CN108873656B - Image forming apparatus and storage device - Google Patents
Image forming apparatus and storage device Download PDFInfo
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- CN108873656B CN108873656B CN201810424573.5A CN201810424573A CN108873656B CN 108873656 B CN108873656 B CN 108873656B CN 201810424573 A CN201810424573 A CN 201810424573A CN 108873656 B CN108873656 B CN 108873656B
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- image forming
- forming apparatus
- main body
- apparatus main
- front side
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
- G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
- G03G21/181—Manufacturing or assembling, recycling, reuse, transportation, packaging or storage
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
- G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
- G03G21/1857—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms
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- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
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- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
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- Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a storage apparatus, wherein even if a biasing member for biasing a detachable unit toward a front side in a mounting direction is provided, the detachable unit in an apparatus main body is pressed by a pressing member without being largely inclined with respect to a normal posture. A compression spring (55) for biasing the process cartridge (10) toward the front side in the mounting direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body (100) and an operation lever (50) for pressing the front plate (25) of the process cartridge (10) against the biasing force of the compression spring (55) are provided. Then, when viewed from the mounting direction, a compression spring (55) is disposed between the main reference pin (81) and the main reference hole (25a) and the sub reference pin (82) and the sub reference hole (25b), and an operation lever (50) is disposed on a virtual line A connecting the main reference pin (81) and the main reference hole (25a) and the sub reference pin (82) and the sub reference hole (25 b).
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a detachable storage device in which an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction peripheral thereof, a printer, or the like, and a detachable unit are stored.
Background
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copier and a printer, there is known a technique of configuring a detachable unit such as a process cartridge, a toner tank, and a waste toner collecting container to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body (for example, see patent document 1).
Specifically, in patent document 1 and the like, when a process cartridge or other removable unit reaches a predetermined replacement cycle or undergoes maintenance, the removable unit is removed from the image forming apparatus main body and replaced with a new one (or undergoes maintenance). The attachment/detachment unit is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body by being moved in a predetermined attachment/detachment direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body by a manual operation of a user (or a service person).
On the other hand, patent document 1 also discloses a technique in which a lock lever (pressing member) for preventing a photosensitive body unit (detachable unit) attached to an image forming apparatus main body from coming off from the image forming apparatus main body is provided on the front side in the attaching direction. When the photosensitive body unit is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, the locking lever is released by a manual operation, and the photosensitive body unit is pulled out toward the front side in the mounting direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.
Further, patent document 1 discloses a technique in which a pressing portion for pressing the photosensitive body unit inward in the mounting direction is provided while the lock lever is rotated from the retracted position (lock release position) to the lock position when the photosensitive body unit is mounted.
In the conventional image forming apparatus, when an urging member such as a compression spring for urging the detachable unit toward the front side in the mounting direction is provided, even if a pressing member (lock lever) for preventing the detachable unit from coming off the image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body) is provided, the detachable unit may be pressed by the pressing member in a state of being largely inclined in the image forming apparatus main body. In such an image forming apparatus main body, if the detachable unit is held in a state of being inclined largely with respect to the normal posture, a problem occurs in that normal drive transmission from the image forming apparatus main body side to the detachable unit side is not possible.
[ patent document 1 ] Japanese patent No. 4952748
Disclosure of Invention
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and a storage apparatus in which even when a biasing member is provided for biasing a detachable unit toward the front side in a mounting direction, the detachable unit in an apparatus main body is pressed by a pressing member without being greatly inclined with respect to a normal posture.
An aspect of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a detachable unit is detachably provided to an image forming apparatus main body while being moved in a predetermined detachable direction, the image forming apparatus including: a biasing member provided in the image forming apparatus main body so as to face a rear side in a mounting direction of the detachable unit, and the attachment/detachment unit is urged toward the front side in the attachment direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and a main reference pin and a sub reference pin, which are respectively fitted with a main reference hole and a sub reference hole formed on a front side plate of the image forming apparatus main body on the near side of the mounting direction of the detachable unit, and a pressing member, the front side plate of the attaching/detaching unit is pressed against the urging force of the urging member in the image forming apparatus main body, the urging member is disposed between the main reference pin and the main reference hole and between the sub reference pin and the sub reference hole, the pressing member is disposed on an imaginary line connecting the main reference pin and the main reference hole and the sub reference pin and the sub reference hole.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a storage apparatus in which even when a biasing member that biases a detachable unit toward the front side in the mounting direction is provided, the detachable unit in the apparatus main body is pressed by the pressing member without being greatly inclined with respect to the normal posture.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a view showing the entire configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus with the opening/closing cover opened.
