US 12,449,760 B2
Image forming apparatus having a process unit with a lock mechanism
Tatsuro Arata, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Jun. 5, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/734,504.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-095450 (JP), filed on Jun. 9, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0411268 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 21/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/185 (2013.01) 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising
a main body frame; and
a process unit that executes a development process of developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image,
wherein
the process unit includes
a unit frame that is mounted so as to be attachable and detachable with respect to the main body frame, and that is detachable by being pulled out from the main body frame toward one side in a first direction,
a plurality of development cartridges that are mounted so as to be mutually independently attachable and detachable with respect to the unit frame, and that each contain toner for the development process, and
a lock mechanism that restrains detachment of the unit frame from the main body frame,
the lock mechanism has a lock member that, by being held at a first position at which the lock member is engageable with the main body frame, restrains movement of the unit frame toward the one side in the first direction, and
a link member reciprocatable in the first direction with respect to the unit frame, and
the lock member is a member that is caused to shift a position thereof by the link member moving in the first direction, and is caused, by all the development cartridges being detached from the unit frame, to shift from the first position to a second position at which the lock member does not engage with the main body frame.