Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body including a sheet feeding unit; an insertion port into which the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit is inserted; a cartridge configured to store toner, the cartridge being attachable and detachably supported by the apparatus main body; an attachment / detachment port through which the cartridge passes; and a cover configured to move to a first position where the cover closes the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port and a second position where the cover opens the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port. In a state in which the cover is positioned at the second position, the sheet feeding unit is capable of feeding the sheet that has been inserted into the insertion port, and the cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body via the attachment / detachment port.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet. Background Art

[0002] So far, a laser printer has been proposed, which includes a housing, an opening portion provided in a manner extending across one side surface and a top surface of the housing, and a front cover that covers and releases the opening portion (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-141876). The laser printer includes a process cartridge that can be attached or detached relative to the housing in a state where the front cover is open. A multipurpose tray is provided in the front cover in an openable and closable manner, and when the multipurpose tray is opened in a state where the front cover is closed, a sheet can be placed on the multipurpose tray. The sheet is fed into the housing via a paper feed port that is released when the multipurpose tray is opened.

[0003] However, in the laser printer of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-141876, in the case of replacing the process cartridge, the front cover needs to be opened, and in the case of feeding paper from the paper feed port, the multi-purpose tray needs to be opened while keeping the front cover closed. Therefore, although the user only needs to open one or the other of the front cover or the multi-purpose tray according to the task at hand, it is difficult to determine which of the front cover and the multi-purpose tray to open, and usability is reduced. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, the apparatus body including: a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a sheet; an insertion port provided in the apparatus body and into which a sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit is inserted; a cartridge configured to store a toner used for forming an image on a sheet, the cartridge being attachably and detachably supported by the apparatus body; an attachment / detachment port provided in the apparatus body and through which the cartridge passes when the cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus body; and a cover openably and closably supported by the apparatus body and configured to move to a first position and a second position, in which the cover closes the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port, and in which the cover opens the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port. In a state where the cover is positioned at the second position, the sheet feeding unit can feed a sheet inserted into the insertion port, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body via the attachment / detachment port.

[0005] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entirety of the printer of the first embodiment.

[0007] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional diagram showing the printer.

[0008] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the printer.

[0009] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing a state in which the process cartridge is attached or detached.

[0010] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sheet has been inserted into the manual sheet feeding port.

[0011] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the printer in a state in which the front cover is opened.

[0012] Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing a printer according to a second embodiment.

[0013] Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view showing the printer in a state in which the front cover and the inner cover are opened.

[0014] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a printer according to a third embodiment.

[0015] Fig. 9A is a cross-sectional view showing a developing cartridge.

[0016] Fig. 9B is a sectional view showing a state in which the developing cartridge is disassembled.

[0017] Fig. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing a process box.

[0018] Fig. 10B is a sectional view showing a state in which the process cartridge is disassembled. DETAILED DESCRIPTION First embodiment

[0019] Overall configuration

[0020] First, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A printer 100 used as an image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer of an electrophotographic system that forms a monochrome toner image. Figure 1As shown, the printer 100 includes a sheet feeding device 90 that feeds stacked sheets and an image forming unit 92 that forms an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device 90. In addition, the printer 100 includes a fixing unit 41 that fixes the image transferred onto the sheet, and a sheet discharge roller pair 51 that discharges the sheet to a supporting surface 61b of a sheet discharge tray 61. In the present embodiment, the sheet includes paper such as a paper sheet and an envelope, a plastic film such as a sheet for an overhead projector (OHP), cloth, and the like.

[0021] When an image forming job is output to the printer 100, an image forming process is started by the image forming unit 92 based on image information inputted from, for example, an external computer connected to the printer 100. The image forming unit 92 includes a process cartridge 102, a toner cartridge 101, a laser scanner 93, and a transfer roller 31. The process cartridge 102 includes a photosensitive drum 71 serving as a rotatable image bearing member, a charging roller 72 arranged along the photosensitive drum 71, and a developing unit 94. The photosensitive drum 71 and the transfer roller 31 form a transfer nip T1. The developing unit 94 includes a toner storage portion 94a storing toner and a developing roller 76 developing an electrostatic latent image carried on the photosensitive drum 71 into a toner image using the toner stored in the toner storage portion 94a. The process cartridge 102 and the toner cartridge 101 are attachable and detachable relative to the apparatus body 100A of the printer 100.

[0022] The light emitting portion 73 of the laser scanner 93 emits a laser beam 74 based on the input image information. The laser beam 74 is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 71 after being reflected by a reflection mirror 75 provided in the laser scanner 93. At this time, the photosensitive drum 71 has been previously charged by the charging roller 72, and by irradiating with the laser beam, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 71. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 76 of the developing unit 94, and a monochrome toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 71.

