US 12,235,605 B2
Image forming apparatus including developing device supporting structure having guide groove
Shougo Sato, Seto (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/309,075.
Application 18/309,075 is a continuation of application No. 17/574,927, filed on Jan. 13, 2022, granted, now 11,640,135.
Application 17/574,927 is a continuation of application No. 17/238,337, filed on Apr. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,237,515, issued on Feb. 1, 2022.
Application 17/238,337 is a continuation of application No. 16/876,241, filed on May 18, 2020, granted, now 10,996,618, issued on May 4, 2021.
Application 16/876,241 is a continuation of application No. 16/401,773, filed on May 2, 2019, granted, now 10,671,014, issued on Jun. 2, 2020.
Application 16/401,773 is a continuation of application No. 15/897,937, filed on Feb. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,281,870, issued on May 7, 2019.
Application 15/897,937 is a continuation of application No. 15/397,474, filed on Jan. 3, 2017, granted, now 9,897,969, issued on Feb. 20, 2018.
Application 15/397,474 is a continuation of application No. 15/068,181, filed on Mar. 11, 2016, granted, now 9,541,893, issued on Jan. 10, 2017.
Application 15/068,181 is a continuation of application No. 14/610,800, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, granted, now 9,285,759, issued on Mar. 15, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 2014-017519 (JP), filed on Jan. 31, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0266708 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1647 (2013.01) [G03G 21/1623 (2013.01); G03G 21/1633 (2013.01); G03G 21/1661 (2013.01); G03G 21/1676 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0132 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1684 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a main casing having an opening;
an opening-closing member configured to move between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening;
a plurality of developing devices detachably attached to the main casing through the opening, each of the plurality of developing devices including a developing roller;
a developing device supporting structure configured to support the plurality of developing devices and configured to move through the opening between an inner position inside the main casing and an outer position outside the main casing such that the plurality of developing devices is attachable to and detachable from the developing device supporting structure in the outer position, wherein the developing device supporting structure includes left and right side walls, each of the side walls having a guide groove, the guide groove extending from an upper end of each of the side walls in a direction away from the opening;
a drum frame detachably attached to the main casing through the opening and including a plurality of photosensitive drums; and
a belt unit disposed in the main casing and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the belt unit at the second position being farther from the plurality of developing devices than the belt unit at the first position,
wherein the belt unit moves from the first position to the second position in response to the movement of the opening-closing member from the closed position to the open position.