Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that has improved usability.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an apparatus body that has a feeding unit feeding a sheet; an insertion port that is provided in the apparatus body, and into which the sheet fed by the feeding unit is inserted; a cartridge that stores toner for forming an image on the sheet, and is removably supported on the apparatus body; an attachment and removal port that is provided in the apparatus body, and through which the cartridge passes when the cartridge is attached to and removed from the apparatus body; and a cover that is supported on the apparatus body in an openable and closable state, and is movable to a first position where it covers the insertion port and the attachment and removal port and a second position where it opens the insertion port and the attachment and removal port. In a state where the cover is located at the second position, the feeding unit can feed the sheet inserted into the insertion port, and the cartridge is removably attached to the apparatus body through the attachment and removal port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a laser printer has been proposed that has a housing, an opening that is provided across one side and the top of the housing, and a front cover that opens and closes the opening (see Patent Document 1). This laser printer has a process cartridge that is detachable from the housing when the front cover is open. A multi-purpose tray that can be opened and closed is provided on the front cover, and when the multi-purpose tray is opened with the front cover closed, a sheet can be placed on the multi-purpose tray. The sheet is fed into the housing through a paper feed port that is opened when the multi-purpose tray is opened. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-141876 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the laser printer of Patent Document 1, when replacing the process cartridge, the front cover must be opened, and when feeding a sheet from the paper feed port, the multi-purpose tray must be opened with the front cover closed. Therefore, the user needs to open either the front cover or the multi-purpose tray depending on the intended work, but it is difficult to know which of the front cover or the multi-purpose tray to open, which reduces usability.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with improved usability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is characterized in that an image forming apparatus comprises a device main body having a feeding section for feeding a sheet, an insertion port provided in the device main body through which a sheet to be fed by the feeding section is inserted, a cartridge containing toner for forming an image on the sheet and supported in a removably attachable manner by the device main body, an attachment / detachment port provided in the device main body through which the cartridge is passed when it is attached to or detached from the device main body, and a cover supported in an openable / closable manner by the device main body and movable to a first position that covers the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port and a second position that opens the insertion port and the attachment / detachment port, and when the cover is positioned in the second position, the feeding section can feed a sheet inserted into the insertion port, and the cartridge is detachable from the device main body via the attachment / detachment port. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, usability can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall schematic view showing a printer according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the process cartridge is being attached and detached. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sheet is inserted into the manual feed port. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the printer with the front cover open. [Figure 7] 10A is a cross-sectional view showing a printer according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing the printer with the front cover and the inner cover open. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a printer according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the developing cartridge, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the developing cartridge being removed. [Figure 10] 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the process cartridge, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the process cartridge being removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <First embodiment> [Overall structure] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. A printer 100 as an image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic laser beam printer that forms a monochrome toner image. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 100 has a sheet feeding device 90 that feeds stacked sheets, and an image forming section 92 that forms an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device 90. The printer 100 also has a fixing device 41 that fixes the image transferred to the sheet, and a pair of discharge rollers 51 that discharges the sheet onto a stacking surface 61b of a discharge tray 61. In this embodiment, the sheet includes paper such as paper and envelopes, plastic film such as an overhead projector sheet (OHP), cloth, etc.

[0010] 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 input from an external computer or the like connected to the printer 100. The image forming unit 92 has a process cartridge 102, a toner cartridge 101, a laser scanner 93, and a transfer roller 31. The process cartridge 102 has a photosensitive drum 71 as a rotatable image carrier, and a charging roller 72 and a developing unit 94 arranged along the photosensitive drum 71. The photosensitive drum 71 and the transfer roller 31 form a transfer nip T1. The developing unit 94 has a toner storage section 94a that stores toner, and a developing roller 76 that develops the electrostatic latent image carried on the photosensitive drum 1 into a toner image using the toner stored in the toner storage section 94a. The process cartridge 102 and the toner cartridge 101 are detachable from the device main body 100A of the printer 100.

