaft 32 provided on the fixed guide member 21 side, and is always rotated counterclockwise by a torsion spring 34. The upper housing B is rotated and the lower housing A is biased.
When it is in a state where it is closed in, the biasing force of the torsion spring 34 sufficiently rotates counterclockwise so that the tip end claw engages with the claw 26a of the second ratchet wheel 26. Stop rotating. When the upper modified body B is raised F3R, during the opening process, the rear end portion 33b of the claw member 33 on the opposite side from the tip claw portion contacts and interferes with a cam member (not shown) provided on the lower housing A side. The claw member 33 is rotated clockwise against the torsion spring 34, and by the time the upper housing B reaches a predetermined opening rotation angle, the distal end claw portion of the claw member 33 is rotated clockwise against the second ratchet wheel 26. Claw portion 26a
It comes off and is held in a disengaged state. That is, the rotation of the ratchet wheel 25 is released. Here, regarding the movable guide member 22, the state in which it is pushed and moved to the predetermined retreat position as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The second position is defined as a state in which the tip is pushed out to a predetermined forward position and the distal end side protrudes outward from the distal end of the fixed guide member 2l. When the movable guide member 22 is pushed from the second position l to the first position with respect to the fixed guide member 21, the rack 28 moves the pinion 24 and the first ratchet wheel 25 integrated therewith in conjunction with the movement. The second ratchet wheel 26 and shaft 23 are rotated counterclockwise, and as a result, the torsion coil spring 27 is wound up against its elasticity, resulting in a stored force state. The stored force of the spring 27, that is, the reaction force of the spring, causes the pinion 2 to
4 is urged to rotate clockwise, and the movable guide member 22 is urged to move in the forward direction opposite to the pushing direction through the rack 28. At this time, at least the first or second ratchet wheel 25
・26 are the corresponding claw members? As long as rotation is prevented by 9φ33, the rotation of the plastic wrapper 24 is also prevented, so that the movable guide member is stably fixed and held in the first position. In the ready-to-use state shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge C is fixedly held in the first position B of the cartridge holding portion provided on the back side of the upper housing B which is enclosed in the lower housing A. It is held in engagement with the movable guide member 22. At this time, the corresponding pawl members 29 and 33 are engaged with the first and second pawl wheels 25 and 26 of the cartridge holding portion (Fig. 2), and the first and second pawl wheels 25 and 26 are engaged with each other (Fig. The ratchet wheels 25 and 26 are all stably held in a non-rotating state regardless of the clockwise biasing force generated by the accumulated force of the torsion coil spring 27. That is, process cartridge C
The movable guide member 22 holding the movable guide member 22 is stably fixed and held at a first position with respect to the fixed guide member 21. The toner in the developing device 3 of the process cartridge C is sequentially consumed as development is performed, and in response to the consumption, toner is sequentially replenished from the replenishment toner container 3C side to the developing device 3 side, and the toner in the developing device 3 is gradually consumed. The amount of toner is always maintained at approximately a predetermined amount as long as there is toner in the replenishment toner container 3C. However, the toner in the container 3C is exhausted and the developer 3
When it is detected by the toner remaining amount detection stage 3d that the toner in the toner has been consumed without being replenished and the remaining amount has become below a predetermined allowable amount, the signal is fed back to the control circuit. Based on this, a warning display means such as a warning lamp installed on the operation panel of the device is activated to display a warning that the process cartridge should be replaced (or that the toner should be reinforced). At the same time, the control circuit energizes the electromagnetic solenoid 30 (FIG. 2) and maintains the energized state. When the electromagnetic solenoid 30 is energized, the pawl member 29 moves backward from the first ratchet wheel 25 against the biasing spring 31 and is held in the disengaged position, thereby causing rotation of the first ratchet wheel 25. The stop is released. However, the pawl member 33 remains engaged with the second ratchet wheel 26, and the second ratchet wheel 26, therefore, the pinion wheel 24, and the first ratchet wheel 2
5. The shaft 23 continues to be kept in a non-rotating state. When the above warning display appears and the upper housing B is opened and rotated by operating the lock release knob 18 in order to exchange the process cartridge C with a new one, the pawl member against the second ratchet wheel 26 is removed during the opening process. 33 contacts and interferes with a cam member (not shown) on the side of the lower casing A, and the claw member 33 is rotated clockwise against the torsion spring 34, and the upper casing B reaches a predetermined opening angle. By this time, the distal end claw portion of the claw member 33 has come off the second ratchet wheel 26 and is held in a disengaged state. That is, the second
