Patent ID: 7840156
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus whose apparatus main body detachably mounts a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process unit acting on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, so that an image is formed on a recording medium, said apparatus comprising: a cartridge support member, which is movable between an inner side position located inside of said apparatus main body and an outer side position located outside of said apparatus main body while supporting said process cartridge, and said cartridge support member has a first ventilation channel through which outside air passes, an inlet that introduces said outside air introduced into said first ventilation channel, and an outlet through which said outside air introduced into said first ventilation channel is discharged so as to impinge on said process cartridge; a fan provided on said apparatus main body, and which takes-in the outside air into said apparatus main body from the outside of said apparatus main body; a second ventilation channel formed in said apparatus main body to introduce therein the outside air which has been taken-in by the fan; a sealing member provided on a first opening edge of said inlet so as to prevent the leakage of air from a part where said second ventilation channel and said first ventilation channel are connected with each other; an apparatus opening portion formed in said apparatus main body, through which said cartridge support member passes so that said cartridge support member is allowed to move between the inner side position and the outer side position of said apparatus main body; an opening and closing member for opening and closing the apparatus opening portion; and a support member which supports said cartridge support member to be slidably movable thereon, and which is interlocking with an opening and closing operation of said opening and closing member, wherein said inlet is arranged at a position opposing an opening portion of said second ventilation channel at an apparatus main body internal side, in the state where said cartridge support member has caused the process cartridge to move to an image forming operation position, which is the inner side position, at which the process cartridge performs an image forming operation; the first opening edge is connected to a second opening edge of said opening portion of said second ventilation channel at said apparatus main body internal side, with the sealing member interposed therebetween, in a state where said cartridge support member has moved said process cartridge to said image forming operation portion; and said cartridge support member is so structured that, by said support member which is interlocking with the opening and closing operation of said opening and closing member, and by the closing operation of said opening and closing member, it is caused to move in a direction where said inlet and said opening portion of said second ventilation channel at said apparatus main body internal side are brought into contact with each other, and by the opening operation of the opening and closing member, said cartridge support member is caused to move in a direction of separating said inlet and said opening portion of said second ventilation channel at said apparatus main body internal side from each other, while keeping their positions in opposition to each other of said inlet and said opening portion of said second ventilation channel at said apparatus main body internal side.