EP2518570B1 - Appareil de formation d'images - Google Patents

Appareil de formation d'images Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2518570B1
EP2518570B1 EP12165385.1A EP12165385A EP2518570B1 EP 2518570 B1 EP2518570 B1 EP 2518570B1 EP 12165385 A EP12165385 A EP 12165385A EP 2518570 B1 EP2518570 B1 EP 2518570B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
development device
heat receiver
holder
image forming
heat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP12165385.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2518570A2 (fr
EP2518570A3 (fr
Inventor
Yasuaki Toda
Hiromitsu Fujiya
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Publication of EP2518570A2 publication Critical patent/EP2518570A2/fr
Publication of EP2518570A3 publication Critical patent/EP2518570A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2518570B1 publication Critical patent/EP2518570B1/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0896—Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/01—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for producing multicoloured copies
    • G03G15/0142—Structure of complete machines
    • G03G15/0178—Structure of complete machines using more than one reusable electrographic recording member, e.g. one for every monocolour image
    • G03G15/0189—Structure of complete machines using more than one reusable electrographic recording member, e.g. one for every monocolour image primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt
    • 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
    • G03G21/20—Humidity or temperature control also ozone evacuation; Internal apparatus environment control
    • 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
    • G03G21/20—Humidity or temperature control also ozone evacuation; Internal apparatus environment control
    • G03G21/206—Conducting air through the machine, e.g. for cooling, filtering, removing gases like ozone
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/01—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes for producing multicoloured copies
    • G03G2215/0103—Plural electrographic recording members
    • G03G2215/0119—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points
    • G03G2215/0122—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt
    • G03G2215/0125—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt the linear arrangement being horizontal or slanted
    • G03G2215/0129—Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points primary transfer to an intermediate transfer belt the linear arrangement being horizontal or slanted horizontal medium transport path at the secondary transfer

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a plotter, or a multifunction machine including at least two of these functions.
  • Image forming apparatuses typically include an optical writing device, a fixing device, and a development device. These devices include driving motors, heaters, and the like, all of which act as heat generators that generate heat, thus raising temperature inside the image forming apparatus.
  • Development devices include a developer conveyance member to transport developer (e.g., toner) inside the development device, a developer bearer to carry developer thereon, and a developer regulator to adjust the amount of developer carried on the developer bearer.
  • developer e.g., toner
  • developer bearer to carry developer thereon
  • developer regulator to adjust the amount of developer carried on the developer bearer.
  • heat is generated by sliding contact between developer and the developer conveyance member as well as contact among developer particles, and temperature inside the development device rises.
  • the temperature inside the development device can rise also due to sliding contact between developer and the developer regulator to adjust the amount of developer carried on the developer bearer and contact among developer particles being regulated by the developer regulator.
  • the temperature inside the image forming apparatus rises beyond a certain point, the amount of charge of the toner can decrease, making it impossible to attain desired image density. Moreover, the temperature rise can fuse toner and cause the toner to adhere to the developer regulator, the developer bearer, and a latent image bearer (e.g., a photoreceptor).
  • the toner adhering to such components can create lines in output images, degrading image quality. In particular, possibility of image failure caused by solidification of toner is higher when toner of a lower melting temperature is used to reduce energy required for image fixing.
  • JP-2011-018008-A proposes a liquid-cooling device to cool the development device that generates heat.
  • the liquid-cooling device includes a heat receiver containing coolant, a radiator to radiate heat from the coolant, a circulation pipe to circulate the coolant between the heat receiver and the radiator, and a pump to transport the coolant to the heat receiver.
  • the heat receiver is disposed in contact with the development device so that the coolant therein draws heat therefrom.
  • the cooling efficiency of the liquid-cooling device is higher than that of typical air-cooling devices.
  • installing the circulation pipe in a limited space is easier because the circulation pipe for the cooling liquid can be smaller than the air duct. Therefore, the liquid-cooling device is preferable in compact image forming apparatuses in which space between the components is smaller.
  • the development device is often designed to be removably installed in the apparatus body independently or together with other components housed in a common unit casing (i.e., a process cartridge).
  • the above-described JP-2011-018008-A further proposes a unit to engage the heat receiver with the development device when the development device is installed in the apparatus and disengage it from the development device when the development device is removed from the apparatus.
  • the heat receiver is pressed to the development device by a pressing means and held by a holder.
  • the holder holding the heat receiver is moved in the direction in which the development device is installed (hereinafter "installation direction").
  • installation direction the holder moving in the installation direction shifts the heat receiver toward the development device, and thus the heat receiver is brought into contact with the development device.
  • the pressing means presses the heat receiver against the development device.
  • US 2010/0183323 A1 relates to an image forming apparatus.
  • An image forming apparatus including a target part to be cooled detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus, a cooling device including a heat receiving part provided to contact the target part to be cooled to receive heat from the target part to be cooled with a cooling medium provided within the heat receiving part, and a contact/separation mechanism to cause the heat receiving part to contact and separate from the target part to be cooled.
  • the contact/separation mechanism includes a pressing unit to press the heat receiving part against the target part to be cooled. A reaction of a pressing force of the heat receiving part applied to the pressing unit when the heat receiving part is pressed against the target part to be cooled is directed onto a predetermined portion of the target part to be cooled.
  • JP 2005-164927 A relates to an image forming apparatus.
  • the cooling means has configuration for taking away heat around a channel by making cooling liquid flow to the channel.
  • the channel is installed at a part of a housing for supporting the unit, and a biasing means for biasing the channel to the unit set in an apparatus body is disposed in the housing.
  • an image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer, a development device removably installable in an apparatus body, a cooling device including a heat receiver containing coolant to draw heat from the development device, a pressing means to press the heat receiver of the cooling device against a side wall of the development device, an engaging and disengaging unit to engage and disengage the heat receiver from the development device by moving the heat receiver in parallel to an installation direction in which the development device is installed in the apparatus body, and a shifting means to move the heat receiver.
  • the development device includes a developer bearer to carry developer to a development range facing the latent image bearer. In installation of the development device in the apparatus body, the shifting means contacts the development device and moves the heat receiver together with the development device in the direction in which the development device is installed in the apparatus body.
  • FIG. 1 a multicolor image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a tandem image forming unit 1 in which four image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K are arranged in parallel to each other.
  • Each image forming unit 11 includes a drum-shaped photoreceptor 18 serving as a latent image bearer, a drum cleaning unit 12, a charging device 13, and two-component type development device 19.
  • the components of the image forming unit 11 are housed in a common unit casing, forming a process cartridge (modular unit) removably installable in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • a process cartridge module unit
  • An exposure unit 9 serving as a latent image forming unit is provided above the tandem image forming unit 1, and a reading unit 10 is provided in an upper portion of the apparatus.
  • the reading unit 10 scans an original placed on an exposure glass, thereby reading image data of the original.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 15 is looped around multiple rollers including a support roller 16.
  • the secondary-transfer unit 4 includes a secondary-transfer roller 17 disposed in contact with an outer side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 and pressing against the support roller 16 via the intermediate transfer belt 15, thus forming a secondary-transfer nip therebetween.
  • a secondary-transfer bias is applied to the secondary-transfer roller 17 from a power source, whereas the support roller 16 is grounded.
  • a secondary-transfer electrical field is generated in the secondary-transfer nip.
