Ink cartridge exchanging apparatus used with an image forming device

Abstract

An ink cartridge exchanging apparatus used with an image forming device. The ink cartridge exchanging apparatus having an opening formed at a housing, and an ink cartridge ejecting unit containing at least one ink cartridge and movably disposed with respect to the carriage and the opening to be ejected outside the housing through the opening when exchanging or repairing the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge ejecting unit has a semi-carriage disposed in the carriage and movable between a mounting position and an ejecting position, the mounting position being a position where the semi-carriage is completely mounted in the carriage positioned in an ink cartridge exchanging position in the housing, and the ejecting position being a position where at least part of the semi-carriage is ejected outside of the housing through the opening from the carriage positioned in an ink cartridge exchanging position, to exchange or repair the ink cartridge, a movement guide to movably guide the semi-carriage smoothly with respect to the carriage, and a locking and/or releasing part locking the semi-carriage in the mounting position or releasing the semi-carriage from the mounting position. The ink cartridge exchanging apparatus can exchange the ink cartridge as well as minimize a working space required to exchange the ink cartridge, thereby reducing a size and a height of the image forming device.