[0011] The light emitting unit 73 of the laser scanner 93 emits a laser beam 74 based on the input image information. This laser beam 74 is reflected by a reflecting mirror 75 provided in the laser scanner 93, and then irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 71. At this time, the photosensitive drum 71 is pre-charged by the charging roller 72, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 71 by irradiating it with the laser beam. Thereafter, this electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 76 of the developing device 94, and a monochrome toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 71.

[0012] In parallel with the above-mentioned image forming process, a sheet S is fed from a sheet feeding device 90. The sheet feeding device 90 has a cassette 21 that can be pulled out and attached to the apparatus main body 100A, a pickup roller 22, and a separation pad 23 that is in pressure contact with the pickup roller 22. The cassette 21 is provided with a middle plate 91 that can support the sheet S stored in the cassette 21 and can rise around a rotation shaft 91a, and a spring 91b that urges the middle plate 91 upward.

[0013] The middle plate 91 is pressed downward against the biasing force of a spring 91b by, for example, a cam (not shown), and rises as the cam rotates when an image formation job is input. Then, the topmost sheet S stacked on the middle plate 91 comes into contact with the pickup roller 22, and the pickup roller 22 becomes capable of feeding the sheet S. The middle plate 91 may be configured to be pushed up from below by, for example, a lifter.

[0014] The sheet S supported by the middle plate 91 is fed by the pickup roller 22 and separated one by one by the separation pad 23. The separated sheets S are transported to the transport roller pair 24, which transports the sheet S in accordance with the transfer timing of the toner image in the transfer nip T1. The transport roller pair 24 may correct skew of the sheet S by abutting the leading edge of the sheet S against the transport roller pair 24 that is in a stopped state.

[0015] The toner image on the photosensitive drum 71 is transferred to the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller pair 24 at the transfer nip T1 by the electrostatic load bias applied to the transfer roller 31. The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is applied with a predetermined heat and pressure by the fixing device 41, so that the toner is melted and fixed (fixed). The sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 41 is discharged outside the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 51 as a discharge section, and is stacked on the stacking surface 61b of the discharge tray 61.

[0016] When forming images on both sides of the sheet S, the sheet S with an image formed on the first side is switched back by the discharge roller pair 51 and conveyed to the double-sided conveying path CP. The double-sided conveying path CP guides the sheet S again to the registration roller pair 119. Then, an image is formed on the second side of the sheet S in the transfer nip T1, and the sheet S is discharged to the discharge tray 61.

[0017] Here, the printer 100 has a front cover 11 supported on the device main body 100A so as to be openable and closable, as shown in Fig. 2. The front cover 11, which serves as a cover and a first cover, can be moved around a rotation shaft 11a between a closed position, which is a first position shown in Fig. 1, and an open position, which is a second position shown in Fig. 3. The discharge tray 61 described above is also supported on the device main body 100A so as to be openable and closable. The discharge tray 61, which serves as a second cover, can be moved around a rotation shaft 61a between a closed position, which is a fifth position shown in Fig. 1, and an open position, which is a sixth position shown in Fig. 4.

[0018] That is, the printer 100 is made up of the device main body 100A, the cassette 21, the process cartridge 102, the toner cartridge 101, the front cover 11, and the discharge tray 61. In other words, the device main body 100A is a part of the printer 100 other than the cassette 21, the process cartridge 102, the toner cartridge 101, the front cover 11, and the discharge tray 61.

[0019] [Installing and removing the toner cartridge] Next, the attachment and detachment of the toner cartridge 101 to the apparatus main body 100A will be described with reference to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the toner cartridge 101 as a cartridge contains toner for forming an image on a sheet. The toner cartridge 101 is configured to be able to supply toner 77 to the toner containing portion 94a of the process cartridge 102 through a supply port 101s when the toner cartridge 101 and the process cartridge 102 are attached to the apparatus main body 100A.

