Packaging unit including image forming apparatus to which cartridge accommodating developer is detachably mounted and packaging member in which image forming apparatus is packaged

1. A packaging unit comprising:

an image forming apparatus into which a cartridge accommodating developer therein is detachably mounted, the cartridge being formed with a first opening for allowing the developer to discharge outside from the cartridge when the cartridge is in a first posture, the cartridge being in the first posture when an image is formed; and

a packaging member in which the image forming apparatus is packaged in such a posture that the cartridge is in a second posture where leakage of the developer from the first opening is unlikely to occur as compared with a posture of the image forming apparatus in which the cartridge is in the first posture,

wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a main casing and a cover member, the main casing having an opening section through which the cartridge is inserted, the cover member being movable between a second open position and a second closed position, the cover member exposing the opening section when the cover member is in the second open position, the cover member covering the opening section when the cover member is in the second closed position,

wherein the cartridge includes a shutter member movable between a first open position and a first closed position, the shutter member exposing the first opening and allowing the developer to pass through the first opening when the shutter member is in the first open position, the shutter member covering the first opening when the shutter member is in the first closed position, the shutter member moving from the first closed position to the first open position in conjunction with movement of the cover member from the second open position to the second closed position, the shutter member moving from the first open position to the first closed position in conjunction with movement of the cover member from the second closed position to the second open position, and

wherein the packaging unit further comprises an interfering member configured to interrupt associative movements between the shutter member and the cover member so as to maintain the shutter member in the first closed position when the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member.

2. The packaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first opening is in a predetermined position when the cartridge is in the first posture, the first opening being in a developer-leakage preventing position angularly offset from the predetermined position when the cartridge is in the second posture.

3. The packaging unit according to claim 2 , wherein the developer-leakage preventing position is set to fall within a prescribed angular range determined depending upon the predetermined position.

4. The packaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge opens downward or diagonally downward when the cartridge is in the first posture, the cartridge opening upward or diagonally upward when the cartridge is in the second posture.

5. The packaging unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a developer unit including a developer carrying member that is configured to carry the developer from the cartridge, the developer unit having a second opening configured to communicate with the first opening,

wherein the developer carrying member is disposed at a position higher than both positions of the first opening and the second opening when the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member.

6. The packaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein the packaging member has a bottom surface and a side surface, the side surface having an area greater than an area of the bottom surface, and

wherein the image forming apparatus is packaged in such a posture that the image forming apparatus rotates 90 degrees with respect to a posture of the image forming apparatus in which the image is formed.

7. The packaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first opening has a bottom edge,

wherein a level of the developer accommodated in the cartridge is higher than or equal to the bottom edge when the image is formed, and

wherein the level of the developer accommodated in the cartridge is lower than the bottom edge when the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member.

8. A method for packaging an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge accommodating developer therein is mounted, the cartridge being formed with a first opening for allowing the developer to be discharged outside from the cartridge, the cartridge having a shutter member movable between a first open position and a first closed position, the shutter member at the first open position exposing the first opening and allowing the developer to pass through the first opening, the shutter member at the first closed position covering the first opening, the image forming apparatus including a main casing and a cover member, the main casing having an opening section through which the cartridge is mounted, the cover member being movable between a second open position and a second closed position, the cover member exposing the opening section when the cover member is in the second open position, the cover member covering the opening section when the cover member is in the second closed position, the method comprising:

a covering step, covering the cartridge with an interfering member to maintain the shutter member in the first closed position;

a mounting step, mounting the cartridge covered with the interfering member into the image forming apparatus such that the mounted cartridge is in a first posture, the cartridge being in the first posture when an image is formed; and

a packaging step, packaging the image forming apparatus with the cartridge mounted therein in a packaging member in such a posture that the mounted cartridge is in a second posture different from the first posture, wherein leakage of the developer from the first opening is unlikely to occur when the mounted cartridge is in the second posture as compared with a posture of the image forming apparatus in which the mounted cartridge is in the first posture.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first opening is in a predetermined position when the cartridge is in the first posture, the first opening being in a developer-leakage preventing position angularly offset from the predetermined position when the cartridge is in the second posture.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the developer-leakage preventing position is set to fall within a prescribed angular range determined depending upon the predetermined position.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member in such a posture that the cartridge opens upward or diagonally upward in the packaging step.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in the packaging step, the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member in such a posture that a developer carrying member of a developer unit is disposed at a position higher than both positions of the first opening and a second opening of the developer unit, the developer carrying member configured to carry the developer from the cartridge, the second opening communicating with the first opening.

13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in the packaging step, the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member in such a posture that the image forming apparatus rotates 90 degrees with respect to a posture of the image forming apparatus in which the image is formed, the packaging member having a bottom surface and a side surface, the side surface having an area greater than an area of the bottom surface.

14. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in the packaging step, the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member in such a posture that a level of the developer accommodated in the cartridge is lower than a bottom edge of the first opening, the level of the developer accommodated in the cartridge being higher than or equal to the bottom edge when the image is formed.

15. A packaging unit comprising:

an image forming apparatus into which a cartridge accommodating developer therein is detachably mounted, the cartridge being formed with a first opening for allowing the developer to discharge outside from the cartridge; and

a packaging member in which the image forming apparatus with the cartridge mounted therein is packaged,

wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a main casing and a cover member, the main casing having an opening section through which the cartridge is inserted, the cover member being movable between a second open position and a second closed position, the cover member exposing the opening section when the cover member is in the second open position, the cover member covering the opening section when the cover member is in the second closed position,

wherein the cartridge includes a shutter member movable between a first open position and a first closed position, the shutter member exposing the first opening and allowing the developer to pass through the first opening when the shutter member is in the first open position, the shutter member covering the first opening when the shutter member is in the first closed position, the shutter member moving from the first closed position to the first open position in conjunction with movement of the cover member from the second open position to the second closed position, the shutter member moving from the first open position to the first closed position in conjunction with movement of the cover member from the second closed position to the second open position, and

wherein the packaging unit further comprises an interfering member configured to interrupt associative movements between the shutter member and the cover member so as to maintain the shutter member in the first closed position when the image forming apparatus is packaged in the packaging member.