JP2001042619A - Image forming unit and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming unit and image forming device where an image forming operation in a state where a toner cartridge is not loaded can be prevented, using a simple constitution. SOLUTION: In this device, a lever 73 that is operated at toner replenishing is locked in a 1st position interfering with a rib 15 formed inside a shell 9. When the toner replenishing is completed by having a toner cartridge loaded to a cartridge loading part 62 and the lever 73 is manipulated from the 1st position to a 2nd position, the shell 9 can be closed completely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming unit and an image forming apparatus to which a toner cartridge is detachably mounted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on, for example, a drum-shaped photosensitive member, and the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by a developing device. By the transfer, image formation is achieved.

In such an image forming apparatus, the photoconductor and the developing device may be configured as an image forming unit that is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. In general, the image forming unit is configured so that a certain amount of toner is filled in the developing device and the toner cannot be refilled. However, in order to reduce the size and cost of the image forming unit, it may be preferable to adopt a configuration in which the amount of the initially charged toner in the image forming unit is reduced and toner is supplied to the image forming unit as necessary. is there. Such an image forming unit includes a toner cartridge mounting portion in association with the developing device portion, and the toner cartridge is removably mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion. In this configuration, every time the toner in the image forming unit runs out, the toner can be supplied to the developing device by replacing the toner cartridge with a new one.

On the other hand, the image forming unit is sometimes provided with a cleaning device for removing residual toner on the surface of the photoreceptor. The cleaning device is a device that collects residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor and guides the toner to a toner collection tank. This toner collection tank may be integrated with the toner cartridge. In this case, the toner collection tank is replaced when the toner cartridge is replaced.

[0005] The image forming apparatus main body is provided with a detection switch for detecting whether or not the image forming unit is mounted. If the detection switch detects the image forming unit, the image forming operation is permitted, and if the image forming unit is not detected, the image forming operation is prohibited.

[0006]

However, in this configuration, even when the toner cartridge is not mounted on the image forming unit, as long as the image forming unit is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is not used. Operation is possible. Therefore, after the empty toner cartridge is removed, there is a possibility that the image forming apparatus is operated in a state where a new toner cartridge is not mounted. In this case, the toner in the image forming unit is quickly consumed, and there is a possibility that an image cannot be formed in the middle of a series of printing operations. Will be
Not preferred.

When the toner cartridge and the toner collecting tank are integrated, the image forming operation is performed without the toner collecting tank. Will contaminate the interior of the

[0008] These problems will be solved by providing a detection switch for detecting that the toner cartridge is mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion, but other than the detection switch of the image forming unit. If a further detection switch or the like is added, an increase in cost cannot be avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming unit and an image forming apparatus which can prevent an image forming operation in a state where a toner cartridge is not mounted with a simple configuration.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which is configured to be detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus and to record an image on a recording sheet. An image forming unit, a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface, a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor surface into a toner image, and supplying toner to the developing unit And a first cartridge which is operated when replenishing toner to the developing unit from the toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting unit, and which interferes with the main body cover of the image forming apparatus main body. A lever operable between a position and a second position retracted from the body cover of the image forming apparatus, and a cartridge having no toner cartridge mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion. A lock mechanism for fixing the lever to the first position in a state in which the cartridge is not mounted, and permitting displacement of the lever when the toner cartridge is mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion. The image forming unit is a feature.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive member having an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member into a toner image, A toner cartridge mounting portion in which a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing device is mounted, a main body cover that is opened and closed to access the toner cartridge mounting portion, and a toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion. A lever which is operated when replenishing toner to the developing unit and which is operable between a first position interfering with the main body cover and a second position retracted from the main body cover; When no cartridge is installed and no cartridge is installed,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a lock mechanism that fixes the lever at the first position and allows displacement of the lever when a toner cartridge is mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion. is there.

