Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide one form of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises an apparatus body that has a first opening, a first cartridge, a second cartridge, a first cover, and a second cover. When the first cover is located at a first opening position and the second cover is located at a second opening position, a first area of the first opening is opened when seen in a first direction. When the first cover is located at a first closing position and the second cover is located at the second opening position, a second area smaller than the first area of the first opening is opened through the second opening when seen in the first direction. An entire portion of the first cartridge mounted on the apparatus body is arranged in the first area when seen in the first direction. An entire portion of the second cartridge mounted on the first cartridge is arranged in the second area when seen in the first direction. A part of the first cartridge mounted on the apparatus body is arranged outside the second area when seen in the first direction.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, an image forming apparatus has been proposed that includes a housing having an opening, a process cartridge that can be removed from inside the housing through the opening, and a first cover and a second cover that are supported on the housing so as to be openable and closable (see Patent Document 1). The process cartridge has a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge, which are configured to be separable from each other. The first cover and the second cover are front covers that close against the housing to cover the opening of the housing.

[0003] The process cartridge is removed from the housing through the opening when the first cover and the second cover are open. When the first cover is open and the second cover is closed, if an attempt is made to remove the drum cartridge of the process cartridge from the housing, the drum cartridge comes into contact with a protrusion of the second cover. This restricts removal of the drum cartridge from the housing. On the other hand, when the first cover is open and the second cover is closed, the toner cartridge can be removed from the drum cartridge without interfering with the protrusion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-174691 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide an embodiment of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus including: an apparatus main body having a first opening; a first cartridge having a developing roller configured to carry toner and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body via the first opening; a second cartridge having a storage section capable of storing toner and configured to be attachable in a first direction to the first cartridge attached to the apparatus main body and detachable in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a first cover supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body and movable between a first closed position covering a part of the first opening and a first open position opening the part of the first opening, the first cover having a second opening; and a second closed position covering the second opening of the first cover positioned at the first closed position and a second open position opening the second opening, the second cover being provided so as to be openable and detachable from the first cover positioned at the first closed position when viewed in the first direction at the second closed position. and a second cover that is burlapped and positioned downstream in the second direction from the first cover, wherein when the first cover is located at the first open position and the second cover is located at the second open position, a first region of the first opening is open when viewed in the first direction, and when the first cover is located at the first closed position and the second cover is located at the second open position, a second region narrower than the first region of the first opening is opened via the second opening when viewed in the first direction, the second region being included in the first region, the entirety of the first cartridge attached to the device main body is located within the first region when viewed in the first direction, the entirety of the second cartridge attached to the first cartridge is located within the second region when viewed in the first direction, and a part of the first cartridge attached to the device main body is located outside the second region when viewed in the first direction.

[0007] The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, the apparatus comprising: a device main body having a first opening; a first cartridge having a developing roller configured to carry toner and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the device main body via the first opening; a second cartridge having a storage section capable of storing toner and configured to be attachable in a first direction with respect to the first cartridge attached to the device main body and to be detachable in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a first cover supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the device main body and movable between a first closed position covering a part of the first opening and a first open position opening the part of the first opening, the first cover having a second opening; and a second cover provided so as to be movable between a second closed position covering the second opening of the first cover positioned at the first closed position and a second open position opening the second opening. and a second cover which, in the second closed position, overlaps with the first cover which is located in the first closed position when viewed in the first direction and is located downstream of the first cover in the second direction, wherein when the first cover is located in the first open position and the second cover is located in the second open position, the first cartridge is removable from the device main body along the second direction via the first opening, and when the first cover is located in the first closed position and the second cover is located in the second open position, the second cartridge is removable in the second direction from the first cartridge attached to the device main body via the second opening of the first cover, and removal of the first cartridge from the device main body is restricted by the first cover. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide one embodiment of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 2A is a schematic overall view showing an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment with a second cover open, and FIG. 2B is a schematic overall view showing an image forming apparatus with a first cover and a second cover open. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4A is a front view showing the image forming apparatus with the second cover open, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus with the second cover open. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the drum cartridge is attached to the main body of the apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4A is a front view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where a first cover and a second cover are located in an open position, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus in a state where a first cover and a second cover are located in an open position. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an overall schematic view showing an image forming apparatus according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1A is a front view showing an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment in a state where the second cover is in an open position, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing an image forming apparatus 1B in a state where the first cover and the second cover are in an open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] <First embodiment> [Overall configuration] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 is an electrophotographic laser beam printer that forms a monochrome toner image. Fig. 1(a) is a general schematic diagram showing the image forming apparatus 1 with the second cover 20 open, and Fig. 1(b) is a general schematic diagram showing the image forming apparatus 1 with the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 open.

[0011] In the following, directions are defined as the arrows in Fig. 1(a) indicating directions, i.e., the upper direction on the paper surface of Fig. 1(a) is referred to as the upper direction, the lower direction on the paper surface is referred to as the lower direction, the right direction on the paper surface is referred to as the front direction or front direction, and the left direction on the paper surface is referred to as the rear direction or rear direction.

[0012] 1(a), the image forming apparatus 1 has a feeder section 3 that feeds stacked sheets, and an image forming section 4 that forms an image on the fed sheets. The image forming apparatus 1 also has a fixing section 5 that fixes an image transferred to the sheet, a discharge section 6 that discharges the sheet to the outside of the apparatus, a stacking section 7, and a document reading unit 8.

[0013] The image forming apparatus includes printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction machines, 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 an original. In addition to the main body having an image forming function, an image forming apparatus may be connected to auxiliary devices such as an optional feeder, an image reader, and a sheet processing device, and the entire system to which such auxiliary devices are connected is also a type of image forming apparatus. The sheets and originals include paper such as paper and envelopes, plastic films such as sheets for overhead projectors, cloth, etc.

[0014] The feeder unit 3 has a cassette 30 on which sheets S are stacked, a pickup roller 31 that feeds the sheets S stacked in the cassette 30, a conveying guide 32, and a conveying roller pair 33. The conveying guide 32 guides the sheet S fed by the pickup roller 31 to the conveying roller pair 33, and the conveying roller pair 33 conveys the sheet S toward a transfer nip N1 described later. The conveying roller pair 33 may be composed of a registration roller pair that corrects skew of the sheet S.

[0015] The image forming unit 4 has a laser scanner 40, a process cartridge 41, and a transfer roller 44. The process cartridge 41 is disposed between the laser scanner 40 and the feeder unit 3. The process cartridge 41 also has a drum cartridge 42 and a toner cartridge 43 that is configured to be detachable from the drum cartridge 42.

