JP4556992B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an exposure member disposed to face a photoreceptor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tandem type image forming apparatus having an exposure member (LED unit) disposed to face an upper side of a photoreceptor is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3). In such an image forming apparatus, for example, the cartridge is exchanged by sliding the frame supporting the cartridge upward (Patent Document 1), or the cartridge itself or the frame supporting the cartridge is pulled out to exchange the cartridge. A form (patent documents 2 and 3) is known.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-43776 (FIG. 3) JP-A-8-36346 (FIG. 3) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-98772 (FIG. 13)

  By the way, in the conventional image forming apparatus, since the exposure member (LED unit) is disposed so as to face the upper side of the photosensitive member, particularly when the cartridge having the photosensitive member is replaced, the attachment / detachment path of the cartridge is set as the exposure member. Therefore, it is necessary to dispose the mounting portion so as to avoid the installation location of the photosensitive member, or to retract the exposure member from above the photosensitive member, which causes a decrease in operability.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve operability when replacing a cartridge having a photoconductor in an image forming apparatus having an exposure member arranged to face the photoconductor.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of process cartridges each including a photosensitive member, a toner storage unit disposed below the photosensitive member, and the plurality of process cartridges arranged in a row. And a support member configured to be able to be pulled out from the apparatus main body in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of process cartridges are arranged so that the process cartridge can be attached and detached upward, and swings with respect to the support member A plurality of exposure members that are arranged above the toner storage unit and are opposed to the lower sides of the respective photoconductors to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductors, and the exposure members are directed upward. and a first biasing member for biasing manner, the process cartridge has an exposure hole through which the exposure member is fitted, the exposure member, before Wherein is fitted in the exposure hole when going to the process cartridge to said supporting member, rotated in unwinding direction rear side of the support member against the urging force of the first biasing member, said process cartridge Is attached to the support member, faces diagonally upward in the pull-out direction of the support member to face the photoconductor, and urges the first urging member when the process cartridge is removed from the support member. It is characterized in that it is configured so as to face upward by rotating the Rukoto.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the process cartridge having the photosensitive member is configured to be detachable upward from the support member, and the exposure member is disposed facing the lower side of the photosensitive member. Sometimes it is not necessary to retract the exposure member. That is, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the support member only by pulling the support member from the apparatus main body.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the exposure member is disposed below the photoconductor, the operability when replacing the cartridge having the photoconductor can be greatly improved.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a color multi-function peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the LED unit and the process cartridge of FIG. 1.

  Here, in the following description, the direction will be described with reference to the user when using the color multifunction peripheral. That is, in FIG. 1, the left side toward the paper surface is “front side”, the right side toward the paper surface is “back side”, the back side toward the paper surface is “left side”, and the front side toward the paper surface is “right side”. And In addition, the vertical direction toward the page is defined as the “vertical direction”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the color multifunction peripheral 1 is provided with a main body case 2 constituting a housing of the apparatus main body, a flat bed scanner 3 provided above the main body case 2, and a main body case 2. A sheet feeding unit 4 that supplies a sheet P as an example of a sheet, an image forming unit 5 that forms an image on the fed sheet P, and a sheet discharge roller 6 that discharges the sheet P on which the image is formed are mainly provided. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a front cover 7 as an example of an openable / closable cover is provided on the front side of the main body case 2 so as to be able to rotate back and forth with a lower portion as a fulcrum. Further, a paper discharge tray 8 on which the paper P discharged from the main body case 2 is accumulated is provided on the upper portion of the main body case 2.

  In the main body case 2, a support frame 10 as an example of a support member that detachably supports each process cartridge 40 to be described later, and the support frame 10 are supported so that they can be pulled out from the front side of the main body case 2. The side frame 20 which comprises a part of is provided. The side frame 20 is fixed to the main body case 2. Detailed configurations of the side frame 20 and the support frame 10 will be described later.

