# US 2021/0240130 A1 · Image forming apparatus including developing device supporting structure having guide groove > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240130 A1 - Document ID: US20210240130A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/238,337 - Filed: 2021-04-23 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-31 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Shougo SATO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240130A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/1647: {Mechanical connection means} - G03G 21/1623: {Means to access the interior of the apparatus} - G03G 21/1633: {using doors or covers (G03G21/1638 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1661: {means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus (G03G21/1604, G03G21/1642 take precedence)} - G03G 21/1676: {for the developer unit} - G03G 2215/0132: vertical medium transport path at the secondary transfer - G03G 2221/1684: using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main casing, an opening-closing member configured to open and close an opening on a side of the main casing and to move between an open position and a closed position, a belt unit configured to move between a first position and a second position, a drum unit configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, a developing device unit configured to move in an arrangement direction of developing rollers, and an interlock mechanism configured such that in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position and the drum unit moves from the third position to the fourth position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a main casing having an opening; an opening-closing member configured to open and close the opening; a drum frame detachably attached to the main casing through the opening and including a photosensitive drum; a developing device detachably attached to the main casing through the opening and including a developing roller; and a developing device supporting structure including left and right side walls, each of the side walls having a guide groove, the guide groove extending from an upper end of each of the side walls in a direction away from the opening, wherein the developing device includes a developing device frame configured to support the developing roller, the developing device frame has left and right protrusions each of which protrudes and extends along an axis of the developing roller, and each of the protrusions is configured to fit into the guide groove at a position farthest from the opening, in a state where the developing device is positioned between the left and right side walls and each of the protrusions of the developing device are fitted into the guide groove of each of the left and right side walls, the left and right side walls is supported by the main casing so as to be movable between a first position, in which the developing roller is close to the photosensitive drum, and a second position, in which the developing roller is away from the photosensitive drum, and the developing device is interlocked with the opening-closing member such that the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum when the opening-closing member is opened, and the developing roller is close to the photosensitive drum and developable when the opening-closing member is closed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the developing device supporting structure is in the first position, the developing device is swingable with respect to the developing device supporting structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is swingable with respect to the photosensitive drum while the developing device is being attached to the developing device supporting structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is swingable with respect to the photosensitive drum while the developing device is being detached from the developing device supporting structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide groove extends diagonally downward from the upper end of each of the side walls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening-closing member is pivotable relative to the main casing between an open position in which the opening is opened and a closed position in which the opening is closed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a developing device moving mechanism positioned below the developing roller, configured to move with respect to the main casing and configured to press the developing roller upwardly against the photosensitive drum. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the developing device moving mechanism is configured to move horizontally. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the developing device moving mechanism is configured to move upward and downward. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the opening-closing member is pivotable relative to the main casing between an open position in which the opening is opened and a closed position in which the opening is closed, and wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an interlock mechanism configured such that: in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position, the developing device moving mechanism moves downward; and in response to a movement of the opening-closing member from the open position to the closed position, the developing device moving mechanism moves upward. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide groove is positioned at an inner surface of the side wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide groove has a dead end where each of the protrusions guided along the guide groove stops, and when each of the protrusions is guided to the dead end, the developing device is closest to the photosensitive drum.