Electrophotographic image forming apparatus with light blocking member that functions to guide cartridge

摘要

An image forming apparatus in a state that a cartridge is mounted to a mounting portion of a main assembly of the apparatus, includes a first opening, provided in the main assembly, for permitting the cartridge to pass into the main assembly to mount the cartridge; an door provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position; a second opening, provided in the main assembly, for permitting the recording material to pass into the main assembly to supply the recording material; a light blocking member provided in the main assembly to suppress impingement of at least a part of external light having entered through the second opening onto an photosensitive drum, wherein the light blocking member functions to guide the cartridge toward the mounting portion through the first opening which is open by movement of the door to the open position.

主权项

1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material in a state that a cartridge is mounted to a mounting portion of a main assembly of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
an opening provided in said main assembly for permitting said cartridge to pass into said main assembly to mount said cartridge to said mounting portion; an openable member provided in said main assembly and movable between a closed position for closing said opening and an open position for opening said opening; an exposure device for emitting light to which an electrophotographic photosensitive member provided in said cartridge is exposed; and a guiding member provided in said main assembly to guide said cartridge, wherein said guiding member functions to guide said cartridge toward said mounting portion when said cartridge is mounted to said mounting portion through said opening that is open by movement of said openable member to the open position, wherein said guiding member includes (i) a descending surface that descends relative to a horizontal direction, and (ii) an ascending surface that ascends relative to the horizontal direction and which is disposed below said mounting portion, and wherein, when said cartridge is mounted to said mounting portion, said cartridge is moved down along said descending surface below said exposure device and then is moved up along said ascending surface in a portion downstream of said exposure device with respect to the mounting direction.