[0020] The device main body 100A has a side surface 110 on the front side of the printer 100 in the horizontal direction, and the side surface 110 is provided with an attachment / detachment opening 120 as a first attachment / detachment opening. The toner cartridge 101 passes through the attachment / detachment opening 120 when being attached to or detached from the device main body 100A. The side surface 110 of the device main body 100A is opened and closed by a front cover 11. That is, the front cover 11 is an exterior member that covers the side surface 110 and the attachment / detachment opening 120 of the device main body 100A in the closed position.

[0021] Furthermore, when the front cover 11 is in the open position, the side surface 110 and the attachment / detachment opening 120 of the apparatus main body 100A are opened. This allows the user to attach and detach the toner cartridge 101 to and from the apparatus main body 100A via the attachment / detachment opening 120. Note that the supply opening 101s may be closed when the front cover 11 is in the open position, which prevents the toner 77 from leaking out of the toner cartridge 101.

[0022] [Installing and removing the process cartridge] Next, the attachment and detachment of the process cartridge 102 to and from the apparatus main body 100A will be described with reference to Fig. 4. As described above, in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 71, the charging roller 72, and the developing device 94 including the developing roller 76 are integrated into the process cartridge.

[0023] 4, when replacing the process cartridge 102, the user rotates the discharge tray 61 about the rotation shaft 61a to the open position. This opens the process cartridge mounting / removal opening 130, which serves as a second mounting / removal opening provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 100A. That is, the discharge tray 61 is movable between a closed position that covers the process cartridge mounting / removal opening 130 and an open position that opens the process cartridge mounting / removal opening 130.

[0024] With the discharge tray 61 in the open position, the user can attach / detach the process cartridge 102 to / from the apparatus main body 100A through the process cartridge attachment / detachment opening 130. The process cartridge 102 passes through the process cartridge attachment / detachment opening 130 when being attached to / detached from the apparatus main body 100A.

[0025] In the present embodiment, the laser scanner 93 serving as an exposure unit is integrally supported by the discharge tray 61. Therefore, when the discharge tray 61 is located at the open position, the laser scanner 93 also moves upward together with the discharge tray 61, so that a sufficient opening amount for attaching and detaching the process cartridge 102 can be ensured.

[0026] [Manual feed port] Next, the manual feed opening 12 of the device body 100A will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the manual feed opening 12 as an insertion opening is provided on a side surface 110 of the device body 100A. The manual feed opening 12 is covered by the front cover 11 in the closed position, and is opened when the front cover 11 is opened to the open position. The printer 100 of this embodiment allows a sheet to be inserted from the manual feed opening 12 and manually fed.

[0027] When manually feeding, the user rotates the front cover 11 about the rotation shaft 11a to the open position as shown in Fig. 5. This exposes the manual feed opening 12 to the outside of the printer 100, making it possible to access the manual feed opening 12. The user inserts one sheet S from the manual feed opening 12 into the inside of the device body 100A in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5.

[0028] The sheet S is fed toward the transfer nip T1 by a pair of conveying rollers 24 as a feeding section, and then undergoes the same process as when the sheet S is fed from the cassette 21, whereby a toner image is formed on the sheet S.

[0029] In addition, when the front cover 11 is opened, if light enters the inside of the device main body 100A through the attachment / detachment opening 120, there is a risk that the photosensitive drum 71 may be unintentionally exposed to light. For this reason, in this embodiment, a light-shielding member (not shown) is provided in the device main body 100A, and the light-shielding member is configured to block light from outside the printer 100, so that the photosensitive drum 71 is not exposed to light.

[0030] As described above, the front cover 11 can be moved between a closed position that covers the manual feed opening 12 and the attachment / detachment opening 120 and an open position that opens the manual feed opening 12 and the attachment / detachment opening 120. When the front cover 11 is in the open position, the conveying roller pair 24 can feed the sheet S inserted into the manual feed opening 12, and the toner cartridge 101 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100A via the attachment / detachment opening 120.

[0031] In either case of replacing (removing) the toner cartridge 101 or feeding a sheet from the manual feed port 12, the user opens the front cover 11 from the closed position to the open position. This eliminates the need for the user to wonder which cover to open depending on the application, improving the intuitiveness of the operation of the printer 100 and improving usability.

