JP2000259053A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a part connecting a cleaning means and a waste-toner container together from being broken by a work done by a user, etc. by making an operation part, which is operated to release the lock of an image-carrier unit by a locking means, unoperatable in a condition where the waste-toner container is attached to a device main body and connected to the cleaning means. SOLUTION: A lock release lever 371 as an operation part, which is operated to release the lock of an image-carrier unit TU by a locking means, cannot be operated in a condition where a waste-toner container 500 is attached to a device main body and connected to a cleaning means, and therefore cannot release the lock. That is, the lock of the image-carrier unit TU cannot be released by the operation of the operation part 371. The restriction of the lock release lever 371 by the waste-toner bottle 500 is released by opening a front cover and removing the waste-toner bottle 500, and this makes it possible to turn the lock release lever 371.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc. for forming an image by using an electrophotographic technique. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for unlocking the image carrier unit with the apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic technique includes a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on an outer peripheral surface, a charging device for uniformly charging the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member, and one charging device. Exposure means for selectively exposing the charged outer peripheral surface to form an electrostatic latent image, and applying a toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure means to form a visible image Developing means for forming a (toner image), transferring means for transferring the toner image developed by the developing means onto a recording material such as paper to be transferred, and removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer Cleaning means.

As a transfer means, an intermediate image is formed in which a toner image formed on a photoreceptor is transferred (primary transfer), and the toner image is further transferred (secondary transfer) to a recording material such as paper to be transferred. One using a transcript is known.

In such an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive member or an intermediate transfer member as an image carrier is provided.
The image carrier unit may be configured as a unit together with the cleaning unit, and may be configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body by a user or the like.

[0005]

In the case where the image carrier unit is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, a lock for locking the image carrier unit to the apparatus main body is required in order to securely mount the image carrier unit. It is desirable to provide means.

Further, in order to increase the recovery capacity of the toner (waste toner) removed by the cleaning means of the image carrier unit, a waste toner container separate from the cleaning means is connected to the cleaning means and is disposed. It is desirable to collect the toner.

However, when the cleaning means and another waste toner container are connected to the cleaning means, if the user tries to remove the image carrier unit while the cleaning means and the waste toner container are connected. There is a possibility that the connecting portion between the cleaning means and the waste toner container (the connecting portion between the cleaning means and / or the waste toner container) may be damaged.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an image forming apparatus in which a connecting portion between a cleaning unit and a waste toner container is not damaged by the above-mentioned operation by a user or the like.

[0009]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image carrier for transferring a toner image carried on a surface to a transfer target; An image carrier unit having cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface, and configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and a lock means for locking the image carrier unit to the apparatus main body; An operation unit operated to release the lock by the lock unit, and a detachable unit configured to be detachable from a cleaning unit of the image carrier unit which is locked to the apparatus main body by the lock unit. And a waste toner container connected to the cleaning unit for recovering the toner removed by the cleaning unit and disabling the operation of the operation unit. And it said that there were pictures.

[0010] The image forming apparatus according to the second aspect is the first aspect.
In the image forming apparatus described above, a shutter for opening and closing a discharge port for discharging toner toward the waste toner container is provided at a connection portion of the cleaning unit with the waste toner container, and the waste toner container is connected. At this time, the shutter can open the outlet, and when the waste toner container is removed, the outlet is closed by the shutter.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a connecting direction of the cleaning unit and the waste toner container is different from a mounting / removing direction of the image carrier unit with respect to the apparatus main body.

[0012]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, an image carrier for transferring a toner image carried on the surface to a transfer target, and toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer are removed. The cleaning means is configured as an image carrier unit, and since the image carrier unit is detachable from the apparatus main body, the image carrier unit can be attached and detached by a user or the like. The locking can be performed reliably.

Further, the image carrier unit is configured to be detachable from the cleaning means of the image carrier unit locked by the locking means with respect to the apparatus main body. Since the waste toner container for collecting the removed toner is provided, it is possible to increase the collection capacity of the waste toner.

An operation unit operated when unlocking the image carrier unit by the locking means is
Since the operation becomes impossible in a state where the waste toner container is mounted on the apparatus main body and connected to the cleaning means,
The lock cannot be released.

That is, the user cannot release the lock of the image carrier unit by operating the operation unit only after removing the waste toner container and releasing the connection with the cleaning means. Become.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the user from trying to remove the image carrier unit while the cleaning means and the waste toner container remain connected, and as a result, the cleaning means and the waste toner container can be prevented. The connection part (the connection part of the cleaning means and / or the waste toner container) is not broken.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a connecting portion between the cleaning unit and the waste toner container discharges toner toward the waste toner container. A shutter for opening and closing an outlet is provided, and when the waste toner container is connected, the shutter can open the outlet, and when the waste toner container is removed, the outlet is closed by the shutter. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from leaking from the cleaning unit when the image carrier unit is replaced.

In such a configuration, no measure is taken, and therefore, if the user tries to remove the image carrier unit while the cleaning means and the waste toner container remain connected. In addition, the shutter is easily damaged.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the user tries to remove the image carrier unit while the cleaning means and the waste toner container remain connected. Is reliably prevented, so that the shutter is reliably prevented from being damaged.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect, a connecting direction between the cleaning unit and the waste toner container, and attachment / detachment of the image carrier unit to / from the apparatus main body. Although the direction is different, the situation where the user tries to remove the image carrier unit while the cleaning means and the waste toner container remain connected to each other is reliably prevented. The degree of freedom in setting the attachment / detachment direction of the carrier unit and / or the waste toner container is improved.

More specifically, if the connecting direction of the cleaning means and the waste toner container is made to coincide with the attaching / detaching direction of the image carrier unit with respect to the apparatus main body, the connecting method can be performed without taking any special measures. It is possible that the parts are less likely to break. For example, if the structure of the connecting portion between the cleaning means and the waste toner container is configured such that the cylindrical portions are loosely fitted with each other, and the attaching / detaching direction of the image carrier unit and the waste toner container is defined as the axial direction of the cylindrical portion. Even if the image carrier unit is attached and detached without removing the waste toner container, the connecting portion will not be damaged.

However, with such a configuration,
The direction in which the image carrier unit and the waste toner container are attached and detached is limited to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, which is not desirable.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the user may try to remove the image carrier unit while the cleaning means and the waste toner container are connected. Is reliably prevented even if the connecting direction of the cleaning means and the waste toner container is made different from the attaching / detaching direction of the image carrier unit to / from the apparatus main body. You can do it.

Accordingly, the degree of freedom in setting the mounting / removing direction of the image carrier unit and / or the waste toner container can be remarkably improved.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

First, the outline of the image forming apparatus will be described, and then the intermediate transfer unit as an image carrier unit and its locking means and unlocking means will be described in detail.

The image forming apparatus 300 is an apparatus capable of forming a full-color image using a developing device using four color toners of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). is there.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 301 denotes a case of the apparatus main body.
Paper feeding device 310, photoconductor unit 320, developing unit 330, and intermediate transfer unit T as an image carrier unit
U, a fixing unit 340, and a control unit (not shown) for controlling the entire apparatus are provided.

The photoconductor unit 320 includes a photoconductor 321.
And a charging roller 322 as a charging unit, and a cleaning unit 323. The photoconductor 321 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure by an appropriate driving unit (not shown) during image formation.

Around the photoconductor 321, along the rotation direction thereof, the charging roller 322, developing devices 331 (Y, C, M, K) as developing means, an intermediate transfer unit TU, and the cleaning means 323 are provided. Are located.

The charging roller 322 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 321 to uniformly charge the outer peripheral surface. On the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor 321, a selective exposure L1 according to desired image information is performed by the exposure unit 302, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 321 by the exposure L1. .

The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner applied by a developing unit 331 of the developing unit 330.

The developing unit 330 serves as a developing means.
Developing device 331Y for yellow, developing device 331 for cyan
C, a developing device 331M for magenta and a developing device 331K for black. Each of these developing devices 331 (Y,
C, M, and K) include yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners, respectively. Each of the developing devices 332 is provided with a developing roller 332, and only a developing roller of any one of the developing devices can be brought into contact with the photosensitive member 321 at the time of image formation by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown). Therefore, these developing units 331 apply any one of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners to the surface of the photoconductor 321 to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 321.

The developed toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 160 of the intermediate transfer unit TU.

The cleaning means 323 is a cleaning blade 324 for scraping off toner (not shown) remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 321 after the transfer.
It has.

The intermediate transfer unit TU includes a driving roller 110 and four driven rollers 1 as described later in detail.
20, 130, 140, and 150; an endless intermediate transfer belt 160 as an image carrier that is stretched between these rollers so as to be able to circulate; and a cleaning unit 170 that can contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 160 And a secondary transfer roller 180.

The drive roller 110 is driven to rotate at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive member 321 by engaging a gear (not shown) fixed to the end with a drive gear (not shown) for the photosensitive member 321. And therefore the intermediate transfer belt 16
0 is driven to circulate at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive member 321 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure.

The driven roller 150 is disposed at a position where the intermediate transfer belt 160 is pressed against the photosensitive member 321 by its own tension between the driven roller 150 and the drive roller 110. The driven roller 150 is pressed against the photosensitive member 321 and the intermediate transfer belt 160. A primary transfer portion T1 is formed in the portion.

The driving roller 110 includes the intermediate transfer belt 1
An electrode roller (not shown) is arranged via 60,
A primary transfer voltage is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 160 via the electrode roller.

The driven roller 120 is a tension roller, and urges the intermediate transfer belt 160 in the tension direction by an urging means described later.

The driven roller 130 is a backup roller that forms the secondary transfer portion T2. A secondary transfer roller 180 is opposed to the backup roller 130 via an intermediate transfer belt 160.

The secondary transfer roller 180 can be moved toward and away from the intermediate transfer belt 160 by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown). A secondary transfer voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 180.

The cleaning means 170 includes a cleaning blade 171 which comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 160 and scrapes off the toner remaining on and attached to the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a receiving portion 172 which receives the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 171. And The blade 171 of the cleaning unit 170 can be moved toward and away from the intermediate transfer belt 160 by a contact and separation mechanism described later.