  The flatbed scanner 3 is an image reading device having a known configuration, and at the time of copying, generates image data by irradiating a document having an image with light and reading the image.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed unit 4 is provided at a lower portion in the main body case 2, and is detachably attached to the main body case 2, and a main body case on the front side of the paper feed cassette 9. 2, various rollers (reference numerals omitted), a first conveying roller 4 </ b> A provided on the front side of the support frame 10, a second conveying roller 4 </ b> A opposed to the first conveying roller 4 </ b> A and provided on the front cover 7. Conveying roller 4B is mainly provided. The paper P in the paper feed cassette 9 is separated one by one by various rollers and sent upward, and passes between the first conveyance roller 4A and the second conveyance roller 4B, and the image forming unit 5 (the intermediate transfer belt 51 and the paper). Between the secondary transfer rollers 53).

  The image forming unit 5 mainly includes four LED units 30, four process cartridges 40, a transfer unit 50, and a fixing unit 60.

  The LED unit 30 is fixed to the support frame 10 via a support arm 11, and an LED head 31 as an example of an exposure member is disposed to face a lower side of a photosensitive drum 41 described later. The detailed configuration of the LED unit 30 will be described later.

The process cartridge 40 is disposed between the paper feed unit 4 and the paper discharge tray 8 and is detachably supported on the support frame 10 in the front-rear direction (front and back directions). As shown in FIG. 3, the process cartridge 40 includes a photosensitive drum 41, a scorotron charger 42, a developing roller 43, a first supply roller 44, an example of a photosensitive member, in a cartridge frame 40A constituting an outer frame. A second supply roller 45, a layer thickness regulating blade 46, a toner containing portion 47, and the like are mainly provided. The rotation shaft 41A of the photosensitive drum 41 and the rotation shaft 45A of the second supply roller 45 protrude outward from the left and right side surfaces of the cartridge frame 40A (see FIG. 5).
Each process cartridge 40 has the same configuration except for the color of the toner stored in the toner storage unit 47.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer unit 50 is provided between each process cartridge 40 and the paper discharge tray 8, and includes an intermediate transfer belt 51, four primary transfer rollers 52, a secondary transfer roller 53, and a drive roller 54. The driven roller 55 and the cleaning unit 56 are mainly provided.

  The driving roller 54 and the driven roller 55 are spaced apart in parallel in the front-rear direction, and an intermediate transfer belt 51 composed of an endless belt is stretched therebetween. The photosensitive drums 41 are opposed to and in contact with the lower side of the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 51, and the secondary transfer roller 53 is opposed to and in contact with the front side.

  Each primary transfer roller 52 is in contact with the lower part of the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 51, and is disposed to face each photosensitive drum 41 so as to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 51 between each photosensitive drum 41. . The secondary transfer roller 53 is disposed to face the drive roller 54 so as to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 51. The secondary transfer roller 53 is provided on the front cover 7. A transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 52 and the secondary transfer roller 53 by constant current control during transfer.

  The cleaning unit 56 is disposed on the upper side of the intermediate transfer belt 51, removes the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 51 with the cleaning roller 57, and enters a toner storage unit 58 disposed on the front side of the cleaning roller 57. The removed toner is stored.

  The fixing unit 60 is provided on the upper front side of the intermediate transfer belt 51 and mainly includes a heating roller 61 and a pressure roller 62 that is disposed to face the heating roller 61 and presses the heating roller 61.

  In the image forming unit 5 configured as described above, first, after the surface of each photosensitive drum 41 is uniformly charged by each scorotron charger 42, the LED irradiated from the LED head 31 of each LED unit 30. Exposed by light. As a result, the potential of the exposed portion is lowered, and an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on each photosensitive drum 41. Further, the toner in the toner container 47 is supplied to the developing roller 43 by the rotation of the second supply roller 45 and the first supply roller 44, and between the developing roller 43 and the layer thickness regulating blade 46 by the rotation of the developing roller 43. And is carried on the developing roller 43 as a thin layer having a constant thickness.

  The toner carried on the developing roller 43 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 41 when the developing roller 43 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 41. As a result, the toner is selectively carried on the photosensitive drum 41, the electrostatic latent image is visualized, and a toner image is formed. The toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums 41 are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 51 by the action of the respective primary transfer rollers 52 to which a transfer bias is applied.