[0032] Furthermore, since the manual feed opening 12 is provided on the side surface 110 of the device body 100A, which is covered by the front cover 11, rather than on the exterior of the printer 100, the manual feed opening 12 is not exposed when the front cover 11 is in the closed position. This allows the exterior of the printer 100 to be designed simply, improving the freedom of design and the appearance.

[0033] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, which is configured by further providing an inner cover 13 to the device body 100A of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same configuration as the first embodiment will be described by omitting illustrations or by assigning the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0034] 7(a), the printer 200 of this embodiment has an inner cover 13. The inner cover 13 is supported by the device main body 100A so as to be openable and closable, and is movable between a closed position as a third position where the attachment / detachment opening 120 is covered, and an open position as a fourth position where the attachment / detachment opening 120 is opened. The inner cover 13 is disposed inside the device main body 100A with respect to the front cover 11 which is positioned in the closed position.

[0035] When removing or replacing the toner cartridge 101, the user first rotates the front cover 11 about the rotation shaft 11a to the open position as shown in Fig. 7(b). Then, the user rotates the inner cover 13 about the rotation shaft 13a to the open position. This exposes the installation / removal opening 120 to the outside of the printer 100, allowing the user to access the installation / removal opening 120.

[0036] This simplifies the configuration of the side surface 110 of the apparatus main body 100A that is exposed when the front cover 11 is opened. For example, the above-mentioned light blocking member (not shown) can be omitted.

[0037] In this embodiment, when the front cover 11 is in the open position, the user manually moves the inner cover 13 from the closed position to the open position, but this is not limited to this. For example, the center of gravity of the inner cover 13 may be located forward of the rotation shaft 13a, i.e., on the right side as shown in Fig. 7(a), so that when the front cover 11 is opened, the inner cover 13 is also opened by its own weight. This can improve usability.

[0038] In addition, in this embodiment, an inner cover 13 is provided on the inside of the front cover 11, but the front cover 11 still covers the insertion opening 12 and the attachment / detachment opening 120 in the closed position, and opens the insertion opening 12 and the attachment / detachment opening 120 in the closed position.

[0039] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which the front cover 11 of the first embodiment has a function of supporting a sheet to be manually fed. Therefore, the same configuration as the first embodiment will be omitted from the illustrations or will be described by using the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 8, the printer 300 of this embodiment has a manual feed section 124 as a feed section. The manual feed section 124 has a pickup roller 81, a feed roller 82, and a separation pad 83. When the front cover 11 is in the open position, it has a support surface 11b on the upper side. The support surface 11b is not limited to supporting only one sheet S, but can support multiple sheets S.

[0041] The sheets supported on the support surface 11b of the front cover 11 are fed by a pickup roller 81 and separated one by one by a feed roller 82 and a separation pad 83. The sheets S separated one by one are conveyed to a conveying roller pair 24, and a toner image is formed on the sheet S by going through the same process as when the sheet S is fed from the cassette 21 described above.

[0042] As described above, in this embodiment, the front cover 11 has the support surface 11b that supports the sheet S, and functions as a manual feed tray. Therefore, the user does not need to keep holding the sheet S when manually feeding it, and usability can be improved. Note that the sheet S may also be supported on the upper surface (rear surface) of the front cover 11 in the first embodiment described in FIG. 5.