  • a fixing device 7 is provided on the left of the secondary-transfer unit 4 in FIG. 1 to fix toner images formed on sheets of recording media.
  • the fixing device 7 includes a heating roller inside which a heat generator is provided.
  • a conveyance belt 6 is provided between secondary-transfer unit 4 and the fixing device 7 to transport the sheet onto which a toner image is transferred to the fixing device 7.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 further includes a sheet feeder 3 and a discharge unit 8.
  • the sheet feeder 3 is disposed in a lower portion of the apparatus and feeds sheets from a sheet container (i.e., a sheet tray) one by one to the secondary-transfer unit 4.
  • the discharge unit 8 transports the sheet that has passed through the fixing device 7 either outside the apparatus or to a duplex unit 5.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 further includes an insulation device 20 to thermally insulate the intermediate transfer belt 15 from the fixing device 7.
  • the insulation device 20 includes a planar heat receiver 21, a heat pipe 22, a planar radiator 23, a duct 24, and an exhaust fan.
  • reference numerals 32 represents a heat receiver (heat receiving portion) of a liquid-cooling device 30 (shown in FIG. 5 )
  • 35a represents a cooling fan
  • 35b represents a radiator.
  • image data of the original is read with the reading unit 10.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 15 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 .
  • the charging devices 13 electrically charge the surfaces of the photoreceptors 18 in the respective image forming units 11 of the tandem image forming unit 1.
  • the exposure unit 9 exposes the photoreceptors 18 according to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image data of the original, thus forming latent images on the respective photoreceptors 18.
  • the development devices 19 develop the latent images on the respective photoreceptors 18 with developer (e.g., toner) into single-color toner images.
  • developer e.g., toner
  • the toner images are sequentially transferred from the photoreceptors 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K and superimposed on one another on the intermediate transfer belt 15.
  • a multicolor toner image i.e., a synthesized image
  • the drum cleaning units 12 removes toner remaining on the respective photoreceptors 18 as a preparation for subsequent image formation.
  • the sheets are fed from the sheet container one at a time.
  • the sheet gets stuck in a nip between registration rollers 14 and is stopped.
  • the registration rollers 14 then rotate to send the sheet to the secondary-transfer nip, where the intermediate transfer belt 15 presses against the secondary-transfer unit 4, timed to coincide with the multicolor toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 15.
  • the multicolor toner image is transferred by the secondary-transfer unit 4 from the intermediate transfer belt 15 onto a first side (e.g., front side) of the sheet (secondary-transfer process).
  • the conveyance belt 6 transports the sheet to the fixing device 7, where the toner image is fixed on the sheet with heat and pressure, after which the sheet is transported to the discharge unit 8.
  • the discharge unit 8 includes a switching pawl to switch the destination of the sheet between a discharge tray provided outside the apparatus (on the left in FIG. 1 ) and the duplex unit 5 in the lower portion of the apparatus. The sheet is reversed in the duplex unit 5 and again transported to the secondary-transfer nip (secondary-transfer position) to form an image on a second side of the sheet. Then, the discharge unit 8 discharges the sheet to the discharge tray. Meanwhile, a belt cleaning unit removes the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after the image is transferred therefrom in preparation for subsequent image formation.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the image forming unit 11K from a front side of the apparatus and a back side of the apparatus, respectively. It is to be noted that only the photoreceptor 18K and the development device 19K are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for simplicity.
  • the photoreceptor 18K includes a photosensitive pipe 18cK on which a photosensitive layer is formed, a front flange 18aK, and a back flange 18bK.
  • the front flange 18aK and the back flange 18bK of the photoreceptor 18K are rotatably supported by a housing 110K of the image forming unit 11K.
  • the development device 19K includes a development roller 19aK serving as a developer bearer, developer conveyance members, such as conveyance screws, to transport and agitate developer inside the development device 19K, and a developer regulator, such as a doctor blade, to adjust the amount of developer carried on the development roller 19aK.
  • a development roller 19aK serving as a developer bearer
  • developer conveyance members such as conveyance screws
  • a developer regulator such as a doctor blade
  • the image forming unit 11K further includes a front positioning plate 111K and a back positioning plate 112K, serving as positioning members for determining the position of the development device 19K in the apparatus body. After the development device 19K is temporarily positioned in the housing 110K, the position thereof is determined by the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K.
  • the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K rotatably support a drum shaft 18dK, which is a support shaft of the photoreceptor 18K, as well as a roller shaft 19a1 (shown in FIG. 4 ) of the development roller 19aK.
  • the drum shaft 18dK of the photoreceptor 18K extends from a photoreceptor motor 18E provided in the apparatus body.
  • a development gap of predetermined size is secured between the photoreceptor 18K and the development roller 19aK.
  • the drum shaft 18dK of the photoreceptor 18K rotatably engages the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K via bearings.
  • the roller shaft 19a1 of the development roller 19aK rotatably engages the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K via bearings.
  • the development device 19K further includes sub-positioning pins 19bK fixed thereto.
  • the sub-positioning pin 19bK on the back side engages a sub-positioning slot formed in the back positioning plate 112K.
  • the sub-positioning pin 19bK on the front side engages a sub-positioning slot formed in the front positioning plate 111K.
  • insertion direction Z On a front side of the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100, openings for insertion and removal of the image forming units 11 are formed. It is to be noted that the image forming units 11 are inserted from the front side to the back side, that is, in the direction indicated by arrow Z shown in FIG. 2 (hereinafter "insertion direction Z ").
  • the drum shaft 18dK extending from the photoreceptor motor 18E penetrates through the photoreceptor 18K and further engages the bearings of the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K. With this engagement, the position of the photoreceptor 18K is determined with a proper distance secured between the axial centerline of the photoreceptor 18K and the axial centerline of the development roller 19aK. Accordingly, the minute development gap can be kept properly between the photoreceptor 18K and the development roller 19aK, attaining high quality of toner images developed on the photoreceptor 18K.
  • Use of resin for the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K is advantageous in the cost and weight.
  • the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K may be made of metal.
  • rollers 190 may be provided to the respective axial end portions of the roller shaft 19a1 of the development roller 19aK to contact the front and back flanges 18aK and 18bK, respectively, to determine the relative positions of the development roller 19aK and the photoreceptor 18K with a proper development gap kept therebetween.
  • the components may be densely packed inside the apparatus.
  • the fixing device 7 can be disposed beneath the intermediate transfer unit 2 because the lateral length of the intermediate transfer unit 2 is relatively long.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 15 is curved to cover the upper side and the left side of the fixing device 7 in FIG. 1 . This arrangement can reduce the height and the width of the image forming apparatus 100.
  • the fixing device 7 thermally affects and causes the intermediate transfer belt 15 to deform, resulting in image failure such as deviation in color registration.
  • image failure such as deviation in color registration.
  • Such adverse effects become significant as image formation speed increases and the amount of heat generated therein increases.
  • the sheet once heated by the fixing device 7 passes through the duplex unit 5 and again contacts the intermediate transfer belt 15 at the secondary-transfer position. Accordingly, the heat from the sheet further increases the temperature of the intermediate transfer belt 15.
  • the heat can be transmitted also to the photoreceptors 18 in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 15 and further to the development devices 19, thus increasing the possibility of occurrence of deformation of the intermediate transfer belt 15, solidification of toner, and resultant image failure.
