Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a support member to which a cartridge is detachably attached and which is movable, a detection portion configured to output a signal and configured such that the signal changes in a case where the support member on which the cartridge is supported is moved from the second position toward the first position, a drive source configured to move the support member, and a controller configured to, in a case where the support member at the second position and not being moved by the drive source is moved toward the first position and the signal changes, cause the drive source to move the support member toward the first position.
1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body;
a support member to which a cartridge is detachably attached, the support member being movable to a first position in which the cartridge is positioned inside the apparatus body and a second position in which the cartridge is positioned outside the apparatus body;
a sensor configured to output a signal and configured such that the signal changes when the support member on which the cartridge is supported is moved from the second position toward the first position;
a drive source configured to move the support member;
a controller configured to cause the drive source to move the support member toward the first position when the support member at the second position is moved toward the first position without the drive source and the signal changes; and
a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force of the drive source to the support member,
wherein after the support member is moved from the first position to the second position, the transmission unit is configured to transition to a blocking state in which transmission of a force from the support member to the drive source is prevented.
2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the drive source when the signal changes while the support member is not being moved by the drive source.
3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a reduction mechanism configured to transmit rotation of an output shaft of the drive source to the transmission unit, the reduction mechanism including a first gear provided on the output shaft and a second gear that is configured to receive the driving force via the first gear and to rotate at an angular velocity slower than an angular velocity of the first gear when the drive source moves the support member toward the first position.
4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission unit includes:
an input portion which has a first engaging portion and to which the driving force of the drive source is input, and
an output portion which has a first engaged portion and which is configured to output the driving force having been input to the input portion,
wherein, when the drive source rotates in a first direction, the support member is moved from the first position toward the second position in a state in which the first engaging portion is engaged with the first engaged portion, and
wherein after the support member has moved from the first position to the second position, engagement between the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion is released so that the transmission unit transitions to the blocking state.
5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein after the support member has moved from the first position to the second position, the drive source rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the engagement between the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion is released.
6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein after the support member has moved from the first position to the second position, the drive source rotates further in the first direction so that the engagement between the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion is released.
7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the output portion includes a gear portion configured to transmit the driving force to the support member, and
wherein the first engaged portion is movable with respect to the gear portion.
8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the input portion has a second engaging portion,
wherein the output portion has a second engaged portion, and
wherein in a case where the drive source rotates in a second direction, the support member is moved from the second position toward the first position in a state in which the second engaging portion is engaged with the second engaged portion.
9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the sensor is configured such that the signal changes when the support member passes a predetermined position between the first position and the second position, and
wherein an angle by which the output portion is relatively rotatable with respect to the input portion in a state in which the engagement between the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion is released is larger than an angle by which the output portion rotates while the support member is moved from the second position to the predetermined position.
10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured such that the signal changes in accordance with a movement of the transmission unit.
11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the transmission unit includes a rotary member configured to rotate about a rotation axis, and
wherein the sensor is configured such that the signal changes in accordance with a rotation of the rotary member.
12 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a rotational angle of the rotary member during movement of the support member from the first position to the second position is less than 360°.