Fig. 3(a) and (B) are schematic views showing operations when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body.
Fig. 4(a) shows a state where the operating lever is in the lock position as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, and (B) shows a state where the operating lever is in the unlock position as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.
Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the operation lever.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, embodiments used in the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
First, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to fig. 1.
In fig. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a printer as an image forming apparatus, 1 denotes a photosensitive drum on the surface of which a toner image is formed, and 7 denotes an exposure portion (writing portion) which irradiates an exposure light beam onto the photosensitive drum 1 based on image information input from an input device such as a personal computer.
Further, reference numeral 9 denotes a transfer roller for transferring the toner image placed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 to the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip portion (transfer portion), 10 denotes a process cartridge (attachment/detachment means) in which the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 4, the developing device 5, and the cleaning device 2 are integrated, and 12 denotes a paper feeding device (paper feeding cartridge) in which the sheet P such as paper is accommodated.
Further, 16 is a registration roller (timing roller) that conveys the sheet P toward a transfer nip portion where the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 abut, 20 is a fixing device that fixes an unfixed image on the sheet P, 21 is a fixing roller provided in the fixing device 20, and 22 is a pressure roller provided in the fixing device 20.
Further, 30 denotes a toner container in which new toner is stored, and 40 denotes a waste toner collecting container in which waste toner is collected.
Here, around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 2, and the like are arranged. Then, these members (the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 4, the developing device 5, the cleaning device 2) are integrated as a process cartridge 10 (detachable unit), and are provided to be detachable (replaceable) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100. When a predetermined replacement cycle is reached or maintenance is performed, the process cartridge 10 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body (apparatus main body) and replaced with a new one (or subjected to maintenance). Thus, the process cartridge 10 also functions as a detachable unit.
Further, the toner container 30 is provided above the process cartridge 10 (developing unit 5) so as to be detachable (replaceable) from the image forming apparatus main body 100. A toner (one-component developer) is accommodated in the toner container 30. Then, the toner is replenished from the toner container 30 to the inside of the developing device 5 through the toner carrying path. When the toner contained in the toner container 30 is empty (or when the toner contained in the developing device 5 is empty), the toner container is replaced with a new one. Therefore, the toner container 30 also functions as a detachable unit, as in the process cartridge 10.
Further, below the process cartridge 10 (cleaning device 2), the waste toner collecting container 40 is provided to be detachable (replaceable) from the image forming apparatus main body 100. Inside the waste toner collecting container 40, the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning device 2 is conveyed through the waste toner conveying path and is collected as waste toner. When the waste toner collecting container 40 is full of the waste toner stored therein, it is replaced with a new one (or maintained). In this way, the waste toner collecting container 40 also functions as a detachable unit.
An operation of the image forming apparatus 100 during normal image formation will be described with reference to fig. 1.
First, when image information is transmitted from an input device such as a personal computer to the exposure unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, an exposure light beam (laser light) based on the image information is emitted from the exposure unit 7 toward the surface of the photosensitive drum 1.
On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 1 is driven by a drive motor provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100 and rotates in the arrow direction (clockwise direction). Then, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged at a position opposed to the charging roller 4 (charging step). Thus, a charging potential (-900V or so) is formed on the photoreceptor drum 1. Then, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches the irradiation position of the exposure beam. Then, the potential of the portion irradiated with the exposure light becomes a latent image potential (of the order of 0 to-100V), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (exposure step).
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 5. Then, toner is supplied from the developing device 5 onto the photosensitive drum 1, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed to form a toner image (developing step).