  • the insulation device 20 (shown in FIG. 1 ) is provided between the fixing device 7 and the intermediate transfer belt 15 adjacent to the fixing device 7 to thermally insulate them from each other.
  • the insulation device 20 in the present embodiment uses a heat pipe, there are insulation devices using a duct to generate a cooling airflow.
  • the planar heat receiver 21 is constructed of a material that can absorb heat easily and disposed between the fixing device 7 (heat generator) and the intermediate transfer unit 2 to be protected from heat.
  • the heat pipe 22 serves as a heat transmitter and is attached to a lower face of the planar heat receiver 21.
  • a first end portion (lower portion in FIG. 1 ) of the heat pipe 22 receives heat, and a second end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 1 ) of the heat pipe 22 is attached to the radiator 23 at a position higher than the heat receiving portion. Heat is released from the second end portion of the heat pipe 22.
  • the radiator 23 is constructed of a material capable of releasing heat easily. Further, a heatsink may be provided as required.
  • the duct 24 extends from the front side to the back side of the image forming apparatus 100, and the radiator 23 is disposed inside the duct 24.
  • An air inlet and an exhaust outlet are provided at first and second ends of the duct 24 on the front side and back side of the apparatus, respectively.
  • the exhaust fan is provided in the exhaust outlet on the back side of the apparatus.
  • the planar heat receiver 21 receives heat from the fixing device 7, and the heat is transmitted through the heat pipe 22 to the radiator 23 provided in the duct 24, from which the heat is released.
  • the exhaust fan discharges the heat outside the apparatus.
  • the heat may be subjected to natural cooling.
  • the image forming units 11 and the intermediate transfer unit 2 can be insulated from the heat generated in image fixing and thermally protected effectively, thus eliminating or alleviating color deviation caused by deformation of the intermediate transfer belt 15, solidification of toner, and resultant inconveniences.
  • the development devices 19 heat is generated by sliding contact between the developer conveyance members and developer as well as contact among developer particles, and temperature inside the development devices 19 increases.
  • the temperature inside the development devices 19 can rise also due to sliding contact between developer and the developer regulator to adjust the amount of developer carried on the development roller 19a and contact among developer particles being regulated by the developer regulator.
  • the rise in temperature inside the development device 19 can reduce the amount of charge of the toner, making it impossible to attain desired image density. Moreover, the temperature rise can fuse toner and cause the toner to adhere to the developer regulator. The toner adhering to the developer regulator can create lines in output images, degrading image quality. Possibility of image failure caused by solidification of toner is typically higher when toner of a lower melting temperature is used to reduce energy required for image fixing. Additionally, the temperature of the development device 19 tends to increase due to increases in image formation speed.
  • liquid cooling is used to cool the development devices 19.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the liquid-cooling device 30.
  • the liquid-cooling device 30 includes four heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, three cooling units 35, a circulation pipe 34 through which coolant is circulated, a cooling pump 31 serving as a transport member to circulate coolant inside the circulation pipe 34, and a reserve tank 33 for containing coolant.
  • the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are respectively pressed against side walls 19D (shown in FIG. 10 ) of the development devices 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K, which are hot portions.
  • the coolant in the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K draws heat from the development devices 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K, after which the cooling units 35 cool the coolant.
  • Each cooling units 35 includes a radiator 35b and a cooling fan 35a. It is to be noted that reference character 32F represents a face the heat receiver 32 facing the development device 19.
  • the radiator 35b transmits and releases heat from the coolant via a container containing the coolant.
  • the container is formed of a material such as aluminum that has a higher thermal conductivity. Depending on the amount of heat, the heat is released through forced air-cooling using the cooling fan 35a or natural cooling.
  • the number of the cooling units 35 is not limited to three. Additionally, although one cooling fan 35a is provided for each cooling unit 35, alternatively, a single common cooling fan may be used to supply external air to all the radiators 35b. By using the multiple cooling units 35, temperature rise in the four development devices 19 can be reliably restricted even when the cooling efficiency of each cooling unit 35 individually is relatively low. As a result, small radiators having a smaller heat-releasing area and lower cooling efficiency can be used, making the cooling unit 35 more compact, compared with a configuration in which only a single cooling unit is used for the four development devices 19.
  • the cooling pump 31 is a driving source to circulate the coolant between the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K and the cooling units 35 as indicated by arrows shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the reserve tank 33 is used to store the coolant.
  • the coolant serves as heat transport medium to transport heat from the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K to the radiators 35b.
  • the coolant includes water as a main ingredient and may further include antirust and propylene glycol or ethylene glycol to lower the freezing temperature. Examples of antirust include phosphate such as potassium phosphate salt and inorganic salt of potassium.
  • antirust include phosphate such as potassium phosphate salt and inorganic salt of potassium.
  • the coolant that has been cooled by the radiators 35b is supplied to the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K in that order and then transported to the reserve tank 33 and the cooling pump 31, after which the coolant is returned to the radiators 35b.
  • the sequence is not limited thereto.
  • the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K may be arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • four cooling units 35Y, 35M, 35C, and 35K may be provided to the development devices 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K, respectively, and the circulation pipe 34 may be configured to prevent the coolant cooled in each cooling unit 35 (e.g., 35Y) from flowing to the heat receivers 32 for other development devices 19 (e.g., 19M, 19C, and 19K) while flowing to only the heat receiver 32 for the corresponding development device 19 (e.g., 19Y).
  • the image forming apparatus 100 may include two liquid-cooling devices, first and second liquid-cooling devices 30a and 30b.
  • the first liquid-cooling device 30a cools the development devices 19Y and 19M
  • the second liquid-cooling device 30b cools the development devices 19C and 19K.
  • the configuration of the liquid-cooling device 30 can be determined in accordance with thermal conditions such as the amount of heat to be cooled by the heat receivers 32 and temperature.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram that illustrates a configuration of the heat receiver 32K of the liquid-cooling device 30.
  • heat receiver 32K As shown in FIG. 9 , five circular recesses 32cK are formed in the heat receiver 32K, and a screw hole 32dK is formed at a center position on a bottom face of each circular recesses 32cK. It is to be noted that the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K have a similar configuration, thus omitting the descriptions of the heat receivers 32Y, 32M, and 32C.
  • the heat receiver 32K includes a case 32aK in which a coolant channel 32bK is formed.
  • the case 32aK and the coolant channel 32bK are constructed of materials of high thermal conductivity.
  • copper having a thermal conduction rate of about 400 W/mK or aluminum having a thermal conduction rate of about 200 W/mk can be used as a base of the case 32aK and the coolant channel 32bK of the heat receiver 32K.
  • materials of higher thermal conduction rate such as silver or gold may be used.
  • the circulation pipe 34 is a flexible member constructed of, for example, rubber or resin, and connected to ends of the coolant channel 32bK.
  • the heat receiver 32K is supported movably in the insertion direction Z (shown in FIG. 2 ) and the opposite direction by a unit 40 (shown in FIG. 10 ) for engaging and disengaging the heat receiver 32K from the development device 19K (hereinafter "the engaging and disengaging unit 40").
  • the circulation pipe 34 is constructed of a flexible material, the circulation pipe 34 can follow the movement of the heat receiver 32K better and be prevented from being accidentally disengaged from the coolant channel 32bK.