[0016] The drum cartridge 42 as the first cartridge has a drum frame 429, a photosensitive drum 420 rotatably supported by the drum frame 429, a charging roller 421, and a developing roller 422. The photosensitive drum 420 as an image carrier contacts the transfer roller 44 and forms a transfer nip N1 together with the transfer roller 44. The drum frame 429 has a first gripping portion 423 that can be gripped when the drum cartridge 42 is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 2, an attachment portion 424 to which the toner cartridge 43 is attached, and a toner storage portion 429a that can store a developer including toner. The first gripping portion 423 is disposed on the upper portion of the drum frame 429. The developing roller 422 is configured to carry the toner in the toner storage portion 429a, and the photosensitive drum 420 is configured to receive the toner from the developing roller 422. The drum cartridge 42 is detachably mountable to the apparatus main body 2 either as the drum cartridge 42 alone or with the toner cartridge 43 attached, that is, as a process cartridge 41.

[0017] The device main body 2 refers to a portion of the image forming device 1 excluding the document reading unit 8, the process cartridge 41, the first cover 21, and the second cover 20. In other words, the device main body 2 includes the feeder unit 3, the laser scanner 40, the transfer roller 44, the fixing unit 5, the discharge unit 6, and the loading unit 7.

[0018] The toner cartridge 43 as the second cartridge has a storage section 431 capable of storing developer including toner, and a second gripping section 430 that protrudes forward from the storage section 431 and can be gripped when attaching or detaching the toner cartridge 43 to the drum cartridge 42.

[0019] The fixing unit 5 has a fixing roller 50 incorporating a heater (not shown), and a pressure roller 51 forming a fixing nip N2 together with the fixing roller 50. The pressure roller 51 is pressed toward the fixing roller 50 by a pressure spring (not shown), and the fixing roller 50 or the pressure roller 51 is driven by a drive source (not shown).

[0020] The discharge section 6 has a discharge guide 60 and a discharge roller pair 61. The discharge guide 60 guides the sheet S conveyed from the fixing nip N2 to the discharge roller pair 61, which discharges the sheet S to the outside of the apparatus through a discharge opening 70. At this time, the discharge roller pair 61 discharges the sheet S in a discharge direction DD. The stacking section 7 has the discharge opening 70 and a discharge tray 71 on which the sheet S discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 61 is stacked. The document reading unit 8 can read an image of a document placed on a document table glass in the document reading unit 8.

[0021] When an image formation command is output to the image forming apparatus 1, an image forming process is started by the image forming unit 4 based on image information input from an external computer connected to the image forming apparatus 1, an original reading unit 8, or the like. The laser scanner 40 irradiates a laser beam toward the photosensitive drum 420 based on the input image information. At this time, the photosensitive drum 420 is charged in advance by a charging roller 421, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 420 by irradiating it with the laser beam. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing roller 422, and a monochrome toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 420.

[0022] In parallel with the above-mentioned image forming process, a sheet S is fed from the feeder unit 3. In the transfer nip N1, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 420 is transferred onto the sheet S fed from the feeder unit 3 by the electrostatic load bias applied to the transfer roller 44. The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is given a predetermined heat and pressure in the fixing nip N2 by the fixing roller 50 and pressure roller 51 of the fixing unit 5, so that the toner is melted and fixed (fixed). The sheet S that has passed through the fixing unit 5 is guided by the discharge guide 60 to the pair of discharge rollers 61, and is discharged to the discharge tray 71 by the pair of discharge rollers 61.

[0023] [Configuration of the first and second covers] Next, the configurations of the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 will be described. As shown in Figs. 1(a) and 1(b), the image forming apparatus 1 has a first cover 21 supported on the apparatus body 2 so as to be openable and closable, and a second cover 20 supported on the first cover 21 so as to be openable and closable. The first cover 21 and the second cover 20 are provided on the front (front) side of the apparatus body 2. In other words, the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 are disposed on the downstream side of the apparatus body 2 in the ejection direction DD. In this embodiment, the ejection direction DD is a direction along the removal direction D2.

[0024] The first cover 21 is configured to be rotatable about an axis X2, and is movable between a closed position as a first closed position shown in Fig. 1(a) and an open position as a first open position shown by a solid line in Fig. 1(b). The second cover 20 is configured to be rotatable about an axis X1, and is movable between a closed position as a second closed position shown by a dashed line in Fig. 1(a) and an open position as a second open position shown by a solid line in Fig. 1(b). By configuring the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 to be rotatable, the number of parts of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced, and the configuration can be simplified.

[0025] In addition, the second cover 20, in the closed position, faces the first cover 21, which is in the closed position, in the mounting direction D1, and is disposed downstream of the first cover 21 in the removal direction D2. Furthermore, the second cover 20, in the closed position, constitutes the front surface of the apparatus main body 2. The apparatus main body 2 is provided with an opening 23 as a first opening for attaching and detaching the process cartridge 41 to and from the apparatus main body 2. The first cover 21 covers a part of the opening 23 in the closed position, and opens the part of the opening 23 in the open position. As shown in Figs. 3(a) and (b), the first cover 21 is provided with an opening 22 for attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 43 to and from the drum cartridge 42, and the opening 22 as a second opening is formed (defined) by a rectangular hole portion 22a. The second cover 20 covers the opening 22 of the first cover 21 in the closed position, and opens the opening 22 of the first cover 21 in the open position.

[0026] As will be described later, the toner cartridge 43 is configured to be attachable to the drum cartridge 42 in the mounting direction D1 as the first direction and detachable in the removal direction D2 as the second direction opposite to the mounting direction D1. Further, the drum cartridge 42 is configured to be attachable to the apparatus main body 2 along the mounting direction D1 and detachable along the removal direction D2. In the present embodiment, the mounting direction D1 and the removal direction D2 are directions along the horizontal direction.

[0027] Further, as shown in FIG. 1(b), the first cover 21 is provided with a flange portion 22b formed so as to be continuous with the hole portion 22a, and the flange portion 22b extends rearward toward the inside of the apparatus main body 2 when the first cover 21 is in the closed position.