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the development step reaches a transfer nip portion (transfer portion) with the transfer roller 9. Then, in the transfer nip with the transfer roller 9, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the sheet P conveyed by the registration roller 16 by the transfer bias (bias having a polarity different from the polarity of the toner) applied from the power supply portion to the transfer roller 9 (transfer step).
Then, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 after the transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2. Then, at this position, the untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 is mechanically removed by the cleaning blade and recovered into the cleaning device 2 (cleaning step).
Thus, the series of image forming processes performed on the photosensitive drum 1 is completed.
The untransferred toner collected in the cleaning apparatus 2 is discharged from the cleaning apparatus 2 by the conveyance screw, conveyed through the waste toner conveyance path, and collected as waste toner in the waste toner collection container 40.
On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip (transfer section) between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 operates as follows.
First, the top 1 sheet of the sheets P stored in the sheet feeding device 12 is fed toward the conveyance path by the sheet feeding roller 15.
Subsequently, the sheet P reaches the position of the registration roller 16. Next, the sheet P having reached the position of the registration roller 16 is conveyed toward the transfer nip (the contact position between the transfer roller 9 and the photosensitive drum 1) while being aligned with the image position formed on the photosensitive drum 1.
Next, the sheet P after the transfer step passes through the position of the transfer nip (transfer roller 9) and then reaches the fixing device 20 through the conveyance path. The sheet P having reached the fixing device 20 is fed between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22, and is fixed with heat from the fixing roller 21 and pressure from both the members 21 and 22. The sheet P with the image fixed thereon is fed out from between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 (fixing nip), and then discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and placed on a sheet discharge tray.
Thus, the series of image forming processes is ended.
Here, the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment is covered by a plurality of housing covers. As shown in fig. 2, a part of the front housing cover is configured as an openable/closable cover 90.
Specifically, the opening/closing cover 90 is rotatably held in the image forming apparatus main body 100 about a support shaft (a rotation center axis). Then, the opening/closing cover 90 is turned to the open state (the state of fig. 2 and 3) by turning in the direction of the arrow of fig. 2 around the support shaft, or turned to the closed state by turning in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow of fig. 2 around the support shaft.
In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, when the opening/closing cover 90 is in the open state, the process cartridge 10 (detachable unit), the toner container 30, or the waste toner collecting container 40 is exposed detachably to the image forming apparatus main body 100. Then, 1 or 2 or more of the process cartridge 10, the toner container 30, and the waste toner collecting container 40 are replaced with new products or the like in a state where the opening/closing cover 90 is opened. The mounting and dismounting directions of the process cartridge 10, the toner container 30, or the waste toner collecting container 40 are the directions of the two arrows of the broken line in fig. 2 (the directions corresponding to the vertical direction of the paper surface in fig. 1).
In a state where the opening/closing cover 90 is closed, first, the image forming process (printing operation) described with reference to fig. 1 is performed.
Referring to fig. 2, when the process cartridge 10 as the detachable unit is taken out (or attached) from the image forming apparatus main body 100, the operation lever 50 (pressing member) is manually operated. The structure of attaching and detaching the process cartridge 10 (attaching and detaching means) using the operating lever 50 and the operation of attaching and detaching the process cartridge 10 will be described in detail later.
As described above, the detachable unit such as the process cartridge 10 (or the toner container 30 and the waste toner collecting container 40) of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment moves in a predetermined detachable direction (a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow with a broken line in fig. 2), and functions as a storage device detachably stored in the apparatus main body.
Next, the configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 100 (storage apparatus) characteristic to the present embodiment will be described in detail.
As described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, in the present embodiment, the process cartridge 10 as the detachable unit is detachably provided to the image forming apparatus main body 100.
As shown in fig. 3, the image forming apparatus main body 100 according to the present embodiment includes a drive motor 60 (drive source), a drive coupling 65, a compression spring 55 as an urging member, a main body side drawer type joint 70, an operation lever 50 as a pressing member, a main body side plate 80, and the like.
On the other hand, in the process cartridge 10 as the detachable unit, a driven coupling 26, a unit-side drawer type connector 27, a front side plate 25, and the like are provided in addition to the photosensitive drum 1 and the image forming member such as the charging unit 4.