  • the circulation pipe 34 is entirely constructed of flexible materials. Forming a part of the circulation pipe 34 with metal is advantageous in reducing transmission of moisture.
  • the side walls of the development device 19K may be constructed of a thermally conductive material such as aluminum or copper. In such a case, it is difficult to dispose the heat receiver 32K in contact with the side wall 19D of the development device 19K tightly, and creation of air layers is inevitable. Air layers are not desirable because efficiency in heat exchange is degraded.
  • a heat conduction sheet 130K (shown in FIG. 10 ) is bonded to the face 32F of the heat receiver 32K in contact with the development device 19K. It is preferable that the heat conduction sheet 130K have a high thermal conductivity and be deformable in conformity with surface irregularities of the development device 19K and the heat receiver 32K, thus eliminating clearances therebetween. Hardness of heat conduction sheets, however, is proportional to its thermal conductivity, and the heat conduction sheet 130K inevitably becomes relatively hard to attain high thermal conductivity.
  • the heat receiver 32K is pressed with a relatively strong force against the side wall 19D of the development device 19K.
  • the heat conduction sheet 130K can deform to cancel out the surface irregularities between the development device 19K and the heat receiver 32K even if the hardness thereof is relatively high.
  • creation of air layers between the development device 19K and the heat receiver 32K can be inhibited, thereby reliably transmitting heat from the development device 19K to the heat receiver 32K.
  • the heat conduction sheet 130K may be bonded to the side wall 19D of the development device 19K.
  • the engaging and disengaging units 40 to engage and disengage the heat receivers 32 from the respective development devices 19 is described below.
  • the engaging and disengaging units 40 for the heat receiver 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, have a similar configuration.
  • the heat receiver 32 is pressed against the side wall 19D of the development device 19 to prevent decreases in cooling efficiency of the development device 19. That is, the development device 19a receives a relatively strong pressing force from the heat receiver 32, and it is possible that the pressing force can affect the front positioning plate 111 and the back positioning plate 112, resulting in deformation of the positioning plates 111 and 112.
  • Deformation of the front positioning plate 111 and the back positioning plate 112 can cause fluctuations in the size or position of the development gap.
  • the range of tolerance in size or position of the development gap is very narrow. Images can be affected by even a small deviation in development gap caused by slight deformation of the front positioning plate 111 and the back positioning plate 112.
  • the heat receiver 32 can fail to contact the development device 19 tightly if the force with which the heat receiver 32 is pressed against the development device 19 is reduced. In such cases, efficiency in cooling of the development device 19 decreases.
  • the engaging and disengaging unit 40 is designed to be fixed to the development device 19 when the heat receiver 32 is pressed against the development device 19 so that the force of the heat receiver 32 pressing the development device 19 can act as an inner force not an external force.
  • This configuration can prevent the pressing force of the heat receiver 32 from affecting the front positioning plate 111 and the back positioning plate 112 via the development device 19, which is described in further detail below.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic end-on axial view illustrating the configuration adjacent to the image forming unit 11K from the front side of the apparatus.
  • FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming unit 11K.
  • retractable rails 62a and 62b such as Accuride products, are provided to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100 to engage the image forming unit 19K.
  • the image forming unit 11K is set on the rails 62a and 62b and inserted into the apparatus body with the drum shaft 18dK inserted into the photoreceptor 18K.
  • the development device 19K is provided with the engaging and disengaging unit 40K to engage and disengage the heat receiver 32K from the development device 19K.
  • the engaging and disengaging unit 40K includes a holder 41K for holding the heat receiver 32K of the liquid-cooling device 30 and a holder supporter 42K for supporting the holder 41K so that the holder 41K can engage and be disengaged from the development device 19K.
  • the rail 62a on the left in FIG. 10 is fixed to a fixed portion 50K of the apparatus body, and the holder supporter 42K is fixed to the fixed portion 50K.
  • the fixed portion 50 is fixed to a partition 61 separating the tandem image forming unit 1 from the image writing area in which the exposure unit 9 is provided.
  • the holder 41K covers three sides of the heat receiver 32K, that is, an upper face, a lower face, and a face 32G of the heat receiver 32K.
  • the face 32G is opposite the face 32F that is pressed against the side wall 19D of the development device 19K.
  • the heat receiver 32K can be shielded from infrared light from the fixing device 7 and the like, thus reducing thermal effects on the heat receiver 32K from components other than the development device 19K.
  • the heat receiver 32K is noted heated by components other than the development device 19K, securing efficiency in cooling of the development device 19K.
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the holder 41K holding the heat receiver 32K
  • FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the holder 41K
  • FIG. 14 illustrates the holder 41K and the heat receiver 32K as viewed from the front side.
  • the holder 41K can be produced by folding a planar metal, and five holes 41bK are formed in an opposed wall 41aK opposed to the face 32G of the heat receiver 32K.
  • the holes 41bK are arranged at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the holder 41K.
  • the holder 41K further includes first and second folded portions 41cK and 41dK (shown in FIG. 14 ) folded at both ends of the opposed wall 41 aK in the shorter direction of the opposed wall 41aK.
  • An engagement hole 41eK is formed in a center portion of each of the first and second folded portions 41cK and 41dK in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • engagement pins 140K serving as engagement members are fitted in the respective engagement holes 41eK in caulking.
  • the first folded portion 41cK of the holder 41K extends longer to the back side (upper right in FIG. 13 ) of the apparatus than the second folded portion 41dK as shown in FIG. 13 , forming an extended portion 41gK, and a contact portion 41fK is provided to the extended portion 41gK.
  • the contact portion 41fK is positioned in a downstream end portion of the holder 41K in the insertion direction Z and includes a face perpendicular to the insertion direction Z (shown in FIG. 2 ) of the development device 19K or the longitudinal direction of the development device 19K.
  • the contact portion 41fK contacts a back end portion of a first engagement portion 191K (shown in FIG.
  • the contact portion 41fK can be formed by folding. It is to be noted that the insertion direction Z of the development device 19K is perpendicular to the surface of the paper on which FIGS. 10 and 11 are drawn.
  • the five circular recesses 32cK formed in the heat receiver 32K are positioned to face the five holes 41bK formed in the opposed wall 41aK of the holder 41K.
  • a step screw 141K is fitted loosely in each of the five holes 41bK formed in the opposed wall 41aK of the holder 41K, and further a threaded portion of the step screw 141K is screwed in the screw hole 32dK of the heat receiver 32K.
  • a coil spring 142K winds around a step portion of the step screw 141K as shown in FIG. 14 .
  • the coil spring 142K is an elastic member that serves as a pressing means.
  • the coil spring 142K has a first end disposed in contact with the opposed wall 41aK of the holder 41K and a second end disposed in contact with a bottom portion 32eK (hereinafter also "contact portion 32ek") of the circular recesses 32cK formed in the heat receiver 32K.
  • the bottom portion 32eK of the circular recesses 32cK serves as a contact portion with which the pressing means (coil spring 142K) comes into contact.
  • the heat receiver 32K is pushed by the coil spring 142K toward the development device 19K and held by the holder 41K.
  • the holder 41K supports the heat receiver 32K with a clearance of predetermined size provided between the opposed wall 41aK and the face 32G of the heat receiver 32K on the opposite side of the development device 19K.