The driven roller 140 is a backup roller for the blade 171.

In the course of circulating the intermediate transfer belt 160, the toner image on the photosensitive member 321 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 160 in the primary transfer portion T1, and the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 160 is , Secondary transfer portion T2
Is transferred to a sheet (recording material) S such as a sheet supplied between the secondary transfer roller 180.

The sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding device 310, and is supplied to the secondary transfer portion T2 at a predetermined timing by the gate roller pair G. 311 is a paper feed cassette, 31
Reference numeral 2 denotes a pickup roller, and reference numeral 313 denotes a separation roller pair for preventing double feeding of sheets.

The sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred at the secondary transfer portion T2 passes through the fixing unit 340, where the toner image is fixed, passes through the paper discharge path 350, and is formed on the case 301 of the apparatus main body. The sheet is discharged onto the received sheet receiving section 303.

The fixing unit 340 includes a fixing roller 341 having a heat source and a pressing roller 34 pressed against the fixing roller 341.
And 2.

The image forming apparatus is provided with a paper discharge path 35
0, two mutually independent discharge paths 351 and 35
2, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 340 is discharged through one of the paper discharge paths (351 or 352). The paper discharge paths 351 and 352 also constitute a switchback path. When an image is formed on both sides of a sheet, the sheet once entering the paper discharge path 351 or 352 passes through the return path 353. Then, the sheet is fed again to the secondary transfer portion T2.

The outline of the operation of the entire image forming apparatus as described above is as follows.

(I) When a print command signal (image forming signal) from a not-shown host computer or the like (a personal computer or the like) is input to a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus, the tension roller 120 is described later.
Moves, and the intermediate transfer belt 160 is in a stretched state. Next, the photoconductor 321, the rollers 332 of the developing device 331, and the intermediate transfer belt 160 are driven to rotate.

(Ii) The outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 321 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 322.

(Iii) The exposure unit 302 selectively exposes the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoconductor 321 in accordance with the image information of the first color (for example, yellow), and the first color (for example, yellow). ) Is formed.

(Iv) Only the developing roller of the developing device 331Y for the first color (for example, yellow) comes into contact with the photoreceptor 321 to thereby develop the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming the first color (for example, yellow). Is formed on the photoconductor 321.

(V) To the intermediate transfer belt 160, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied. Is transferred to At this time, the secondary transfer roller 180 and the belt cleaning unit 170 are separated from the intermediate transfer belt 160.

(Vi) After the toner remaining on the photoconductor 321 is removed by the photoconductor cleaning unit 323, the photoconductor 321 is discharged by the discharging light L 2 from the discharging unit 304.

(Vii) The above operations (ii) to (vi) are repeated as necessary. That is, the second color, the third color, the fourth color,
Are repeated on the intermediate transfer belt 160 to form a toner image corresponding to the content of the print command signal.

(Viii) The sheet S is supplied from the sheet feeding device 310 at a predetermined timing, and immediately before or after the leading end of the sheet S reaches the secondary transfer portion T2 (in short, at a desired position on the sheet S, The secondary transfer roller 180 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 160 (at the timing when the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 160 is transferred), and a secondary transfer voltage is applied. (A full-color image in which four color toner images are superimposed) is transferred onto the sheet S. Further, the belt cleaning unit 170 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 160, and the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 160 after the secondary transfer is removed.

(Ix) As the sheet S passes through the fixing unit 340, the toner image is fixed on the sheet S,
Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed toward a predetermined position (in the case of non-double-sided printing, toward the sheet receiving unit 303, and in the case of double-sided printing, via the switchback path 351 or 352, toward the return path 353).

The outline of the image forming apparatus has been described above. Next, details of the intermediate transfer unit TU as an image carrier unit and its locking means and unlocking means will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an intermediate transfer unit TU, a receiving frame 400 provided in the image forming apparatus 300 for detachably mounting the unit TU, and a slide frame 410 thereof. FIG. 4 is a partially omitted front view showing the unit TU, FIG. 4 is a partially omitted rear view showing the intermediate transfer unit TU in a state where tension is released, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second unit U2 of the intermediate transfer unit TU from the first unit U1. FIG. 6 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a state in which the second unit U2 of the intermediate transfer unit TU is inserted into the first unit U1, and FIG. 7 is a partially omitted right view mainly showing a cleaning unit. FIG. 5 is a front view (a partially omitted left side view in FIG. 4).

As described above, the intermediate transfer unit TU is
A driving roller 110 and four driven rollers 120 and 13
0, 140, and 150, and an endless intermediate transfer belt 1 as an image carrier that is stretched between these rollers so as to be able to circulate.
60, a cleaning unit 170 (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) that can contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 160, and a secondary transfer roller 180.

The intermediate transfer unit TU has a first unit U1 and a second unit U2 as shown in FIG. 5, and the second unit U2 is hollow in the first unit U1 as shown in FIG. First inserted by the part 103
It is detachably attached to the unit U1. Therefore, in order to replace the consumable intermediate transfer belt 160, only the first unit U1 needs to be replaced.

The first unit U1 has a frame 100, and side plates 101 and 101 'of the frame 100.
As a result, the three driven rollers 130, 140, and 1 excluding the driving roller 110 and the tension roller 120 described above.
50 and the secondary transfer roller 180 are rotatably supported.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the cleaning means 170 includes the cleaning blade 171 described above,
A receiving unit 172 for receiving the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 171 and a transport screw 173 for transporting the toner of the receiving unit 172 are provided, and these are configured as a unit. Reference numeral 174 denotes a case of the unit, and a cleaning blade 171 is mounted on an upper portion of the case 174 via a mounting member 175. The receiving portion 172 is formed by a substantially semi-cylindrical portion of the case 174 (see FIG. 4).

Both ends of the case 174 (both ends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 4) are cylindrical (174a, 174a).
a ′), the cylindrical portions 174a, 174
Both ends of the shaft 173a of the transport screw 173 are rotatably supported by a ′ via a bearing member 176. A screw driving gear 173b is fixed to one end (the right end in FIG. 7) of the shaft 173a.

The case 174 has cylindrical portions 174 at both ends thereof.
a, 174 a ′ are the side plates 101, 10 of the frame 100.
By fitting into receiving holes 108, 108 (see FIG. 2) formed at 1 'via bearing members 178, 178', the frame 100 is rotatably supported on the frame 100 around the axis of the cylindrical portion 174a. Have been.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lower end of one cylindrical portion 174a of the case 174 is
A discharge port 174d for discharging the waste toner (not shown) conveyed in 3 to a waste toner bottle 500 (see FIG. 29) as a waste toner container described later is provided, and the discharge port 174d is connected to the discharge port 174d. A shutter 179 for opening and closing is slidably mounted on the cylindrical portion 174a.

As shown in FIG. 27, the shutter 179
A cylindrical base 179a slidably fitted to the cylindrical part 174a of the case 174, two legs 179b, 179b integrally formed at one end of the base 179a, and a protrusion. Piece 179c, 179c
And On the other hand, receiving holes 108a, 108a of the legs 179b are formed in the receiving holes 108 (see FIG. 2) formed in the one side plate 101 of the frame 100 at positions facing the legs 179b, 179b. The receiving holes 108a, 108a
9b are respectively inserted so as to be in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bearing member 178.

As clearly shown in FIG. 8, the bearing member 178
The inner surface 101e of the side plate 101 and the case 1
74 and one side surface 174e.
f is provided, and the leg 174 is attached to the spring 174f.
9b and 179b are engaged, but the spring 174
8, the spring 174f partially extends from the inner surface 101e of the side plate 101 (the receiving hole 108a).
Other parts).

Therefore, the shutter 179 is located at the position where the discharge port 174d is closed as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 unless an external force acts on the shutter 179. When the protruding piece 179c is pressed by the tip 511 of the slider 510, the slider 510 slides in the direction of arrow Z1 against the spring force of the spring 174f as shown in FIG. Then, the discharge port 174d is opened (see FIG. 29).

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
4 are provided with pins 174c, 174c at the upper ends of both ends. The pins 174c, 174c and the frame 10
The tension springs 1 are provided between the spring hooks 109, 109 which are bent inside the side plates 101, 101 '.
77 is stretched. The urging force of the springs 177, 177 causes the case 174 to move the cleaning blade 17
Although the cleaning blade 171 is always urged in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) in which the cleaning blade 171 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 160, the pressing of the cleaning blade 171 is regulated by the contact and separation mechanism.

The contact / separation mechanism comprises a cam 305 provided on the receiving frame 400 side, a contact portion 174b of a case 174 contacting the cam 305, and the spring 177. The cam 305 is rotatably driven by driving means (not shown) provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 300, and as shown in FIG.
5a is opposed to the contact portion 174b of the case 174 without contact, the case 174 is
4a is rotated counterclockwise by the urging force of the spring 177, and the cleaning blade 17 is rotated by the urging force of the spring 177.
1 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 160. Further, the cam 305 rotates clockwise by about 120 ° from the state shown in FIG.
4b, the case 174 has its cylindrical portion 174a
Is rotated clockwise against the urging force of the spring 177, and the cleaning blade 171 is
60 (the separated state is not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the frame 100 has a connecting plate 102 having a substantially inverted concave cross section for connecting the side plates 101 and 101 ′. Has strength. That is, the frame 100 does not have a bottom plate located below the intermediate transfer belt 160, but has sufficient strength.

Since the side plates 101, 101 'also have a substantially inverted concave shape in side view, the second unit U is formed by the recesses (103) of the side plates 101, 101' and the connecting plate 102.
2 is formed to receive the hollow portion 103.

As will be described in detail later, as shown in FIG. 3, the second unit U2 includes a frame 200, a tension roller (driven roller) 120, and a tension for applying tension to the intermediate transfer belt 160 by the tension roller 120. It has an application unit 220 and a tension release unit 240 that can release the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160.

Therefore, with the second unit U2 attached to the first unit U1, the intermediate transfer belt 160
3 can be stretched by the rollers 110 to 150 as shown in FIG. 3, and the tension can be released as shown in FIGS. 11 and 4.

