US 12,111,601 B2
Image forming apparatus having an opening/closing member that is prevented from closing when a replenishment container is attached to a process unit
Koji Wada, Kanagawa (JP); Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Tokyo (JP); Hiroshi Takarada, Kanagawa (JP); Kenji Matsuzaka, Kanagawa (JP); Takao Sameshima, Kanagawa (JP); Tomio Noguchi, Shizuoka (JP); Yuichiro Inaba, Kanagawa (JP); Kenichi Iida, Tokyo (JP); and Masaaki Sato, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/092,996.
Application 18/092,996 is a continuation of application No. 17/472,964, filed on Sep. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,573,521.
Application 17/472,964 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/011083, filed on Mar. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-049217 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2019; and application No. 2020-042020 (JP), filed on Mar. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0134527 A1, May 4, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/1619 (2013.01) 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus to and from which a replenishment container accommodating developer is attachable and detachable, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an opening/closing member; and
a process unit including:
an image bearing member configured to rotate while bearing a developer image;
a developer bearing member configured to bear developer and supply the developer to the image bearing member; and
a developer container configured to rotatably support the developer bearing member and including an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the developer to be borne on the developer bearing member,
wherein the process unit includes a projection portion provided at one end portion thereof in a rotation axis direction of the image bearing member, the projection portion projecting upward more than a center portion of the process unit in the rotation axis direction,
wherein the projection portion includes an attachment portion to and from which the replenishment container is attachable and detachable, the attachment portion being provided with a replenishment port through which the accommodating portion is replenished with the developer from the replenishment container,
wherein the opening/closing member is movable between a closed position where the opening/closing member is closed to cover the attachment portion and an open position where the opening/closing member is opened to expose the attachment portion and where an attachment of the replenishment container to the attachment portion is allowed, the opening/closing member being prevented from being moved from the open position to the closed position by the replenishment container in a state that the replenishment container from which the accommodating portion has been replenished with the developer is attached to the developer container.