  The toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 51 is subjected to secondary transfer to which a transfer bias is applied when the paper P supplied to the image forming unit 5 passes between the intermediate transfer belt 51 and the secondary transfer roller 53. The image is transferred onto the paper P by the action of the roller 53. The sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 60 and passes between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 62 so that the toner image is thermally fixed. The paper P on which the toner image has been thermally fixed is discharged outside the main body case 2 by the paper discharge roller 6 and accumulated in the paper discharge tray 8.

Next, a detailed configuration of the LED unit 30 will be described. FIG. 4 is a view showing the LED unit with the process cartridge removed from the support frame.
As shown in FIG. 4, the LED unit 30 includes an LED head 31, a frame portion 32, an arm portion 33, a torque spring 34 as an example of a first biasing member, and a coil spring as an example of a second biasing member. 35 mainly.

  The LED head 31 has a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) (not shown) arranged in the left-right direction on the upper side (surface facing the photosensitive drum 41; see FIG. 3). Each LED emits light upon receiving a signal from a control device (not shown) based on data of an image to be formed, and exposes the photosensitive drum 41.

  The frame portion 32 is a resin member formed in a cylindrical shape, and the LED head 31 is fixed to the opening on the upper end side so as to close the opening.

  The arm portion 33 is attached to the upper end portion of the support arm 11 whose lower end is fixed to the support frame 10 so as to be capable of rotating (swinging) in the front-rear direction via a rotating shaft 11A. A coil portion 34A of a torque spring 34 wound in a spiral shape is wound around the rotating shaft 11A. The two extending end portions 34B and 34C extending from the coil portion 34A of the torque spring 34 engage with the locking portion 33B provided on the arm portion 33 or the locking portion 11B provided on the support arm 11, respectively. ing.

  With such a configuration, when the process cartridge 40 shown in FIG. 3 is mounted on the support frame 10, force is applied to the extended end portions 34B and 34C by the locking portions 33B and 11B. 30), a biasing force is applied in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when the process cartridge 40 is removed from the support frame 10, the upper end (the LED head 31) of the arm portion 33 returns to a state of facing upward.

  The upper end of the arm portion 33 is inserted into the opening on the lower end side of the frame portion 32, and the frame portion 32 can slide with respect to the arm portion 33 in the vertical direction of FIG. 4. A coil spring 35 is provided between the arm portion 33 and the LED head 31 fixed to the frame portion 32.

  Next, detailed configurations of the support frame 10 and the side frame 20 will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the support frame and the process cartridge, and FIGS. 6A and 6B and FIGS. 7A and 7B are views for explaining the function of the guide groove and the operation of the support frame.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the support frame 10 is a box-shaped member having an upper opening, and includes a front panel 10A, a rear panel 10B, a right panel 10C, a left panel 10D, and a bottom panel 10E (see FIG. 4). ing.

  The front panel 10A is provided with a first transport roller 4A for transporting the paper P, and a plurality of ribs 12 are provided on the outer surface along the vertical direction. The plurality of ribs 12 reduce the contact area between the front panel 10A and the paper P, thereby suppressing the transported paper P from sticking to the front panel 10A.

  At the upper end of the right panel 10C, there are provided four receiving grooves 13 that detachably receive the rotating shaft 41A of the photosensitive drum 41, and five flanges 14 bent substantially at right angles toward the outside (right side). Further, a protrusion 15 extending toward the outside (right side) is provided on the front side of the outer surface, and a roller mounting portion 16 extending from the vicinity of the center toward the back side is provided at the back end. The roller mounting portion 16 is provided with a long cylindrical guide 17 projecting outward (right side) and a rotatable guide roller 18 in this order from the front side.

  Further, on the inner surface of the right panel 10C, there are provided four cartridge guide grooves 19 into which the rotation shaft 45A of the second supply roller 45 (see FIG. 3) is inserted to guide the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 40. The process cartridge 40 mounted on the support frame 10 is removed obliquely upward (upward in FIG. 4) on the front side by bringing the rotation shaft 45A along the cartridge guide groove 19.

  Also on the left panel 10D, the receiving groove 13, flange 14, protrusion 15, roller mounting portion 16, guide 17, guide roller 18, and cartridge guide groove 19 are provided so as to be symmetrical with the right panel 10C. ing.

