Patent ID: 7890019
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body to which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to form an image on a recording medium, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge supporting member, which moves between an inside position that is positioned inside the apparatus main body and a mounting and detaching position at which the plurality of cartridges are mountable and detachable, while supporting the plurality of cartridges; an engaging portion, which is provided to one of the cartridge supporting member and the apparatus main body, and to a position corresponding to the mounting and detaching position of at least one cartridge among the plurality of cartridges supported by the cartridge supporting member; and a pressure member, which is provided to the other of the cartridge supporting member and the apparatus main body, and is elastically urged to disengageably engage with the engaging portion, wherein, when the cartridge supporting member is moved from the inside position to the mounting and detaching position, the pressure member is engaged with the engaging portion so that a load required for movement of the cartridge supporting member at the mounting and detaching position is larger than a load required for the movement of the cartridge supporting member at positions other than the mounting and detaching position, and wherein, when a cartridge containing a black developer, among the plurality of cartridges, reaches the mounting and detaching position, an engagement force between the pressure member and the engaging portion is larger than an engagement force between the pressure member and the engaging portion when at least one of the other cartridges reaches the mounting and detaching position.