US 12,153,359 B2
Image forming apparatus
Tomohiro Suzuki, Kanagawa (JP); Takeo Kawanami, Kanagawa (JP); Akinori Mitsumata, Tokyo (JP); and Tomoya Tateishi, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/492,521.
Application 18/492,521 is a continuation of application No. 17/530,319, filed on Nov. 18, 2021, granted, now 11,815,832.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-197063 (JP), filed on Nov. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0053692 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0894 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0874 (2013.01); G03G 15/0879 (2013.01); G03G 15/0886 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus configured to perform an image forming operation on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a drum unit including a photosensitive drum;
a development unit configured to be movable relative to the drum unit, the development unit including a development roller;
a housing containing the drum unit and the development unit, the housing including an opening/closing member, the opening/closing member being movable between a closed position and an opened position;
a support member configured to be movable between a support position, at which the support member supports the development unit, and a retracted position, at which the support member is retracted from the support position, in conjunction with the movement of the opening/closing member; and
an output unit configured to output a signal corresponding to a position of at least one of the support member and the opening/closing member,
wherein the support member is located at the support position when the opening/closing member is located at the opened position, and the support member is located at the retracted position when the opening/closing member is located at the closed position, and
wherein the development unit is located at a unit contact position, at which the development roller is in contact with the photosensitive drum, when the support member is located at the retracted position, and the development unit is located at a unit retracted position, at which the development unit is retracted from the unit contact position, when the support member is located at the support position.