Mounting mechanism of process cartridge for image forming apparatus
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYuji Koga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrophotographic apparatus comprises a cartridge holder for holding a process cartridge, an member for outwardly biasing the process cartridge, and a guide member for guiding the process cartridge into a specified position during the process of closing the upper unit. The operation of removing the process cartridge is made easier by biasing of the process cartridge by means of the urging member toward the position of the opening of the process cartridge. Mounting the process cartridge is also made securely by guiding the process cartridge into a specified position by means of the guide member.
Claims21
A mounting mechanism for an image forming apparatus having a lower unit and an upper unit hinged to the lower unit, the upper unit and the lower unit defining a sheet transfer path, the mounting mechanism comprising:
- a holder adapted to be disposed in the upper unit, said holder including a body shaped to receive a removable cartridge, said body having an open front portion shaped to receive the cartridge, a back portion, side portions extending from said front to said back and a bottom portion with an opening shaped larger than an image recording sheet;
- an urging member disposed in said holder and coupled to said back portion facing said front portion adapted to urge the cartridge out of said body;
- and
- at least one guide member adapted to be disposed in the lower unit including a sloped surface adapted to guide the cartridge into the image forming apparatus and a receiving portion adapted to hold the cartridge in operating position within the image forming apparatus.
A removable cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus having a lower unit and an upper unit hinged to the lower unit, comprising:
- a body adapted for insertion into the upper unit, said body including a front surface, an upper surface configured to mate with the upper unit and a lower surface configured to mate with the lower unit, said body containing image forming elements and having a front gripping formation and at least one contact member extending outwardly from said body, said at least one contact member adapted for contact with the lower unit,
- wherein said gripping formation is formed by said front surface projecting from said upper surface and said lower surface with angled walls.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a lower unit;
- an upper unit hinged to said lower unit, said upper unit and said lower unit defining a sheet transfer path;
- a cartridge removably disposed in said upper unit;
- a holder disposed in said upper unit receiving said cartridge;
- an urging member coupled to said holder and disposed between said holder and said cartridge thereby urging said cartridge out of said holder in a detachable direction of said cartridge;
- and
- a pair of guide members disposed in said lower unit, each guide member including a sloped surface guiding said cartridge into said holder and a receiving portion holding said cartridge in an operating position within the image forming apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.