Fig. 3 is a view different from the actual vertical positional relationship in order to facilitate understanding of the positional relationship in the attaching and detaching direction (the horizontal direction in fig. 3) of the various members.
Referring to fig. 3, the compression spring 55 as the urging member is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100 so as to face the back side (the left end face in fig. 3) in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 10, and urges the process cartridge 10 toward the front side (the right side in fig. 3) in the mounting direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100.
Specifically, the image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided with a driving coupling 65 which is fitted to the driven coupling 26 of the photosensitive drum 1 of the process cartridge 10 to rotationally drive the photosensitive drum 1. Then, the compression spring 55 (urging member) urges in a direction to fit the drive coupling 65 and the driven coupling 26.
More specifically, the drive motor 60 is fixedly provided on the back side (left side in fig. 3) of the space in which the process cartridge 10 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100. A drive coupling 65 that is slidable in the axial direction is provided on the distal end side of the motor shaft of the drive motor 60. Further, a compression spring 55 (urging member) is wound around a motor shaft of the drive motor 60 (between the drive motor 60 and the drive coupling 65). Further, a retaining ring for preventing the drive coupling 65 from coming off is provided at the tip of the motor shaft of the drive motor 60.
On the other hand, a driven coupling 26 for transmitting the driving force of the driving motor 60 to the photosensitive drum 1 to rotationally drive is provided on the driving side end surface of the photosensitive drum 1 of the process cartridge 10. A recess for avoiding interference with the motor shaft of the drive motor 60 is formed in the driven coupling 26. Further, gears for driving the developing device 5, the charging roller 4, and the cleaning device 2 are provided on the non-driving side end surface of the photosensitive drum 1. When the driving force of the driving motor 60 is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 1 through the driving coupling 65 and the driven coupling 26, each image forming member of the process cartridge 10 is driven.
With such a configuration, as shown in fig. 3(a), in a state where the installation of the apparatus main body 100 by the process cartridge 10 is not completed and the driving coupling 65 is not yet fitted to the driven coupling 26, the driving coupling 65 is moved rightward to a position where it abuts against a stopper provided at the leading end of the motor shaft by the biasing force of the compression spring 55.
On the other hand, as shown in fig. 3(B), in a state where the installation of the process cartridge 10 to the apparatus main body 100 is completed, the driving coupling 65 is fitted into the driven coupling 26, and the driving force of the driving motor 60 can be transmitted to the process cartridge 10. At this time, the driving coupling 65 is pushed leftward by the process cartridge 10 (driven coupling 26) against the urging force of the compression spring 55. Therefore, the reaction force of the compression spring 55 at this time becomes a biasing force, and the process cartridge 10 is biased rightward.
The image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided with an operation lever 50 (pressing member) for restricting movement of the process cartridge 10 in the right direction so that the engagement between the driving coupling 65 and the driven coupling 26 (or the engagement between the main body-side drawer coupling 70 and the unit-side drawer coupling 27, which will be described later), is not released after the process cartridge 10 is urged in the right direction in fig. 3 by the urging force of the compression spring 55 (urging member) as described above, and this will be described later in detail.
Further, a main body side drawer type connector 70 is provided on the rear side (left side in fig. 3) of the space in which the process cartridge 10 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100. The body-side drawer type connector 70 is connected to a power supply portion via a wire harness.
On the other hand, on the drive side end surface of the process cartridge 10, a unit side drawer type joint 27 for applying a bias to the charging roller 4 and the developing roller of the developing device 5 is provided. Conduction paths from the respective bias terminals of the unit-side drawer type joint 27 toward the charging roller 44 and the developing roller are provided in the process cartridge 10.
When the process cartridge 10 shown in fig. 3(B) is set in the apparatus main body 100 after the main body side drawer type connector 70 and the unit side drawer type connector 27 shown in fig. 3(a) are not fitted to each other and the main body side drawer type connector 70 and the unit side drawer type connector 27 are fitted to each other, power can be supplied from the power supply unit of the apparatus main body 100 to the process cartridge 10 through the main body side drawer type connector 70 and the unit side drawer type connector 27.