  As described above, the bottom panel 10E is provided with the four support arms 11 to which the LED unit 30 is rotatably attached. The left and right ends of the support arm 11 are fixed to the right panel 10C and the left panel 10D. As a result, the support arm 11 serves as a reinforcing member to improve the strength of the support frame 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the side frames 20 are provided on the left and right sides (the right side is not shown) of the support frame 10 in the main body case 2. The side frame 20 includes a guide groove 21 that guides the rotation shaft 41A of the photosensitive drum 41 supported by the receiving groove 13 of the support frame 10, and a guide groove 22 that guides the guide 17 and the guide roller 18 of the support frame 10. A guide groove 23 for guiding the protrusion 15 of the support frame 10 is formed.

  The guide groove 21 is obliquely upward from the first guide portion 21A extending substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction, the back end portion of the first guide portion 21A, and the appropriate three positions of the first guide portion 21A to the back side. The four second guide portions 21B that extend and the third guide portion 21C that extends substantially horizontally from the back end of each second guide portion 21B to the back side are configured.

  Similar to the guide groove 21, the guide groove 22 includes a first guide part 22A extending substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction, and a second guide part extending obliquely upward from the back end of the first guide part 22A to the back side. 22B and the 3rd guide part 22C extended from the back side edge part of the 2nd guide part 22B to the back side substantially horizontally. It is to be noted that, at the front side end portion of the guide groove 22 (first guide portion 22A), the movement of the guide 17 toward the front side is regulated so that the support frame 10 does not fall off from the side frame 20 (main body case 2). The regulating member is provided.

  The guide groove 23 includes a guide portion 23A that extends obliquely upward from the front end of the side frame 20 to the back side, and a fixing portion 23B that extends substantially horizontally from the back end portion of the guide portion 23A to the back side. Yes.

The operational effects of the color multifunction peripheral 1 configured as described above will be described.
First, when the process cartridge 40 is mounted on the support frame 10, the rotation shaft 45A of the second supply roller 45 of the process cartridge 40 is inserted into the cartridge guide groove 19 of the support frame 10 in the downward direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Go. At this time, the upper end of the LED unit 30 is fitted into the exposure hole 40B provided in the cartridge frame 40A of the process cartridge 40, and the LED unit 30 rotates to the back side. Further, after the upper end of the frame portion 32 of the LED unit 30 comes into contact with the positioning portion 40C provided on the cartridge frame 40A of the process cartridge 40, the arm portion 33 is inserted into the frame portion 32. 35 is shrunk.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the rotary shaft 45A is completely inserted into the cartridge guide groove 19, the rotary shaft 41A of the photosensitive drum 41 is received by the receiving groove 13 of the support frame 10, and a retaining member 13A made of a leaf spring is provided. (See the broken line in FIG. 4). At this time, the arm portion 33 of the LED unit 30 is almost completely inserted into the frame portion 32, and the coil spring 35 is completely compressed. As a result, an urging force is applied to the LED head 31 in the radial direction of the photosensitive drum 41 (in the direction of the arrow X), and the upper end of the frame portion 32 and the positioning portion 40C are reliably brought into contact with each other. 31 can be positioned.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the support frame 10 to which the process cartridge 40 is mounted is pushed inward, the guide 17 and the guide roller 18 of the support frame 10 move to the guide groove 22. Guided from the near side to the far side along the one guide portion 22A. At this time, the rotation shaft 41A of each photosensitive drum 41 is inserted into the guide groove 21 sequentially from the one located on the back side, and is guided from the near side to the back side along the first guide portion 21A.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the rotation shaft 41A of the innermost photosensitive drum 41 abuts on the back end of the first guide portion 21A, and the guide roller 18 contacts the back end of the first guide portion 22A. When the support frame 10 is further pushed into the back side in the contacted state, as shown in FIG. 7A, the guide roller 18 and the rotary shafts 41A are diagonally upward on the back side along the second guide portions 21B and 22B. Guided by At this time, the protrusion 15 of the support frame 10 inserted into the guide groove 23 is guided obliquely upward on the back side along the guide portion 23A.