FIG. 10 is a partially omitted right side view showing the second unit U2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and FIG. 10, the tension applying means 220 includes a pair of levers 221 and 221 that rotatably support both ends of the tension roller 120, and these levers 221 and 221 are connected to each other in FIG. A tension spring 222 as an urging means for urging in the direction of arrow a (see FIG. 5,
FIG. 10).

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG.
21 and 221 are substantially L-shaped in front view,
0 are independently rotatably supported on shafts 202 (see FIG. 3). Lever 22
The shaft 12 of the tension roller 120 is attached to one end 221 a of the tension roller 120.
1 (see FIG. 5) is connected to the other end 221b.
Is connected to the tension spring 222 via a wire 223. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
3 is connected to the other end 221b of the lever 221 and the direction of the tension spring 222 is changed by 90 ° by a pulley 224 rotatably supported by a top plate 241a of a swing frame 241 of the tension release means 240 described later. It is connected to one end. That is, the other ends 221b of the pair of levers 221 that can rotate independently are connected to both ends of a single tension spring 222 via the wires 223, respectively, and the rotation angles of the levers 221 are different. 3, each lever 221 is urged in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 3 by the same (common) spring force of the tension spring 222.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the tension releasing means 240 is provided on the side plates 201 and 201 'of the frame 200.
In contrast, the swing frame 241 which is swingably supported on the same axis 202 as the lever 221 and a tension spring which biases the swing frame 241 in the direction of arrow b (counterclockwise) in FIG. 242 and 242 (only one of them is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The swing frame 241 has the top plate 241a and a pair of side plates 241b, 241b formed by bending both ends of the top plate 241a, and the spring hooks 2 formed at both end portions of the top plate 241a.
41c, 241c (see FIG. 10) and the spring hooks 20 provided on the inner surfaces of the side plates 201, 201 'of the frame 200.
1a and 201a (only one of them is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), the tension springs 242 are respectively stretched, so that they are urged around the shaft 202 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). I have.

A cam follower 243 (see FIG. 10) is provided on the inner surface of each of the side plates 241b and 241b so as to be rotatable about a shaft 243a, and the cam follower 243 comes into contact with the cam 244.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Is the output shaft (cam shaft) 246 from the electromagnetic clutch 245
It is fixed to. As shown in FIG. 4, the electromagnetic clutch 245 includes side plates 201 and 20 of the frame 200 between a pair of engagement pieces 245b provided on the case 245a.
The rotation around the output shaft 246 is regulated by inserting (engaging) an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the inner surface side of the connecting plate 207 (see FIG. 13) connecting the 1 ′. . As shown in FIG. 10, a gear 247 is fixed to the disc-shaped rotation angle regulating member 245c of the electromagnetic clutch 245, and the gear 248 meshes with the gear 247. The gear 248 is connected to the connection plate 207 (see FIG. 13).
Is fixed to a shaft 248a rotatably supported by a support plate 207a (see FIG. 10) and the side plate 201 ', and a power receiving gear 249 is fixed to an outer end of the shaft 248a. Have been. The electromagnetic clutch 2
45 is connected to the rotation angle regulating member 245c.
And the gear 247, and rotates independently of the rotation angle regulating member 245c and the gear 247.
The electromagnetic clutch 245, the output shaft 246, the gear 247, and the cams 244, 244 are assembled in advance in slits 203, 203 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) formed in the side plates 201, 201 '. , Output shaft 246
Are assembled into the frame 200 by inserting both ends of the frame with a bearing member (not shown) attached thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power receiving gear 249 is formed by the second unit U2 and the first unit U.
When the intermediate transfer unit TU in the state of being mounted on the receiving frame 400 is mounted on the receiving frame 400 as described later, it engages with a gear (not shown) provided on the receiving frame 400 side, and the gear of the apparatus main body is shown via this gear. It receives power from the driving means that does not.

That is, when the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the apparatus main body, the cam 244 is driven by the driving means (not shown) through the gears 249, 248, the gear 247, the electromagnetic clutch 245, and the output shaft 246 thereof, and By the action of H.245, it is driven to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cam 244 is
4a and a small diameter portion 244b. When the large diameter portion 244a is in contact with the cam follower 243 as shown in FIG. It turns clockwise to the state shown in the figure, and the tension roller 120 presses the intermediate transfer belt 160 from inside by the urging force of the tension spring 222 of the tension applying means 220. As a result, tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 160, and the intermediate transfer belt 160 can be circulated by the drive roller 110.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 4, the cam 244 rotates, and its small diameter portion 244b is
When it comes into contact with 43, the swing frame 241 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 11 by the urging force of the tension spring 242, and the state shown in FIG. At this time, the tension spring 222 of the tension applying means 220 is still
1 is urged clockwise, but when the swing frame 241 rotates counterclockwise, the lever 221 comes into contact with the top plate 241a of the swing frame 241 so that the lever 221 moves clockwise (direction of arrow a). Is restricted, and as a result, the tension roller 120 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 160. As a result, the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is released.

In this embodiment, when the above-described image forming signal is input while the power of the apparatus 300 is turned on, the cam 244 rotates as shown in FIG. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the image forming operation is completed, the cam 244 rotates as shown in FIG. 11, and the stretched state of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is released. When the power of the apparatus 300 is turned on, the cam 244 rotates as shown in FIG. 3 to put the intermediate transfer belt 160 in a stretched state, and when the apparatus is turned off,
The cam 244 may rotate as shown in FIG. 11 to release the stretched state of the intermediate transfer belt 160.

FIG. 12 is a schematic development view of the intermediate transfer belt 160 and the rollers 110 to 150.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the intermediate transfer belt 160 is provided with beads 161 on the back surfaces of both side edges, and when the intermediate transfer belt 160 tries to meander, the beads 161 are formed. When the side surface 162 abuts against the end surface 131 of the backup roller 130, meandering of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is prevented. In other words, the backup roller 130 constitutes a bead regulating roller.

Therefore, if no means is taken, the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is released as described above, and
When 0 is loosened, the bead 161 is
May be removed from the end surface 131.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
01 ′, a portion near the bead regulating roller 130 is bent inward to form a tongue piece.
Is lightly brought into contact with both side edges of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 when it is loosened, so that the bead regulating roller 130
The slack in the vicinity is regulated to prevent the bead 161 from coming off the end face 131 of the bead regulating roller 130.

Second unit U with respect to first unit U1
An appropriate structure can be adopted as the mounting structure 2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a pair of pins 204, 204 are provided at both ends of the frame 200 of the second unit U2 (the end in the insertion direction), and the connecting plate 102 of the frame 100 of the first unit U1 is provided. Guide rails 105, 105 for regulating and guiding the pin 204 from above and below are provided on both inner side surfaces. In the guide rail 105, the width of the guide groove 105a is tapered at the front end portion into a tapered shape (a guide rail 401 described later (FIG. 1).
7, see FIG. 18) and have the same dimensions as the outer diameter of the pin 204 at the end. As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, a hook 205 is provided on the upper side of the side plate 201 on the rear end (rear end in the insertion direction) of the frame 200 of the second unit U2, and the frame of the first unit U1 10
An engagement portion 106 with the hook 205 is provided at a portion of the one side plate 101 facing the hook 205. Further, a pair of positioning pins 20 are provided at both upper ends of the side plate 201.
6 and 206, and the side plate 101 of the first unit U1 has a pin 206 and an engagement hole 1 with the pin 206.
07 and 107 are provided. The hook 205 is constantly urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction in which the hook 205 is engaged with the engaging portion 106. However, the hook 205 is configured to be able to release the engagement with the engaging portion 106 by holding the knob 205a. In order to mount the second unit U2 on the first unit U1, the pins 204, 204 at the tip of the second unit U2 are connected to the guide rails 10 of the first unit U1.
5, 105 and the second unit U2
It is inserted into the hollow portion 103 of the unit U1 (see FIG. 6).
With this insertion, the hook 205 of the second unit U2
When this reaches the engaging portion 106 of the first unit U1, the inclined portion 205b comes into contact with the engaging portion 106 so that the inclined portion 205b rotates over the spring force and rides over the engaging portion 106 to engage. Engage with the part 106. At the same time, the pin 204 of the second unit U2 reaches the tip of the guide rail 105 and engages with the tip of the tapered groove 105a for positioning, and the positioning pins 206 and 206 are moved to the first position. The first unit U1 and the second unit U2 are completely positioned by being fitted into the engagement holes 107 of the unit U1, and the mounting is completed.
To remove the second unit U2 from the first unit U1, hold the knob 205a and
And the second unit U2 is disengaged from the first unit U.
You only have to pull out from 1.

The insertion and removal of the second unit U2 with respect to the first unit U1 is performed while the tension releasing means 240 is in operation, that is, the small diameter portion 244b of the cam 244 is in contact with the cam follower 243 (see FIG. 11). The large diameter portion 244a of the cam 244 is a cam follower 243.
If the operation is to be performed in a non-operating state (see FIG. 3) in contact with the tension roller 120 and the intermediate transfer belt 160,
This is because sliding contact resistance is generated between the inner unit and the inner surface, and since the resistance is large, it is difficult to insert and remove the second unit U2 with respect to the first unit U1. In addition, as described later,
When the second unit U2 is pulled out, the tension releasing means 240 is automatically in the operating state (see FIG. 11).

As shown in FIG. 2, the above-described intermediate transfer unit TU is detachably mounted from above on a receiving frame 400 provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 300.

The receiving frame 400 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 30.
A pair of guide rails 401, 40 extending in a substantially horizontal direction fixed to a frame 300F1 of the main body (see FIG. 17).
1 and a slide frame 410 slidably mounted on the guide rails 401, 401.

The slide frame 410 includes a pair of side plates 4.
11, 411 ', a connecting member 412 connecting the side plates at one end thereof, and a connecting plate 413 connecting the side plates at the other end thereof, but having a bottom plate. Absent.

