IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,509,360
Granted Patent B2
US 10,509,360 · App. 15/976,370 · Granted Dec 17, 2019

Image forming apparatus with removable cartridges mounted on tray

Inventors: Shunsuke Hijikata (Yokohama, JP); Yuichiro Inaba (Chigasaki, JP); Toshiyuki Watanabe (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G03G21/1817G03G21/1842
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,509,360
App. No.
15/976,370
Granted
Dec 17, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a cartridge including at least an image bearing member. The apparatus further includes a tray drawable from the main assembly, wherein the cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from the tray in one direction and an opposite direction, respectively; and a light emission unit provided in the tray and including a plurality of light emission elements arranged in an axial direction of the image bearing member to form a latent image on the image bearing member. The cartridge is capable of being inserted into the tray by moving it in the one direction, in response to which the light emission unit is moved in a direction crossing with the one direction to outside of a movement range of insertion of the cartridge.

Claims (16)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main assembly; and

a cartridge including at least an image bearing member;

a tray drawable from said main assembly, wherein said cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from said tray in one direction and an opposite direction, respectively; and

a light emission unit provided in said tray and including a plurality of light emission elements arranged in an axial direction of said image bearing member to form a latent image on said image bearing member,

wherein said cartridge is capable of being inserted into said tray by moving said cartridge in the one direction, in response to which said light emission unit is moved in a direction crossing with the one direction to outside of a movement range of insertion of said cartridge.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an urging member configured to urge said light emission unit toward said cartridge, wherein when said cartridge is inserted into said tray, said cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position against an urging force of said urging member while a part of said cartridge is in contact with a part of said light emission unit, and said cartridge is placed at the predetermined position by the urging force of said urging member.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said tray includes an engaging portion engageable with said light emission unit, and said light emission unit is positioned by the urging force of said urging member and said engaging portion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said tray includes an engaging portion engageable with said light emission unit, and said light emission unit is positioned by said engaging portion.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the part of said cartridge is a surface of said image bearing member, and the part of said light emission unit is a rotatable member rotatably supported by said light emission unit.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cartridge includes a developer accommodating portion accommodating a developer, and said developer accommodating portion is disposed at a level higher than that of said image bearing member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a charging device configured to charge said image bearing member.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an intermediary transfer member provided opposed to said image bearing member at a predetermined position in said main assembly.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said intermediary transfer member is provided below said cartridge.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a feeding belt configured to feed a recording material and provided opposed to said image bearing member at a predetermined position.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said feeding belt is provided below said cartridge.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2018
From: HIJIKATA, SHUNSUKE; INABA, YUICHIRO; WATANABE, TOSHIYUKI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 047850/0803 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-093519 · May 10, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180329363A1 · Nov 15, 2018