  Then, by further pushing the support frame 10 into the back side, as shown in FIG. 7B, each rotation shaft 41A reaches the back side end of the third guide portion 21C, and a positioning member 21D made of a leaf spring. And is positioned with respect to the side frame 20. At this time, the upper part of each photosensitive drum 41 and the lower part of each primary transfer roller 52 are in a state of facing each other with the intermediate transfer belt 51 interposed therebetween. Further, the guide roller 18 and the protrusion 15 reach the back end of the third guide portion 22C or the fixing portion 23B, respectively, and engage with the retaining member 22D or 23D made of a leaf spring to the side frame 20. Positioned.

  In this way, each photosensitive drum 41 is directed to the main body case 2, each photosensitive drum 41 is directed to each primary transfer roller 52, and the support frame 10 is directed to the side frame 20 (main body case 2). Each can be positioned. In addition, most of the photosensitive drums 41 and the intermediate transfer belt 51 are separated from each other during most of the movement of the photosensitive drums 41 in the front-rear direction. It is possible to suppress damage to the surface of the surface.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, by closing the front cover 7, the secondary transfer roller 53 and the drive roller 54 face each other with the intermediate transfer belt 51 interposed therebetween, and the first transport roller 4A and the second transport roller 4 The conveyance roller 4B is in a facing state, and preparation for image formation is completed.

  In this embodiment, since the LED head 31 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 41, it is not necessary to retract the LED head 31 when replacing the process cartridge 40. Further, since the LED unit 30 can be swung and the process cartridge 40 can be attached and detached from above the support frame 10, the process cartridge 40 can be easily attached and detached without the LED unit 30 interfering.

  Since the support frame 10 can be pulled out to the near side, the support frame 10 can be easily moved as compared with a configuration in which a heavy support member supporting a plurality of process cartridges is slid upward. Further, by disposing the process cartridge 40 containing black toner that is frequently used on the front side, it is possible to easily replace only one color.

  Since the LED unit 30 can be rotated (swinged) with respect to the support frame 10, the interval between the process cartridges 40 is made narrower than when each exposure member is fixed obliquely upward on the back side. Therefore, the support frame 10 can be reduced in size, and as a result, the color multifunction device 1 can be reduced in size. Further, since the LED unit 30 rotates (swings), the process cartridge 40 can be attached / detached obliquely upward on the front side of the support frame 10, and the process cartridge 40 is attached / detached to / from the support frame 10. It has become easier. Furthermore, when the process cartridge 40 is removed by the action of the torque spring 34, the LED head 31 faces upward, so that the alignment of the LED unit 30 and the exposure hole 40B is facilitated, and the process cartridge 40 can be easily mounted. .

  Since the intermediate transfer belt 51 is provided above each photosensitive drum 41, the path of the paper P can be simplified, and the main body case 2 is moved in the vertical direction as compared with the case where the photosensitive members are arranged in the vertical direction. As a result, the color multifunction device 1 can be reduced in size. Further, since the secondary transfer roller 53 is provided on the front side of the intermediate transfer belt 51, the processing when the paper P is jammed at the transfer position can be performed from the front side. In particular, since the secondary transfer roller 53 is provided on the front cover 7, the jammed paper P can be easily processed by opening the front cover 7.

Since the first conveyance roller 4A is directly provided on the support frame 10 (front panel 10A), the main body case 2 can be reduced in size in the front-rear direction, and as a result, the color multifunction device 1 can be reduced in size. Further, since the second transport roller 4B facing the first transport roller 4A is provided on the front cover 7, the jammed paper P can be easily processed by opening the front cover 7.
As described above, according to the color multifunction peripheral 1 of the present embodiment, the operability can be greatly improved.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to above-described embodiment. About a concrete structure, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the color multifunction peripheral 1 is illustrated as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can also be applied to a color LED printer that does not include a color copying machine or an image reading device (flatbed scanner).

  In the above-described embodiment, the process cartridge 40 is configured as one cartridge having the photosensitive drum 41, the developing roller 43, and the toner storage unit 47. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a cartridge having a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) and a cartridge having a developing roller and a toner storage unit may be separable. Further, a cartridge having a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member), a cartridge having a developing roller, and a cartridge (toner cartridge) having a toner storage portion may be separable.