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is not mounted, the lever operated at the time of toner replenishment by the operation of the lock mechanism is in the first position where it interferes with the main body cover. Locked to. Therefore, since the main body cover cannot be closed in a state in which the toner cartridge is not mounted, the user can easily know that the toner cartridge is not mounted. Image forming operation can be prevented. Moreover, there is no need to add a detection switch or the like for detecting the mounting of the toner cartridge, so that there is no significant cost increase.

When the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion, the lock mechanism releases the locked state of the lever. Therefore, the lever can be displaced to the second position, and the body cover can be closed by performing such a lever operation. In this case,
By operating the lever from the first position to the second position to supply the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing unit or the developing device, the main body cover can be closed only after the toner is supplied. Since the shutter can be closed, there is no possibility that the image forming operation is performed without supplying toner.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the image forming unit is not mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus,
Since the main body cover can be closed, the image forming apparatus operates with the image forming unit not mounted. To prevent this, a detection switch for detecting the image forming unit may be provided in the image forming apparatus. However, such a configuration is not necessarily added. This is because even if the image forming apparatus is operated in a state where the image forming unit is not mounted, it is impossible to form an image on a sheet, and the sheet in a blank state is discharged. Thereby, the user can easily notice the abnormality of the image forming apparatus, and can quickly know the fact that the image forming unit is not mounted. Therefore, the cost can be further reduced by omitting the detection switch of the image forming unit.

When the image forming unit is not properly mounted at a predetermined mounting position and is in an incomplete mounting state,
Interference between the part of the image forming unit and the main body cover occurs, and when the image forming unit is completely mounted at a predetermined mounting position, the interference is not generated. Is preferred. Thus, the user can know not only the mounting / non-mounting of the toner cartridge but also the mounting state of the image forming unit based on whether or not the main body cover can be closed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect.
The invention described in the above description is characterized by further comprising a closing detecting means for detecting a closed state of the main body cover.

According to this configuration, the main body cover can be closed only when the lever is at the second position, and this is detected by the close detecting means. Therefore, the means for detecting the closing of the main body cover is used for mounting the toner cartridge.
It can also be used for detection of non-mounting, and can notify the image forming apparatus main body that the toner cartridge is mounted. Thus, the mounting state of the toner cartridge can be detected with an inexpensive configuration.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus 1 is basically used as a facsimile,
It is a multifunctional device that can also be used as a printer or copier. The image forming apparatus 1 has a main body housing 2 and a document reading unit 3 provided on an upper part of the main body housing 2. An operation panel 4 is provided on the upper surface of the document reading section 3, and a display panel 4a is arranged on the operation panel 4 in addition to numeric keys and function keys. An original set table 5 projects from the front of the original reading section 3 (right front side in the figure). Documents placed on the document set table 5 are taken one by one in a so-called sheet-through format, and the contents are read and received by the document tray 7 at the rear.

The upper surface of the main body housing 2 located below the document set table 5 serves as a discharge table 8 for receiving copied sheets.

A paper cassette 10 that can be pulled out is fitted into the lower part of the front surface of the main body housing 2. A double-sided guide member 11 that can be pulled out and pulled out forward is provided on the paper cassette 10. .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the shell 9 (body cover) of the body housing 2 is opened. An image forming unit 13 is detachably mounted in the main body housing 2. A toner cartridge 40 is detachably mounted on the image forming unit 13.

A metal plate 14 is provided on the front side of the inner surface of the shell 9.
Is provided. Further, the side of the shell 9 (FIG. 2)
A rib 15 extending downward along the side surface of the shell 9 protrudes from the left front side (shown by).