  • the heat receiver 32K is supported so that the face 32F thereof projects beyond ends of the first and second folded portions 41cK and 41dK in the lateral direction in FIG. 11 .
  • the ends of the first and second folded portions 41cK and 41dK of the holder 41K can be prevented from contacting the development device 19K.
  • the force with which the heat receiver 32K presses against the development device 19K can be easily adjusted by changing the type of the elastic pressing member that in the present embodiment is the coil spring 142K.
  • the circular recesses 32cK is formed in the heat receiver 32K, and the contact portion (bottom portion) 32eK is recessed beyond the face 32G on the opposite side of the face 32F in contact with the development device 19K.
  • a distance D1 between the contact portion 32eK and the opposed wall 41aK of the holder 41K can be greater than a distance D2 between the opposed wall 41aK and the face 32G of the heat receiver 32K on the opposite side of the development device 19K.
  • This configuration can reduce fluctuations in pressing force exerted by the coil spring 142K due to fluctuation in length of the coil spring 142K.
  • the apparatus can become compact because the distance D2 between the opposed wall 41aK and the face 32G of the heat receiver 32K can be reduced.
  • the heat receiver 32K is elastically supported at multiple positions spaced at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the pressing force can be uniformly applied to the heat receiver 32K.
  • the holes 41bK in the opposed wall 41aK of the holder 41K are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction in the present embodiment, alternatively, the holes 41bK may be in zigzag arrangement.
  • the heat receiver 32K is elastically supported at five positions in the present embodiment, the number and locations at which the heat receiver 32K is supported is not limited thereto as long as the pressure can be applied from the entire heat receiver 32K to the development device 19K uniformly. Additionally, if a sufficient distance is secured between the opposed wall 41aK and the face 32G of the heat receiver 32K on the opposite side of the development device 19K, the circular recesses 32cK may be unnecessary.
  • the pressing means for exerting the pressure force is not limited to the coil spring 142K but may be a leaf spring or sponge capable of restoring its elastic force. When sponge or the like is used, it is not necessary to use the step screw 141K to support it. Sponge may be glued to both the heat receiver 32K and the holder 41K so that the heat receiver 32K is supported on the holder 41K with the sponge.
  • FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the holder supporter 42K.
  • the holder supporter 42K includes a first member 421K and a second member 422K.
  • the first member 421K includes a vertical wall 421aK, a supporting portion 421bK, and a fixed portion 421cK.
  • the first member 421K can be produced by folding a metal sheet. That is, the metal sheet is folded at both ends of the vertical wall 421aK in a shorter direction of the vertical wall 421aK, thereby forming the supporting portion 421bK and the fixed portion 421cK.
  • a connecting portion 421dK to connect the holder supporter 42K to the fixed portion 50K is provided to either end portion of the supporting portion 421bK in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a slot 421eK is formed in a center portion of each connecting portion 421dK.
  • a screw hole 421-1 is formed in either end portion of the fixed portion 421cK of the first member 421K in the longitudinal direction to connect the second member 422K to the first member 421K with a screw.
  • An engagement slot 423K that engages the engagement pin 140K is formed in a center portion in the longitudinal direction of each of the supporting portion 421bK of the first member 421K and the second member 422K. As shown in FIG. 18 , the engagement slot 423K includes a guiding portion 423aK oblique to the insertion direction Z of the development device 19K (longitudinal direction of the holder supporter 42K) and an engagement portion 423bK in parallel to the insertion direction Z of the development device 19K.
  • the engagement pin 140K moves while being in contact with a guiding face 423cK (on the left in FIG. 18 ) of the guiding portion 423aK, that is, guided by the guiding face 423cK, and a part of the guiding face 423cK is curved.
  • reference character A represents a start point of the curved face of the engagement slot 423K
  • B represents an end point of the curved face.
  • Lubricant such as grease is applied to the guiding face 423cK, along which the engagement pin 140K moves, to alleviate frictional resistance generated when the engagement pin 140K moves inside the engagement slot 423K.
  • the resistance against insertion of the development device 19 can be alleviated better.
  • the holder 41K can be connected to the holder supporter 42K as follows.
  • the engagement pin 140K which is fixed in caulking to the hole 41eK formed in the first folded portion 41cK of the holder 41K, is inserted into the engagement slot 423K formed in the supporting portion 421bK of the holder supporter 42K.
  • the other engagement pin 140K which is fixed in caulking to the hole 41eK formed in the second folded portion 41dK of the holder 41K, is inserted into the engagement slot 423K formed in the second member 422K of the holder supporter 42K.
  • the second member 422K is screwed to the fixed portion 421cK of the first member 421K of the holder supporter 42K.
  • the holder 41K can be supported by the holder supporter 42K.
  • the supporting portion 421bK is positioned on the upper side of the first member 421K as shown in FIG. 19 in the present embodiment, alternatively, the supporting portion 421bK may be disposed on the lower side.
  • the second member 422K is screwed to the fixed portion 421cK of the first member 421K in the configuration shown in the drawings, alternatively, the second member 422K may be fixed thereto using a rivet or welding. It is advantageous in that maintenance work of the heat receiver 32K can be easier when the first member 421K and the second member 422K are fixed using screws so that they can be separated easily.
  • the holder supporter 42K further includes first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K.
  • the first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K are provided at an end in the shorter direction of the first member 421K and the second member 422K, respectively.
  • the first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K extend in the insertion direction Z (longitudinal direction) and are folded upward from the ends in the shorter direction of the first and second members 421K and 422K.
  • the development device 19K includes first and second receiving rims 191K and 192K extending in the insertion direction Z (longitudinal direction of the development device 19K).
  • the first receiving rim 191K is formed with a horizontal portion projecting from the side wall 19D of the development device 19K and a vertical portion extending downward from the end of the horizontal projecting portion.
  • the second receiving rim 192K projects downward from a bottom face of the development device 19K and positioned in an end portion on the side of the heat receiver 32K.
  • the first engagement rim 161K faces the first receiving rim 191K and is positioned closer to the photoreceptor 18K than the first receiving rim 191K.
  • the second engagement rim 162K faces the second receiving rim 192K and is positioned closer to the photoreceptor 18K than the second receiving rim 192K.
  • the holder supporter 42K is fixed to the fixed portion 50K that is screwed to the partition 61 at three positions 50SR. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 20 , the fixed portion 50K includes holder supporter mounts 51K in both longitudinal end portions. A step screw 150K is loosely fitted in the slot 421eK formed in the connecting portion 421dK of the holder supporter 42K, and, as shown in FIG. 20 , the step screw 150K is screwed into a screw hole formed in a center portion of the holder supporter mount 51K provided in the fixed portion 50K.
  • a clearance is provided between the fixed portion 50K and the vertical wall 421aK of the holder supporter 42K attached to the fixed portion 50K.
  • the holder supporter 42K can move swingably in parallel to the direction in which the coil spring 142K exerts the pressing force and relatively to the fixed portion 50K, the holder supporter 42K cannot move in the insertion direction Z of the development device 19K.
