Patent ID: 9304487
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge support member configured to move between an outer position where a plurality of cartridges are detachably mountable to the cartridge support member, outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus and an inner position where the plurality of cartridges are supported by the cartridge support member for enabling image formation, inside the body of the image forming apparatus; a first opening of the main body of the image forming apparatus configured to allow the cartridge support member to pass through the first opening when the cartridge support member is moved between the inner position and the outer position; a second opening of the main body of the image forming apparatus provided vertically above the cartridge support member and configured so that at least one of the plurality of cartridges can pass through the second opening to attach or detach any of the plurality of cartridges from the cartridge support member; an opening/closing member movably mounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus and configured to take a closed position that covers the first opening and the second opening and an open position in which the first opening and the second opening are open, wherein the opening/closing member comprises a first opening/closing portion configured to be arranged to close the first opening when the opening/closing member is at the closed position and a second opening/closing portion configured to close the second opening when the opening/closing member is at the closed position, said second opening/closing portion being movable relative to the first opening/closing portion; and a lock member configured to lock the second opening/closing portion with respect to the first opening/closing portion, wherein, in a case where the opening/closing member is at the open position, the lock member locks the second opening/closing portion at a protruding position at which the second opening/closing portion protrudes into a movement path through which the cartridge support member moves from the inner position to the outer position, and wherein, during a process of moving from the inner position to the outer position, the cartridge support member releases the lock by the lock member to thereby permit the second opening/closing portion to be moved to a retracted position at which the second opening/closing portion is retracted from the movement path.