[0028] [Attachment and detachment of toner cartridge] Next, the attachment and detachment of the toner cartridge 43 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1(a) to 3. FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the process cartridge 41. FIG. 3(a) is a front view showing the image forming apparatus 1 with the second cover 20 open, and FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1 with the second cover 20 open. In FIG. 2, a part of the drum frame 429 of the drum cartridge 42 is shown cut away. FIG. 3(a) is also a view of the image forming apparatus 1 seen in the mounting direction D1.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the developing roller 422 has a developing shaft portion 427 that extends in the axial direction AD and is rotatably supported by the drum frame 429, and a developing roller portion 428 that is fixed to the developing shaft portion 427 and serves as a roller portion for carrying toner. At this time, in the axial direction AD, the length L2 of the toner cartridge 43 is shorter than the length L1 of the developing roller portion 428 (L2 < L1). Similarly, in the axial direction AD, the length L2 of the toner cartridge 43 is shorter than the length of the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 420 and the length L3 of the drum cartridge 42. The lengths L1, L2, and L3 are the maximum outer dimensions in the axial direction AD of the developing roller portion 428, the toner cartridge 43, and the drum cartridge 42, respectively.

[0030] A transport paddle (not shown) is provided inside the storage section 431 of the toner cartridge 43, and the transport paddle transports the toner contained in the storage section 431 toward the developing roller 422 of the drum cartridge 42. As a result, the toner contained in the storage section 431 of the toner cartridge 43 is replenished to the toner storage section 429a of the drum cartridge 42. The transport paddle is driven by a driving force transmitted from the drum cartridge 42.

[0031] Further, the toner cartridge 43 attached to the drum cartridge 42 is housed in the device body 2 with the drum cartridge 42 attached to the device body 2 and the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 positioned in the closed position.

[0032] When removing the toner cartridge 43 from the drum cartridge 42 mounted in the device body 2, the user first moves the second cover 20 from the closed position to the open position. In order for the image forming device 1 to perform the image forming process described above, the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 must be in the closed position. For this reason, the device body 2 is provided with a switch 47 as shown in FIG. 1(a). The switch 47 is turned from off to on when the second cover 20 moves from the closed position to the open position. The image forming device 1 stops or restricts the image forming process, the conveying operation of the sheet S, and the like, based on the switch 47 being turned on. This makes it possible to prevent the toner cartridge 43 from being removed from the drum cartridge 42 during the image forming process, causing toner leakage from the toner cartridge 43 or the drum cartridge 42, or damage to the toner cartridge 43 or the drum cartridge 42.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 3(a), the opening 22 of the first cover 21 located at the closed position is opened by the second cover 20 moving to the open position. In other words, as shown in Fig. 3(a), when the first cover 21 is located at the closed position and the second cover 20 is located at the open position, the second area AR2 of the opening 23 of the device main body 2 is opened through the opening 22 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. The second area AR2 is the area hatched in Fig. 3(a). The entire toner cartridge 43 mounted in the drum cartridge 42 is disposed within the second area AR2 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. In other words, the projected area of ​​the toner cartridge 43 when projected in the mounting direction D1 is smaller than the second area AR2.

[0034] Therefore, the user can see the toner cartridge 43 through the opening 22 of the first cover 21. In addition, the second grip portion 430 of the toner cartridge 43 is provided on the front side of the toner cartridge 43 and is exposed to the outside of the apparatus body 2. Therefore, the user can also see the second grip portion 430. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3(b), the user can grasp the second grip portion 430 and pull out the toner cartridge 43 from the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2. In other words, the toner cartridge 43 can be removed from the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2 through the opening 22.

[0035] As described above, the flange 22b is formed on the inner surface of the first cover 21 as shown in FIG. 1(a). The flange 22b is provided so as to be adjacent to the toner cartridge 43 attached to the drum cartridge 42. The second area AR2 is slightly larger than the above-mentioned projected area of ​​the toner cartridge 43. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 43 is pulled out in the removal direction D2, the toner cartridge 43 is guided in the removal direction D2 by the flange 22b, and can smoothly pass through the opening 22 of the first cover 21. In addition, it is possible to prevent the toner cartridge 43 from hitting the flange 22b or the inner surface of the first cover 21, which would hinder removal of the toner cartridge 43.

[0036] Furthermore, there is a slight gap between the attachment / detachment trajectory of the toner cartridge 43 and the hole 22a and flange 22b forming the opening 22 so that the toner cartridge 43 can pass through the opening 22, but the flange 22b extends in the attachment direction D1 and the drum cartridge 42 is disposed downstream of the toner cartridge 43 in the attachment direction D1. That is, the drum cartridge 42 is disposed at a position recessed in the device body 2 from the opening 22. For this reason, the drum cartridge 42 cannot be seen from the user's viewpoint through the slight gap, and the drum cartridge 42 is not exposed to the outside of the device body 2.

[0037] In other words, the drum cartridge 42 attached to the device body 2 is not exposed to the outside of the device body 2 when the toner cartridge 43 is attached to the drum cartridge 42, the first cover 20 is in the closed position, and the second cover 21 is in the open position. Therefore, even when the user has the second cover 20 open, foreign matter and light are unlikely to enter the inside of the device body 2 from the outside through the gap. This makes it possible to maintain a good environment inside the device body 2 and suppress image defects.

[0038] In addition, when the first cover 21 is in the closed position and the second cover 20 is in the open position, the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 is not exposed to the outside of the device body 2 through the opening 22. Therefore, the user cannot see the first grip portion 423, and can only access the second grip portion 430 of the toner cartridge 43. Therefore, the user does not have to wonder whether to pull out the second grip portion 430 of the toner cartridge 43 or the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42. In addition, since the opening 22 is a hole provided in the first cover 21 by the hole portion 22a, the attachment and detachment position of the toner cartridge 43 is clear, and usability can be improved.

[0039] In addition, the opening 22 of the first cover 21 is of a size necessary and sufficient to allow the toner cartridge 43 to pass through, and the drum cartridge 42 cannot pass through the opening 22. In other words, the removal of the drum cartridge 42 from the device body 2 is restricted by the first cover 21 positioned at the closed position. That is, as shown in FIG. 3(a), a part of the drum cartridge 42 mounted on the device body 2 is disposed outside the second area AR2 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. Therefore, regardless of whether the toner cartridge 43 is mounted on the drum cartridge 42 or not, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally pulling out the drum cartridge 42 when the first cover 21 is positioned at the closed position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drum cartridge 42, which is erroneously pulled out, from colliding with the first cover 21, and to reduce damage to the drum cartridge 42 and the first cover 21.

[0040] In this embodiment, the toner cartridge 43 is provided with a shutter (not shown). When the user starts to pull out the toner cartridge 43, the shutter is closed to prevent the toner from spilling out and scattering from the toner cartridge 43. For example, a locking member that locks the toner cartridge 43 to the drum cartridge 42 may be provided on the front side (opening 22 side) of the toner cartridge 43, and the above-mentioned shutter may be closed by moving the locking member from a locked position to an unlocked position. Also, the shutter may be closed based on the second cover 20 being moved to the open position and the switch 47 being turned on.

