Unit moving device and image forming apparatus

A unit moving device that is provided between a main body of an apparatus and a unit, the unit being provided so as to be insertable to the main body of the apparatus, the unit being moved by the unit moving device in the main body of the apparatus, the unit moving device comprising:

• a sliding member that is provided in one of the main body of the apparatus and the unit, the sliding member being movable in a direction that intersects a direction in which the unit moves;
• an elastic member that is connected to the sliding member;
• and
• a guiding mechanism that is provided in the other one of the main body of the apparatus and the unit, wherein the guiding mechanism includes,
• an inclined first guiding member that guides the sliding member in order to stretch the elastic member so as to increase an elastic force while the unit is being inserted into the main body of the apparatus;
• an inclined second guiding member that guides the sliding member in order to contract the elastic member so as to decrease the elastic force from a time during insertion of the unit into the main body of the apparatus to a time when the unit reaches a mounting position of the unit in the main body of the apparatus;
• and
• an inclined third guiding member that guides the sliding member in order to contract the elastic member so as to decrease the elastic force through movement of the unit from the mounting position in a direction opposite to a direction in which the unit is inserted,
• wherein the sliding member is guided by the first guiding member so as to increase and accumulate the elastic force of the elastic member, wherein the unit is pushed to the mounting position by the elastic force exerted when the sliding member is guided by the second guiding member so as to decrease the elastic force of the elastic member, wherein the unit is pushed out from the mounting position by the elastic force exerted when the sliding member is guided by the third guiding member so as to decrease the elastic force of the elastic member, and
• wherein, in an operation in which the unit is inserted to a mounting position in the main body of the apparatus, the sliding member is guided along the first guiding member and the second guiding member, and in an operation in which the unit having moved to the mounting position is pulled out from the main body of the apparatus, the sliding member is not guided along the first guiding member but guided along the third guiding member.

An image forming apparatus that includes a unit moving device that is provided between a main body of an apparatus and a unit, the unit being provided so as to be insertable to the main body of the apparatus, the unit being moved by the unit moving device in the main body of the apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet;
• an elastic member that generates a force for moving the unit;
• a sliding member that is connected to the elastic member and is configured to accumulate an elastic force in the elastic member in an operation in which the unit is inserted to a mounting position in the main body of the apparatus;
• and
• a force receiving portion that is in contact with the sliding member and is configured to receive the force for moving the unit from the sliding member,
• wherein, part of the elastic force accumulated in the elastic member in the operation in which the unit is inserted to the mounting position in the main body of the apparatus is used for moving the unit to the mounting position, and remaining part of the elastic force accumulated in the elastic member in the operation in which the unit is inserted to the mounting position in the main body of the apparatus is used for moving the unit having moved to the mounting position in a direction in which the unit is pushed out of the main body of the apparatus.

An image forming apparatus that includes a unit moving device that is provided between a main body of an apparatus and a unit, the unit being provided so as to be removable from the main body of the apparatus, the unit being moved by the unit moving device in the main body of the apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet;
• a sliding member that is provided in one of the main body of the apparatus and the unit, the sliding member being movable in a direction that intersects a direction in which the unit moves;
• an elastic member that is connected to the sliding member;
• and
• a guiding mechanism that is provided in the other one of the main body of the apparatus and the unit,
• wherein the guiding mechanism includes an inclined first guiding member that guides the sliding member in order to stretch the elastic member so as to increase an elastic force while the unit is being inserted into the main body of the apparatus, an inclined second guiding member that guides the sliding member in order to contract the elastic member so as to decrease the elastic force from a time during insertion of the unit into the main body of the apparatus to a time when the unit reaches the mounting position of the unit in the main body of the apparatus, and an inclined third guiding member that guides the sliding member in order to contract the elastic member so as to decrease the elastic force through movement of the unit from the mounting position in a direction opposite to a direction in which the unit is inserted,
• wherein the sliding member is guided by the first guiding member so as to increase and accumulate the elastic force of the elastic member, wherein the unit is pushed to the mounting position by the elastic force exerted when the sliding member is guided by the second guiding member so as to decrease the elastic force of the elastic member, wherein the unit is pushed out from the mounting position by the elastic force exerted when the sliding member is guided by the third guiding member so as to decrease the elastic force of the elastic member, and
• wherein, in an operation in which the unit is inserted to a mounting position in the main body of the apparatus, the sliding member is guided along the first guiding member and the second guiding member, and in an operation in which the unit having moved to the mounting position is pulled out from the main body of the apparatus, the sliding member is not guided along the first guiding member but guided along the third guiding member.