On the upper surface 2a of the main body housing 2,
A groove 16 into which the metal plate 14 can enter with the shell 9 closed is formed. A safety switch 17 (close detection means) for detecting the closed state of the shell 9 is provided in the groove 16.
Is provided. When the shell 9 is closed, the shell 9
Metal plate 14 hits the safety switch 17 and turns on the safety switch 17.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 denotes a laser unit for outputting a laser beam for image formation.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the internal structure of the image forming apparatus 1. With reference to FIG. 3, movements of a document and a sheet in image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

An original is set on five original sets with the original surface facing down. Document set (not shown)
Are fed by a feed roller 21 in order from the bottom, are separated one by one by a separating roller 22 to prevent double feeding, and are sent to the reading sensor 24 at a predetermined speed by a guide roller pair 23. The reading sensor 24 is, for example, a CIS (Closed Image).
ging Sensor), and sequentially reads the image on the original surface one line at a time in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The document that has passed through the reading sensor 24 is discharged to the document tray 7 by a discharge roller pair 25. An actuator 27 of a micro switch 26 protrudes upstream of the reading sensor 24 in the document conveying path. When the leading edge of the document enters, the actuator 27 falls down, and when the document passes, the actuator 27 rises, and the leading edge and the trailing edge of the fed document can be detected.

As described above, the paper cassette 10 that can be pulled out from the front surface (right side in FIG. 2) is accommodated below the main body housing 2. Paper cassette 1
The sheets (not shown) put in 0 are taken out one by one by a feeding roller 31, sent by a pair of conveying rollers 32, and given to a pair of registration rollers 33 through a passage 44 and a reversing path 41. Then, the sheet whose transfer timing has been adjusted by the registration roller pair 33 is sent to the transfer roller 34.

The transfer roller 34 includes the image forming unit 1
The third photosensitive drum 35 is in contact. The image forming unit 13 has a main charger 3 for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 in addition to the photosensitive drum 35.
6. When the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 charged by the main charger 36 is exposed by the laser unit 18 to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing roller 37 for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, a toner Auxiliary roller 3 for feeding toner supplied from cartridge 40 to developing roller 37
8, a cleaning device 39 for collecting the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 is included. Further, a toner cartridge 40 for supplying toner to the developing roller 37 is detachably mounted on the image forming unit 13.

The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 is transferred to the sheet as the sheet passes between the photosensitive drum 35 and the transfer roller 34.

The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is transferred to the main transport path 51.
To the fixing device 52. The fixing device 52 includes:
A heat roller 53 and a pressure roller 54 are included, and when the sheet passes between these roller pairs 53 and 54,
The toner image transferred to the sheet is heated and pressed to be melted and fixed on the sheet. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by a pair of intermediate rollers 55 and sent to a discharge path 56.

The discharge path 56 is provided with 57 pairs of curl removing and switchback rollers near the upstream end thereof.
The roller pair 57 functions to correct the curl generated in the sheet sent to the discharge path 56, and switches back the sheet when forming an image on both sides of the sheet. Specifically, when the sheet passes through the fixing device 52,
The upper surface of the paper (the surface on which the image is transferred,
) Is mainly thermally contracted by the action of the heat roller 53, and the paper curls so as to be convexly curved downward.
Therefore, the roller pair 57 conveys the sheet while gently handling the sheet so as to be convexly curved in the direction opposite to the curl. Thereby, the curl of the sheet is corrected, and the almost straightened sheet passes through the discharge path 56 from the discharge roller pair 58 to the discharge table 8.
Discharged up.

When performing double-sided copying on a sheet, the curl removal and switchback roller pair 57
Paper is sent to the detection switch 5
9 is detected. Since the detection switch 59 is disposed near the upstream side of the roller pair, the detection switch 59 derives a detection output immediately before the rear end of the sheet sent to the roller pair 57 finishes passing through the roller pair 57. Based on the output of the detection switch 59,
The curl removing and switchback roller pair is reversed, and the pawl 60 is displaced to allow the paper to enter the double-sided path 61. Then, the sheet is sent to the duplex path 61.

The two-sided path 61 is formed below the main transport path 51, and is fed from an introduction path 43, a horizontal path 42 that guides a sheet almost horizontally to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, and is sent from the horizontal path 42. It has a reversing path 41 for reversing the paper by 180 °. The sheet inverted in the reversing path 41 is sent from the registration roller pair 33 to the transfer roller 34 as described above.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the image forming unit 13.