[0041] 3(b), the toner cartridge 43 is pulled out from the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2, and taken out of the image forming apparatus 1 through the opening 22. The installation operation of the toner cartridge 43 into the drum cartridge 42 in the installation direction D1 can be performed in the reverse order to the above-described pulling operation.

[0042] [Installing and removing the drum cartridge] Next, the attachment and detachment of the drum cartridge 42 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 5(b). Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the drum cartridge 42 attached to the apparatus main body 2. Fig. 5(a) is a front view showing the image forming apparatus 1 with the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 in the open position, and Fig. 5(b) is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1 with the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 in the open position. Fig. 5(a) is also a view of the image forming apparatus 1 as seen in the attachment direction D1.

[0043] In addition, the following description of the installation and removal of the drum cartridge 42 is the same whether the toner cartridge 43 is attached to the drum cartridge 42 as shown in Fig. 5(b) or whether the toner cartridge 43 is removed from the drum cartridge 42. In other words, the installation and removal of the process cartridge 41 is the same as the following description of the installation and removal of the drum cartridge 42.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5(a) and (b), the main body 2 is provided with groove-shaped guide portions 24L and 24R. The left side surface of the drum cartridge 42 is provided with a positioning shaft 425L and a rotation stop shaft 426L that can be engaged with the guide portion 24L. The right side surface of the drum cartridge 42 is provided with a positioning shaft 425R and a rotation stop shaft 426R that can be engaged with the guide portion 24R. When the drum cartridge 42 is attached to the main body 2, the positioning shaft 425L and the rotation stop shaft 426L are engaged with the guide portion 24L, and the positioning shaft 425R and the rotation stop shaft 426R are engaged with the guide portion 24R.

[0045] Since the positioning shaft 425L, the rotation stop shaft 426L and the guide portion 24L have the same configuration as the positioning shaft 425R, the rotation stop shaft 426R and the guide portion 24R, the positioning shaft 425R, the rotation stop shaft 426R and the guide portion 24R will be mainly described.

[0046] 4, the positioning shaft 425R and the rotation stop shaft 426R are boss-shaped. When the drum cartridge 42 is attached to the device main body 2, the positioning shaft 425R abuts against the abutment portion 25R of the guide portion 24R. The abutment portion 25R is composed of a first surface 25a extending in the vertical direction and a second surface 25b extending in the removal direction D2 perpendicular to the vertical direction VD, and the positioning shaft 425R abuts against the first surface 25a and the second surface 25b.

[0047] The device body 2 is provided with a pressure spring 26R that can rotate around a rotation shaft 26c. The pressure spring 26R has a first line portion 26a and a second line portion 26b that is bent from the first line portion 26a. The first line portion 26a extends downward in the vertical direction VD toward the mounting direction D1, and the second line portion 26b extends upward in the vertical direction VD toward the mounting direction D1.

[0048] The second line portion 26b of the pressure spring 26R presses the positioning shaft 425R downward and rearward. Therefore, the positioning shaft 425R is pressed against the first surface 25a and the second surface 25b of the abutment portion 25R by the biasing force of the pressure spring 26R, and the drum cartridge 42 is positioned with respect to the device main body 2. In addition, the rotation stop shaft 426R abuts against the lower surface 24a of the guide portion 24R by its own weight. Therefore, the rotation of the drum cartridge 42 about the positioning shaft 425R is restricted by the rotation stop shaft 426R abutting against the lower surface 24a, and the drum cartridge 42 can maintain a stable posture.

[0049] When removing the drum cartridge 42 from the apparatus main body 2, the user moves the second cover 20 and the first cover 21 to the open position as shown in Figs. 5(a) and (b). This turns on the above-mentioned switch 47, and the image forming process of the image forming apparatus 1 and the conveying operation of the sheet S are stopped or restricted. In the present embodiment, the switch 47 is turned on by moving the second cover 20 to the open position, but this is not limiting. For example, the switch 47 may be turned on by moving the first cover 21 to the open position. In addition, the above-mentioned switch 47 may be switched from off to on or from on to off, and in any case, it is sufficient that the opening and closing of the first cover 21 or the second cover 20 can be detected by the switch 47.

[0050] In this embodiment, the second cover 20 is rotatably supported by the first cover 21. Therefore, the user can move the first cover 21 to the open position without operating the second cover 20, thereby linking the second cover 20 to the open position. This improves operability. Of course, after the second cover 20 is moved to the open position, the first cover 21 may be moved to the open position so as to overlap the second cover 20 already in the open position.

[0051] When the second cover 20 and the first cover 21 are moved to the open position, the opening 23 of the device body 2 is opened. In other words, as shown in FIG. 5(a), when the first cover 20 and the first cover 21 are located at the open position, the first area AR1 of the opening 23 of the device body 2 is opened when viewed in the mounting direction D1. The first area AR1 is a hatched area in FIG. 5(a). The entire drum cartridge 42 mounted in the device body 2 is disposed within the first area AR1 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. In other words, the projected area of ​​the drum cartridge 42 projected in the mounting direction D1 is smaller than the first area AR1. The above-mentioned second area AR2 is narrower than the first area AR1 and is included in the first area AR1.

[0052] Here, as shown in FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 5(b), the first cover 21 of the present embodiment has a first portion 21a that forms the opening 22 and covers a portion of the first area AR1 except the second area AR2 when the first cover 21 is located at the closed position, and a second portion 21b. The first portion 21a and the second portion 21b are each formed in a flat plate shape. When the first cover 21 is located at the closed position, the second portion 21b extends from the first portion 21a in the mounting direction D1 and forms a part of the top surface 2a of the device main body 2. At this time, the second portion 21b is disposed so as to overlap the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 when viewed in the vertical direction. That is, the first cover 21 is formed in an L-shaped cross section by the first portion 21a and the second portion 21b, and the second cover 20 is formed in a flat plate shape.

[0053] 4, when the second cover 20 and the first cover 21 are in the open position, the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 is exposed to the outside of the device body 2 through the opening 23 in the mounting direction D1 and the vertical direction VD. This allows the user to see the first grip portion 423 from both the mounting direction D1 and the vertical direction VD, improving visibility and allowing easy access to the first grip portion 423. The user can grip the first grip portion 423 and pull out the drum cartridge 42 from the device body 2 in the removal direction D2. In other words, the drum cartridge 42 is removable from the device body 2 in the removal direction D2 through the opening 23.