  In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the exposure member, the LED head 31 using an LED as a light emitting element is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as long as a large number of light emitting elements are arranged and can selectively emit light based on image data, the light emitting elements are not limited to LEDs, and may be, for example, EL (electroluminescence) elements or phosphors. Also, a large number of optical shutters (for example, liquid crystal elements, PLZT elements, etc.) that control light from one or a plurality of light emitting elements (light sources) are arranged, and the opening / closing time of the optical shutters is selectively controlled based on image data. An exposure member can also be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the support frame 10 can be pulled out in the front-rear direction (the arrangement direction of the process cartridges 40) from the front side of the main body case 2 has been described. The support member may be configured to be able to be pulled out in the left-right direction from the right side surface or the left side surface of the main body case (device main body).

  In the above-described embodiment, the photosensitive drum 41 is used as an example of the photoconductor, the torque spring 34 is used as an example of the first biasing member, and the coil spring 35 is used as an example of the second biasing member. It is not something. That is, the material, structure, and the like can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a color multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the color compound machine of the state which pulled out the support frame. It is an enlarged view of the LED unit and process cartridge of FIG. It is a figure which shows the LED unit of the state which removed the process cartridge from the support frame. It is a perspective view of a support frame and a process cartridge. (A) And (b) is a figure explaining the function of a guide groove and operation | movement of a support frame. (A) And (b) is a figure explaining the function of a guide groove and operation | movement of a support frame.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color compound machine 2 Main body case 4A 1st conveyance roller 4B 2nd conveyance roller 7 Front cover 10 Support frame 20 Side frame 21 Guide groove 21A 1st guide part 21B 2nd guide part 21C 3rd guide part 22 Guide groove 22A 1st Guide section 22B Second guide section 22C Third guide section 31 LED head 34 Torque spring 35 Coil spring 40 Process cartridge 41 Photosensitive drum 51 Intermediate transfer belt 53 Secondary transfer roller P Paper

Claims (9)

A plurality of process cartridges having a photoconductor and a toner container disposed below the photoconductor;
A support member configured to support the plurality of process cartridges arranged in a row and to be drawn out from the apparatus main body in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of process cartridges are arranged so that the process cartridges can be attached and detached upward; ,
A plurality of exposure members which are provided so as to be swingable with respect to the support member and which are arranged to face the lower side of the respective photoconductors above the toner accommodating portion and form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductors; ,
A first urging member that urges the exposure member to face upward,
The process cartridge has an exposure hole into which the exposure member is inserted,
The exposure member is inserted into the exposure hole when the process cartridge is attached to the support member, and is rotated inward in the pull-out direction of the support member against the urging force of the first urging member. dynamic and, the process cartridge is oriented obliquely upward in the withdrawal direction back side of the support member to be attached to the support member opposite to the photosensitive member, wherein the first and the process cartridge is removed from said support member an image forming apparatus characterized by being configured so as to face upward by rotating the Rukoto is biased urging member.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is configured to be attachable and detachable obliquely upward toward the front side of the support member in the pulling direction. The apparatus main body has a guide groove that guides the support member so that the support member can be pulled out.
The guide groove includes a first guide portion extending in a horizontal direction, a second guide portion extending obliquely upward from the end of the first guide portion on the back side in the pulling direction of the support member, and on the back side in the pulling direction. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third guide portion that extends horizontally from an end portion of the second guide portion on the back side in the pull-out direction to the back side in the pull-out direction.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate transfer belt facing each of the photoconductors is provided above the plurality of photoconductors. 5.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a secondary transfer roller facing the intermediate transfer belt is provided on the near side in the pulling direction of the support member with respect to the intermediate transfer belt. On the front side of the support member in the apparatus main body in the pulling direction, a cover that can be opened and closed is provided,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the secondary transfer roller is provided on the cover.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is provided with at least one first conveyance roller that conveys a recording sheet. On the front side of the support member in the apparatus main body in the pulling direction, a cover that can be opened and closed is provided,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the opening / closing cover is provided with a second conveyance roller facing the first conveyance roller.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second urging member that urges the exposure member toward the photosensitive member.

Images