JP2001282076A - Device for forming electrophotographic image, process cartridge and cartridge holding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the workability of attaching/detaching a process cartridge and jam treatment and to attain a reduction in parts of the process cartridge. SOLUTION: The process cartridge 5 is put in and is taken out of a device main body 1 in a state where the cartridge is loaded in a holding mechanism 8. A part 88c of the holding mechanism 8 serves as an outer packaging too and the holding mechanism 8 is handled with this part as a secure hand. When plural process units are provided, they are loaded in the holding mechanism 8 and then are inserted into the main body 1. The holding mechanism 8 is provided with a drum shutter 85 and further is provided with a pair of transportation rollers 3 or a single roller.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a cartridge holding mechanism.

Here, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. And, as an example of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, and the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like are included.

A process cartridge is a unit in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is made detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. In addition, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as a main body of the image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system which can be attached to and detached from is used. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a serviceman, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

The attachment and detachment of such a process cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body is performed by fitting a guide portion provided outside the cartridge frame to a mounting means such as a guide rail provided on the image forming apparatus main body. Alternatively, by providing a drawer in the image forming apparatus main body, attaching the process cartridge to the drawer pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body and supported in the image forming apparatus main body, and then pushing the drawer into the image forming apparatus main body, The cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional electrophotographic printer. In this printer, the opening / closing member 19 pivotally attached to the apparatus main body 1 at a fulcrum 19a is turned upward to open a large opening from the upper right to the right side of the apparatus main body 1, and the process cartridge 5 is attached and detached. The paper cassette 21 containing the transfer paper S can be removed to the right in FIG.

In the printer using the electrophotography as described above, the user usually rarely touches the hand except for the power button and the operation button on the display unit. However, the operation buttons of the printer are infrequently used for (1) paper replenishment, (2) replacement of a process cartridge, and (3) processing of jammed paper in case of a paper jam and recovery processing. Other parts must be manipulated.

[0008] This operation is an operation that is performed very rarely, and is unfamiliar to the user. Especially in the case of network printers, the percentage of people who work for the first time is high. For this reason, the user cannot be expected to get used to the operation. Therefore, the above three operations must be easy for the first person to understand and easy.

[0009] Of the above three operations, "supply of paper" is usually performed by pulling out a cassette and replenishing paper, or replenishing paper by placing it on a tray. The tray on which the paper is placed is usually easy because the paper stacking portion can be seen and the sheet is simply added at that location as before.

[0010] Also, in the form in which the sheets are stacked in the sheet cassette, the sheet cassette is pulled out by itself or is pulled out like a drawer of a chest, so that the place where the sheets are to be inserted is easy to see. The work is relatively easy because there is no obstacle to the work.

On the other hand, when the process cartridge 5 is replaced in (2) or a paper jam is handled in (3), the process (2) is always performed, and the process (3) is often performed in a small machine. Is accompanied. The improvement of the workability of the “removal work of the process cartridge” is an essential item for the user to improve the workability of the above two work.

There is an electrophotographic apparatus employing a system as shown in FIG. 10 in order to improve the workability of attaching and detaching a process cartridge. An electrophotographic apparatus having a configuration in which the process cartridge 5 is held in a manner that the process cartridge 5 is mounted on a drawer-type tray 8 that forms a part of an exterior, and can be pulled out from the inside of the apparatus to a position that is easy for a user to see and touch. is there.

The advantage of this configuration is that a part of the exterior can be used as a handle, so that it is easy to apply force when pulling out, and it is easy for the user to understand because the operation is the same as that of the paper cassette. At the same time, if the unlocking access portion is also arranged in a portion that also has an external appearance, the operation portion can be easily found and understood.
In addition, depending on the configuration, a mechanism for automatically taking in and out using the driving force of the device can be configured relatively easily.

[0014]

The conventional "pull-out type" has a mechanism for holding the process cartridge and pulling it out to the user side. (1) When the user takes out the process cartridge, Workability has been greatly improved because (2) the process cartridge can be easily moved and moved to a position where there are no obstacles around.

