Image forming apparatus capable of effectively utilizing interior space

摘要

An image forming apparatus includes an exposure device as a light source, a developer container storing developer and attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the photoconductor, a developing unit and a photoconductor unit having a photoconductor for bearing a latent image thereon each detachably attached to the main body substantially in the same direction as the developer container. An exposure device displacing mechanism displaces the exposure device between a first position enabling the exposure device to function as the light source and a second position disabling the exposure device to function as the light source. The photoconductor unit is detached when the developer container is either displaced from an initially attached position or is removed from the main body and the exposure device displacing device has displaced the exposure device to the second position.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
at least one exposure device serving as a light source to form a latent image on a photoconductor; at least one developer container to store developer, said at least one developer container being detachably attachable to a main body of the image forming apparatus in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the photoconductor; at least one photoconductor unit having at least a photoconductor to bear a latent image thereon, said photoconductor unit detachably attachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus substantially in the same direction as the developer container; at least one developing unit to receive developer from the at least one developer container and develop the latent image born on the photoconductor, said at least one developing unit being detachably attachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus substantially in the same direction as the developer container; and an exposure device displacing mechanism to displace the at least one exposure device between a first position enabling the exposure device to function as the light source and a second position disabling the exposure device from functioning as the light source, wherein said at least one photoconductor unit is detached only when the at least one developer container is either displaced from an initial attachment position or is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus and the at least one exposure device is displaced by the exposure device displacing mechanism from the first to the second positions.