The front and rear pins 411a and 411b are provided on the side plates 411 and 411 ', respectively, and protrude outward. These pins are guided by the guide grooves 401a of the guide rails 401 so that the slide frame 4 is provided.
10 is slidable along the guide rail 401 in a substantially horizontal direction (a substantially horizontal direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rollers 110 to 150 of the intermediate transfer unit TU). Tip portion 401a1 of guide groove 401a (see FIGS. 17 and 18)
Is formed to be the same as the diameter of the front pin 411a for positioning.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer unit TU
The first side plate 101 is provided with a first positioning pin 101a and a second positioning pin 101b projecting outward. The first positioning pin 101a is
1, but the second positioning pin 101
b is the first positioning pin 101 via the fixing piece 101f.
It is fixed in a direction orthogonal to a. The first positioning pin 10 is located outside the other side plate 101 '.
Third and fourth positioning pins 101 in the same direction as 1a
c and 101d are fixed.

On the other hand, the side plate 41 of the slide frame 410
1, the first and second positioning pins 101
a, 101b are provided on the inner surface of the other side plate 411 ′.
Receiving portions 414c of the positioning pins 101c and 101d,
414d is provided. These receiving portions 414 (a,
b, c, d) are, as also shown in FIG. 14, the receiving grooves 414a1, 414b1, 4 of the corresponding positioning pins.
14c1 and 414d1. The groove width of each of these receiving grooves is formed to be sufficiently wider at the upper part than the outer diameter of each pin, and to be gradually narrowed toward the lower part. Receiving grooves 414a1, 414b1, 41
The groove widths of the lower ends 414a2, 414b2, 414c2 of the 4c1 are formed to be the same as the outer diameters of the corresponding positioning pins 101 (a, b, c), and the groove widths of the lower ends 414d2 of the receiving grooves 414d1 correspond to the corresponding positioning. It is formed slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pin 101d.

The intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410 by inserting the positioning pins of the intermediate transfer unit TU into the receiving grooves of the slide frame 410.
This is done by inserting it into the inside from above. Since the groove width of each receiving groove is formed sufficiently wider at the upper part than the outer diameter of each pin, the mounting operation can be easily performed.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a state in which the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410. FIG.

As shown in these figures, when the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410, the positioning pins 101 (a, b, c) are moved to the lower ends 414a2, 414b2, 414c2 of the corresponding receiving grooves. 15 by tightly fitting the positioning pin 101d with the lower end 414d2 of the receiving groove.
In the X, Y, and Z directions. More specifically, the positioning pins 101a and 101c and the corresponding lower ends 414a2 and 414c2 of the receiving grooves are positioned in the X direction, and the four positioning pins and the corresponding bottom portions of the receiving grooves are engaged. Is positioned in the Y direction by contact with the positioning pin 101b.
The positioning in the Z direction is performed by engagement with the corresponding lower end 414b2 of the receiving groove. Positioning pin 101
d and the lower end 414d2 of the receiving groove are loosely fitted, so that even if there are some manufacturing errors in the frame 100 and the slide frame 410 of the intermediate transfer unit TU, the above-described positioning can be performed smoothly. Done.

When the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410 as described above, the power transmission gear (not shown) provided on the slide frame 410 is connected to the power receiving gear 249 ( 4 and 10) are engaged with each other. A gear 173b for driving the transport screw 173 of the cleaning means 170 is
10 meshes with a power transmission gear (not shown). Further, the contact portion 174b of the case 174 of the cleaning unit 170 shown in FIG. 4 is in a state where it can contact the cam 305 on the slide frame 410 side.

As shown in FIG. 17, the image forming apparatus 300 of this embodiment includes a first frame 300F1 into which the intermediate transfer unit TU is inserted as described later, and a joining and separating operation with respect to the first frame 300F1. And a second frame 300F2 having a substantially inverted L-shape when viewed from the front. The second frame 300F2 is configured to be slidable in the directions of the arrows X1 and X2 with respect to the first frame 300F1. Also, the case 301 shown in FIG.
Are configured to be separable at the position BB in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the second frame 300F2 is slid in the direction of arrow X2 to be separated from the first frame 300F1, and the intermediate space with respect to the slide frame 410 using the space A therebetween. The transfer unit TU is attached and detached.

Therefore, actually, FIG. 17 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the state where the slide frame 410 is pulled out to the rear end of the guide rail 401, the operation of attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer unit TU is performed.

After the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410 as shown in FIGS.
The front pin 411a of the slide frame 410 is connected to the front end 401a of the guide groove 401a of the guide rail 401.
1 until the second frame 30
0F2 is slid in the direction of arrow X1 so that the first frame 3
By connecting the slide frame 410 and the intermediate transfer unit TU to the position shown in FIG. 1 (to a position where the intermediate transfer belt 160 can appropriately contact the photoconductor 321) by the locking means described later by being coupled with 00F1. And locked.

FIG. 22 is a partially omitted front view showing a state where the slide frame 410 and the intermediate transfer unit TU are positioned and locked as described above, and FIG. 23 is a partially omitted front view mainly showing locking means and unlocking means. FIG. 24 is a right side view partially omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 22 and 24, the locking means 360 is provided with side plates 411, 41 of the slide frame 410.
Pins 415, 415 respectively fixed to the outer surface of 1 '
And the lock pawl 36 engageable with the pins 415 and 415
1, 361, the slide frame 410 and the intermediate transfer unit TU.
A push-up portion 362 (see FIG. 22) in the second frame 300F2, which moves in a direction substantially normal to the contact portion (primary transfer portion T1) and moves in a direction (arrow N1 direction) to contact the photoconductor 321. It is composed of

The lock claws 361 and 361 are shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, they are attached to the side plates 364, 364 'of the first frame 300F1 via the attachment plates 363, respectively. The mounting plate 363 is provided with a shaft 363a, and the lock claw 361 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 363a. A torsion coil spring 365 is mounted on the shaft 363a, and the lock claw 361 is constantly urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 23 by the spring force, but the rotation in the counterclockwise direction is performed by a stopper (not shown). Regulated. The lock claw 361 and the torsion coil spring 365 are mounted on the mounting plate 363 in advance, and are fixed to the side plates 364 and 364 'by fixing the mounting plate 363 to the side plates 364 and 364' with screws. In the state where it is attached to the slide frame 410, the inclined portion 361a of the lock claw 361 is pushed in as described above.
(See FIG. 21) so as to be able to come into contact with the pin 415 of FIG.
The rotation of the lock claw 361 in the counterclockwise direction is restricted.

The operation of the lock means 360 and other components related thereto will be described later in detail.

As shown in FIG. 23, the lock release means 37
0 has a lock release lever 371 as an operation unit. The lock release lever 371 is rotatably attached to one side plate 364 (front side of the apparatus) of the first frame 300F1 by a shaft 371a, and its arm portion 371b is provided.
Are connected to the lock claw 361 by a link 372.

Therefore, in FIG. 23, when the lock release lever 371 is rotated clockwise,
1 rotates clockwise by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 365. In this embodiment, a waste toner bottle 500 (see FIG. 30) described later is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 300. In this state, the rotation of the lock release lever 371 in the release direction (clockwise in the figure) is restricted, and the operation becomes impossible.

The operation of the unlocking means 370 will be described later in detail.

In FIG. 23, reference numeral 380 denotes a slide restricting means for restricting the slide frame 410 from being pushed in the drawing direction.

The slide restricting means 380 is provided with the pins 411a, 411a of the pushed slide frame 410.
And a pair of claw members 381 and 381 (only one is shown) that can be engaged with the pin 411a so as to hold the pin 411a, and a restriction release mechanism 382 that releases the restriction on the pins 411a and 411a by the claw members 381 and 381. ing.

The pawl members 381 and 381 are respectively
1a, the side plates 364, 364 'of the first frame 300F1.
Is mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to. A torsion coil spring (not shown) is mounted on the shaft 381a, and the claw member 381 is constantly urged counterclockwise in FIG. 23 by the spring force. 23 so that the inclined portion 381c of the claw portion 381b can abut the pin 411a of the slide frame 410 pushed in as described above (in the state before the slide frame 410 is pushed in, the position shown in FIG. 23). Is also slightly rotated counterclockwise) by a stopper (not shown).

As mainly shown in FIG. 23, the regulation release mechanism 382 is incorporated in a slide frame 410, and a handle 383 is attached to the slide frame 410 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 383a. At both ends, a pair of levers 384 and 384 (only one is shown) interlocked with the handle 383, respectively.
84 and 384, and push members 385 and 385 (only one is shown) that is pivotally connected to the push members.

The handle 383 has a finger-holding portion 383b on which a finger can be hooked when it is rotated to pull out the slide frame 410 as described later (see FIG. 34).
And an engagement pin 383c with the lever 384, 384,
383c (only one is shown).

The levers 384 and 384 are provided at one end of the lever 384 and engage with the engaging pin 383c of the handle 383. 385 and a connection pin 384b.
1 'are attached rotatably about a shaft 384a.

One end of the push member 385 is connected to the lever 384 by the connection pin 384b, and a long hole 385b provided on the other end side can slide on a pin 411c provided on the side plate 411 (411 '). Is engaged. The other end 385a of the push member 385 is connected to a pin 38 protruding from the side of the arm 381c of the claw member 381.
It is in a position where it can abut against 1d.

Therefore, when the handle 383 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 23 to pull out the slide frame 410 as described later (see FIG. 34), the levers 384 and 384 also rotate clockwise about the shaft 384a in conjunction therewith. 23, the push member 385 slides to the left in FIG.
1 pin 381d, and thereby the claw member 381,
381 is rotated clockwise around the shaft 381a, and is caught (engaged) with the pin 411a by the claw portion 381b.
Will be canceled.

In order to make the turning operation of the lever 384 and the handle 383 smooth, the lever 38
4,384 and the side plates 411, 41 of the receiving frame 400
A tension spring 386 is stretched between the extension spring 386 and 1 ′.

Hereinafter, the operation of the lock means 360, the lock release means 370, and the slide regulating means 380 will be described together with the operation of attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer unit TU and the like. The related configuration will also be described.

First, the mounting operation will be described.

(1) As shown in FIG. 17, the second frame 300F2 of the image forming apparatus 300 is slid in the direction of arrow X2, and the slide frame 410 is pulled out. Unit T
U is mounted on the slide frame 410.

FIG. 19 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410 pulled out.

As shown in this drawing, the pulled-out slide frame 410 has a front pin 411a in contact with the top plate 401b of the guide rail 401 and a rear pin 411b.
Are in contact with the bottom plate 401c of the guide rail 401, and are thus supported by the guide rail 401.