  • the holder supporter 42K can move swingably in parallel to the pressing direction of the coil spring 142K, the first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K at the right end of the holder supporter 42K can be prevented from blocking the first and second receiving rims 191K and 192K of the development device 19K being inserted or removed from the apparatus. Accordingly, the development device 19K can be smoothly inserted and removed from the apparatus. Further, when the coil spring 142K presses the heat receiver 32K against the development device 19K, the holder supporter 42K can move away from the development device 19K receiving reaction force from the development device 19K. As a result, the first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K can engage the first and second receiving rims 191K and 192K, respectively, and the engaging and disengaging unit 40K can be fixed to the development device 19K.
  • FIG. 21 illustrates a state in which the heat receiver 32K is pressed against the development device 19K
  • FIG. 22 illustrates a state in which the heat receiver 32K is disengaged from the development device 19K
  • FIG. 23 illustrates insertion of the image forming unit 11K into the apparatus body
  • FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating an area A shown in FIG. 23 . It is to be noted that not the entire image forming unit 11K but only the casing of the development device 19K is illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24 for simplicity.
  • the downstream end portion in the insertion direction Z of the first receiving rim 191K which is a projection projecting toward the heat receiver 32K, comes into contact with the contact portion 41fK provided to the holder 41K.
  • the first receiving rim 191K pushes the contact portion 41fK, and the holder 41K is moved downstream in the insertion direction Z (toward the back side of the apparatus body) together with the development device 19K. Then, as shown in FIG.
  • the engagement pin 140K of the holder 41K moves inside the engagement slot 423K guided by the guiding portion 423aK, and the holder 41K moves toward the development device 19K. Accordingly, the heat receiver 32K held by the holder 41K moves toward the development device 19K in conjunction with insertion of the development device 19K.
  • the contact portion 41fK of the holder 41K and the first receiving rim 191K of the development device 19K together form a shifting unit (shifting means) for moving the heat receiver 32K.
  • the holder 41K approaches the development device 19K while moving together with the development device 19K to the back side of the apparatus. Then, the heat receiver 32K comes into contact with the side wall 19D of the development device 19K. At that time, referring to FIG. 18 , the engagement pin 140K is at a start point A of the curved portion of the guiding face 423cK.
  • the holder 41K moves to the back side of the apparatus together with the development device 19K. Then, the engagement pin 140K is guided by the curved portion of the guiding face 423cK, and the holder 41K further approaches the development device 19K. As a result, the heat receiver 32K in contact with development device 19K presses the development device 19K. Then, the development device 19K as well as the holder 41K moves to the back side of the apparatus.
  • the engagement pin 140K is guided to the engagement portion 423bK of the engagement slot 423K as shown in FIG. 25 , the heat receiver 32K presses against the side wall 19D of the development device 19K with a predetermined pressure.
  • the heat conduction sheet 130K of the heat receiver 32K does not slidingly contact the development device 19K because the holder 41K presses the heat receiver 32K to the development device 19K while moving to the back side of the apparatus together with the development device 19K as described above.
  • This configuration can prevent damage to the heat conduction sheet 130K caused by the sliding contact with the development device 19K. Accordingly, the heat conduction sheet 130K can be kept in close contact with the side wall 19D of the development device 19K for long time. As a result, the development device 19K can be cooled sufficiently for long time.
  • reaction force from the development device 19K is transmitted to the holder supporter 42K via the heat receiver 32K and the engagement pin 140K of the holder 41K. Accordingly, the holder supporter 42K is pushed away from the development device 19K. Receiving the reaction force from the development device 19K, the holder supporter 42K moves away from the development device 19K as indicated by arrow A1 shown in FIG.
  • the holder supporter 42K is fixed to the fixed portion 50K movably in parallel to the direction of the pressing force exerted by the coil spring 142K.
  • the first and second receiving rims 191K and 192K of the development device 19K respectively contact the first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K of the engaging and disengaging unit 40K and engage them.
  • the holder supporter 42K no longer moves in the direction indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 21 even if the development device 19K applies reaction force thereto. Accordingly, the coil spring 142K is compressed and presses the heat receiver 32K against the development device 19K. At that time, the holder 41K receives the reaction force against the pressing force exerted on the coil spring 142K by the heat receiver 32K, and further the reaction force is received by the holder supporter 42K via the engagement pin 140K.
  • the reaction force affects the first and second receiving rims 191K and 192K of the development device 19K in contact with the first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K of the holder supporter 42K.
  • the engaging and disengaging unit 40K is fixed to the development device 19K so that the development device 19K and the engaging and disengaging unit 40K can act as a single united element inside the apparatus.
  • the pressing force by the heat receiver 32K can act as not an external force on the development device 19K but an internal force inside the development device 19K. Consequently, the force exerted on the front and back positioning plates 111K and 112K and the like, resulting from the pressing force from the heat receiver 32K, can be reduced, thus inhibiting deformation of the front positioning plate 111K and the back positioning plate 112K. Accordingly, fluctuations in the development gap can be reduced, and high image quality can be maintained for long time.
  • the heat receiver 32K can push the development device 19K with a predetermined pressure.
  • the engagement pin 140K moves while being in contact with the curved portion of the guiding face 423cK of the guiding portion 423aK. Therefore, increases in resistance against insertion of development device 19K can be limited.
  • the heat receiver 32K is pushed to the development device 19K. More specifically, as the holder 41K approaches the development device 19K, being guided by the guiding portion 423aK of the engagement slot 423K, the coil spring 142K is compressed. Accordingly, the force with which the heat receiver 32K presses against the development device 19K increases. As a result, the reaction force applied to the engagement pin 140K increases.
  • FIG. 26A illustrates a guiding portion 423aZ having a linear guiding face 423cZ as a comparative example.
  • reaction force F1 applied to an engagement pin 140Z is not so strong.
  • resistance F1a caused by the engagement pin 140Z moving to the right in FIG. 26A is not so strong.
  • the coil spring 142K is compressed. Reaction force F2 applied to the engagement pin 140K at that time is greater than the force F1.
  • resistance F2a generated to move the engagement pin 140Z to the upper right in FIG. 26A at that time becomes greater than the resistance F1a. Accordingly, when frictional resistance is disregarded, the resistance against insertion of the image forming unit 11K increases by the amount corresponding to the drag (F2a-F1a).
  • the resistance against insertion of the image forming unit 11K can be kept substantially constant from the initial state when the heat receiver 32K comes into contact with development device 19K until the engagement pin 140K approaches the engagement portion 423bK.
  • the guiding face 423c can be shaped so that its inclination relative to the installation direction Z decreases toward the engagement portion 423b.
  • the resistance can be substantially constant while the engagement pin 140K moves along the guiding portion 423aK of the engagement slot 423K. Accordingly, the resistance against insertion of the image forming unit 11K can be kept constant.
  • FIG. 27 is a graph of load (linear line A) necessary for insertion of the development device 19K when the guiding surface 423cK of the guiding portion 423aK is linear as shown in FIG. 26A and load (linear line B) necessary for insertion of the development device 19K when the guiding surface 423cK is a quadratic curve. It is to be noted that FIG. 27 shows results generated in simulation with the frictional resistance between the guiding face 423cK and the engagement pin 140K deemed zero, and reference character L represents the amount by which the development device 19 is moved (insertion amount) to complete insertion thereof.
  • the user operates a lever provided on the front side of the apparatus to move the holder 41K toward the front side. Then, pushed by the contact portion 41fK, the image forming unit 11K (development device 19K) moves to the front side of the apparatus together with the holder 41K.