In order to satisfactorily engage the main body side drawer type header 70 with the unit side drawer type header 27, a compression spring may be provided for biasing at least one of the connectors 27, 70 toward the other connector. In this case, the compression spring also functions as an urging member for urging the process cartridge 10 toward the front side in the mounting direction, similarly to the compression spring 55 for urging the drive coupling 65.
Here, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the main reference pin 81 and the sub reference pin 82 are provided upright on the right side of fig. 3 around the insertion port into which the process cartridge 10 is inserted in the main body side plate 80 (a part of the frame located on the right side of fig. 3) of the image forming apparatus main body 100. Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, the main reference pin 81 is provided above the right edge of the insertion slot of the process cartridge 10, and the sub reference pin 82 is provided below the left edge of the insertion slot of the process cartridge 10.
On the other hand, a main reference hole 25a and a sub-reference hole 25b are formed in the front plate 25 on the front side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge 10. Specifically, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, 2 projections are formed on the front side plate 25 of the process cartridge 10 to be in surface contact with the main body side plate 80 in a state where the process cartridge 10 is completely set in the apparatus main body 100, and the main reference hole 25a and the sub reference hole 25b are formed in the projections, respectively. The main reference hole 25a is a circular through hole formed in a position corresponding to the main reference pin 81 of the apparatus main body 100. The sub reference hole 25b is a long hole-shaped through hole (a long hole whose longitudinal direction is an extending direction of an imaginary line a connecting the centers of the 2 reference pins 81 and 82) formed in a position corresponding to the sub reference pin 82 of the apparatus main body 100.
Then, as shown in fig. 3(B), when the process cartridge 10 is mounted to the apparatus body 100 and the main reference pin 81 and the sub reference pin 82 of the apparatus body 100 are fitted into the main reference hole 25a and the sub reference hole 25B of the process cartridge 10, respectively, the position of the process cartridge 10 in the apparatus body 100 is determined.
Here, as shown in fig. 2 to 5, in the image forming apparatus main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, an operation lever 50 as a pressing member for pressing the front plate 25 of the process cartridge 10 (attachment/detachment unit) is provided against the urging force of the compression spring 55 (urging member).
The operation lever 50 (pressing member) is held in the image forming apparatus main body 100 so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis 50a between a lock position shown in fig. 3(B) and 4(a) where the front plate 25 (process cartridge 10) is pressed and a lock release position shown in fig. 3(a) and 4(B) where the front plate 25 (process cartridge 10) is released from the pressing and the process cartridge 10 is movable in the attaching and detaching direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100.
Then, in a state where the opening/closing cover 90 is opened, the user (or the service person) rotates the operation lever 50 about the rotation shaft 50a while holding the grip portion 50c of the operation lever 50 (the portion of the operation lever 50 that protrudes toward the front side in the operation direction, see fig. 3), and then performs the operation of attaching and detaching the process cartridge 10.
Specifically, when the process cartridge 10 is not set in the apparatus main body 100, the operation lever 50 is turned to the lock release position (the position not overlapping the process cartridge 10 when viewed from the mounting direction) shown in fig. 4B so that the process cartridge 10 can be mounted in (or removed from) the apparatus main body 100. In contrast, when the installation of the apparatus main body 100 by the process cartridge 10 is completed, the operation lever 50 is rotationally operated to the lock position (the position overlapping the process cartridge 10 as viewed in the mounting direction) shown in fig. 4 a so that the process cartridge 10 is not moved rightward in fig. 3 by the spring force of the compression spring 55 (urging member) (as if the process cartridge 10 is pressed).
By providing the operation lever 50 (pressing member) in this way, it is possible to prevent the process cartridge 10 in the set state from being detached from the apparatus main body 100 due to the urging force of the compression spring 55 (urging member) moving toward the front side in the mounting direction. Therefore, the problem of poor drive transmission due to the release of the engagement between the drive coupling 65 and the driven coupling 26 and the problem of power supply due to the release of the engagement between the main body-side drawer coupling 70 and the unit-side drawer coupling 27 are suppressed.