(2) The slide pin 410 is inserted into the guide groove 401
Slide until it reaches the front end portion 401a1 (see FIG. 20). In addition, the tip part 401a1 of the guide groove 401a
19, is formed by attaching a guide plate 401d to the tip of the guide rail 401, as shown in FIG.

The front pin 411a is connected to the guide rail 401.
Slide frame 41 until it reaches the tip portion 401a1 of the
In the process of sliding 0, the inclined pin 381c is pushed down by the front pin 411a coming into contact with the inclined section 381c of the claw member 381 in the slide restricting means 380 described above (the claw member 381 is turned clockwise in FIG. 21). Movement), when the pin 411a reaches the distal end 401a1 of the guide rail 401, the claw member 381 rotates counterclockwise, and the pin 411a is held by the claw member 381,
This prevents the slide frame 410 from sliding in the removal direction (rightward in FIG. 21) (see FIG. 21).

In the process of sliding the slide frame 410 until the front pin 411a reaches the distal end 401a1 of the guide rail 401, the slide frame 4
Since the ten pins 415 abut against the inclined portions 361 a of the lock claws 361 (see FIG. 21) of the lock means 360, the pins 411 a are connected to the distal end 401 of the guide rail 401.
At the time point when a1 is reached, the lock claw 361 is pushed by the pin 415 and slightly rotated clockwise (see FIG. 21).

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 18, rollers 416, 416 'are provided at the lower rear portion of the side plates 411, 411' of the slide frame 410, and the rollers 416, 416 'are connected to the second frame 300F2. 20 (see FIG. 20).

In FIG. 20, C1 is the first connector, C
Reference numeral 2 denotes a second connector. The first connector C1 is connected to the side plate 36 of the first frame 300F1 of the image forming apparatus 300 main body.
4 '(see FIG. 24) and constitutes a part of a signal system circuit for detecting whether or not the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted. The second connector C2 is connected to the other side plate 411 ′ of the slide frame 410 (see FIGS. 2 and 15).
), And constitutes a part of the circuit (a signal system circuit for detecting whether or not the intermediate transfer unit TU has been mounted).

[0137] As shown in FIG.
10 and its leading pin 411a is
When the first connector C1 and the second connector C2 are slid (completely pushed in) until they reach the distal end portion 401a1 of the guide groove 401a, the intermediate transfer unit TU is locked by the locking means 360 as described later. At this time, the first connector C1 and the second connector C2 are connected (see FIG. 25), whereby the circuit is closed and the image forming apparatus is in a state where the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted. This is detected by the control unit of the main body 300.

(3) As shown in FIG. 21, the second frame 300F2 is slid in the direction of the arrow X1 (the direction of the arrow X1 in FIG. 17) to be joined to the first frame 300F1. The state where the second frame 300F2 has completely slid in the direction of the arrow X1 is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23.

As shown in FIG. 21, the second frame 300
While F2 slides in the direction of arrow X1, push-up portions 362 and 362 (only one is shown) of second frame 300F2 are driven by rollers 416 and 416 ′ of slide frame 410.
As the second frame 300F2 continues to slide, the rollers 416 and 416 ', that is, the rear part of the slide frame 410 are pushed up. From another point of view, the rollers 416 and 416 ′ are pushed up
362 and slide frame 410
Rotates about the front pin 411a in the direction of arrow a1 (counterclockwise in FIG. 21). The direction of this rotation is such that the intermediate transfer belt 160 moves in a substantially normal direction (the direction of the arrow N1 in FIG. 22) in the contact portion with the photoconductor 321 (the primary transfer portion T1 shown in FIG. 22).
1.

The pin 415 of the slide frame 410
Inclined portion 36 of lock claw 361 in locking means 360
1a, the lock claw 361 is further rotated clockwise by the above rotation of the slide frame 410.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22, when the second frame 300F2 is completely slid in the direction of the arrow X1, the rollers 416 and 416 'are pushed up by the push-up portions 362 and 362.
362 and the horizontal portion 3 of the second frame 300F2
When the rotation reaches 67 and 367 (only one is shown), the rotation of the slide frame 410 is completed, and the pin 415 of the slide frame 410 gets over the inclined portion 361a of the lock claw 361 and engages with the lock claw 361. It will be. That is, the locking by the locking means 360 is performed. Note that the engagement of the pin 415 of the slide frame 410 with the lock claw 361 allows the second frame 300F2 to be slid only in the X2 direction in FIG.
The slide frame 410 does not rotate clockwise.

Further, the rotation of the slide frame 410 causes the first connector C as described above, as shown in FIG.
1 and the second connector C2 are coupled.

When the lock is established, a power transmission gear (not shown) provided on the slide frame 410 for the tension releasing means 240 and a power transmission gear for the cleaning means 170 (not shown) of the apparatus main body are provided. It meshes with the gear that forms the driving means.

In FIGS. 21 and 24, reference numeral 364'a denotes a rotation restricting plate for the slide frame 410 fixed inside the other side plate 364 'of the first frame 300F1. The rotation restricting plate 364'a is provided above the roller 416 'along the movement path of the roller 416' when the slide frame 410 is slid.
a is the leading end 40 of the guide groove 401a of the guide rail 401.
It is not provided in the rotation locus of the roller 416 ′ when the slide frame 410 rotates when the slide frame 410 reaches 1a1.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21, when the second frame 300F2 is slid in the direction of arrow X1 in a state where the slide frame 410 is completely pressed, the slide frame 410 rotates in the direction of arrow a1. That is, as shown in FIG. 26, when the second frame 300F2 is slid in a state where the slide frame 410 is not completely pushed in due to an erroneous operation by the operator, the rollers 416 'are restricted from rotating. The contact with the plate 364'a restricts the rotation of the slide frame 410, thereby preventing erroneous operation. If the slide frame 410 is rotated at an improper position due to the erroneous operation described above in a state where the rotation restricting plate 364'a is not provided, other components or devices such as the connectors C1 and C2 may be used. There is a possibility that the portion may be damaged, but according to this embodiment, such a risk is eliminated.

(4) As described in (3) above, slide the second frame 300F2 to
After the connection with F1, the waste toner bottle 500 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 as shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 28, reference numeral 306 denotes the image forming apparatus 3.
The front cover 306 is attached to the first frame 300F1 so as to be openable and closable with a shaft 306a. The operation of attaching and detaching the waste toner bottle 500 is performed with the front cover 306 opened as shown in FIG.

The first frame 3 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 300
00F1 is a waste toner bottle 500 as shown in FIG.
Support plates 520, 520 are provided. On both sides of the waste toner bottle 500, two pairs of convex portions 501, 501,
The support plate 520 is provided with slits 521 and 522 for guiding the projections 501 and 502, respectively. Slit 52
In the vicinity of the end portions 521a, 522a of the first and the second portions 522, the convex portions 501, 5 inserted up to the end portions 521a, 522a.
Constricted portions 521b and 522b for holding the 02 are formed. Therefore, the protrusions 501 and 502 are aligned with the slits 521 and 522, and the cylindrical opening 503 (see FIG. 28) of the waste toner bottle 500 is aligned with the shutter 179 of the cleaning means 170 described above.
Reference numeral 502 denotes end portions 521a, 5 of slits 521, 522.
By fitting with a click feeling to 22a,
The waste toner bottle 500 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 (see FIGS. 27 and 28).

When the waste toner bottle 500 is mounted in this manner, the cylindrical mouth portion 503 of the waste toner bottle 500 and the cylindrical portion 174a having the discharge port 174d of the cleaning means 170 are connected so as to fit loosely. At the same time, a part of the waste toner bottle 500 (in this embodiment, an inclined portion of the ceiling of the waste toner bottle 500 as shown in FIG.
1 (see FIG. 30), thereby preventing the lock release lever 371 from rotating in the clockwise direction (lock release direction).

The cylindrical mouth 5 of the waste toner bottle 500
A slider 510 is attached to 03. When the waste toner bottle 500 is mounted, the tip 511 of the slider 510 comes into contact with the projection 179c of the shutter 179 (at least in a state where it can come into contact).

(5) From the state shown in FIG. 28, the front cover 306 is closed as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, a contact portion 306b which can contact the other end portion 512 of the slider 510 is provided inside the front cover 306.

Therefore, when the front cover 306 is closed, the contact portion 306 b presses the slider 510, and the tip 511 of the slider 510 is moved to the projecting piece 179 c of the shutter 179.
By pressing, the shutter 179 slides rightward in the drawing against the spring force of the spring 174f, and the discharge port 174d of the cleaning means 170 is opened.

That is, according to this embodiment, only when the intermediate transfer unit TU and the waste toner bottle 500 are mounted and the front cover 306 is closed,
The outlet 174d of the cleaning means 170 is opened.

As described above, the intermediate transfer unit TU
Is mounted on the main body of the apparatus 300, the image forming apparatus 300 is operated, and the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is not released by the tension releasing means 240, that is, the tension releasing means 240 is not activated (the state shown in FIG. 3). When the intermediate transfer belt 160 is in a stretched state,
The intermediate transfer belt 160 is moved between the rollers 110 and 150 by the tension of the belt 160 itself so that the photosensitive member 32
1 to form a primary transfer portion T1.
Therefore, the intermediate transfer unit TU is connected to the intermediate transfer belt 1
There is no primary transfer roller for pressing the photosensitive member 321 against the photosensitive member 321.

Although the mounting operation of the intermediate transfer unit TU and the like has been described above, the image forming apparatus 3 of this embodiment is described.
Reference numeral 00 denotes detection means (a limit switch or the like) for detecting that the second frame 300F2 is connected to the first frame 300F1 in addition to the first connectors C1 and C2 for detecting that the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted. ), A detecting means (same front) for detecting that the waste toner bottle 500 is mounted, and a detecting means (same front) for detecting that the front cover 306 is closed. The intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted, the second frame 300F2 is connected to the first frame 300F1,
The image forming operation can be performed only when the waste toner bottle 500 is mounted and the front cover 306 is closed.

Next, an operation of removing the intermediate transfer unit TU and the like will be described.