  • the engagement pin 140K of the holder 41K reaches the guiding portion 423aK of the engagement slot 423K and is guided by the guiding portion 423aK, the holder 41K moves relatively to the holder supporter 42K in the direction away from the development device 19K. Accordingly, the heat receiver 32K held by the holder 41K moves away from the development device 19K.
  • the heat receiver 32K When the engagement pin 140K reaches an end portion of the guiding portion 423aK, the heat receiver 32K is completely disengaged from the development device 19K as shown in FIG. 22 . When the heat receiver 32K is thus disengaged, the user pulls out the development device 19K from the apparatus body. In removal of the image forming unit 11K from the apparatus body, the heat receiver 32K is moved away from the development device 19K and does not apply pressure to the development device 19K. Additionally, the first and second engagement rims 161K and 162K are disengaged from the first and second receiving rims 191K and 192K and move relatively to the first and second receiving rims 191K and 192K in parallel to the insertion direction Z.
  • the image forming unit 11K can be pulled out from the apparatus body easily.
  • the shifting means in removal of the image forming unit 11K from the apparatus body, sliding contact between the heat conduction sheet 130K and the development device 19K can be reduced, thus reducing abrasion of the heat conduction sheet 130K.
  • the guiding portion 423aK of the engagement slot 423K has the guiding face 423cK of quadratic curve in the description above, the guiding portion 423aK is not limited thereto.
  • FIG. 28 illustrates an engagement slot 4231 as a variation.
  • a guiding portion 423a1 of the engagement slot 4231 includes first and second inclined portions 423a-1 and 423a-2 each having a linear guiding face (guiding face 423cl).
  • the second inclined portion 423a-2 on the side of the engagement portion 423b is inclined from the insertion direction Z by an angle (hereinafter "inclination angle") ⁇ 2 smaller than an inclination angle ⁇ 1 of the first inclined portion 423a-1.
  • the inclination relative to the insertion direction Z decreases toward the engagement portion 423b.
  • the engagement pin 140K can be guided by the second inclined portion 423a-2 whose inclination is smaller when the reaction force of the engagement pin 140K increases in response to the increase in the pressing force exerted on the development device 19K by the heat receiver 32. Accordingly, increases in the drag generated when the engagement pin 140K moves inside the guiding portion 423a1 can be limited, and thus increases in the resistance against insertion of the development device 19K can be limited. It is to be noted that although there are two inclined portions in the configuration shown in FIG. 28 , the number of inclined portions into which the guiding portion 423a is divided is not limited thereto. In such cases, the inclination of the inclined portion is reduced toward the engagement portion 423b similarly.
  • the development device 19 may be designed to be independently installed and removed from the apparatus body although the relative positions of the development device 19 and the photoreceptor 18 are determined with the positioning plates, and the development device 19 and the photoreceptor 18 are united into a single unit removably installed in the apparatus body in the above-described configuration.
  • a positioning member inside the apparatus body determines the position of the development device 19 so that the gap between the photoreceptor 18 and the development roller 19a can be kept properly.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 includes the photoreceptor 18 serving as the latent image bearer, the development device 19 removably installed in the apparatus body, the liquid-cooling device 30 including the heat receiver 32, and the engaging and disengaging unit 40.
  • the development device 19 includes the development roller 19a serving as the developer bearer.
  • the heat receiver 32 contains coolant to draw heat from the development device 19, and the coil spring 142 presses the heat receiver 32 against the side wall of the development device 19.
  • the engaging and disengaging unit 40 moves the heat receiver 32 in the insertion direction Z of the development device 19K, thereby engaging and disengaging the heat receiver 32 from the development device 19.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 further includes the shifting means to move the heat receiver 32.
  • the image forming apparatus 100 further includes the first and second positioning plates 111 and 112 to fix in position the development device 19 relative to the photoreceptor 18.
  • the shifting means is designed to contact the development device 19 in installation of the development device 19 in the apparatus body and to move the heat receiver 32 together with the development device 19 in the installation direction Z.
  • the shifting means to move the heat receiver 32 includes the first receiving rim 191 provided to the development device 19 and the contact portion 41f provided to the engaging and disengaging unit 40 and designed to contact the first receiving rim 191.
  • the first receiving rim 191 projects toward the heat receiver 32.
  • the heat receiver 32 can move in the installation direction Z together with the development device 19.
  • the engaging and disengaging unit 40 includes the holder 41 to hold the heat receiver 32 via the coil spring 142, and the holder supporter 42 to support the holder 41 movably in the installation direction Z of the development device 19.
  • the holder 41 includes the engagement pin 140
  • the holder supporter 42 includes the engagement slot 423 that engages with the engagement pin 140.
  • the engagement slot 423 includes the guiding portion 423a and the engagement portion 423b.
  • the guiding portion 423a is inclined relative to the installation direction Z of the development device 19.
  • the guiding portion 423a guides the engagement pin 140 close to and away from the development device 19 while moving the engagement pin 140 in parallel to the installation direction Z.
  • the engagement portion 423b extends in the insertion direction Z and designed to retain the engagement pin 140 when the heat receiver 32 is pressed against the side wall 19D of the development device 19.
  • the heat receiver 32 can be engaged and disengaged from the development device 19 by operating the holder 41. Additionally, the holder 41 can be prevented from accidentally disengaged from the holder supporter 42.
  • the guiding portion 423a is designed so that its inclination relative to the installation direction Z decreases toward the engagement portion 423b. This configuration can restrict increases in drag when the engagement pin 140 moves along the guiding face 423c of the guiding portion 423a even if, in insertion of the development device 19, the pressing force exerted on the development device 19 from the heat receiver 32 increases, and the resistance applied to engagement pin 140 due to the pressing force increases.
  • the holder 41 heat receiver 32
  • resistance against insertion of the development device 19 can be restricted. Therefore, a strong force is not necessary for insertion of the development device 19, thus enhancing usability.
  • the engaging and disengaging unit 40 further includes the first and second engagement rims 161 and 162.
  • the first and second engagement rims 161 and 162 are engaged with the first and second receiving rims 191 and 192 by the reaction against the pressure exerted by the heat receiver 32 on the coil spring 142.
  • the engaging and disengaging unit 40 is fixed to the development device 19.
  • the reaction against the pressing force exerted on the coil spring 142 by the heat receiver 32 can affect the receiving rims 191 and 192 of the development device 19.
  • the pressure applied from the heat receiver 32 to the development device 19 can become an internal force, thus reducing the force applied to the positioning plates 111 and 112 from the development device 19 due to the pressure exerted by the heat receiver 32. Therefore, fluctuations in the gap between the photoreceptor 18 and the development device 19 can be restricted.