The image forming unit 13 has a toner cartridge mounting portion 62, and the toner cartridge 40 is detachably mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 62.

In this embodiment, the image forming unit 13 refers to a unit having the above-described components. The image forming unit 13 only needs to include at least the photosensitive drum 35 and the developing roller 37. 36
Other components may be provided on the main body housing 2 side of the image forming apparatus 1.

One of the features of this embodiment is that the mounting of the toner cartridge 40 to the toner cartridge mounting portion 62 is detected based on the closed state of the shell 9.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the toner cartridge 40 and the toner cartridge mounting section 62.

The toner cartridge mounting portion 62 includes a first receiving portion 69 and a second receiving portion 70 for receiving both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 40, and a connecting rod 71 for connecting the first receiving portion 69 and the second receiving portion 70. It has.

A rotatable member 72 having a lever 73 protruding from the peripheral surface 72a is rotatably mounted on the first receiving portion 69 (left front side shown in FIG. 5). Rotating member 72
Is a hollow member, and a small hole 74 (see FIG. 7) penetrating the thin casing is formed on one side surface (left front side shown in FIG. 5). Further, an engaging member 76 is fixed to the rotating member 72. The engagement member 76 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a part cut away.

The toner cartridge 40 has a substantially cylindrical toner cartridge main body 63, and is attached to the toner cartridge main body 63.
And a connecting member 68 that engages with the rotating member 72 when mounted on the rotating member 72. A cylinder 64 in which toner is sealed is rotatably provided in the toner cartridge main body 63.
The toner can be dropped downward from a plurality of openings 65 formed on the lower peripheral surface of the toner. A square annular projection 66 is provided on the side surface (left front side shown in FIG. 5) of the cylinder 64, and the projection 66 is connected to the connection member 68.

The connecting member 68 is substantially disc-shaped, and has a side surface 68a (on the left front side in FIG. 5) on which an engaging concave portion that engages with the engaging member 76 of the rotating member 72 when the toner cartridge 40 is mounted. 77 are formed. Further, a protrusion 78 (a lock release driving unit: a part of a lock mechanism) that protrudes toward the rotating member 72 protrudes from the side surface 68a.

The toner cartridge 40 is integrated with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped toner collection tank 83 for storing residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 collected by the cleaning device 39 of the image forming unit 13. . Therefore, the toner collection tank 83 is replaced when the toner cartridge 40 is replaced.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the first receiving portion 69 with a part cut away. The first receiving portion 69 is a hollow member made of resin, and has an engagement piece 80 formed on one surface thereof (the right rear side shown in FIG. 5) by being defined by a U-shaped through groove 79. I have. As described above, since the first receiving portion 69 is made of resin, the engagement piece 80 has elasticity. Near the distal end 80a of the engagement piece 80, a small projection 81 that engages with the small hole 74 (see FIG. 7) of the rotating member 72.
(A lock member: a part of a lock mechanism).

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the first receiving portion 69, the rotating member 72 and the connecting member 68.

Before the toner cartridge 40 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 62, as shown in FIG. 7A, the small projections 81 of the first receiving portion 69 are fitted into the small holes 74. The rotating member 72 does not rotate with respect to the first receiving portion 69. That is, when the toner cartridge 40 is not mounted, the rotating member 72 is fixed to the first receiving portion 69.