The present invention is a further development of the above prior art. (1) A first object of the invention according to the present application is to further increase the degree of freedom of operation of the “draw-out type process cartridge holding mechanism”. (2) A second object of the invention according to the present application is to have a process cartridge protection mechanism component included in a process cartridge which needs to be replaced in a “pull-out type process cartridge holding mechanism” in the apparatus main body. To save resources. (3) A third object of the invention according to the present application is to accompany the attachment / detachment of the “pull-out type process cartridge holding mechanism”,
It is to improve the workability of the jam clearance work. (4) A fourth object of the invention of the present application is to improve the attachment / detachment work of a process cartridge including a plurality of separable units and to reduce restrictions on the opening required for the apparatus main body.

[0016]

The main aspects of the present invention are as described below with reference to the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having: a mounting means for removably mounting a cartridge holding mechanism detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus with the process cartridge mounted; and transporting the recording medium. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, the process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and processing means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge is detachable from a cartridge holding mechanism detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body while being mounted on the cartridge holding mechanism.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process cartridge having process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are detachable, and an image forming apparatus main body is mounted with the process cartridge mounted. Wherein the process cartridge is mounted at a predetermined position on the image forming apparatus main body when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body after being detached from the main body.

[0020]

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

(Embodiment 1) In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge refers to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, and is a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium and parallel to the surface of the recording medium. .

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the process cartridge.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a printer main body); 22, a paper feed roller for separating and taking out a transfer sheet S as a recording medium from a cassette 21 one by one; A registration roller pair 4 for controlling the transfer timing of the transfer sheet S is a transfer charging roller.

A process cartridge 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51, a developing device 52, a charging device 53, a toner container 54, and a cleaning device 55 for the photosensitive drum 51, as shown in FIG.

Numeral 6 denotes a fixing device, which is a heater for printing a heat generation pattern on a plate-like ceramic material and which is a cylindrical film 6.
2 and a rubber pressure roller 63 facing the heat generation pattern. Heater 6
1 is supported by a resin support member 64 and reinforced by a metal backup member 65. The developer on the transfer paper S is melted and fixed by heat and pressure applied from the heater 61 and the pressure roller 63. 66 is a pair of conveying rollers, and 67 is a pair of paper discharging rollers.

A scanner unit 7 scans the photosensitive drum 51 by reflecting a laser beam L coming from a laser oscillator (not shown) on a mirror 71 rotating integrally with a motor 72, and 73 scans the laser beam. This is a folding mirror for guiding the photosensitive drum 51 to the photosensitive drum 51.

In the lower part of the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes an electrical unit which converts electric power input from a commercial power supply into various voltages required in the electrophotographic apparatus.
It has the function of converting to current, controlling the sequence of the device, and converting the signal from the host computer to the laser on / off signal.

Next, the printing operation will be described.

When a print signal is input from a host computer (not shown), the transfer paper S is separated from the cassette 21 by a paper feed roller 22 and taken out.

On the other hand, in the process cartridge 5, a target image is written by the laser light L on the photosensitive drum 51 uniformly charged by the charging roller 53, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is provided with toner by the developing device 52 to become a developed image.

The developed image on the photosensitive drum 51 is conveyed by the registration roller pair 3 at the leading end timing, and is written on the photosensitive drum 51 by the transfer charging roller 4 by the laser light L and developed by the developing device 52. The image is transferred to transfer paper S.

After the image is fixed by the fixing device 6, the sheet is conveyed and discharged by a conveying roller 66 and a sheet discharging roller pair 67, and is stacked on a discharge tray 68.

FIG. 1 shows an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (printer).
3 is a sectional view of the apparatus in a state where a process cartridge is mounted in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the cartridge holding mechanism is detached from the apparatus main body.

FIG. 4 shows the apparatus main body 1 at this time (the state of FIG. 3).
FIG. 4 is a perspective view including a part of the front end surface and a cartridge holding mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view for explaining a lock mechanism of the cartridge holding mechanism.

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to these figures.