(6) As shown in FIG. 30, the second frame 300F2 is slid in the direction of arrow X2.

In this state, the roller 416 is formed by the push-up portion 362 and the horizontal portion 367 of the second frame 300F2.
Although the support to the slide frame 410 via (416 ′) is released, the pin 4 of the slide frame 410 is released.
The engagement of the lock claw 361 of the lock means with the lock claw 15 prevents rotation of the slide frame 410 clockwise around the pin 411a.

(7) The front cover 306 is opened, and the waste toner bottle 500 is removed. FIG. 31 shows this state.

In this state, since the restriction on the lock release lever 371 by the waste toner bottle 500 is released, the lock release lever 371 can be rotated clockwise.

The mounting portion 363 of the lock claw 361 has a restricting portion 363 which comes into contact with the pin 415 when the slide frame 410 is pulled out in the direction of arrow X2.
b is provided. Therefore, without releasing the engagement of the lock claw 361 with the pin 415, the handle 383 of the regulation release mechanism 382 (see FIG. 23) is rotated to release the claw member 381 from being held on the pin 411a, and the slide frame 410 is moved. If you try to withdraw, you cannot.

The operation of (7) and the operation of (6) may be reversed. That is, the front cover 3
06, and after removing the waste toner bottle 500,
The second frame 300F2 may be slid in the direction of the arrow X2.

(8) As shown in FIG. 32, the lock release lever 371 is rotated clockwise.

Then, as shown, the lock claw 361 also rotates clockwise, and the lock claw 361 with respect to the pin 415 is rotated.
Is released, as shown in FIG. 33, the slide frame 410 (and the intermediate transfer unit TU)
Due to its own weight, the rear pin 411b rotates around the front pin 411a in the direction of the arrow a2 until it comes into contact with the bottom plate 401c of the guide rail 401. Accordingly, the pin 415 of the slide frame 410 also rotates in the direction of the arrow a2 together with the slide frame 410, and as a result, as shown in FIG.
The restriction by the restriction part 363b of 63 is also released.

At this time, the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer unit TU is substantially the normal direction (N2 direction in FIG. 22) of the contact portion of the intermediate transfer belt 160 with the photosensitive member 321. The transfer belt 160 moves to a position where it is separated from the photoconductor 321 (a position shown in FIG. 33).

(9) From the state shown in FIG. 33, as shown in FIG. 34, the handle 383 of the regulation release mechanism 382 is rotated clockwise (the direction of the arrow b1) to raise the finger hook 383b.

Then, in conjunction with this, the lever 384 also rotates clockwise around the shaft 384a, and the push member 385
Slides to the left, and the other end 385a presses the pin 381d of the claw member 381.
1 rotates clockwise around the shaft 381a, and the claw 38
The holding (engagement) of the pin 411a by the pin 1b is released.

(10) From the state shown in FIG.
The finger is hooked on the finger hook portion 383b of 83, and the slide frame 410 is pulled out to the rear end of the guide rail 401 as shown in FIG.

This state is the same as the state previously shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. In this state, the used intermediate transfer unit TU is removed from the slide frame 410 and
Slide the new intermediate transfer unit TU into the slide frame 410
Can be attached to

The subsequent operation is the same as the above (1) and subsequent operations.

When the slide frame 410 is pushed in, the handle 383 is rotated counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow b2) in FIG.
Press 0.

The intermediate transfer unit T as described above
The attachment / detachment operation of the U is usually performed by the user
0, the power is turned off. In this embodiment, even if the user does not turn off the power of the image forming apparatus 300, the front cover 306 is opened or the second
When the frame 300F2 is separated from the first frame 300F1, the power is automatically turned off. Therefore, when pulling out the slide frame 410 from the main body of the apparatus 300, the power supply of the apparatus (not limited to the main power supply).
Is always OFF, and the tension release means 240
, The tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is also released. That is, when the intermediate transfer unit TU is pulled out of the main body of the apparatus 300, the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is released.

The intermediate transfer belt 1 by a user or the like
60, ie, when the intermediate transfer unit TU after the replacement of the first unit U1 is mounted on the slide frame 410, the second transfer performed when the first unit U1 is replaced.
The insertion and removal of the unit U2 with respect to the first unit U1,
Since the tension releasing means 240 is operated in a state of operation (a state in which the small diameter portion 244b of the cam 244 is in contact with the cam follower 243 (see FIG. 11)), the operation is performed in a state where the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is released. Becomes Therefore, the slide frame 410 is
The intermediate transfer unit TU is pushed into the main body and the
Even when attached (locked) to the main body, the intermediate transfer belt 1
This means that the tension of 60 has been released.

According to the above-described image forming apparatus, the following operation and effect can be obtained.

(A) An intermediate transfer belt 160 serving as an image carrier for transferring a toner image carried on the surface to a recording material S to be transferred, and a toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 160 after the transfer. The cleaning unit 170 to be removed is configured as an intermediate transfer unit (image carrier unit) TU, and the image carrier unit TU is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 300. The carrier unit TU can be attached and detached, and can be securely mounted by the lock means 360.

Further, the image carrier unit TU is configured so as to be detachable from the cleaning means 170 which is locked to the main body of the apparatus 300 by the locking means 360, and is connected to the cleaning means 170 in the mounted state. Since the waste toner bottle 500 is provided as a waste toner container for collecting the waste toner removed by the cleaning unit 170, the collection capacity of the waste toner can be increased.

Then, the lock release lever 371 as an operation unit operated when the lock of the image carrier unit TU by the lock means 360 is released is provided to the waste toner container 5.
00 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 300 and the cleaning means 1
Since operation becomes impossible in the state connected to 70,
The lock cannot be released.

That is, unless the user or the like removes the waste toner container 500 and releases the connection with the cleaning means 170, the user can operate the operation unit 371 to release the lock of the image carrier unit TU. It will not be possible.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent a user from removing the image carrier unit while the cleaning unit 170 and the waste toner container 500 are connected to each other. The connection portion with the waste toner container 500 (the connection portion (cylindrical portion) 174a of the cleaning unit 170 and / or the connection portion cylindrical opening 503 of the waste toner container 500) is not damaged.

(B) A shutter 179 for opening and closing a discharge port 174d for discharging toner toward the waste toner container 500 is provided in the cylindrical portion 174a of the cleaning means 170, which is a connection portion with the waste toner container 500. When the waste toner container 500 is connected, the shutter 17
9, the discharge port 174d can be opened, and when the waste toner container 500 is removed, the discharge port 174d is closed by the shutter 179. Therefore, when the image carrier unit TU is replaced, the discharge port 174d is discharged from the cleaning unit 170. A situation in which toner leaks through the outlet 174d is prevented.

In such a configuration, no measure is taken temporarily, and therefore, the cleaning means 1
70 and the waste toner container 500 are connected,
If the user attempts to remove the image carrier unit TU, the shutter 179 is likely to be damaged.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus 300, there is a case where the user tries to remove the image carrier unit TU while the cleaning means 170 and the waste toner container 500 are connected. Since the shutter 179 is reliably prevented from being damaged, the shutter 179 is reliably prevented from being damaged.

(C) The direction in which the cleaning means 170 and the waste toner container 500 are connected (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 30) and the direction in which the image carrier unit TU is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body (the direction of arrow X2 in FIG. 30 or its direction). Reverse direction)
Cleaning means 1
A situation in which the user attempts to remove the image carrier unit TU while the 70 and the waste toner container 500 remain connected to each other is reliably prevented, so that the image carrier unit TU and / or the waste toner container are prevented. The degree of freedom in setting the attachment / detachment direction of 500 is improved.

In this embodiment, the cleaning means 1
The direction in which the image carrier unit TU and the waste toner container 500 are connected to each other is orthogonal to the direction in which the image carrier unit TU is attached to and detached from the apparatus body.

More specifically, assuming that the connecting direction between the cleaning means 170 and the waste toner container 500 and the attaching / detaching direction of the image carrier unit TU with respect to the apparatus main body coincide with each other, there is no need to take any special measures. It is possible to make the connecting part hard to break. For example, the structure of the connecting portion between the cleaning means 170 and the waste toner container 500 is configured such that the cylindrical portions are loosely fitted to each other, and the attachment / detachment direction of the image carrier unit TU and the waste toner container 500 is set to the axis of the cylindrical portion. If the direction is set to, for example, a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 30, even if the image carrier unit is attached and detached without removing the waste toner container 500, the connecting portion will not be damaged.

However, with such a configuration,
Since the attachment / detachment direction of the image carrier unit TU and the waste toner container 500 is limited to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion,
Not desirable. For example, when trying to insert and remove the image carrier unit TU in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
Not only does it require a space for insertion and removal at least for the length in the axial direction (belt width direction),
The photoconductor and / or the intermediate transfer belt are easily damaged.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus 300, there is a case where the user tries to remove the image carrier unit TU while the cleaning means 170 and the waste toner container 500 are connected. Even if the connecting direction between the cleaning means 170 and the waste toner container 500 is made different from the attaching / detaching direction of the image carrier unit TU to / from the apparatus main body, the connecting portion is surely prevented from being damaged. You can do it.

Therefore, the degree of freedom in setting the attachment / detachment direction of the image carrier unit TU and / or the waste toner container 500 can be remarkably improved.

(D) An intermediate transfer belt 160 that can contact the photosensitive member 321 of the apparatus 300, and a plurality of rollers 110 that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 160 so that the intermediate transfer belt 160 can be driven to circulate.
Since the intermediate transfer belt 150 is unitized as an intermediate transfer unit TU detachable from the main body of the apparatus 300, the exchange of the intermediate transfer belt 160 can be performed for each unit. Therefore, replacement work becomes easy.

The locking means 360 is connected to the intermediate transfer unit T
When the U is locked with respect to the main body of the apparatus 300, the intermediate transfer unit TU is moved in a substantially normal direction (direction of an arrow N1) at a contact portion T1 (see FIG. 22) of the intermediate transfer belt 160 with the photoconductor 321 (see FIG. The intermediate transfer belt 160 and the photosensitive member 321 are moved in the direction (arrow N1 direction) in which the intermediate transfer belt 160 and the photosensitive member 321 contact each other. When the unit TU is locked with respect to the apparatus main body, the intermediate transfer belt 160 moves in a substantially normal direction (the direction of the arrow N1) in the contact portion T1 with the photoconductor 321 and comes into contact with the photoconductor 321. Becomes

Therefore, when the intermediate transfer unit TU is locked to the apparatus main assembly, the intermediate transfer belt 160
And the surface of the photoconductor 321 hardly rub against each other. As a result, the surface of the photoconductor 321 and / or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 are hardly damaged.