The rotation of the ratchet wheel 26 is also released. Therefore, since the detent of the first ratchet wheel 25 has already been released by energizing the electromagnetic lens 3o as described above, the detent of the second ratchet wheel 26 is released as described above. At this point, the first ratchet wheel 25, the pinion 24, the second ratchet wheel 26, and the shaft 23 are all rotated clockwise by the stored force of the torsion coil spring 27. Since a rack 28 integrated with the movable guide member 22 is engaged with the binion 24, the clockwise rotational force of the binion 24 causes the movable guide member 22 and the process cartridge C fitted therein to be moved to the fixed guide member 2l. On the other hand, it is automatically pushed out and moved from the first position where it is fixedly held in the retreated position to the second position where the tip side protrudes from the tip of the fixed guide member 21 to the outside of the opening side of the upper housing B. It will be done. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the state in which it is automatically converted to the second position. The drum shutter 1a of the process cartridge C is automatically moved to a closed position covering the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in conjunction with the opening and rotation of the upper housing B. In this way, after the toner in the developing unit of the process cartridge C is substantially consumed and a warning message indicating that the cartridge C should be replaced with a new one is displayed, the upper housing B of the apparatus is opened to take out and replace the cartridge C. When operated, the cartridge holder automatically moves from the first position, which is the predetermined mounting position, to the second position, where the cartridge tip side protrudes outward from the opening side of the upper housing B. The tip of the cartridge C can be easily grasped and removed from the cartridge holder. After removing cartridge C, insert a new cartridge C.
To install the cartridge, the cartridge is fitted and engaged inside the movable guide member 22 with the cleaning base 4 side first. In this case, the movable guide member 22 is the fixed guide member 2.
Since the distal end side of the cartridge CI7) is in the second position protruding from the movable guide member 22, it is easy to insert and engage the cartridge CI7) into the movable guide member 22. The cartridge C that has been fitted and engaged with the movable guide member 22 is pushed together with the movable guide member 22 further into the fixed guide member 2l against the torsion coil spring 27 to reach the first position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Move it sufficiently. This pushing movement causes the torsion coil spring 27 to be wound up and store force. When the movable guide member 22 is pushed to the second position, the electromagnetic solenoid 30 is de-energized in response to a signal from a means (not shown) for detecting this, and the claw member 29 is moved.
is moved and engaged with the first ratchet wheel 25 by the force of the spring 3l, and the ratchet wheel 25 is prevented from rotating against the accumulated force of the torsion coil spring 27. As a result, the movable guide member 22, ie, the process cartridge C, is fixedly held with respect to the fixed guide member 2l at the first position where it is properly attached to the cartridge holding portion. Next, when the upper housing B is sufficiently closed to the lower housing A and rotated, the locking mechanism is activated to prevent the upper housing B from opening. The process cartridge C held in the first position in the cartridge holding part of the upper housing B is moved to the lower housing A.
The device is placed in the specified stirrup position and in the specified posture, and is attached to the main body of the device (Fig. 5). In this case, the drum shutter 1 of the process cartridge C
A moves automatically in conjunction with the closing rotation of the upper housing B from the closed position where it covers the lower surface of the photosensitive drum l to the open position where it escapes to the side until the upper housing B is completely closed. When the photosensitive drum 1 is fully opened, the lower casing surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is in a predetermined position facing the transfer charger 11 on the lower casing A side. Furthermore, when the upper housing B is closed and prevented from opening, the process cartridge C is mechanically and electrically coupled to the drive mechanism and control circuit system on the lower housing A side. Furthermore, due to the confinement of the upper housing B, the second
The contact interference of the cam member with the pawl member 33 on the ratchet wheel 26 is eliminated, and the pawl member 33 is rotated counterclockwise by the force of the spring 34 and returns to the state in which it is engaged with the second ratchet wheel 26. Next, even if there is toner in the developing device 3 of the process cartridge C installed in the device and it is not necessary to replace the cartridge C with a new one, the upper housing B must be opened and raised to inspect the inside of the device and clear the jam. In this case, when the upper housing B is opened and raised, the pawl member 33 is removed from the second ratchet wheel 26 as described above, and the rotation of the second ratchet wheel is released. The Tltm solenoid 30 disengages the pawl member 29 from the ratchet wheel 25 of the ml.