(Main Configuration of Cartridge Holding Mechanism) 8 is a cartridge holding mechanism. Cartridge holding mechanism 8
Is also used as an exterior of the image forming apparatus main body, and a concave portion is formed in a portion also serving as the exterior as a handle 84 for pulling out the cartridge holding mechanism 8 from the apparatus main body 1. The shape is also shown more clearly in FIG. 4 in a perspective view.

The cartridge holding mechanism 8 includes the front exterior part 88c, left and right side plates 88a and 88b, and a front stay 8
3. The rear stay 81 is constituted as a main component. When the process cartridge 5 is set in the holding mechanism 8, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cylindrical guide portion 56 concentric with the photosensitive drum 51 of the process cartridge 5 is U-shaped on the left and right side plates 88a and 88b. The cleaning portion C of the process cartridge 5 is mounted on the front stay 83 while the developing portion of the process cartridge and the toner accommodating portion D are supported by the rear stay 81 in a state of being fitted into and protruding from the groove 82. . The photosensitive drum 51 is located at an opening 89 between the front stay 83 and the rear stay 81, and is not exposed by the shutter member 85.

(Drum Shutter) A drum shutter for protecting the photosensitive drum 51 is provided in the cartridge holding mechanism. In FIG. 4, 85 is a shutter member,
86a is a spring for urging the shutter 85. 8
Reference numeral 6b denotes a wire portion 0 that restricts the movement of the shutter 85. Another pair of the spring 85a and the wire member 85b exist at symmetric positions outside the opposite side plate 88a. However, in FIGS. 1 and 3, they are not drawn because they are hidden by other members.

The wire member 86b includes side plates 88a and 88b.
One end 86b1 is pivotally connected to the shutter member 85, and the other end 86b2 is a link pivotally connected to the shutter member 85. The other end of the shutter member 85 pivotally connected at one end in the short direction to the other end 86b2 of the wire member 86b is locked to one end of the spring 86a. The other end of the spring 86a is hung on a spring hook 88d provided on the side plates 88a and 88b. Here, the spring 86a is a tension coil spring.

When the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is removed from the apparatus main body 1, the shutter member 85 is
a (and another spring on the opposite side) in the position shown in FIGS. When the process cartridge 5 is placed on the cartridge holding mechanism 8 in this state, the photosensitive drum 51 is at a position where the shutter member 85 protects the photosensitive drum 51. Therefore, the process cartridge 5
Even if the entire cartridge holding mechanism 8 is placed on a desk or the like with the cartridge loaded, no foreign matter adheres to the photosensitive drum 51 and the photosensitive drum 51 is not damaged.

A protruding cylindrical guide 56 concentric with the photosensitive drum 51 of the process cartridge 5 is formed by a vertical U-shaped groove 8 on the side plates 88 a and 88 b of the cartridge holding mechanism 8.
The process cartridge 5 cannot be taken out of the cartridge holding mechanism 8 until the holding mechanism 8 is completely pulled out from the apparatus main body 1 because it is deeply fitted into the two parts. As a result, the user pulls out the cartridge holding mechanism 8 from the apparatus main body 1 and erroneously takes out the process cartridge 5 in a state where the process cartridge 5 is engaged with the apparatus main body 1 and handles the process cartridge 5 without the protection mechanism for the photosensitive drum, that is, without the shutter 85. Has been prevented.

In the case of jam clearance, it is not necessary to remove the process cartridge 5 from the cartridge holding mechanism 8, and if the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is integrally removed from the apparatus main body 1, it is sufficient. Therefore, removal of the process cartridge 5 is limited only to replacement. Therefore,
The shutter member 85 provided in the cartridge holding mechanism 8 sufficiently functions as a protection mechanism for the photosensitive drum 51.

When the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1 with the process cartridge 5 mounted thereon, FIG.
Projections 8 at both ends of shutter member 85 visible in
5 a (the opposite side is not visible) is hooked on the convex portion 13 inside the apparatus main body 1.

When the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is further pushed in, the spring 86a is extended, and the wire member 86b is connected to one end 86a.
After rotating about b1, the shutter member 85 retreats so that the photosensitive drum 51 contacts the transfer charging roller 4 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the spring 86a is in an extended state, a force is exerted on the cartridge holding mechanism 8 to push the process cartridge out of the apparatus main body 1 while the process cartridge is mounted. However, this force is suppressed by the lock mechanism shown in FIG.