Claims (8)

  1. Appareil de formation d'image (100) comprenant :
    une unité en tandem de formation d'image (1) dans laquelle quatre unités de formation d'image (1) sont agencées parallèlement les unes aux autres, chaque unité de formation d'image (11) comprenant un support d'image latente (18) ;
    un dispositif de développement (19K) pouvant être installé de manière amovible dans un corps de l'appareil dans une direction d'installation (Z), le dispositif de développement (19K) comprenant un support de révélateur (19aK) pour porter un révélateur jusqu'à une zone de développement faisant face au support d'image latente (18) ;
    un dispositif de refroidissement (30) comprenant un récepteur thermique (32K) contenant un liquide de refroidissement pour extraire la chaleur du dispositif de développement (19K) ;
    un moyen presseur (142K) pour presser le récepteur thermique (32K) du dispositif de refroidissement (19K) contre une paroi latérale (19D) du dispositif de développement (19K) ;
    une unité de mise en prise et de désengagement (40) pour mettre en prise et désengager le récepteur thermique (32K) du dispositif de développement (19) en déplaçant le récepteur thermique (32K) parallèlement à la direction d'installation (Z) ; et
    un moyen de déplacement pour déplacer le récepteur thermique (32K),
    où, lors de l'installation du dispositif de développement (19K) dans le corps d'appareil, le moyen de déplacement est configuré pour entrer en contact avec le dispositif de développement (19K) et pour déplacer le récepteur thermique (32K) avec le dispositif de développement (19K) dans la direction d'installation (Z), où l'unité de mise en prise et de désengagement (40) comporte un porteur (41) pour porter le récepteur thermique (32K) par l'intermédiaire du moyen presseur (142), et un support de porteur (42) pour soutenir le porteur (41) de manière mobile dans la direction d'installation (Z) du dispositif de développement (19), caractérisé en ce que
    le moyen de déplacement comprend une saillie (191K) faisant saillie à partir du dispositif de développement (19K) vers le récepteur thermique (32K), et une partie de contact (41fK) mise à disposition du porteur (41) de l'unité de mise en prise et de désengagement (40), la partie de contact (41fK) étant positionnée dans une partie d'extrémité aval du porteur (41) dans la direction d'installation (Z) et comprend une face disposée perpendiculairement à la direction d'installation (Z) et poussée par la saillie (191K) lorsque le dispositif de développement (19) est installé dans le corps d'appareil,
    où lorsque l'unité de formation d'image (11) est insérée dans le corps d'appareil, la partie d'extrémité aval dans la direction d'insertion (Z) de la saillie (191K) entre en contact avec la partie de contact (41fK), et quand l'unité de formation d'image (11) est insérée plus loin encore, la saillie (191K) est configurée pour pousser la partie de contact (41fK) et le porteur (41) est déplacé vers l'aval dans la direction d'insertion (Z) avec le dispositif de développement (19K), de telle sorte que le récepteur thermique (32K) porté par le porteur (41) est configuré pour se déplacer vers le dispositif de développement (19K) en lien avec l'insertion du dispositif de développement (19K).
  2. Appareil de formation d'image (100) selon la revendication 1,
    dans lequel le porteur (41) comprend un élément de mise en prise (140),
    un trou de mise en prise (423) destiné à venir en prise avec l'élément de mise en prise (140) du porteur (41) étant formé dans le support de porteur (42),
    le trou de mise en prise (423) comprend une partie de guidage (423a) inclinée par rapport à la direction d'installation (Z) pour guider l'élément de mise en prise (140) plus près du dispositif de développement à mesure que l'élément de mise en prise (140) se déplace vers l'aval dans la direction d'installation (Z), et une partie de mise en prise (423b) s'étendant parallèlement à la direction d'insertion (Z) et conçue pour retenir l'élément de mise en prise (140) quand le récepteur thermique (32K) est pressé contre la paroi latérale (19D) du dispositif de développement (19), et
    une inclinaison de la partie de guidage (423a) du trou de mise en prise (423) par rapport à la direction d'installation (Z) est configurée pour diminuer en direction de la partie de mise en prise (423b).
  3. Appareil de formation d'image (100) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément presseur (142) est un élément élastique comprenant une première extrémité disposée en contact avec le porteur (41) et une seconde extrémité disposée en contact avec le récepteur thermique (32K).
  4. Appareil de formation d'image (100) selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la partie de guidage (423a1) du trou de mise en prise (4231) est divisée dans une direction longitudinale de la partie de guidage (423a1) en plusieurs parties inclinées linéaires (423a-1 ; 423a-1) ayant différentes inclinaisons par rapport à la direction d'installation (Z), et
    parmi les parties d'inclinaison linéaires (423a-1 ; 423a-1), l'inclinaison de la partie inclinée linéaire la plus proche de la partie de mise en prise (423b) est plus faible.
  5. Appareil de formation d'image (100) selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la partie de guidage (423a1) du trou de mise en prise (4231) est courbe.
  6. Appareil de formation d'image (100) selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que la partie de guidage (423a1) du trou de mise en prise (4231) comprend une face en courbe quadratique.
  7. Appareil de formation d'image (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 6, caractérisé en ce qu'une partie de la partie de guidage (423aK) qui entre en contact avec l'élément de mise en prise (140K) est lubrifiée.
  8. Appareil de formation d'image (100) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 7, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre un moyen de positionnement (111 ; 112) pour déterminer une position du dispositif de développement (19K) par rapport au support d'image latente (18K),
    l'unité de mise en prise et de désengagement (40) comprenant en outre une partie de mise en prise (161 ; 162) pour entrer en prise avec une partie de réception (191 ; 192) mise à disposition du dispositif de développement (19K),
    lorsque le récepteur thermique (32K) est pressé contre le dispositif de développement (19K), la partie de mise en prise (161 ; 162) est mise en prise avec la partie de réception (191 ; 192) par réaction contre la pression exercée par le récepteur de chaleur (32K) sur le moyen presseur (142), de sorte que l'unité de mise en prise et de désengagement (40) est fixée au dispositif de développement (19K).
EP12165385.1A 2011-04-28 2012-04-24 Appareil de formation d'images Not-in-force EP2518570B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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JP2011102253A JP5757408B2 (ja) 2011-04-28 2011-04-28 画像形成装置

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EP2518570A2 EP2518570A2 (fr) 2012-10-31
EP2518570A3 EP2518570A3 (fr) 2013-11-27
EP2518570B1 true EP2518570B1 (fr) 2018-05-30

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JP6834308B2 (ja) 2016-09-30 2021-02-24 株式会社リコー 引き出し機構、画像形成装置および電子機器

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JPH103236A (ja) * 1996-06-14 1998-01-06 Konica Corp クリーニング装置
JP3768686B2 (ja) * 1998-07-23 2006-04-19 株式会社リコー 開閉回動機構
JP3923883B2 (ja) * 2002-10-31 2007-06-06 株式会社リコー ユニット操作装置および画像形成装置
JP2005070261A (ja) * 2003-08-22 2005-03-17 Canon Inc 画像形成装置のプロセスカートリッジ装着手段
JP2005164927A (ja) * 2003-12-02 2005-06-23 Canon Inc 画像形成装置
JP5392619B2 (ja) * 2008-11-13 2014-01-22 株式会社リコー 画像形成装置
JP5349999B2 (ja) * 2009-02-16 2013-11-20 キヤノン株式会社 プロセスカートリッジおよび画像形成装置
JP5392617B2 (ja) * 2009-03-18 2014-01-22 株式会社リコー 画像形成装置
JP5557096B2 (ja) * 2009-06-01 2014-07-23 株式会社リコー 画像形成装置
JP5588657B2 (ja) 2009-11-10 2014-09-10 旭化成ケミカルズ株式会社 カルボン酸の製造方法

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JP2012234034A (ja) 2012-11-29
EP2518570A2 (fr) 2012-10-31
EP2518570A3 (fr) 2013-11-27

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