[0054] When the user starts to pull out the drum cartridge 42, the positioning shaft 425R presses the pressure spring 26R in the removal direction D2, as shown in Fig. 4. At this time, the second line portion 26b of the pressure spring 26R in contact with the positioning shaft 425R is inclined downward toward the removal direction D2, so that the positioning shaft 425R presses the pressure spring 26R upward to the position shown by the dashed line in Fig. 4. Then, when the positioning shaft 425R passes the bent portion of the pressure spring 26R, the positioning shaft 425R and the rotation stop shaft 426R are guided along the removal direction D2 by the guide portion 24R.

[0055] When the user further moves the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2 and the positioning shaft 425R and the rotation stop shaft 426R leave the guide portion 24R, the drum cartridge 42 is removed from the apparatus main body 2, as shown in Fig. 5(b). The mounting operation for mounting the drum cartridge 42 into the toner cartridge 43 along the mounting direction D1 is performed in the reverse order to the above-mentioned pulling out operation.

[0056] As described above, when the second cover 20 is in the open position and the first cover 21 is in the closed position, the toner cartridge 43 is exposed to the outside of the device body 2 through the opening 22 of the first cover 21, but the drum cartridge 42 is not exposed to the outside of the device body 2. In addition, the second grip portion 430 of the toner cartridge 43 is exposed to the outside of the device body 2 through the opening 22 of the first cover 21, but the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 is not exposed to the outside of the device body 2.

[0057] This makes it possible to prevent the user from erroneously removing the drum cartridge 42 from the apparatus main body 2 when the second cover 20 is in the open position and the first cover 21 is in the closed position. Furthermore, the user does not have to be confused as to whether to pull out the toner cartridge 43 or the drum cartridge 42, thereby improving usability.

[0058] Furthermore, when the first cover 21 and the second cover 20 are in the open position, the drum cartridge 42 is exposed to the outside of the device body 2 through the opening 23 of the device body 2. In particular, the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 is exposed to the outside of the device body 2 through the opening 23 in the mounting direction D1 and the vertical direction VD. This allows the user to easily access the first grip portion 423 and easily remove the drum cartridge 42 from the device body 2, improving usability.

[0059] In addition, both the drum cartridge 42 and the toner cartridge 43 can be accessed from the front (front face) side of the image forming apparatus 1, improving accessibility. Furthermore, both the drum cartridge 42 and the toner cartridge 43 are mounted in a mounting direction D1 or removed in a removal direction D2, so that the movement trajectories of the drum cartridge 42 and the toner cartridge 43 overlap. This allows the space inside the device main body 2 to be used effectively, and also allows the space on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, which is necessary for mounting and removing the drum cartridge 42 and the toner cartridge 43, to be used efficiently. This allows the working space for maintenance of the drum cartridge 42 and the toner cartridge 43 to be reduced.

[0060] <Modification of the first embodiment> In the present embodiment, the first cover 21 has the first portion 21a and the second portion 21b covering a part of the top surface 2a of the main body 2, but is not limited thereto. For example, the first cover 121 of the modified example shown in FIG. 6 may omit the second portion 21b. That is, the first cover 121 is formed in a flat plate shape similar to the second cover 20. In the modified example shown in FIG. 6, the first cover 121 forms the opening 23 and covers the above-mentioned first area AR1 except for the second area AR2 when the first cover 121 is located at the closed position. The first gripping portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 attached to the main body 2 is covered above by the top surface 2a of the main body 2 regardless of the position of the first cover 121.

[0061] By configuring first cover 121 as in this modified example, first cover 121 can be made simple and lightweight, the force required for the user to open and close first cover 121 can be reduced, and usability can be improved.

[0062] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, which is configured by modifying the shape of the first cover 21 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.

[0063] Fig. 7(a) is a front view showing image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment in a state where second cover 200 is located in an open position, and Fig. 7(b) is a front view showing image forming apparatus 1B in a state where first cover 210 and second cover 200 are located in an open position. Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) are also views showing image forming apparatus 1B as viewed in mounting direction D1.

[0064] 7(a) and 7(b), the first cover 210 and the second cover 200 are configured to be rotatable about axes extending in the axial direction AD, similarly to the first embodiment. In addition, the second cover 200, in the closed position, overlaps with the first cover 210 located in the closed position when viewed in the mounting direction D1, and is disposed downstream of the first cover 210 in the removal direction D2.

[0065] The first cover 210 covers a part of the opening 23 of the apparatus body 2 in the closed position, and opens the opening 23 in the open position. As shown in FIG. 7(a), the first cover 210 is provided with an opening 220 for attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 43 to and from the drum cartridge 42, and the opening 220 is formed (defined) by a notch 220a. The notch 220a is provided in the lower part of the first cover 210, in the center in the axial direction AD, and is open downward. The second cover 200 covers the opening 220 of the first cover 210 in the closed position, and opens the opening 220 of the first cover 210 in the open position.

[0066] [Installing and removing the toner cartridge] When removing the toner cartridge 43 from the drum cartridge 42 mounted in the apparatus main body 2, the user first moves the second cover 200 from the closed position to the open position, as shown in Fig. 7(a). When the second cover 20 moves from the closed position to the open position, the switch 47 (see Fig. 1(a)) changes from off to on. When the switch 47 turns on, the image forming apparatus 1B stops or restricts the image forming process, the conveying operation of the sheet S, and the like.

[0067] When the second cover 200 moves to the open position, the opening 220 of the first cover 210 located at the closed position is opened. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the first cover 210 is located at the closed position and the second cover 200 is located at the open position, the second area AR12 of the opening 23 of the device main body 2 is opened through the opening 220 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. The second area AR12 is the area hatched in FIG. 7A. The entire toner cartridge 43 mounted in the drum cartridge 42 is disposed within the second area AR12 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. In other words, the projected area of ​​the toner cartridge 43 when projected in the mounting direction D1 is smaller than that of the second area AR12.

[0068] Therefore, the user can see the toner cartridge 43 through the opening 220 of the first cover 210. Also, the second grip portion 430 of the toner cartridge 43 is provided on the front side of the toner cartridge 43 and is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 2. Therefore, the user can also see the second grip portion 430 and can grasp the second grip portion 430 to pull out the toner cartridge 43 from the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2. In other words, the toner cartridge 43 can be removed from the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2 through the opening 220.