[0023] In parallel with the above-described image forming process, a sheet S is fed from a sheet feeding device 90. The sheet feeding device 90 includes a cassette 21 that is extractable and attachable relative to the device body 100A, a pickup roller 22, and a separation pad 23 that is in pressure contact with the pickup roller 22. In the cassette 21, there are provided an intermediate plate 91 capable of supporting the sheet S stored in the cassette 21 and capable of rising around a pivot 91a as a center, and a spring 91b that pushes the intermediate plate 91 upward.

[0024] The intermediate plate 91 is pressed downward by, for example, a cam not shown while resisting the urging force of the spring 91b, and rises as the cam rotates when an image forming job is input. Then, the uppermost sheet S stacked on the intermediate plate 91 contacts the pickup roller 22, and the pickup roller 22 can feed the sheet S. It is to be noted that the intermediate plate 91 may be configured to be lifted from below by, for example, a lifter.

[0025] The sheet S supported by the intermediate plate 91 is fed by the pickup roller 22, and is separated into one sheet at a time by the separation pad 23. The sheet S that has been separated into one sheet at a time is conveyed by the conveying roller pair 24, and the conveying roller pair 24 conveys the sheet S in synchronization with the transfer timing of the toner image at the transfer nip T1. It is to be noted that the conveying roller pair 24 can correct the skew of the sheet S by causing the leading edge of the sheet S to abut against the conveying roller pair 24 in a stopped state.

[0026] The toner image on the photosensitive drum 71 is transferred to the sheet S at the transfer nip T1 by the electrostatic load bias applied to the transfer roller 31. The sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred is applied with predetermined heat and pressure by the fixing unit 41, and the toner is melted and bonded (fixed). The sheet S having passed through the fixing unit 41 is discharged to the outside of the printer 100 by the sheet discharge roller pair 51, and is supported on the support surface 61b of the sheet discharge tray 61.

[0027] In the case where images are formed on both surfaces of the sheet S, the sheet S on which the image has been formed on the first surface is switched back by the sheet discharge roller pair 51 and is conveyed to a double-sided conveying path (not shown). The double-sided conveying path guides the sheet S to the conveying roller pair 24 again. Then, an image is formed on the second surface of the sheet S at the transfer nip T1, and the sheet S is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 61.

[0028] Here, if Figure 2 As shown, the printer 100 includes a front cover 11 supported by the apparatus body 100A in an openable and closable manner. The front cover 11 serving as a cover and a first cover can be moved to a position serving as a Figure 1 The first position shown is the closed position and is used as Figure 3 The sheet discharge tray 61 is also supported by the apparatus body 100A in an openable and closable manner. The sheet discharge tray 61 serving as the second cover can be moved to the open position of the second position. Figure 1 The fifth position shown is the closed position and is used as Figure 4 The sixth position shown is the open position.

[0029] That is, the printer 100 is configured by the device body 100A, the cartridge 21, the process cartridge 102, the toner cartridge 101, the front cover 11, and the sheet discharge tray 61. In other words, the device body 100A is the portion of the printer 100 other than the cartridge 21, the process cartridge 102, the toner cartridge 101, the front cover 11, and the sheet discharge tray 61.

[0030] Attachment and removal of toner cartridge

[0031] Next, use Figure 3 , the attachment and detachment of the toner cartridge 101 with respect to the apparatus main body 100A will be described. Figure 3 As shown, the toner cartridge 101 used as a cartridge stores toner for forming an image on a sheet. In addition, in a state where the toner cartridge 101 and the process cartridge 102 are attached to the apparatus body 100A, the toner cartridge 101 is configured to supply the toner 77 to the toner storage portion 94a of the process cartridge 101 via the supply port 101s.

[0032] The device body 100A includes a side surface 110 on the front side of the printer 100, and an attachment / detachment port 120 serving as a first attachment / detachment port is provided in the side surface 110. The side surface 110 extends in the gravity direction. The toner cartridge 101 passes through the attachment / detachment port 120 when attached or detached relative to the device body 100A. The side surface 110 of the device body 100A is opened or closed by the front cover 11. That is, the front cover 11 is an external member configured to close (cover) the side surface 110 and the attachment / detachment port 120 of the device body 100A in the closed position.

[0033] In addition, when the front cover 11 is located in the open position, the side surface 110 of the device body 100A and the attachment / detachment port 120 are opened (released). Thus, the user can attach and detach the toner cartridge 101 relative to the device body 100A via the attachment / detachment port 120. It should be noted that when the front cover 11 is located in the open position, the supply port 101s can be closed, so that the toner 77 can be prevented from leaking to the outside of the toner cartridge 101.