On the other hand, when the toner cartridge 40 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 62, the projection 78 of the connecting member 68 fits into the small hole 74 of the rotating member 72.
At this time, the projections 78 push the small projections 81 to retreat outside the small holes 74, disengage the small projections 81 from the rotating member 72, and make the rotating member 72 rotatable.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the locked state in which small projection 81 is engaged with small hole 74, lever 73 is in the position shown in FIG.
It is locked in the first position shown in FIG. When the toner cartridge 40 is mounted and unlocked, and the lever 73 is displaced from the first position to the second position (see FIG. 8B), the connecting member 68 of the toner cartridge 40 and the rotating member 72 are displaced. The cylinder 64 rotates, and the toner is dropped into the image forming unit 13 from the opening 65,
The toner is supplied into the image forming unit 13.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views of the essential parts showing a state in which the shell 9 is closed.

Referring to FIG. 9, toner cartridge 40
Is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting section 62, and when the toner is supplied into the image forming unit 13, that is, when the closing operation of the shell 9 is performed with the lever 73 in the second position, the shell 9 is completely Closed. In this state, the tip of the metal plate 14 reaches the safety switch 17, and the safety switch 17 is turned on.

On the other hand, when the toner cartridge 40 is not mounted and the shell 9 is closed, as shown in FIG.
The shell 9 does not close completely due to the interference with the shell 5. That is, when the lever 73 is at the first position, the tip of the metal plate 14 does not reach the safety switch 17.

Further, referring to FIG.
Even if the image forming unit 13 is in the second position, if the image forming unit 13 is not properly mounted at a predetermined mounting position in the main body housing 2 and is in an incompletely mounted state, the image forming unit 1
The shell 9 does not completely close due to the interference between a part of the shell 3 and the rib 15 formed on the inner surface of the shell 9. That is, when the image forming unit 13 is in the incompletely mounted state, the tip of the metal plate 14 does not reach the safety switch 17.

That is, only when the lever 73 is in the second state and the image forming unit 13 is completely mounted in the main body housing 2, the image forming unit 13 is formed on the inner surfaces of the shell 9 and the shell 9. The rib 15 and the shell 9 are completely closed and the safety switch 17 is turned on.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.

The image forming operation is performed by the microcomputer 9
1 is performed under the control of. The microcomputer 91 includes a ROM 92 storing a control program, and a RAM 93 used as a work area when the microcomputer 91 executes the control program.

The microcomputer 91 is connected to the safety switch 17, and a signal from the safety switch 17 is input to the microcomputer 91.

Further, the CPU 91 performs the following based on the input signal.
Further, based on the control program stored in the ROM 92, it controls display on the display panel 4a and the like.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a process of detecting the mounting of the toner cartridge 40 on the toner cartridge mounting portion 62.

When the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned on,
It is checked whether the safety switch 17 is turned on,
When the safety switch 17 is off (NO in step S1), a display indicating that the shell 9 is not closed is displayed on the display panel 4a (step S2), and the control ends. On the other hand, when the safety switch 17 is on, control such as an image forming operation is performed.

The reason why the shell 9 cannot be completely closed is that the lever 73 at the first position interferes with the rib 15 during the closing operation of the shell 9 or a part of the image forming unit 13 in an incompletely mounted state. May interfere with the ribs 15. As described above, the mounting of the toner cartridge 40 to the toner cartridge mounting portion 62 is detected by the safety switch 17 for detecting the closed state of the shell 9.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the toner cartridge 40 is
The shell 9 cannot be closed when the shell 9 is not mounted on the shell 9. Therefore, the user needs the toner cartridge 4
It is possible to easily know that 0 is not mounted. When the toner cartridge 40 is mounted and the lever 73 is operated from the first position to the second position to complete the toner supply, the shell 9 can be closed. Shell 9
Is detected by the ON state of the safety switch 17. In the configuration of this embodiment, the safety switch 17 determines not only the closed state of the shell 9 but also the mounted state of the toner cartridge 40. 91 will be notified. Therefore, without adding a special detection switch and the like, the toner cartridge 4
The microcomputer 91 can be notified 91 of the attachment / non-attachment of 0.

