Patent ID: 7046942
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus to which a plurality of process cartridges are detachably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of cartridge mounting portions to each of which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, at least one process means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a cartridge frame holding the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means and having an opening portion through which a portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is exposed, a shutter member movable between a protection position in which the shutter member protects an exposed portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum exposed through the opening portion by the shutter member shielding the opening portion, and a retraction position in which the shutter member is retracted from the opening portion to expose the exposed portion of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum through the opening portion, and shutter opening and closing means for moving the shutter member between the protection position and the retraction position; an openable and closable door which is openable and closable with respect to a main body of said image forming apparatus, and which is opened to mount the process cartridge to and detach the process cartridge from said plurality of cartridge mounting portions; a cam member which is rotated in operative association with opening and closing operations of said openable and closable door; and a shutter interlocking member which is moved substantially vertically along said plurality of cartridge mounting portions in operative association with a rotating operation of said cam member, said shutter interlocking member moving the shutter member from the protection position to the retraction position by said shutter opening and closing means being operated by said shutter interlocking member moving substantially upwardly in operative association with the closing operation of said openable and closable door.