(Locking Mechanism) When the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1 with the process cartridge mounted, the cylindrical guide portion 56 of the process cartridge projecting to both sides from the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is provided on the inner surface of the apparatus main body. Is guided and moved while sliding on the upper end surface of the convex portion 13. When the cylindrical guide portion 56 of the process cartridge 5 hits the right inclined portion 14a of the lock member 14, the process proceeds further while pushing up the lock member 14. The cylindrical guide 56 of the process cartridge 5 is
4 fits into the square groove 17 above.

The lock member 14 is regulated so as to be fitted to a guide rail (not shown) in the vertical direction of the apparatus main body 1 and to be movable only in the vertical direction. Has been energized. Therefore, the cylindrical guide portion 56 of the process cartridge 5 gets stuck in the square groove 17 and does not come off.

In this locked state, the process cartridge 5 is pressed into the cylindrical guide portion 56 by receiving spring forces in two directions, downward (in FIG. 4) and right (in FIG. 4).
Further, with respect to the force in the rotation direction about the cylindrical guide portion 56, the developing device of the process cartridge 5 and the frame of the toner container D are connected to the rear stay 81 of the cartridge holding mechanism 8.
It is regulated not to move by hitting.

(Lock mechanism release) In order to release this locked state, the eject button 1 shown in FIGS.
6a can be pressed. The button 16a is integrated with the lever 16, and when the lever 16 is pushed and moved, the pin 15 on the lock member 14 is pushed up along the inclined portion 16b of the lever 16, and the lock member 14 moves upward.
Then, the cylindrical guide portion 56 of the process cartridge 5 is released from the restriction of the square groove 17 of the lock member 14, and the cartridge holding mechanism 8 in a state where the process cartridge 5 is mounted is operated by the above-described shutter urging spring 86a in FIG. It is pushed rightward in the figure.

In this operation, when the eject button 16a is pressed, the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is ejected. This discharging operation only causes the cartridge holding mechanism 8 to protrude from the apparatus main body 1 by at most about half.

(Guide Mechanism) FIG. 4 shows a guide mechanism when the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1. When the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1, the rail members 87 on the both side plates 88a and 88b are used.
a and 87b (the opposite sides are not visible) are guided into the grooves 12a and 12b (the grooves 12a and 12b on the near side are not visible) inside the apparatus main body 1, respectively.

As a result, the posture of the cartridge holding mechanism 8 at the time of insertion is restricted, so that the cartridge holding mechanism 8 does not collide with other parts in the apparatus main body 1 and can move smoothly. Therefore, the cartridge holding mechanism 8 which is projected to about half of the apparatus main body 1 by the spring force of the shutter urging spring 86a is thereafter pulled out of the apparatus main body 1. Then, the rail members 87a and 87b of the cartridge holding mechanism 8 come off the grooves 12a and 12b of the apparatus main body 1 next, and the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is separated from the apparatus main body 1.

(Release of Conveying Roller Pair) As shown in FIGS.
Is held by one of the rollers. A lever 90 rotatably holding one roller of the pair of registration rollers at the tip thereof is rotatable about a fulcrum 91. When the lever 90 is attached to or detached from the register roller, it overlies the pickup roller 22 and forms a nip with the other roller. Therefore, when the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 1, the nip of the registration roller pair 3 is released. In other words, when the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 1, the opening closed by the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is largely open, and the nip of the registration roller 3 is released (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the jam removability is greatly improved.

Here, the registration roller is shown as an example of the transport roller. However, when there are still other transport rollers in the apparatus main body, one of the pair of transport rollers is provided in the cartridge holding mechanism and the other is provided in the apparatus main body. Is also good. Also, a pair of transport rollers can be provided in the cartridge holding mechanism.

By making the cartridge holding mechanism detachable from the apparatus main body by the above-described cartridge holding mechanism, the drum shutter conventionally attached to the process cartridge which is a consumable item can be separated from the process cartridge. This has made it possible to reduce the number of consumable parts. By providing the cartridge holding mechanism with one of a pair of conveying rollers or a pair of conveying rollers, the jam removability is improved. The merit occurred.

(Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This example is a printing apparatus using electrophotography, and the basic principle is the same as in the first embodiment.

The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the process cartridge is constituted by three detachable units of a cleaning unit, a photosensitive drum, and a developing unit having a toner hopper, and each unit is separable. It is.

The service life of the photosensitive drum, the toner capacity of the hopper, and the capacity of the cleaning means do not always reach the replacement time at the same time, and the replacement time varies depending on the use condition. It is not optimal to replace them together at the same time in terms of effective use of each member. For this reason, it is preferable to divide the process cartridge into several units, and to sequentially replace the units in the order of replacement.

The process cartridge 5 shown in FIG. 7 has the same functions as the process cartridge 5 shown in FIG. 2 together with the toner hopper section 500, the photoconductor section 510, and the cleaning section 520.

The toner hopper section 500 is a unit in which toner is stored in the developing device 52 and a container at the back thereof.
The photoconductor section 510 includes the photoconductor drum 51 and the photoconductor drum 51.
Is integrated into a unit. The cleaning unit 520 has a cleaning device 55 composed of a cleaning blade, a squeeze sheet, and a removed toner reservoir as an integrated unit.

In FIG. 6, a toner hopper section 500
The photoconductor unit 510 and the cleaning unit 520 can be detached upward in the drawing. Therefore, the opening is enlarged, and the position where the opening / closing member 19 that opens and closes the opening is attached to the apparatus main body 1 is set as the fulcrum 19, and the fulcrum 19a is positioned above the left side of the cleaning unit 520 as shown in FIG.

In this case, in consideration of the workability of taking out the three units, the opening / closing member 19 must be largely opened as shown in FIG. The opening / closing member 19 opens around the fulcrum 19a. In this case, the configuration as shown in FIG. 6 is not always essential for attaching and detaching the process cartridge. When three units are individually provided, the opening for taking out is required to be very large. Is shown.
This places a heavy burden on the structure of a small machine. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if it is necessary to rotate and retract to the reflection mirror 73 in order to increase the working area for taking out the process cartridge 5, other items such as the position reproducibility of the reflection mirror 73 and vibration resistance are newly added. Becomes a problem.

When the cartridge holding mechanism according to the present invention is provided, the above-described example is an embodiment as shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the cartridge holding mechanism 8 in which the process cartridge 5 is mounted is housed in the apparatus main body 1.
Is a state of the process cartridge pulled out from the apparatus main body 1 and separated and the cartridge holding mechanism 8. Here, the description of the parts common to the first embodiment is omitted.

The process cartridge 5 includes a photosensitive member 510
, Toner hopper section 500 and cleaning section 520
Consists of three units. These three units include a projection shaft 5 fitted into a slit of the cartridge holding mechanism 8.
01, 502, 511, 512, 521, and 522 are provided at two locations each, for a total of six locations. The six projection axes are formed by six slits 801, 802, 811, 812, 821, provided on the side wall of the cartridge holding mechanism 8.
822.

Each of the units 500, 510, and 520 is pressed by springs 91, 92, and 93 of the cartridge holding unit 9 in a state where each of the units 500, 510, and 520 is fitted. Both the position and the posture are defined by the position. Here, the springs 91, 92 and 93 are compression coil springs, which are locked to the cartridge holding unit 9, respectively. The cartridge holding unit 9 has a structure provided with a slit or the like so as not to block the laser beam. The cartridge holding unit 9 extends between the side plates 88a and 88b, and is pivotally attached to the side plates 88a and 88b with a shaft 9a so that the upper side of the cartridge holding mechanism 8 can be opened and closed.

When the cartridge holding unit 9 is housed in the apparatus main body 1, the units 500, 510 and 520 of the process cartridge 5 are connected to the springs 91, 92 and
It is locked in the position where it can be pressed by 93.

Each unit 50 of the process cartridge 5
When the cartridge holders 0, 510, and 520 are to be removed for replacement or the like, as shown in FIG.
Then, the cartridge holding unit 9 is unlocked, and as shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge holding unit 9 is rotated upward about the shaft 9a and the units 500, 510, and 520 of each process cartridge are removed in an open state.