[0034] Attachment and removal of process cartridge

[0035] Next, use Figure 4 , attachment and detachment of the process cartridge 102 with respect to the apparatus main body 100A will be described. As described above, in the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 71, the charging roller 72, and the developing unit 94 including the developing roller 76 are integrated into the process cartridge.

[0036] like Figure 4As shown in FIG. 1 , when replacing the process cartridge 102, the user pivots the sheet discharge tray 61 to the open position around the pivot 61a. As a result, the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130 used as the second attachment / detachment port provided in the top surface of the apparatus body 100A is released. That is, the sheet discharge tray 61 can be moved to the closed position to close (cover) the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130 and the open position to open (release) the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130.

[0037] Then, with the sheet discharge tray 61 in the open position, the user can attach or detach the process cartridge 102 to or from the apparatus body 100A via the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130. When the process cartridge 102 is attached or detached to or from the apparatus body 100A, the process cartridge 102 passes through the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130.

[0038] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the laser scanner 93 serving as an exposure unit is integrally supported by the sheet discharge tray 61. Therefore, since the laser scanner also moves upward together with the sheet discharge tray 61 when the sheet discharge tray 61 is located at the open position, a sufficient opening amount for attaching or detaching the process cartridge 102 can be ensured.

[0039] Manual sheet feed port

[0040] Next, we will use Figure 5 and Figure 6 The manual sheet feeding port 12 of the apparatus body 100A will be described below. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the manual sheet feed port 12 used as an insertion port is provided in the side surface 110 of the device body 100A. The side surface 110 extends along the gravity direction CD. Each of the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130 and the manual sheet feed port 12 extends along the longitudinal direction LD of the process cartridge 101, and opens in a direction perpendicular to both the gravity direction CD and the longitudinal direction LD. The longitudinal direction LD is a direction perpendicular to the gravity direction GD and parallel to the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 76. In addition, the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130 is shorter than the manual sheet feed port 12 in the longitudinal direction LD. The manual sheet feed port 12 is closed (covered) by the front cover 11 located in the closed position, and is opened (released) when the front cover 11 is opened to the open position. The printer 100 of this embodiment can adapt to manual sheet feeding by inserting sheets from the manual sheet feed port 12.

[0041] In the case of manual sheet feeding, such as Figure 5As shown in FIG. 1 , the user pivots the front cover 11 to the open position around the pivot 11a. As a result, the manual sheet feed port 12 is exposed to the outside of the printer 100 and can be accessed. The user inserts a single sheet S from the manual sheet feed port 12 along the Figure 5 Insert it into the device body 100A in the direction of the arrow.

[0042] The sheet S is fed toward the transfer nip T1 by a transport roller pair 24 serving as a feeding unit, and then a toner image is formed on the sheet S by undergoing a process similar to that in the case of being fed from the cassette 21 .

[0043] Note that when the front cover 11 is opened and light enters the interior of the apparatus body 100A via the attachment / detachment port 120, there is a risk that the photosensitive drum 71 may be inadvertently exposed to light. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a light shielding member not shown is provided in the apparatus body 100A, and the photosensitive drum 71 is configured to be prevented from being exposed by shielding external light with the light shielding member.

[0044] As described above, the front cover 11 is movable to the closed position for closing (covering) the manual sheet feeding port 12 and the attachment / detachment port 120, and the open position for opening (releasing) the manual sheet feeding port 12 and the attachment / detachment port 120. In a state where the front cover 11 is located at the open position, the conveying roller pair 24 can feed the sheet S inserted into the manual sheet feeding port 12, and the toner cartridge 101 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100A via the attachment / detachment port 120.

[0045] Then, in the case of replacing (attaching / detaching) the toner cartridge 101 or feeding a sheet from the manual sheet feeding port 12, the user performs a work of opening the front cover 11 from the closed position to the open position. Therefore, the user does not need to be confused about which cover to open according to the task, and usability can be enhanced by improving the intuitiveness of the operation of the printer 100.

[0046] Furthermore, since the manual sheet feed port 12 is provided in the side surface 110 of the apparatus body 100A, which is not the exterior of the printer 100 and is covered by the front cover 11, the manual sheet feed port 12 is not exposed in a state where the front cover 11 is in the closed position. Therefore, the appearance of the printer 100 can be simply designed, and the degree of freedom of design and visual appeal can be improved. Second embodiment

[0047] Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described, which is configured by further providing the device body 100A of the first embodiment with an inner cover 13. Therefore, a configuration similar to the first embodiment will be described by omitting illustration or by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

[0048] like Fig. 7A As shown, the printer 200 of the present embodiment includes an inner cover 13. The inner cover 13 is supported by the apparatus body 100A in an openable and closable manner, and is movable to a closed position serving as a third position for closing (covering) the attachment / detachment port 120 and an open position serving as a fourth position for opening (releasing) the attachment / detachment port 120. When the front cover 11 is located at the closed position, the inner cover 13 is arranged closer to the inside of the apparatus body 100A than the front cover 11.