Further, since the operating lever 50 can be easily switched between the lock position and the unlock position by a turning operation without using a tool such as a screwdriver, the mounting and dismounting operation of the process cartridge 10 by the user becomes simple.
As shown in fig. 4, the body side plate 80 of the image forming apparatus body 100 is provided with a 1 st locking portion 80a that blocks the operation lever 50 at the lock position and a 2 nd locking portion 80b that blocks the operation lever 50 at the unlock position, so that the operation lever 50 does not rotate about the rotation shaft 50a without limitation.
Here, in the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 (in a state where the process cartridge 10 is not installed) according to the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 4 a, the compression spring 55 (urging member) is disposed between the main reference pin 81 and the main reference hole 25a and the sub reference pin 82 and the sub reference hole 25b when viewed from the mounting direction, and the operation lever 50 (pressing member) is disposed on the virtual line a connecting the main reference pin 81 and the main reference hole 25a and the sub reference pin 82 and the sub reference hole 25 b.
Specifically, when viewed from the mounting direction, in a state where the operation lever 50 is in the lock position, a portion (a substantially fan-shaped contact portion 50b shown in fig. 4 and 5) that contacts the front side plate 25 is located on the imaginary line a.
With this configuration, the process cartridge 10 biased toward the front side in the mounting direction by the compression spring 55 can be pressed by the operating lever 50 (pressing member) in a normal posture in which the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is not largely inclined. This is because, in the process cartridge 10 urged toward the front side in the mounting direction by the compression spring 55, although a force of disengaging the main reference hole 25a and the sub-reference hole 25b from the main reference pin 81 and the sub-reference pin 82 acts, such a force acts with a certain balance between the main reference pin 81 (main reference hole 25a) and the sub-reference pin 82 (sub-reference hole 25b), and at the same time, a force (force of the operation lever 50) of pushing back the process cartridge 10 toward the back side in the mounting direction acts on the virtual line a connecting the main reference pin 81 (main reference hole 25a) and the sub-reference pin 82 (sub-reference hole 25b), so that a component force of inclining the process cartridge 10 is difficult to be generated. That is, the process cartridge 10 biased toward the front side in the mounting direction by the compression spring 55 is biased toward the rear side in the mounting direction by the operating lever 50 with good balance and efficiently.
Accordingly, in the image forming apparatus main body 100, when the process cartridge 10 is held in a state of being largely tilted with respect to the normal posture, the problem of poor drive transmission due to the disengagement of the drive coupling 65 and the driven coupling 26 and the problem of poor power supply due to the disengagement of the main body-side drawer type joint 70 and the unit-side drawer type joint 27 are not easily caused.
Here, in order to further secure the above-described effect, as shown in fig. 4(a), it is preferable to have a configuration in which the rotation center of the photosensitive drum 1 is located on the virtual line a when viewed from the mounting direction.
With this configuration, the biasing force of the compression spring 55 acts on (or near) the virtual line a, and a force (force of the operation lever 50) that pushes back the process cartridge 10 toward the back side in the mounting direction with good balance and efficiency more easily acts.
Further, referring to fig. 4 a and the like, in the present embodiment, the lever 50 (pressing member) is disposed at a position between the rotation center of the photosensitive drum 1 and a transfer portion (transfer nip portion) where a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the sheet P, when viewed in the mounting direction. That is, the lever 50 is disposed on the opposite side of the transfer surface (paper passing surface) of the photoreceptor drum 1 from the transfer surface.
With such a configuration, even if the operation lever 50 is rotated from the unlocking position to the locking position during the process of attaching and detaching the process cartridge 10, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 can be prevented from being damaged by the operation lever 50.
In addition, the operating lever 50 in the present embodiment is also provided with reinforcing portions 50d and 50e for reinforcing the strength thereof.
Specifically, as shown in fig. 5, in the main body portion (the portion where the contact portion 50b and the grip portion 50c are formed to rotate) of the operation lever 50, the 1 st reinforcing plate 50d, which is a metal plate material, is embedded in the portion molded from a resin material by outer injection molding or the like. This improves the mechanical strength of the main body of the operating lever 50.
