# US 2021/0333754 A1 · Image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 2021/0333754 A1
- Document ID: US20210333754A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/368,629
- Filed: 2021-07-06
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-01
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Yuichiro OKAWA; Yu SHUHAMA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210333754A1

## CPC

- G03G 21/206: {Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone}
- G03G 21/1619: {Frame structures}
- G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a first frame member, a second frame member opposing the first frame member, a cartridge, a cartridge holding member, an air blowing portion, a first opening, a second opening opposing the first opening, an air discharge passage member, and an outer casing member provided so as to cover an outside of the second frame member and permitting discharge of the air to an outside of the image forming apparatus through the air discharge passage member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
a first frame member provided on one side in a first direction;
a second frame member provided on the other side in the first direction so as to oppose said first frame member;
a cartridge provided between said first frame member and said second frame member and including a developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic;
a holding member provided between said first frame member and said second frame member and configured to hold said cartridge;
air blower provided on said first frame member and configured to supply air from said one side to said the other side;
a first opening provided on said the other side of said holding member and configured to permit the air to be supplied from said air blower;
a second opening provided in said second frame member and opposing said first opening with respect to said first direction; and
an outer casing member provided so as to cover an outside of said second frame member and configured to permit discharge of the air to an outside of said image forming apparatus through said first opening and said second opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer casing member includes a first surface extending in a vertical direction, a second surface offset in a direction from said first surface toward an inside of said image forming apparatus, and a third surface connecting said first surface and said second surface,
wherein said third surface is provided with an air communication port penetrating said outer casing member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said third surface is configured so that a user is capable of holding said third surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said holding member holds a plurality of cartridges so as to be mountable in and dismountable from said image forming apparatus,
wherein said cartridge includes the plurality of cartridges provided so as to movable in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of cartridges are arranged in a line, and
wherein said first opening is provided for each of the cartridges.

### Claim at position 5

-6. (canceled)