[0049] When attaching and detaching (replacing) the toner cartridge 101, as shown in FIG. Figure 7B As shown, first, the user pivots the front cover 11 to the open position around the pivot 11a. In addition, the user pivots the inner cover 13 to the open position around the pivot 13a. As a result, the attachment / detachment port 120 is exposed to the outside of the printer 100, and the user can access the attachment / detachment port 120.

[0050] Thereby, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the side surface 110 of the apparatus main body 100A exposed by opening the front cover 11. For example, the above-mentioned unillustrated light shielding member may be omitted.

[0051] It should be noted that, although in the present embodiment, the user further manually moves the inner cover 13 from the closed position to the open position in the state where the front cover 11 is in the open position, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is acceptable to configure such that by positioning the center of gravity of the inner cover 13 on the side further forward than the pivot 13a, that is, positioning it at a position such as Fig. 7A On the right side shown, when the front cover 11 is opened, the inner cover 13 is opened by its own weight. Thus, usability can be improved.

[0052] In addition, although in the present embodiment, the inner cover 13 is arranged closer to the interior of the device body 100A than the front cover 11, it remains unchanged that the front cover 11 closes (covers) the manual sheet feed port 12 and the attachment / detachment port 120 in the closed position and opens (releases) the manual sheet feed port 12 and the attachment / detachment port 120 in the open position. Third embodiment

[0053] Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in which the front cover 11 of the first embodiment has a function of supporting manually fed sheets. Therefore, a configuration similar to the first embodiment will be described by omitting illustration or by attaching the same reference numerals to the drawings.

[0054] like Figure 8As shown, the printer 300 of the present embodiment includes a manual sheet feeding portion 124, which serves as a sheet feeding portion. The manual sheet feeding portion 124 includes a pickup roller 81, a feed roller 82, and a separation pad 83. In a state located at the open position, the front cover 11 includes a support surface 11b on the upper surface side. The support surface 11b can support a plurality of sheets S among the sheets S, and is not limited to a single sheet among the sheets S.

[0055] The sheet S that has been supported by the supporting surface 11b of the front cover 11 is fed by the pickup roller 81, and is separated one sheet at a time by the feed roller 82 and the separation pad 83. The sheet S that has been separated one sheet at a time is conveyed to the conveying roller pair 24, and a toner image is formed on the sheet S by undergoing a process similar to that in the case of being fed from the cassette 21 described above.

[0056] As described above, in this embodiment, the front cover 11 includes the support surface 11b that supports the sheet S and has the function of a manual feed tray. Therefore, since the user does not need to maintain the state of holding the sheet S when manually feeding the sheet, usability can be improved. Figure 5 In the first embodiment described in , it is also acceptable to support the sheet S on the upper surface (back surface) of the front cover 11 . Other embodiments

[0057] Note that, although in any of the above-described embodiments, the toner cartridge 101 is replaced using the attachment / detachment port 120 covered by the front cover 11 in the closed position, this is not limiting. Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B As shown, it is acceptable to set the drum box 131 and the developer box 132 instead. Figure 1 The process cartridge 102 of the present invention. The drum cartridge 131 includes the photosensitive drum 71 and the charging roller 72, and the developing cartridge 132 used as a cartridge includes the developing unit 94 including the developing roller 76 and the toner storage portion 94a. Then, it is acceptable to use the attachment / detachment port 120 when attaching or detaching the drum cartridge 131 and the developing cartridge 132 separately or as a single unit. In addition, similar to the drum cartridge 131, the photosensitive drum 71 and the charging roller 72 do not need to be integrated as a cartridge, and can be set in a non-removable manner relative to the apparatus main body 100A.

[0058] In addition, if Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B As shown, the attachment / detachment port 120 can also be used when attaching or detaching the process cartridge 140. That is, the process cartridge 140 used as a cartridge includes the photosensitive drum 71, the charging roller 72, and the developing unit 94 including the developing roller 76 and the toner storage portion 94a. 9A to 10BIn the embodiment of the present invention, at least the toner storage portion 94a and the developing roller 76 are part of the process cartridge that is attached or detached via the attachment / detachment port 120. Then, the process cartridge 140 passes through the attachment / detachment port 120 when attached or detached relative to the apparatus main body 100A. In addition, the process cartridge 102 of the first embodiment may be configured in place of the above-mentioned developing cartridge 132. That is, the developing cartridge 132 may be attached or detached relative to the apparatus main body 100A via the process cartridge attachment / detachment port 130.