Further, the root of the rotating shaft 50a of the operating lever 50 is fixedly held to the body side plate 80 by a 2 nd reinforcing plate 50e which is a metal plate material. This reduces the falling of the rotary shaft 50 a.
By thus partially reinforcing the operating lever 50, the appearance of the operating lever 50 is not damaged or the operating lever 50 is not excessively heavy, so that the strength of the operating lever 50 can be improved and breakage can be reduced.
As described above, the image forming apparatus (storage apparatus) according to the present embodiment is provided with the compression spring 55 (urging member) for urging the process cartridge 10 (detachable unit) toward the front side in the mounting direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the operation lever 50 (pressing member) for pressing the front plate 25 of the process cartridge 10 against the urging force of the compression spring 55. Then, when viewed from the mounting direction, the compression spring 55 is disposed between the main reference pin 81 and the main reference hole 25a and the sub reference pin 82 and the sub reference hole 25b, and the operation lever 50 is disposed on a virtual line a connecting the main reference pin 81 and the main reference hole 25a and the sub reference pin 82 and the sub reference hole 25 b.
Thus, even when the compression spring 55 for biasing the process cartridge 10 toward the front side in the mounting direction is provided, the process cartridge 10 can be prevented from being largely tilted with respect to the normal posture by the pressing of the operation lever 50 in the apparatus main body 100.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 installed in monochrome, but the present invention can also be applied to a color image forming apparatus. In this case, the lever (pressing member) is preferably disposed at a position between the rotation center of the photosensitive drum and a transfer portion where a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt, when viewed in the mounting direction.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 of the electrophotographic system, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus of another system (for example, an image forming apparatus of an inkjet system, an offset printing press, or the like) as long as the detachable unit is detachably provided to the apparatus main body.
Even in such a case, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the process cartridge 10 as the detachable unit. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other removable units (for example, the toner container 30, the waste toner collecting container 40, and the like) as a matter of course.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 100, but it goes without saying that the present invention is applicable to any storage apparatus other than the image forming apparatus as long as the removable unit is removably stored.
Even in such a case, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.
In the present embodiment, the compression spring 55 that biases the drive coupling 65 is used as the biasing member that biases the process cartridge 10 (detachable unit) toward the front side in the mounting direction, but the biasing member is not limited thereto, and various configurations may be used.
In the present embodiment, the operation lever 50 is used as the pressing member that presses the process cartridge 10 (detachable unit), but the pressing member is not limited thereto, and for example, a panel attached by screwing may be used.
Even in such a case, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.
The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is obvious that the present embodiment can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, in addition to the teaching of the present embodiment. The number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to those in the present embodiment, and an appropriate number, position, shape, and the like can be selected when carrying out the present invention.
Claims (8)
1. An image forming apparatus in which a detachable unit is detachably provided with respect to an image forming apparatus main body while being moved in a predetermined detachable direction, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a biasing member that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body so as to face a rear side in a mounting direction of the detachable unit, and biases the detachable unit toward a front side in the mounting direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body;
a main reference pin and a sub reference pin which are respectively fitted into a main reference hole and a sub reference hole formed in a front side plate of the image forming apparatus main body on a front side in a mounting direction of the attachment/detachment unit, and
a pressing member that presses the front side plate of the attachment/detachment unit against the biasing force of the biasing member in the image forming apparatus main body,
the urging member is disposed between the main reference pin and the main reference hole and between the sub reference pin and the sub reference hole when viewed from the mounting direction, and the pressing member is disposed on an imaginary line connecting the main reference pin and the main reference hole and the sub reference pin and the sub reference hole.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:
the pressing member is an operating lever which is rotatably held in the image forming apparatus main body between a lock position where the front side plate is pressed and a lock release position where the detachable unit is movable in a detachable direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body after the front side plate is released from being pressed.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that:
the portion of the operating lever that abuts the front side plate in the locked position is configured to be positioned on the imaginary line when viewed in the attachment direction.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that:
the operating rod is formed with a reinforcing portion that reinforces the strength thereof.