[0069] When the first cover 210 is in the closed position and the second cover 200 is in the open position, the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 is not exposed to the outside of the apparatus body 2 through the opening 220. Therefore, the user cannot see the first grip portion 423, and can only access the second grip portion 430 of the toner cartridge 43. Therefore, the user does not have to wonder whether to pull out the second grip portion 430 of the toner cartridge 43 or the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42. In addition, since the opening 220 is an opening provided in the first cover 210 by the U-shaped cutout portion 220a, the attachment and detachment position of the toner cartridge 43 is clear, and usability can be improved.

[0070] In addition, the opening 220 of the first cover 210 is of a size necessary and sufficient for the toner cartridge 43 to pass through, and the drum cartridge 42 cannot pass through the opening 220. In other words, the removal of the drum cartridge 42 from the device body 2 is restricted by the first cover 210 positioned at the closed position. That is, as shown in FIG. 7(a), a part of the drum cartridge 42 mounted on the device body 2 is disposed outside the second area AR12 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. Therefore, regardless of whether the toner cartridge 43 is mounted on the drum cartridge 42 or not, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally pulling out the drum cartridge 42 when the first cover 210 is positioned at the closed position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drum cartridge 42 pulled out by mistake from colliding with the first cover 210, and to reduce damage to the drum cartridge 42 and the first cover 210.

[0071] Then, the toner cartridge 43 is pulled out from the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2, and taken out to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 through the opening 220. The installation operation of the toner cartridge 43 into the drum cartridge 42 in the installation direction D1 can be performed in the reverse order to the above-described pulling operation.

[0072] [Installing and removing the drum cartridge] When removing the drum cartridge 42 from the device body 2, the user moves the second cover 200 and the first cover 210 to the open position as shown in FIG. 7(b). The opening 23 of the device body 2 is opened by the second cover 200 and the first cover 210 moving to the open position. In other words, when the first cover 210 and the first cover 210 are located at the open position, the first area AR11 of the opening 23 of the device body 2 is opened when viewed in the mounting direction D1. The first area AR11 is a hatched area in FIG. 7(b). The entire drum cartridge 42 mounted on the device body 2 is disposed within the first area AR11 when viewed in the mounting direction D1. In other words, the projected area of ​​the drum cartridge 42 projected in the mounting direction D1 is smaller than the first area AR11. The second area AR12 described above is narrower than the first area AR11 and is included in the first area AR11.

[0073] When the second cover 200 and the first cover 210 are in the open position, the first grip portion 423 of the drum cartridge 42 is exposed to the outside of the device body 2 through the opening 23. Therefore, a user can easily access the first grip portion 423 and can grip the first grip portion 423 to pull out the drum cartridge 42 from the device body 2 in the removal direction D2. In other words, the drum cartridge 42 is removable from the device body 2 in the removal direction D2 through the opening 23.

[0074] The movement of the pressing spring 26R (see FIG. 4) when the user starts to pull out the drum cartridge 42 is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. When the user moves the drum cartridge 42 in the removal direction D2 and the drum cartridge 42 leaves the guide portions 24L, 24R, the drum cartridge 42 is removed from the device main body 2. The mounting operation for mounting the drum cartridge 42 into the toner cartridge 43 along the mounting direction D1 can be performed by performing the reverse operation of the above-described pulling out operation.

[0075] As described above, even when the opening 220 of the first cover 210 is formed by the notch portion 220a, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be achieved. Note that in this embodiment, the first cover 210 is bent in an L-shape and forms a part of the top surface 2a, as in the first embodiment, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the second portion 21b (see FIG. 1(a)) may be omitted, as in the modified example described in FIG. 6.

[0076] <Other embodiments> In any of the above-described embodiments, the first cover 21, 210 and the second cover 20, 200 are configured to be rotatable, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first cover 21, 210 and the second cover 20, 200 may be configured to be slidable between an open position and a closed position. In addition, the first cover 21, 210 and the second cover 20, 200 are configured to be rotatable about the axes X1 and X2 extending parallel to the axial direction AD, respectively, but the axes X1 and X2 do not necessarily have to be parallel to the axial direction AD. For example, the axes X1 and X2 may be inclined within a range of ±15° with respect to the axial direction AD. In other words, the first cover 21, 210 may be provided rotatably about an axis extending in a third direction intersecting with the mounting direction D1, and the second cover 20, 200 may be provided rotatably about an axis extending in a fourth direction intersecting with the mounting direction D1. The third and fourth directions are preferably directions perpendicular to the mounting direction D1 and parallel to each other, and are, for example, the axial direction AD of the developing roller 422.

[0077] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the second cover 20,200 is supported relative to the first cover 21,210, but this is not limiting. For example, the second cover 20,200 may be supported movably on the apparatus body 2. With this configuration, when the second cover 20,200 is opened to replace the toner cartridge 43, it is possible to prevent the first cover 21,210 from being opened together, thereby improving usability.

[0078] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatuses 1 and 1B having the document reading unit 8 have been described as examples, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the document reading unit 8 may be omitted.

[0079] In addition, in any of the above-described configurations, the first cover 21, 210 and the second cover 20, 200 are provided on the front (front) side of the device body 2, and the toner cartridge 43 and the drum cartridge 42 are pulled out forward of the device body, but this is not limiting. For example, the first cover 21, 210 and the second cover 20, 200 may be provided on either the left or right side of the device body 2, or on the rear side. In this case, the toner cartridge 43 and the drum cartridge 42 are pulled out in the left-right direction or rearward. In any of these configurations, it is preferable that the attachment and detachment directions of the toner cartridge 43 and the drum cartridge 42 are the same.

[0080] In addition, in any of the above-mentioned embodiments, the image forming apparatus 1, 1B is a monochrome laser printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus that is a full-color laser printer. In this case, the image forming apparatus has a plurality of process cartridges (for example, four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black), and each process cartridge has a drum cartridge 42 and a toner cartridge 43. The first cover 21, 210 may be configured to have an opening 22, 220 that is necessary and sufficient for attaching and detaching each toner cartridge 43.

[0081] In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, the toner cartridge 43 is configured to be detachable from the drum cartridge 42, but this is not limiting. For example, the toner cartridge 43 may be configured to be detachable from a developing cartridge having a developing roller 422. In this case, the developing cartridge as the first cartridge does not include the photosensitive drum 420, and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 2 via the opening 23.

