US 11,726,417 B2
Component movement mechanism for an image forming apparatus
Yoh Nishimura, Nagoya (JP); and Shougo Sato, Seto (JP)
Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/531,845.
Application 17/531,845 is a continuation of application No. 16/686,530, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,209,745.
Application 16/686,530 is a continuation of application No. 15/969,006, filed on May 2, 2018, granted, now 10,496,007, issued on Dec. 3, 2019.
Application 15/969,006 is a continuation of application No. 15/390,817, filed on Dec. 27, 2016, granted, now 9,977,366, issued on May 22, 2018.
Application 15/390,817 is a continuation of application No. 15/098,370, filed on Apr. 14, 2016, granted, now 9,563,171, issued on Feb. 7, 2017.
Application 15/098,370 is a continuation of application No. 14/275,138, filed on May 12, 2014, granted, now 9,341,982, issued on May 17, 2016.
Application 14/275,138 is a continuation of application No. 13/625,359, filed on Sep. 24, 2012, granted, now 8,761,636, issued on Jun. 24, 2014.
Application 13/625,359 is a continuation of application No. 12/507,278, filed on Jul. 22, 2009, granted, now 8,311,451, issued on Nov. 13, 2012.
Claims priority of application No. 2008-188513 (JP), filed on Jul. 22, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2022/0082959 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0813 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0822 (2013.01); G03G 15/0865 (2013.01); G03G 21/1676 (2013.01); G03G 21/1821 (2013.01); G03G 21/1832 (2013.01); G03G 21/1839 (2013.01); G03G 21/1842 (2013.01); G03G 2221/169 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1684 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body case including a front cover movable between an open position and a closed position;
a feeder cassette disposed at a bottom portion of the main body case;
an intermediate transfer belt disposed at an upper portion of the main body case;
a photosensitive unit disposed between the feeder cassette and the intermediate transfer belt, the photosensitive unit including:
a photosensitive drum; and
a photosensitive support frame configured to support the photosensitive drum;
and
a developing unit including:
a developing roller; and
a developing support frame supporting the developing roller,
an operation member movable between a first position in which the developing unit is locked relative to the main body case and a second position in which the developing unit is unlocked relative to the main body case,
wherein the operation member is movable in conjunction with a movement of the front cover from the open position to the closed position,
wherein when the operation member is at the second position, the front cover urges the operation member toward the first position while the front cover is moving from the open position to the closed position, and
wherein when the operation member is at the first position, the front cover leaves the operation member at the first position while the front cover is moving between the open position and the closed position.