If the safety switch 17 is not turned on, the microcomputer 91 does not perform the image forming operation, so that the image forming operation is not performed when the toner cartridge 40 is not mounted. Further, since the toner forming tank 83 integrated with the toner cartridge 40 is prohibited from performing an image forming operation in a state where the toner collecting tank 83 is not mounted, the toner discharged from the cleaning device 39 is removed from the main body housing 2 of the image forming device 1. There is no pollution inside.

The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment is not provided with a detection switch for detecting the attachment of the image forming unit 13 to the main housing 2. When the image forming unit 13 is not mounted, the shell 9 can be closed, so that an image forming operation can be performed. However, when the image forming unit 13 is not mounted, the image cannot be formed, and the blank sheet is discharged, so that the user can immediately notice the abnormality and perform the image forming. It can be easily recognized that the unit 13 is not mounted. Therefore, the detection switch for detecting the mounting of the image forming unit 13 is not an essential component, and the cost can be reduced by omitting the detection switch.

Further, in this embodiment, as described above, a part of the image forming unit 13 in an incompletely mounted state interferes with the rib 15 formed on the inner surface of the shell 9. Therefore, if the image forming unit 13 is in an incompletely mounted state, the shell 9 cannot be closed,
The safety switch 17 cannot be turned on. Therefore, the safety switch 17 is connected to the image forming unit 13.
It can be said that it also has a function of detecting whether or not is properly mounted.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in other forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the image forming unit 13 that is detachable from the main body housing 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 is used has been described. However, the photoconductor and the developing device are fixedly provided in the image forming apparatus main body. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which a toner cartridge mounting portion is provided in the image forming apparatus main body.

In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where a shell of a main body housing is opened.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the internal structure of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the image forming unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a toner cartridge and a toner cartridge mounting unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the first receiving portion with a part cut away.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of a receiving part, a rotating member, and a connecting member.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating displacement of a lever.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part showing a state in which a shell is closed when the lever is at a second position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part showing a state where the shell is closed when the lever is at the first position.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part showing an incompletely mounted state in which the image forming unit is not correctly mounted at a predetermined mounting position in the main body housing.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a process of detecting attachment of a toner cartridge to a toner cartridge attachment portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming apparatus 9 shell (body cover) 13 image forming unit 17 safety switch (close detection means) 35 photosensitive drum 37 developing roller (developing unit) 38 auxiliary roller 40 toner cartridge 62 toner cartridge mounting unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP10 AQ06 BB10 BB12 BB15 BB17 CD09 CD15 CF05 2H071 AA02 AA17 BA05 BA13 BA14 BA17 BA23 BA24 DA08 DA15 2H077 AA02 AA05 BA08 BA09 CA19 DA24 GA04

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming unit configured to be detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus and for recording an image on recording paper, comprising: a photosensitive member having an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof; A developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image on the body surface into a toner image, a toner cartridge mounting unit for mounting a toner cartridge for replenishing toner to the developing unit, and a toner mounted on the toner cartridge mounting unit Operated when replenishing toner from the cartridge to the developing unit, operable between a first position interfering with the main body cover of the image forming apparatus main body and a second position retracted from the main body cover of the image forming apparatus. A lever and a toner cartridge mounting part in which no toner cartridge is mounted in the toner cartridge mounting part. Tsu in cartridge mounting state where the toner cartridge di mounting portion is mounted, an image forming unit, which comprises a locking mechanism which permits the displacement of the lever. 2. A photoreceptor having an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface thereof, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor into a toner image, and replenishing toner to the developing device. A toner cartridge mounting portion in which the toner cartridge is mounted, a main body cover which is opened and closed to access the toner cartridge mounting portion, and a case where toner is supplied to the developing portion from the toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion. And a lever operable between a first position interfering with the main body cover and a second position retracted from the main body cover, and a cartridge having no toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion. In the mounted state, the lever is fixed to the first position, and the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion. That the process cartridge B, an image forming apparatus which comprises a locking mechanism which permits the displacement of the lever. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a closing detecting means for detecting a closed state of said main body cover.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above.