Since the signal from the remaining toner level detection stage 3d is not input to the control circuit, it is maintained in a de-energized state, and the first ratchet wheel 25 continues to be prevented from rotating by the engagement of the pawl member 29. Therefore, the movable guide member 22 of the cartridge holding portion and the process cartridge C remain fixedly held in the first position with respect to the fixed guide member 21, and are not pushed out to the second position, and the upper housing B is opened and raised. Ru. Third
The figure is a perspective view of this state. In this case, after inspecting the inside of the cartridge or clearing a jam, it is only necessary to immediately close the upper housing B without pushing the cartridge C to the first position and moving it, resulting in good maintenance workability. Note that when you want to take out the process cartridge C to inspect it, or to replace it with another cartridge containing toner of a different color, for example, by pressing a manual button (not shown), the electromagnetic solenoid 30 is energized and the first pawl wheel is activated. 25
The engagement of the pawl member 29 with the movable guide member 22 and the process cartridge C is also released, and the movable guide member 22 and the process cartridge C are pushed out to the second position a where the cartridge C can be easily attached and detached, as in the case described above. The above embodiment shows the remaining amount of toner in the first position where the process cartridge C is properly held in the holding part (or mounting part) and the second position where it can be easily attached/detached and replaced with the upper housing B which opens and closes the device. Although the positional displacement is controlled in conjunction with the opening operation of the toner, for example, the configuration may be such that only the developing device or the refill toner container is displaced. In this case, it will be easier to replenish toner if the toner refill opening is displaced until it is exposed. Improves work efficiency. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to process cartridges C, developing units, and refill toner containers, but also applies to other process equipment that includes consumables and requires replacement or replenishment at required times, such as storage containers for recording materials, etc. It can be applied effectively. (Effects of the Invention) As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is used by attaching and detaching from the apparatus main body, or by replenishing consumables. It is easy to replenish materials and has good maintenance work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the apparatus; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fixed guide member and a movable guide member of a process cartridge holding section, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a moving drive mechanism portion of a movable guide member, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view of the upper housing of the device being opened and raised while the movable guide member and process cartridge are in the @1 position, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the movable guide member and process cartridge being in the second position. A perspective view of the device with the upper casing open and raised; FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the schematic configuration of the device with the upper casing closed; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device with the upper casing opened and raised. FIG. 7 is a front view of the device in the rotated state, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge taken out from the cartridge. A-B are the lower casing and upper casing of the device, C is the process cartridge, 21 and 22 are the fixed guide member and movable guide member of the cartridge holder, and 23 to 34 are the movable guide members. ! 7 mechanisms, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are photosensitive drums built into cartridge C ●Charger ●Developer ●
A cleaning device, 5 a laser beam scanner, and 6 a paper cassette. Patent applicant: Canon Inc. Representative: Yukio Takanashi 1sa'-゛1,-l

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus that uses a specific image forming process device by replacing it in a timely manner or replenishing consumables for the process device in a timely manner, a holding means or a mounting means on the apparatus main body side of the process device. is selectively movable between a first position where the process equipment is properly positioned and held, and a second position different from the first position where it is easy to attach and detach the process equipment or replenish consumables. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is configured as follows. (2) It has means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables contained in the image forming process equipment held by the holding means or mounting means on the apparatus main body side, and when a shortage of consumables is detected, the process equipment 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding means or the mounting means is movable from the first position to the second position. (3) Claim 1 characterized in that the holding means or the mounting means is displaced from the first position to the second position in conjunction with the release operation of the holding means or the mounting means of the process equipment.
Or the image forming apparatus described in 2 above.