[0059] In addition, although in any of the above-described embodiments, the front cover 11 is configured to open and close the side surface 110 of the device body 100A, it is not limited thereto. For example, by providing the attachment / detachment port 120 and the manual sheet feeding port 12 in the upper surface of the device body 100A, it is acceptable that the upper surface is opened and closed by the cover. Then, it is acceptable that it is configured so that the attachment / detachment port 120 and the manual sheet feeding port 12 are opened or closed by this single cover.

[0060] Furthermore, although in any of the above-described embodiments, the sheet S is separated into one sheet at a time using the separation pad 23 or 83, it is not limited thereto. For example, the sheet S may be separated into one sheet at a time by using a separation roller or a retardation roller having a built-in torque limiter. In addition, the method of feeding the sheet S is also not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the sheet S may be fed by a sheet feeding unit of an air adsorption method in which the sheet S is conveyed while undergoing negative pressure suction.

[0061] In addition, although in any of the above-mentioned embodiments, a description is provided using the printer 100 used as an imaging device, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The term "imaging device" includes printers, copiers, fax machines, and multifunction machines, and refers to a device that forms an image on a sheet used as a recording medium based on image information input from an external personal computer (PC) or image information read from a document. In addition, although in an imaging device, in addition to a main body having an imaging function, auxiliary devices such as an optional feeder, an image reading device, and a sheet processing device are sometimes connected to each other, the entire system in which such auxiliary devices are connected to each other is regarded as one type of imaging device. The present disclosure can be applied to such an imaging device.

[0062] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising: an apparatus body including a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a sheet; an insertion port provided in the apparatus body and into which a sheet fed by a sheet feeding unit is inserted; a cartridge configured to store toner used for forming an image on a sheet, the cartridge being attachably and detachably supported by the apparatus main body; an attachment / detachment port which is provided in the device main body and through which the cartridge passes when the cartridge is attached to or detached from the device main body; as well as a cover openably and closably supported by the device body and configured to move to a first position in which the cover closes the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port and to a second position in which the cover opens the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port, wherein in a state where the cover is positioned at the second position, the sheet feeding unit can feed the sheet inserted into the insertion port, and the cassette can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body via the attachment / detachment port.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the device body includes a side surface extending in the direction of gravity, wherein the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port are provided in the side surface, and wherein the cover is an exterior member configured to cover the side surface of the device body at the first position. 3 . The imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port are configured to open in a direction perpendicular to the gravity direction. 4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment / detachment port is shorter than the insertion port in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising an inner cover openably and closably supported by the device body, the inner cover being configured to move to a third position in which the inner cover covers the attachment / detachment port and a fourth position in which the inner cover opens the attachment / detachment port, The inner cover is arranged closer to the inside of the device body than the cover located at the first position. 6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a support surface configured to support a sheet inserted into the insertion port.

7. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image; a toner storage portion configured to store toner, and a developing roller configured to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image by using the toner stored in the toner storage portion, Wherein the cartridge is a toner cartridge configured to supply the toner to the toner storage portion.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least the toner storage portion and the developing roller are configured to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body as a part of a process cartridge.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said process cartridge includes said image bearing member.

10. The imaging device according to claim 8, wherein the attachment / detachment port and the cover are a first attachment / detachment port and a first cover, respectively, and The imaging device further comprises: a second attachment / detachment port provided in the apparatus main body and through which the process cartridge passes when the cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body; as well as A second cover is openably and closably supported by the device body and is configured to move to a fifth position where the second cover closes the second attachment / detachment port and a sixth position where the second cover opens the second attachment / detachment port. 11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising an exposure unit supported by the second cover and configured to expose the image bearing member.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus main body comprises a sheet discharge unit configured to discharge the sheet to the outside of the image forming apparatus, and The second cover includes a supporting surface configured to support the sheet ejected to the outside by the sheet ejection unit.

13. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an image bearing member configured to bear the electrostatic latent image, Wherein the box is a developing box, and the developing box comprises: a toner storage portion configured to store toner; as well as A developing roller configured to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image by using the toner stored in the toner storage portion.

14. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cartridge is a process cartridge, the process cartridge comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image; a toner storage portion configured to store toner; as well as A developing roller configured to develop the electrostatic latent image carried on the image bearing member into a toner image by using the toner stored in the toner storage portion.

Images