If the locking means is an intermediate transfer unit T
When the U is locked to the apparatus main body, the intermediate transfer belt 160 contacts the photosensitive member 321 in the tangential direction (the direction of the arrow X1 in FIG. 22) or the axial direction of the photosensitive member 321 (in FIG. Assuming that the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 and the surface of the photosensitive member 321 rub against each other and move in the direction perpendicular to the photosensitive member 321, the rubbing amount (or rubbing length) is It will be relatively large. In particular, in a configuration in which the intermediate transfer belt 160 is pressed against the photoconductor 321 by the tension of the belt itself between the rollers as in this embodiment, the rubbing amount (or rubbing length) is considerably large. Could be. Therefore, the surface of the photoconductor and / or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt may be damaged by the above-mentioned rubbing, and the surface of the photoconductor and / or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt may be damaged.
Or, if the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is damaged, it causes image defects.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, when the locking means 360 locks the intermediate transfer unit TU to the main body of the apparatus 300, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is exposed to light. Since the surface of the body 321 is hardly rubbed, the surface of the photoconductor 321 and / or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is hardly damaged, and therefore, image defects due to it are hardly generated.

Further, the image forming apparatus 3 of this embodiment
00, the lock release means 370
When releasing the lock by, the intermediate transfer unit TU is
The intermediate transfer belt 160 is brought into contact with the photosensitive member 321 at a contact portion T.
1 (see FIG. 22) in a substantially normal direction (arrow N2 direction)
In the intermediate transfer unit TU.
When the lock on the main body 00 is released, the intermediate transfer belt 160 moves in a substantially normal direction (the direction of the arrow N2) at the contact portion T1 with the photoconductor 321 and separates from the photoconductor 321.

Therefore, when the lock of the intermediate transfer unit TU with respect to the apparatus main body is released, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 and the surface of the photosensitive member 321 hardly rub against each other. And / or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is hardly damaged.

When the unlocking means unlocks the intermediate transfer unit TU with respect to the apparatus main body, the intermediate transfer belt 160 contacts the photosensitive member 321 in a tangential direction (for example, arrows X1 and X2 in FIG. 22). direction),
Alternatively, if it is configured to move in the axial direction of the photoconductor 321 (a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 22) and separate from the photoconductor 321, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 and the surface of the photoconductor 321 rub against each other. And the amount of rubbing (or the length of rubbing) is relatively large, so that the rubbing may damage the surface of the photoreceptor and / or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. If the surface of the transfer belt (the surface of the photoreceptor when the intermediate transfer unit is replaced with a new one) is damaged, it causes image defects.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, when the lock of the intermediate transfer unit TU with respect to the apparatus main body is released by the lock releasing means 370, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is exposed to light. Since the surface of the body 321 is hardly rubbed, the surface of the photoconductor 321 and / or the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is hardly damaged, and therefore, image defects due to it are hardly generated.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the photosensitive member 321 and the intermediate transfer belt 16
Locking and unlocking of the intermediate transfer unit TU can be performed without damaging the surface of the intermediate transfer unit TU.

(E) The intermediate transfer unit TU includes a shaft (pin) 4 provided on the slide frame 410 on the apparatus main body side.
11A, the intermediate transfer belt 160 moves in a direction in which the intermediate transfer belt 160 moves in a substantially normal direction in the contact portion T1 with the photoconductor 321.
The movement of the intermediate transfer unit TU in the above-described direction (the direction in which the intermediate transfer belt moves in a substantially normal direction at the contact portion with the photoconductor) can be realized with a simple configuration.

Further, since the shaft 411a becomes the center of rotation of the intermediate transfer unit TU, it also plays a role as a positioning member for the intermediate transfer unit TU with respect to the apparatus 300 main body. Therefore, the intermediate transfer unit T
The locked state with high position accuracy of U and the movement operation with high accuracy can be obtained.

Such an effect is obtained by rotating the intermediate transfer unit TU around an axis (not shown) provided in the intermediate transfer unit TU, thereby causing the intermediate transfer belt 160 to contact the photosensitive member 321. It can also be obtained in a case where the contact portion T1 is configured to move in a direction in which the contact portion T1 moves in a substantially normal direction.

(F) Since the shaft 411a is provided at a position where the intermediate transfer unit TU rotates around the shaft 411a by its own weight when the lock by the lock releasing means 370 is released, the shaft 411a is simple. With this structure, the intermediate transfer belt 160 can be separated from the photoconductor 321.

(G) The intermediate transfer unit TU is
0 with respect to the main body, a substantially horizontal direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rollers 110 to 150 (the direction of arrow X1 in FIG. 21)
Is inserted into the intermediate transfer belt 160 and / or the surface of the photoconductor 321 of the apparatus main body is more reliably prevented from being damaged. (At least significantly reduced).

As a structure for attaching and detaching the intermediate transfer unit TU to and from the apparatus main body, a structure for attaching and detaching (inserting and removing) the intermediate transfer unit along the axial direction of its rollers (for example, a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 22) is adopted. Is also possible.

However, with such a structure,
At the time of attachment / detachment, the intermediate transfer belt 160 and the photoconductor 32 of the apparatus main body
The length that can come into contact with 1 or the like is the belt width of the intermediate transfer belt 160, which is large. Therefore, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 or the photoconductor 3
21 may be easily scratched.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit TU is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction (FIG. 2) perpendicular to the axial direction of the roller with respect to the apparatus main body.
1 (in the direction of the arrow X1) and then locked by the locking means 360, so that the intermediate transfer belt 160 contacts the photoconductor 321 and the like of the apparatus main body at the time of insertion (or at the time of removal). The obtained length becomes smaller. Accordingly, a situation in which the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 and / or the surface of the photoconductor 321 of the apparatus main body is damaged can be more reliably prevented (at least significantly reduced).

(H) The main body of the apparatus 300 has a slide frame 410 that is pulled out in a substantially horizontal direction. The intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410 from above (see FIG. 17) and slides. Since the frame 410 is inserted into the apparatus main body by pushing it into the apparatus main body, the insertion operation is easier than in the case where the intermediate transfer unit TU is directly inserted into the apparatus main body in the horizontal direction. Become.

Further, the intermediate transfer unit TU is inserted into the apparatus main body by being pushed into the apparatus main body with the slide frame 410 being mounted on the slide frame 410, so that the intermediate transfer unit TU is directly inserted into the apparatus main body. The intermediate transfer belt 160 can be reliably prevented from being damaged due to unexpected contact with the apparatus main body, which would occur when the intermediate transfer belt 160 is inserted.

(I) The apparatus 300 is provided with a pair of guide rails 401 for guiding the slide frame 410 on both sides in the sliding direction, and the slide frame 410 has the guide rails 401, 40.
1 is provided, and the intermediate transfer unit TU is mounted on the slide frame 410 together with the slide frame 410.
By rotating around 1a, the intermediate transfer belt 160 moves in a direction in which the intermediate transfer belt 160 moves in a substantially normal direction (the direction of the arrow N1 in FIG. 22) at the contact portion T1 with the photoconductor 321. So slide frame 410
Further, the sliding operation of the intermediate transfer unit TU and the movement in the above-described direction (the direction in which the intermediate transfer belt moves in a substantially normal direction in the contact portion with the photoconductor) can be realized with a simple configuration.

Further, since the pin 411a becomes the center of rotation of the slide frame 410 and the intermediate transfer unit TU, it also functions as a positioning member for the slide frame 410 and the intermediate transfer unit TU with respect to the apparatus main body. Therefore, the locked state with high positional accuracy of the intermediate transfer unit TU and the moving operation with high accuracy can be obtained.

(J) The pin 411a is provided at a position where the intermediate transfer unit TU and the slide frame 410 rotate around the pin 411a due to their own weight when the lock by the lock release means 360 is released. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 160 can be separated from the photoconductor 321 with a simple structure.

(K) The apparatus main body is an intermediate transfer unit TU
Is inserted into the first frame F1 and the first frame F1
1 and a second frame F2 which is configured to be able to be joined and separated from the first frame F1 and forms a space A (see FIG. 17) required for the operation of inserting the intermediate transfer unit TU between the first frame F1 and the first frame F1 when separated. When the second frame F2 is joined to the first frame F1, the locking means 360 is provided.
(See FIG. 22).
), The intermediate transfer unit TU by the lock means 360
Lock operation and the first frame F1 of the second frame F2
It is no longer necessary to separately perform the joining operation for. Therefore, the replacement work of the intermediate transfer unit TU is simplified.

Further, when the second frame F2 is joined to the first frame F1, the locking by the locking means 360 is performed, so that there is no danger of forgetting to lock the intermediate transfer unit TU.

(1) The second frame F2 is substantially horizontal with respect to the first frame F1 (arrows X1 and X1 in FIG. 17).
Since it is configured to be able to join and separate from the first frame F1 by sliding in two directions), for example, it is configured to be able to join and separate from the first frame F1 by rotating the second frame F2. The space A required for the insertion operation of the intermediate transfer unit TU can be effectively formed with a smaller moving operation of the second frame F2 than in the case where the second frame F2 is moved.

(M) Since the intermediate transfer unit TU has the tension releasing means 240 for releasing the tension when the intermediate transfer belt 160 is not driven to circulate,
It is possible to prevent image density unevenness from occurring due to creep deformation of the belt 160.

That is, since the intermediate transfer belt 160 is stretched between a plurality of rollers 110 to 150 and is driven to circulate, if there is no tension releasing means, for example, the image forming If the belt 160 is not driven to circulate for a long time due to, for example, turning off the power of the apparatus or the like, the belt 160 remains stretched between the rollers, and a part of the belt 160, particularly If the stress continues to be applied to the wrapped portion, creep deformation may occur in that portion, and when the apparatus is subsequently operated, density unevenness may occur in the image at a portion corresponding to the deformed portion of the belt 160.