[0043] <Other embodiments> In any of the above-described embodiments, the attachment / detachment opening 120 covered by the front cover 11 in the closed position is used to replace the toner cartridge 101, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), a drum cartridge 131 and a developing cartridge 132 may be provided instead of the process cartridge 102 in FIG. 1. The drum cartridge 131 has a photosensitive drum 71 and a charging roller 72, and the developing cartridge 132 as a cartridge has a developing device 94 including a developing roller 76 and a toner storage portion 94a. The attachment / detachment opening 120 may be used when attaching and detaching the drum cartridge 131 and the developing cartridge 132 separately or integrally. Also, the photosensitive drum 71 and the charging roller 72 may not be made into a cartridge as in the drum cartridge 131, and the photosensitive drum 71 and the charging roller 72 may be provided in a manner that makes them undetachable from the apparatus main body 100A.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 10(a) and 10(b), the mounting / removal opening 120 may be used when mounting / removing the process cartridge 140. That is, the process cartridge 140 as a cartridge has the photosensitive drum 71, the charging roller 72, and the developing device 94 including the developing roller 76 and the toner storage section 94a. That is, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 9(a) to 10(b), at least the toner storage section 94a and the developing roller 76 are parts of the process cartridge that are mounted / removed through the mounting / removal opening 120. And, the process cartridge 140 passes through the mounting / removal opening 120 when mounted / removed to / from the apparatus main body 100A. Also, 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 mounted / removed to / from the apparatus main body 100A through the process cartridge mounting / removal opening 130.

[0045] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the front cover 11 is configured to be able to open and close the side surface 110 of the device main body 100A, but this is not limiting. For example, the attachment / detachment opening 120 and the insertion opening 12 may be provided on the top surface of the device main body 100A, and the top surface may be opened and closed by a cover. The attachment / detachment opening 120 and the insertion opening 12 may be opened and closed by this single cover.

[0046] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the sheets S are separated one by one using the separation pads 23, 83, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the sheets S may be separated one by one using a separation roller or a retard roller with a built-in torque limiter. The method of feeding the sheets S is also not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the sheets S may be fed by an air suction type feeding section that conveys the sheets S while sucking them with negative pressure.

[0047] In addition, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the printer 100 is used as the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The image forming apparatus includes a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine, and refers to an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet used as a recording medium based on image information input from an external PC or image information read from a document. In addition, an image forming apparatus may be connected to an optional feeder, an image reader, a sheet processing device, and other auxiliary devices in addition to a main body having an image forming function, and the entire system to which such auxiliary devices are connected is also a type of image forming apparatus. The present invention may be applied to such an image forming apparatus.

[0048] The disclosure of the present embodiment also includes the following configuration examples and method examples. (Configuration 1) an apparatus body having a feeding section for feeding a sheet; an insertion port provided in the device body and into which a sheet to be fed by the feeding unit is inserted; a cartridge that contains toner for forming an image on a sheet and is detachably supported by the main body of the device; an attachment / detachment opening provided in the apparatus main body, through which the cartridge passes when being attached to or detached from the apparatus main body; a cover that is supported by the device body in an openable and closable manner and that is movable between a first position that covers the insertion opening and the attachment / detachment opening and a second position that opens the insertion opening and the attachment / detachment opening, When the cover is located at the second position, the feeding section can feed a sheet inserted into the insertion opening, and the cartridge is detachable from the apparatus body via the attachment / detachment opening. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: (Configuration 2) the insertion opening and the attachment / detachment opening are provided on a side surface of the device body in a horizontal direction, The cover is an exterior member that covers the side surface of the device body at the first position. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, (Configuration 3) an inner cover supported on the device body so as to be openable and closable, and movable between a third position that covers the attachment / detachment opening and a fourth position that opens the attachment / detachment opening, the inner cover being disposed on the inside of the device body relative to the cover positioned at the first position; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second components are arranged in a same plane. (Configuration 4) The cover has a support surface that supports the sheet to be inserted into the insertion opening. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction. (Configuration 5) an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a toner storage unit that stores toner; a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image carried on the image carrier into a toner image by using the toner contained in the toner container, the cartridge is a toner cartridge capable of supplying toner to the toner storage portion, 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction and a second direction. (Configuration 6) At least the toner storage unit and the developing roller are configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus as a part of a process cartridge. 6. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 5. (Configuration 7) The process cartridge includes the image carrier. 7. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 6, (Configuration 8) the opening and the cover are a first opening and a first cover, a second mounting / removal opening provided in the apparatus main body and through which the process cartridge passes when being mounted to or removed from the apparatus main body; a second cover that is supported by the device body in an openable and closable manner and that is movable between a fifth position that covers the second attachment / detachment opening and a sixth position that opens the second attachment / detachment opening; 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, (Configuration 9) an exposure unit supported by the second cover and configured to expose the image carrier; 9. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 8, (Configuration 10) the device body has a discharge section that discharges the sheet to the outside of the device, The second cover has a loading surface on which the sheets discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge unit are loaded. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, (Configuration 11) Further comprising an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, the cartridge is a developing cartridge having a toner storage section that stores toner, and a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image carried on the image carrier into a toner image by using the toner stored in the toner storage section; 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction and a second direction. (Configuration 12) the cartridge is a process cartridge having an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a toner storage section that stores toner, and a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image carried on the image carrier into a toner image by using the toner stored in the toner storage section; 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction and a second direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 11: cover, first cover (front cover) / 11b: support surface / 12: insertion port (manual feed port) / 13: inner cover / 24, 124: feed section (pair of transport rollers, manual feed section) / 51: discharge section (pair of discharge rollers) / 61: second cover (discharge tray) / 61b: loading surface / 71: image carrier (photosensitive drum) / 76: developing roller / 93: exposure section (laser scanner) / 94a: toner storage section / 100: image forming device (printer) / 100A: device main body / 101: cartridge (toner cartridge) / 102: process cartridge / 110: side / 120: attachment / detachment port, first attachment / detachment port / 130: second attachment / detachment port (process cartridge attachment / detachment port) / 132: cartridge (developing cartridge) / 140: cartridge (process cartridge) / S: sheet