[0082] The disclosure of the present embodiment also includes the following configuration examples and method examples. (Configuration 1) In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, A device body having a first opening; a first cartridge having a developing roller configured to carry toner and configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus through the first opening; a second cartridge having a storage portion capable of storing toner, the second cartridge being configured to be mountable in a first direction relative to the first cartridge mounted in the apparatus body and to be removable in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a first cover supported on the device body so as to be openable and closable, and movable between a first closed position which covers a portion of the first opening and a first open position which opens the portion of the first opening, the first cover having a second opening; a second cover that is provided movably between a second closed position that covers the second opening of the first cover that is located at the first closed position and a second open position that opens the second opening, the second cover overlapping with the first cover that is located at the first closed position when viewed in the first direction at the second closed position and being located downstream of the first cover in the second direction, When the first cover is located at the first open position and the second cover is located at the second open position, a first region of the first opening is opened as viewed in the first direction, When the first cover is located at the first closed position and the second cover is located at the second open position, a second area narrower than the first area of ​​the first opening is exposed through the second opening when viewed in the first direction, The second region is contained within the first region, the first cartridge mounted in the apparatus main body is entirely disposed within the first region when viewed in the first direction, the second cartridge attached to the first cartridge is entirely disposed within the second region when viewed in the first direction, a portion of the first cartridge mounted in the apparatus main body is disposed outside the second region when viewed in the first direction; 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: (Configuration 2) when the first cover is located at the first open position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the first cartridge is removable from the apparatus main body along the second direction through the first opening, when the first cover is located at the first closed position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the second cartridge is removable in the second direction from the first cartridge attached to the main body of the apparatus through the second opening of the first cover, and removal of the first cartridge from the main body of the apparatus is restricted by the first cover. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, (Configuration 3) the first cartridge has a first gripping portion that can be gripped when the first cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, the second cartridge has a second gripping portion that can be gripped when the second cartridge is attached to or detached from the first cartridge, when the first cover is located at the first open position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the first grip portion is exposed to the outside of the device body through the first opening, when the first cover is located at the first closed position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the second gripping portion is exposed to the outside of the device body through the second opening of the first cover, and the first gripping portion is not exposed to the outside of the device body through the second opening. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second components are arranged in a same plane. (Configuration 4) the first cover has a first portion that forms the second opening and covers a portion of the first area excluding the second area when the first cover is located at the first closed position, and a second portion that extends in the first direction from the first portion when the first cover is located at the first closed position. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction. (Configuration 5) The first cover is formed with an L-shaped cross section by the first portion and the second portion, The second cover is formed in a flat plate shape. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, (Configuration 6) the second portion constitutes a part of a top surface of the device body when the first cover is located at the first closed position; 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, (Configuration 7) the first cartridge has a first gripping portion that can be gripped when the first cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, the first gripping portion is disposed so as to overlap the second portion of the first cover when viewed in a vertical direction when the first cover is located at the first closed position, and is exposed to an outside of the device body in the vertical direction when the first cover is located at the first open position. 7. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 6, (Configuration 8) the first cover is formed in a flat plate shape and covers a portion of the first area excluding the second area when the first cover is located at the first closed position; the first cartridge has a first gripping portion that can be gripped when the first cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, an upper portion of the first gripping portion of the first cartridge attached to the main body of the apparatus is covered by a top surface of the main body of the apparatus regardless of a position of the first cover; 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are arranged in a first direction. (Configuration 9) the second cartridge attached to the first cartridge is housed in the apparatus body in a state in which the first cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, the first cover is located at the first closed position, and the second cover is located at the second closed position; 9. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 8. (Configuration 10) the first cartridge mounted in the main body of the apparatus is not exposed to the outside of the main body of the apparatus when the second cartridge is mounted in the first cartridge, the first cover is located at the first closed position, and the second cover is located at the second open position; 10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 9. (Configuration 11) The first cover has a hole that forms the second opening. 11. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 10. (Configuration 12) the first cover is provided to be rotatable about an axis extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction, The second cover is provided to be rotatable about an axis extending in a fourth direction intersecting the first direction. 12. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 11. (Configuration 13) The third direction is a direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the fourth direction. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, (Configuration 14) the developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in a direction parallel to the third direction and the fourth direction. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, (Configuration 15) the developing roller has a shaft extending in a fifth direction and a roller portion supported by the shaft and carrying toner, In the fifth direction, the length of the second cartridge is shorter than the length of the roller unit. 15. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 14. (Configuration 16) A discharge unit that discharges the sheet in a discharge direction is further provided, the first cover and the second cover are disposed downstream of the device body in the discharge direction. 16. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 15. (Configuration 17) The discharge direction is a direction along the second direction. 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, (Configuration 18) The second cover constitutes a front surface of the device body in the second closed position. 18. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 17. (Configuration 19) The first direction and the second direction are directions along a horizontal direction. 19. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 18. (Configuration 20) the first cartridge is configured to receive toner from the developing roller and has an image carrier that carries a toner image; 20. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 19. (Configuration 21) In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, A device body having a first opening; a first cartridge having a developing roller configured to carry toner and configured to be detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus through the first opening; a second cartridge having a storage portion capable of storing toner, the second cartridge being configured to be mountable in a first direction relative to the first cartridge mounted in the apparatus body and to be removable in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a first cover supported on the device body so as to be openable and closable, and movable between a first closed position which covers a portion of the first opening and a first open position which opens the portion of the first opening, the first cover having a second opening; a second cover that is provided movably between a second closed position that covers the second opening of the first cover that is located at the first closed position and a second open position that opens the second opening, the second cover overlapping with the first cover that is located at the first closed position when viewed in the first direction at the second closed position and being located downstream of the first cover in the second direction, when the first cover is located at the first open position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the first cartridge is removable from the apparatus main body along the second direction through the first opening, when the first cover is located at the first closed position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the second cartridge is removable in the second direction from the first cartridge attached to the main body of the apparatus through the second opening of the first cover, and removal of the first cartridge from the main body of the apparatus is restricted by the first cover. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: (Configuration 22) the first cartridge has a first gripping portion that can be gripped when the first cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, the second cartridge has a second gripping portion that can be gripped when the second cartridge is attached to or detached from the first cartridge, when the first cover is located at the first open position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the first grip portion is exposed to the outside of the device body through the first opening, when the first cover is located at the first closed position and the second cover is located at the second open position, the second gripping portion is exposed to the outside of the device body through the second opening of the first cover, and the first gripping portion is not exposed to the outside of the device body through the second opening. 22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, (Configuration 23) the first cover has a first portion that defines the second opening and is formed in a flat plate shape, and a second portion that extends from the first portion in the first direction when the first cover is located at the first closed position. 23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, (Configuration 24) The first cover is formed with an L-shaped cross section by the first portion and the second portion, The second cover is formed in a flat plate shape. 24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, (Configuration 25) the second portion constitutes a part of a top surface of the device body when the first cover is located at the first closed position; 25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23 or 24. (Configuration 26) the first cartridge has a first gripping portion that can be gripped when the first cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, the first gripping portion is disposed so as to overlap the second portion of the first cover when viewed in a vertical direction when the first cover is located at the first closed position, and is exposed to an outside of the device body in the vertical direction when the first cover is located at the first open position. 26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, (Configuration 27) The first cover is formed in a flat plate shape, the first cartridge has a first gripping portion that can be gripped when the first cartridge is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body, an upper portion of the first gripping portion of the first cartridge attached to the main body of the apparatus is covered by a top surface of the main body of the apparatus regardless of a position of the first cover; 23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, (Configuration 28) the second cartridge attached to the first cartridge is housed in the apparatus body in a state in which the first cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, the first cover is located at the first closed position, and the second cover is located at the second closed position; 28. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 27. (Configuration 29) the first cartridge mounted in the main body of the apparatus is not exposed to the outside of the main body of the apparatus when the second cartridge is mounted in the first cartridge, the first cover is located at the first closed position, and the second cover is located at the second open position; 29. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 28. (Configuration 30) The first cover has a hole that forms the second opening. 30. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 29. (Configuration 31) the first cover is provided to be rotatable about an axis extending in a third direction intersecting the first direction, The second cover is provided to be rotatable about an axis extending in a fourth direction intersecting the first direction. 31. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 30. (Configuration 32) The third direction is a direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the fourth direction. 32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 31, (Configuration 33) the developing roller is rotatable about an axis extending in a direction parallel to the third direction and the fourth direction. 33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 32, (Configuration 34) the developing roller has a shaft extending in a fifth direction and a roller portion supported by the shaft and carrying toner, In the fifth direction, the length of the second cartridge is shorter than the length of the roller unit. 34. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 33. (Configuration 35) A discharge unit that discharges the sheet in a discharge direction is further provided, the first cover and the second cover are disposed downstream of the device body in the discharge direction. 35. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 34. (Configuration 36) The discharge direction is a direction along the second direction. 36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 35, (Configuration 37) The second cover constitutes a front surface of the device body in the second closed position. 37. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 36, (Configuration 38) The first direction and the second direction are directions along a horizontal direction. 38. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 37. (Configuration 39) the first cartridge is configured to receive toner from the developing roller and has an image carrier that carries a toner image; 39. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 21 to 38. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1B: image forming apparatus / 2: apparatus body / 2a: top surface / 6: discharge section / 20,200: second cover / 21,210: first cover / 21a: first part / 21b: second part / 22,220: second opening (opening) / 22a: hole / 23: first opening (opening) / 42: first cartridge (drum cartridge) / 43: second cartridge (toner cartridge) / 420: image carrier (photosensitive drum) / 422: developing roller / 423: first gripping part / 427: shaft (developing shaft part) / 428: roller part (developing roller part) / 430: second gripping part / 431: storage part / AD: third direction, fourth direction / AR1, AR11: first area / AR2, AR12: second area / D1: first direction (mounting direction) / D2: second direction (removal direction) / DD: ejection direction / L1, L2: length / S: sheet / VD: vertical direction