On the other hand, according to this embodiment, since the intermediate transfer unit TU has the tension releasing means 240 for releasing the tension when the intermediate transfer belt 160 is not driven to circulate, the belt 160 The above-described creep deformation is prevented, and therefore, the occurrence of uneven image density due to the creep deformation is prevented.

Then, with the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 released by the tension releasing means 240,
Since the intermediate transfer unit TU is locked by the lock means 360 or unlocked by the lock release means 370, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 and the photoconductor 321 of the apparatus main body are locked or unlocked. Even if the surfaces of the surfaces rub against each other, the rubbing is extremely light.

Therefore, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 160 or the surface of the photosensitive member 321 of the apparatus main body is more reliably prevented from being damaged (at least significantly reduced).

(N) When the intermediate transfer unit TU is locked by the lock means 360 and the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is not released by the tension release means 240, the intermediate transfer belt 160 is moved between the rollers 110 and 150. The photosensitive member 32 of the apparatus main body is formed by the tension of 160 itself.
Since it is configured to be pressed into contact with 1, the following operation and effect can be further obtained.

As a configuration in which the intermediate transfer belt 160 is pressed against the photosensitive member 321, a configuration in which a roller (primary transfer roller) disposed on the back side of the belt 160 is pressed can be used.

However, if such a configuration is used, it is necessary to incorporate the primary transfer roller into the intermediate transfer unit TU, which complicates the structure of the intermediate transfer unit TU and reduces the weight. Will increase.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit TU is locked by the locking means 360.
When the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 160 is not released by the tension release means 240, that is, when the belt 160 is in a stretched state, the intermediate transfer belt 160 is locked.
Is pressed against the photosensitive member 321 of the apparatus main body by the tension of the belt 160 itself between the rollers 110 and 150, so that the primary transfer roller is not required.

Therefore, the structure of the intermediate transfer unit TU can be simplified, and at the same time, the weight can be reduced. As a result, the locking operation and the attaching / detaching operation of the intermediate transfer unit TU can be further facilitated.

(O) The intermediate transfer unit TU is
Is provided with a first connector C1 (see FIG. 20) which forms a part of a signal system circuit for detecting the presence / absence of attachment of the first transfer unit, and the intermediate transfer unit TU has a first connector C1 which forms a part of the circuit. Since two connectors C2 are provided and the two connectors C1 and C2 are connected when the locking by the locking means 360 is performed (see FIG. 25), the presence or absence of the intermediate transfer unit TU is detected. Is surely performed.

Further, in this embodiment, the first connector C1 is provided at a portion (side plate 364 'of the first frame 300F1) other than the slide frame 410 in the apparatus main body, and the slide frame 410 has
Since the second connector C2 is provided and the two connectors C1 and C2 are connected when the locking by the locking means is performed, the configuration of the intermediate transfer unit TU is simplified and replacement is performed. The second connector C2 is not consumed together with the intermediate transfer unit TU as a unit, which is effective in saving resources.

That is, the second connector C2 can be provided in the intermediate transfer unit TU, but in this case, the structure of the intermediate transfer unit TU becomes complicated, and the second connector C2 is provided together with the intermediate transfer unit TU as the exchange unit. The connector C2 will also be consumed.

On the other hand, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, since the second connector C2 is provided on the slide frame 410 on the apparatus main body side, the configuration of the intermediate transfer unit TU is simplified. In addition, the second connector C2 is not consumed together with the intermediate transfer unit TU as a replacement unit, which is effective in saving resources.

(P) Frame 1 of intermediate transfer unit TU
Since the receiving frame 400 to which the intermediate transfer unit 00 and the intermediate transfer unit TU are detachably mounted does not have a bottom plate, the slack belt 160 does not hit the bottom plate when the tension is released by the tension releasing means 240.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent dust and toner from adhering to the belt 160, so that image defects due to the dust and toner do not occur.

Therefore, according to this image forming apparatus, it is possible to reduce the size.

In other words, according to this image forming apparatus, dust and the like do not adhere to the slack belt 160 when the tension is released, despite having the tension release means.
The effect of not increasing the size can be obtained.

(Q) The intermediate transfer unit TU is composed of a first unit U1 and a second unit U2. Since the second unit U2 is configured to be detachable from the first unit U1, it is exchanged as a consumable item. It is possible to reduce the size and weight of the device unit.

Therefore, the user can easily perform the replacement work, and the advantage in terms of cost can be obtained. In addition, advantages in resource saving can be obtained. Further, in the case of a maker, assembling units are divided, so that assemblability is remarkably improved.

In this embodiment, the second unit U2 is reusable, and when the intermediate transfer belt 160 is worn, only the first unit U1 needs to be replaced.

(R) The attachment / detachment of the second unit U2 to / from the first unit U1 can be performed only by inserting or pulling out the second unit U2 from / to the first unit U1, so that the attachment / detachment operation is easy.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the configuration of the present invention is applied to the intermediate transfer unit TU, but the present invention is also applicable to the photosensitive unit 320.

As the shape of each member, any shape can be adopted as long as the predetermined operation of this embodiment is performed (for example, although the shape of the side plate 411 of the slide frame 410 is slightly different depending on the drawing, any shape can be adopted). Can also be adopted).

[0241]

According to any one of the first to third image forming apparatuses, it is possible to prevent the connection between the cleaning means and the waste toner container from being damaged.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to prevent a situation in which toner leaks from the cleaning means when the image carrier unit is replaced, and to surely prevent the shutter from being damaged. .

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the degree of freedom in setting the attachment / detachment direction of the image carrier unit and / or the waste toner container is improved.

[0244]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an intermediate transfer unit, a receiving frame 400 provided in an image forming apparatus for detachably mounting the unit TU, and a slide frame 4 thereof.
FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially omitted front view mainly showing an intermediate transfer unit TU.

FIG. 4 is a partially omitted rear view showing the intermediate transfer unit TU in a state where tension is released.

FIG. 5 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a state where a second unit U2 of the intermediate transfer unit TU is detached from a first unit U1.

FIG. 6 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a state where a second unit U2 of the intermediate transfer unit TU is inserted into a first unit U1.

7 is a partially omitted right side sectional view mainly showing a cleaning unit 170. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7;

9 is a diagram corresponding to a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7, and is an operation explanatory view of a shutter 179 of the cleaning means 170. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a partially omitted right side view showing a second unit U2.

FIG. 11 is a partially omitted front view mainly showing the intermediate transfer unit TU in a state where tension is released.

FIG. 12 illustrates an intermediate transfer belt 160 and rollers 110 to 110.
150 is a schematic development view.

FIG. 13 is a partially omitted front view showing an example of a mounting structure of a second unit U2 to a first unit U1 of the intermediate transfer unit TU.

FIG. 14 shows an intermediate transfer unit TU and a slide frame 4
10 is a partially omitted front view showing FIG.

FIG. 15 shows that the intermediate transfer unit TU is a slide frame 4.
FIG. 10 is a partially-omitted perspective view showing a state of being attached to 10.

FIG. 16 shows a case where the intermediate transfer unit TU is a slide frame 4.
FIG. 10 is a partially omitted front view showing a state in which the camera is mounted on the apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a schematic front view illustrating a frame structure of the image forming apparatus and an attaching / detaching operation of the intermediate transfer unit TU.

FIG. 18 shows that the intermediate transfer unit TU has a slide frame 4
FIG. 10 is a partially-omitted perspective view showing a state of being attached to 10.

FIG. 19 shows that the intermediate transfer unit TU is a slide frame 4.
FIG. 10 is a partially omitted front view showing a state in which the camera is mounted on the apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a partially omitted front view showing a state where the slide frame 410 is pushed in.

FIG. 21 is a schematic front view for explaining the operation of the lock means 360.

FIG. 22 is a partially omitted schematic front view showing a state where the slide frame 410 and the intermediate transfer unit TU are positioned and locked.

FIG. 23 is a partially omitted schematic front view mainly showing lock means and lock release means.

FIG. 24 is a partially omitted right side view mainly showing a part of the lock means.

FIG. 25 is a schematic front view for explaining the operation of the lock means 360.

FIG. 26 is a schematic front view for explaining the operation of the lock means 360.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a cleaning unit 170 and a waste toner bottle 500.

FIG. 28 is a partially cut right side view showing a part of the front cover 306, the waste toner bottle 500, and the cleaning unit 170.

FIG. 29 is a partially cutaway right side view showing a part of the front cover 306, the waste toner bottle 500, and the cleaning unit 170, and is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 30 is a schematic front view illustrating the operation.

FIG. 31 is a schematic front view illustrating an operation.

FIG. 32 is a schematic front view illustrating the operation.

FIG. 33 is a schematic front view illustrating an operation.

FIG. 34 is a schematic front view illustrating the operation.

FIG. 35 is a schematic front view illustrating the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 TU Intermediate transfer unit (image carrier unit) 160 Intermediate transfer belt (image carrier) 170 Cleaning unit 174d Discharge port 179 Shutter 300 Image forming device 360 Lock unit 370 Lock release unit 371 Lock release lever (operation unit) 500 Waste toner bottle (Waste toner container)

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image carrier that transfers a toner image carried on the surface to a transfer target; and a cleaning unit that removes toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer,
An image carrier unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, a lock unit for locking the image carrier unit to the apparatus main unit, and an operation unit operated to release the lock by the lock unit The image carrier unit is configured to be detachable from a cleaning unit of the image carrier unit which is locked to the apparatus main body by the locking unit, and is connected to the cleaning unit and removed by the cleaning unit in the mounted state. An image forming apparatus comprising: a waste toner container that collects the toner and disables operation of the operation unit. 2. A shutter for opening and closing a discharge port for discharging toner toward the waste toner container is provided at a connection portion of the cleaning unit with the waste toner container, and the shutter is opened when the waste toner container is connected. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shutter enables opening of the discharge port, and the discharge port is closed by the shutter when a waste toner container is removed. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a connecting direction between the cleaning unit and the waste toner container is different from a mounting / removing direction of the image carrier unit with respect to the apparatus main body.
Or the image forming apparatus according to 2.