5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:
the removable unit includes a photosensitive drum, and a driving coupling which is fitted to a driven coupling of the photosensitive drum and drives the photosensitive drum is provided in the image forming apparatus main body,
the urging member is a compression spring that urges in a direction in which the drive coupling and the driven coupling are fitted to each other, and a rotation center of the photosensitive drum is located on the imaginary line when viewed in the mounting direction.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that:
the removable unit includes a photosensitive drum, and a driving coupling which is fitted to a driven coupling of the photosensitive drum and drives the photosensitive drum is provided in the image forming apparatus main body,
the urging member is a compression spring that urges in a direction in which the drive coupling and the driven coupling are fitted to each other, and a rotation center of the photosensitive drum is located on the imaginary line when viewed in the mounting direction.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that:
the pressing member is disposed at a position where the rotation center is sandwiched between the pressing member and a transfer portion, which is a transfer portion where a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is transferred onto a sheet or an intermediate transfer body, when viewed in the mounting direction.
8. A storage device in which a loading/unloading unit is movable in a predetermined loading/unloading direction and is stored detachably in a device body, the storage device comprising:
a biasing member that is provided in the apparatus main body so as to face a rear side in an attachment direction of the detachable unit, and biases the detachable unit toward a front side in the attachment direction with respect to the apparatus main body;
a main reference pin and a sub reference pin which are respectively fitted into a main reference hole and a sub reference hole formed in a front side plate of the apparatus main body on a front side in a mounting direction of the attachment/detachment unit, and
a pressing member that presses the front side plate of the attachment/detachment unit against the biasing force of the biasing member in the apparatus main body,
the urging member is disposed between the main reference pin and the main reference hole and between the sub reference pin and the sub reference hole when viewed from the mounting direction, and the pressing member is disposed on an imaginary line connecting the main reference pin and the main reference hole and the sub reference pin and the sub reference hole.
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| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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| JP2017-092172 | 2017-05-08 | ||
| JP2017092172A JP6982791B2 (en) | 2017-05-08 | 2017-05-08 | Image forming device and storage device |
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| CN108873656A CN108873656A (en) | 2018-11-23 |
| CN108873656B true CN108873656B (en) | 2021-06-08 |
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| JP7293871B2 (en) * | 2019-05-30 | 2023-06-20 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | image forming device |
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| EP1059525B1 (en) * | 1999-06-11 | 2016-01-06 | Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. | Oxygen sensor |
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| JP2518583B2 (en) * | 1992-06-30 | 1996-07-24 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image forming device |
| DE69427414T2 (en) * | 1993-01-26 | 2002-04-18 | Sharp Kk | Image forming apparatus |
| CN2210299Y (en) * | 1994-12-06 | 1995-10-18 | 何极南 | Controllable and locking-able oil-suction valve with anti disassemble function |
| JP3311250B2 (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 2002-08-05 | キヤノン株式会社 | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus |
| JPH10133538A (en) * | 1996-10-30 | 1998-05-22 | Konica Corp | Image forming device |
| JP2001350320A (en) * | 2000-06-07 | 2001-12-21 | Canon Inc | Electrifying unit attaching method, electrifying unit exchanging method, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device |
| US7088940B2 (en) * | 2003-08-25 | 2006-08-08 | Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha | Image forming device |
| JP4495784B2 (en) * | 2004-11-18 | 2010-07-07 | 下西技研工業株式会社 | Hinge damper in switchgear |
| JP4952748B2 (en) * | 2009-06-30 | 2012-06-13 | コニカミノルタビジネステクノロジーズ株式会社 | Image forming apparatus |
| US20120251176A1 (en) * | 2011-03-28 | 2012-10-04 | Timothy John Young | Rotating printer photoreceptors having fixed-position features |
| EP3047975B1 (en) * | 2013-09-18 | 2020-02-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink cartridge, and inkjet printer |
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| JP6982791B2 (en) | 2021-12-17 |
| JP2018189811A (en) | 2018-11-29 |
| CN108873656A (en) | 2018-11-23 |
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