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, A device body, a first cartridge including a photosensitive drum rotatable around a rotation axis, a developing roller supplying toner to the photosensitive drum, a toner containing section containing toner to be carried by the developing roller, and an attachment section, the first cartridge being detachable from the device main body in a first direction intersecting the direction of the rotation axis; a second cartridge that is disposed inside the apparatus main body and is detachable from the mounting portion of the first cartridge in the first direction and that contains toner to be replenished to the toner containing portion; a first cover having a first supported portion supported by the device main body, the first cover being configured to be rotatable about the first supported portion between a first closed position in which the first cover is closed with respect to the device main body so as to cover a part of the first cartridge when viewed in the first direction, and a first open position in which the first cover is open with respect to the device main body; a second cover having a second supported portion supported by the first cover, and configured to be rotatable about the second supported portion between a second closed position in which the first cover is closed with respect to the device main body so as to cover the second cartridge when viewed in the first direction and a second open position in which the first cover is open with respect to the device main body, when the first cover is in the first closed position; With the first cover in the first closed position and the second cover in the second open position, the second cartridge is configured to be detached from the mounting portion and removed to the outside of the device main body, and the removal of the first cartridge from the device main body is configured to be restricted, When the first cover is rotated around the first supported portion from the first closed position to the first open position, the second supported portion of the second cover moves together with the second cover relative to the device body, and the second cover moves to a third open position in which it is opened relative to the device body, The first cartridge is allowed to be removed from the main body of the apparatus when the first cover is in the first open position and the second cover is in the third open position. An image forming apparatus characterized by:

2. When the first cover is in the first closed position, the direction of rotation of the second cover from the second closed position to the second open position is the same as the direction of rotation of the first cover from the first closed position to the first open position.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

3. The first cover has a wall portion extending in the first direction when in the first closed position, the wall portion being configured to restrict access to the first cartridge.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

4. The second cartridge is provided with a locking member that is movable between a locking position that restricts the second cartridge from being separated from the first cartridge and an unlocking position that allows the second cartridge to be separated from the first cartridge; the locking member of the second cartridge is accessible when the first cover is in the first closed position and the second cover is in the second open position; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

5. The device body has a discharge roller that conveys the recording material onto which the toner image has been transferred from the photosensitive drum in a discharge direction so as to discharge the recording material to the outside of the image forming device, When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis in a state in which the first cover is in the first open position and the second cover is in the third open position, the first supported portion is located downstream of the second supported portion in the discharge direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

6. The first cover, when in the first closed position, constitutes a part of the outer surface of the image forming apparatus facing upward.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

7. The device main body has a transfer roller which forms a transfer nip portion together with the photosensitive drum, a fixing portion which fixes the toner image onto the recording material while transporting the recording material onto which the toner image has been transferred at the transfer nip portion, and a discharge roller which transports the recording material onto which the toner image has been fixed at the fixing portion in a discharge direction so as to discharge it outside the image forming device, a conveying direction of the recording material conveyed from the transfer nip portion to the fixing portion is opposite to the discharge direction; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

8. When the first cover is in the first open position and the second cover is in the third open position and the locking member is in the locked position, the first cartridge with the second cartridge attached to the attachment portion can be detached from the device main body.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.

Images