The cartridge holding mechanism 8 can be detached from the apparatus main body 1 with the units 500, 510, and 520 of the process cartridge 5 mounted thereon. It can be performed in a place where there is no trouble, and the workability is very good.

When the cartridge holding mechanism 8 is taken out, the part also serving as the exterior of the constituent members forms a handle 84 for pulling out the same, as in the above-described example.

With the above structure, even if the opening provided in the apparatus main body is kept small, a sufficient working space necessary for attaching and detaching a plurality of units of the process cartridge can be ensured. Part 88
By also serving as c, clues for the desorption work are good. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the same easy workability as the paper cassette in the pulling-out operation.

Although not shown in the present embodiment,
A "seal mechanism" has been added to this cartridge holding mechanism to prevent "toner leakage" that may occur when the cartridge holding mechanism is pulled out and the posture changes, or when a shock is applied to the process cartridge during operation. You may. Much more efficient and resource saving than attaching individual process cartridges.

With the cartridge holding mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge holding mechanism can be pulled out from the apparatus main body, and a process cartridge including a plurality of units is set in the apparatus main body in a state where the process cartridge is first set in the cartridge holding mechanism. By adopting a configuration to attach it, it became possible to secure a comfortable working space without requiring a wide opening. By making the cartridge holding mechanism detachable from the main unit, it is possible to mount the drum shutter, which was conventionally attached to the process cartridge, which is a consumable item, to the main unit, thereby reducing the number of parts of the consumable item. It has become possible. The merit occurred.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, there are provided: By making the cartridge holding mechanism holding the process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, it is possible to obtain more sufficient workability. 2. Similarly, the operability of a multi-unit process cartridge requiring a wider opening / work space is greatly improved. 3. By attaching a shutter member attached to the process cartridge to the cartridge holding mechanism in the related art, the number of consumable parts can be reduced, and a resource saving effect can be obtained. 4. By attaching a part of the transporting means to the cartridge holding mechanism and simultaneously pulling out a part of the transporting means together with the cartridge holding mechanism, a great improvement in operability in jam clearance can be obtained. 5. Since the process cartridge cannot be removed from the cartridge holding mechanism unless the cartridge holding mechanism is detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the process cartridge can be removed with the cartridge holding mechanism locked to the image forming apparatus main body, or the process cartridge can be removed from the cartridge holding mechanism. It is prevented from being mounted on the process cartridge.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a process cartridge holding mechanism is mounted on an apparatus main body according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the process cartridge used in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a cartridge holding mechanism is detached from an apparatus main body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where the cartridge holding mechanism is detached from the apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a lock mechanism of the cartridge holding mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a case according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining that a process cartridge including a plurality of units requires a wider process cartridge support mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a side view showing a state where a cartridge holding mechanism is pulled out of the apparatus main body and a process cartridge including a plurality of units is taken out.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a cartridge holding mechanism containing a process cartridge including a plurality of units is mounted on the apparatus main body.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional laser beam printer.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional laser beam printer having a “pull-out” cartridge holding mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

C: cleaning unit D: developing / toner containing unit L: laser beam S: transfer paper 1: apparatus main body 3: registration roller pair 4: transfer charging roller 5: process cartridge 6: fixing device 7: laser oscillator 8: cartridge holding mechanism 9: Cartridge holding unit 9a: Shafts 12a, 12b: Groove 13: Convex portion 14: Lock member 14a: Right inclined portion 15: Pin 16: Lever 16a: Eject button 16b: Inclined portion 17: Square groove 19: Opening / closing member 19a: Support 21 21 Cassette 22 Feed roller 41 Electrical unit 51 Photoconductor drum 52 Developing device 53 Charging unit 54 Toner storage unit 55 Cleaning device 56 Cylindrical guide unit 61 Heater 62 Film 63 Pressure roller 64: Support member 65: Backup material 66: Conveying roller 67: Discharge roller 68: paper discharge tray 71: mirror 72: motor 73: folding mirror 81: rear stay 82: vertical U-shaped groove 83: front stay 84: handle 85: shutter member 85a: protrusion 86a: spring 86b: wire member 86b1 ... One end 8
6b2: Other end 87a, 87b: Rail member 88a: Side plate 88b: Side plate 88c: Exterior 88d:
Spring hook 89 ... Opening part 90 ... Lever 91 ... Support point 501 ... Projection shaft 502 ... Projection shaft 511 ... Projection shaft 512 ... Projection shaft 521 ... Projection shaft 522 ... Projection shaft 500 ... Toner hopper unit 510 ... Photoconductor unit 520 ... Cleaning unit 801: slit 802: slit 811: slit 812: slit 821: slit 822: slit