Claims

1. an apparatus body having a feeding section for feeding a sheet; an insertion port provided in the device body and into which a sheet to be fed by the feeding unit is inserted; a cartridge that contains toner for forming an image on a sheet and is detachably supported by the main body of the device; an attachment / detachment opening provided in the apparatus main body, through which the cartridge passes when being attached to or detached from the apparatus main body; a cover that is supported by the device body in an openable and closable manner and that is movable between a first position that covers the insertion opening and the attachment / detachment opening and a second position that opens the insertion opening and the attachment / detachment opening, When the cover is located at the second position, the feeding section can feed a sheet inserted into the insertion opening, and the cartridge is detachable from the apparatus body via the attachment / detachment opening.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. the insertion opening and the attachment / detachment opening are provided on a side surface of the device body in a horizontal direction, the cover is an exterior member that covers the side surface of the device body at the first position; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

3. an inner cover supported by the device body in an openable and closable manner and movable between a third position that covers the attachment / detachment opening and a fourth position that opens the attachment / detachment opening, the inner cover being disposed on an inner side of the device body relative to the cover positioned at the first position; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

4. The cover has a support surface that supports the sheet to be inserted into the insertion opening.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

5. an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a toner storage unit that stores toner; a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image carried on the image carrier into a toner image by using the toner contained in the toner container, the cartridge is a toner cartridge capable of supplying toner to the toner storage portion, 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

6. At least the toner storage unit and the developing roller are configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus as a part of a process cartridge.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

7. The process cartridge includes the image carrier.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,

8. the opening and the cover are a first opening and a first cover, a second mounting / removal opening provided in the apparatus main body, through which the process cartridge passes when being mounted to or removed from the apparatus main body; a second cover supported on the device body in an openable and closable manner and movable between a fifth position that covers the second attachment / detachment opening and a sixth position that opens the second attachment / detachment opening; 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,

9. an exposure unit supported by the second cover and configured to expose the image carrier to light; 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8,

10. the device body has a discharge section that discharges the sheet to the outside of the device, the second cover has a loading surface on which the sheets discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge unit are loaded.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8,

11. Further comprising an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, the cartridge is a developing cartridge having a toner storage section that stores toner, and a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image carried on the image carrier into a toner image by using the toner stored in the toner storage section; 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

12. the cartridge is a process cartridge having an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image, a toner storage section that stores toner, and a developing roller that develops the electrostatic latent image carried on the image carrier into a toner image by using the toner stored in the toner storage section; 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction.

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