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Mounting means for detachably mounting a cartridge holding mechanism which is detachably mountable and which can be detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus with a process cartridge mounted, and transport means for transporting the recording medium; An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge holding mechanism has a function of holding a process cartridge. 3. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holding mechanism has a space in which the process cartridge is mounted, and a cartridge mounting / dismounting opening for taking the process cartridge into and out of the space. apparatus. 4. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holding mechanism forms a part of an exterior of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body when mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to one of the above. 5. The cartridge holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holding mechanism is configured to protect the electrophotographic photosensitive drum from an opening for viewing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum toward a conveying path of the conveying means, and to protect the electrophotographic photosensitive drum exposed from the opening. 5. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a shutter member that opens when the mechanism is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and closes when the mechanism is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. 6. Image forming device. 6. The electrophotographic image according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holding mechanism has a part of a member constituting a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium. Forming equipment. 7. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge has a plurality of units, and the cartridge holding mechanism is capable of attaching and detaching each of the units.
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. 8. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of units have a function as a process cartridge when mounted on said cartridge holding mechanism. 9. The unit according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of units are a unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a unit having a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 10. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holding mechanism is configured such that the process cartridge can be attached and detached only when the cartridge holding mechanism is detached from the image forming apparatus main body. apparatus. 11. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A process cartridge which is detachable from a possible cartridge holding mechanism and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body while being attached to the cartridge holding mechanism. 12. The process cartridge according to claim 11, wherein said process cartridge has a plurality of units, and said cartridge holding mechanism is capable of detaching said units. 13. The process cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of units are configured as a process cartridge while being mounted on the cartridge holding mechanism. 14. The unit according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of units are a unit having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a unit having a processing means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Process cartridge. 15. An image forming apparatus main body, wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process cartridge having process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are detachable, and are attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body with the process cartridge mounted. Wherein the process cartridge is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus main body when the process cartridge is mounted on the cartridge. 16. The process cartridge according to claim 15, wherein a process cartridge in which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrated by a cartridge frame is detachable. Cartridge mounting mechanism. 17. The cartridge mounting mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the process cartridge has a plurality of units, and each of the units is detachable. 18. The cartridge mounting mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of units are configured as a process cartridge while being mounted on the cartridge holding mechanism. 19. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a member for protecting the mounted process cartridge.
8. The cartridge holding mechanism according to any one of items 8 to 8. 20. A member for protecting the process cartridge, the opening for allowing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to be viewed toward the conveying path of the conveying means, and the member for protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum exposed from the opening. 20. The cartridge holding mechanism according to claim 19, further comprising: a shutter member that opens when the cartridge holding mechanism is attached to the image forming apparatus main body and closes when the cartridge holding mechanism is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. 21. The cartridge holding mechanism according to claim 15, wherein the cartridge holding mechanism has an erroneous operation preventing function in which the process cartridge cannot be removed unless the process cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus main body. 22. A space for mounting a process cartridge, a cartridge mounting / dismounting opening for taking a process cartridge in and out of the space, and an opening / closing member for opening / closing the opening. 22. The cartridge holding mechanism according to claim 21, wherein the cartridge holding mechanism cannot be opened when engaged with the apparatus main body. 23. The cartridge holding mechanism according to claim 22, wherein the opening / closing member is an opening door whose one side is pivotally attached to a main body of the cartridge holding mechanism.