JP2002062710A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, in which a retreating mechanism for simultaneously keeping a plurality of developing machines away from the image carrier is arranged efficiently. SOLUTION: This image forming device is constituted so as to make the plurality of developing machines retreat simultaneously from the image carrier by means of transmitting the rotary driving force generated by operating a single operation lever onto a cam member via a driving force transmitting means resisting the energizing force of an elastic member energizing the image carrier.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of electrophotographic developing units.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of forming an image by copying an input multi-color image on a transfer material, a plurality of chargers, developing devices, etc., of the required number of colors are provided. An image forming apparatus in which a carrier is repeatedly rotated to repeat charging, writing of a latent image, and development for each color a plurality of times to form a color image by superimposing a plurality of toner images on a transfer material, or one image carrier. The charging, writing of the latent image, and development of each color are sequentially performed within one rotation of the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of chargers,
An image forming apparatus that forms a color image by superimposing a plurality of toner images by a developing device or the like, or charging, developing and writing a latent image on a plurality of image carriers by a plurality of chargers and developing devices for each color, respectively. An image forming apparatus latent image is known in which a color image is formed by superimposing toner images of respective colors formed on a plurality of image carriers on an intermediate transfer member.

In an image forming apparatus for forming a color image, a distance between a developing sleeve of each of a plurality of developing devices and a peripheral surface of an image carrier is set close to about 0.5 mm. For this reason, when performing operations such as inspection and replacement of the image bearing member, cleaning for removing foreign matter in the developing device, and replacement of the developer, the plurality of developing devices are retracted from the image bearing member, and It is necessary to reduce damage to the peripheral surface of the image carrier.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional retracting mechanism of a plurality of developing devices arranged vertically around one image carrier.

A plurality of developing units 13 are mounted on the developing garage 29 and are arranged around the image carrier 10. When the cam member 7 is rotated clockwise 90 degrees by driving the drive roller 19 about the shaft 6 as a fulcrum, the pressing force of the cam member 7 is removed, and the developing garage 29 moves rightward due to the tension of the extension spring 5. By moving the developing garage 29, the plurality of developing devices 13 are simultaneously retracted from the image carrier 10.

[0006]

However, by moving the developing garage 29 on which the plurality of developing devices 13 are mounted, the plurality of developing devices 13 can be simultaneously moved away from the image carrier. The provision of the image forming apparatus increases the size of the image forming apparatus.

Further, the tension spring 5 and the cam member 7 for moving the developing garage 29 are provided in the developing garage 29.
Therefore, the image forming apparatus needs to be provided at a position facing the image forming apparatus, and the size of the image forming apparatus is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a retreat mechanism for simultaneously moving a plurality of developing units away from an image carrier is efficiently disposed in the apparatus.

[0009]

The above object is achieved by the following means.

(1) An image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices for developing a latent image on an image carrier to form a toner image, wherein the plurality of developing devices are urged against the image carrier by an elastic member. A dedicated cam member is attached to each of the developing devices, and the cam member is connected to power transmission means,
Rotational driving force generated by operating one operation lever is transmitted to the cam member via the power transmission means, and the plurality of developing units are simultaneously imaged against the urging force of the elastic member. An image forming apparatus configured to be retracted from a carrier.

(2) An image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing units for developing a latent image on an image carrier to form a toner image, wherein each of the plurality of developing units is urged against the image carrier. A plurality of elastic members, a retreat mechanism for releasing the urging of each of the plurality of elastic members, and the urging of each of the plurality of elastic members is released by the retreat mechanism, and the image carrier is The image forming apparatus is characterized in that, after being detached from the image forming apparatus, each of the plurality of developing units is moved in a biasing direction of the plurality of elastic members so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. apparatus.

(3) An image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing units for developing a latent image on a rotating image carrier to form a toner image, wherein each of the plurality of developing units is attached to the image carrier. A plurality of elastic members for urging, and a retracting mechanism for releasing the urging of each of the plurality of elastic members. After the urging of each of the plurality of elastic members is released by the retracting mechanism, the plurality of developing units are released. An image forming apparatus, wherein each of the devices is configured to move parallel to a rotation axis of the image carrier and to be detachable from the image forming apparatus.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention in which a plurality of developing units are arranged vertically.

In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit R, an image carrier 10, a scorotron charger 11, an image writing unit 12, a developing unit 13, an intermediate transfer body 20, and a transfer roller 1.
4, a transfer unit 15, a fixing unit H, a cleaning device 21, and the like, and a plurality of image carriers each having a plurality of developing units for each color.

The intermediate transfer member 20 is a belt, and is vertically stretched in contact with a drive roller 22a provided above, a driven roller 22b, a driven roller 22c provided below, and the transfer section 15. Drive roller 22 by drive source (not shown)
As a result of the rotation driving of a, the intermediate transfer body 20 of the belt stretched over the upper and lower rollers runs vertically and rotates. The driven rollers 22b and 22c apply tension to the stretched intermediate transfer body 20, and the intermediate transfer body 2 is wrinkled or meandered.
0 speed fluctuation is reduced.

In the present embodiment, the image carrier 10, which is an image forming body, the scorotron charger 11, the image writing section 12 which is an exposure optical system, and the developing device 13 are used as a set of image forming units, and the yellow (Y) ), Magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The four-color image forming units are mounted on the stretching surface (A) that runs downward from above the vertical intermediate transfer body 20.
Y, M, C, and K are provided in this order from the top. That is, the plurality of image carriers are arranged on the stretching surface (A) of the intermediate transfer body 20.
It is arranged up and down on the side.

Since the four color image forming units have the same structure, only one structure is denoted by a reference numeral, and the others are omitted.

The transfer material P onto which the toner image is to be transferred is a material on which characters and figures are reproduced in a tangible manner. More specifically, the transfer material P is a sheet of paper cut into a predetermined size, or a sheet of cloth or the like. The transfer material P is stored in a paper feed cassette 17 such as a roll of paper or cloth before being cut. Further, in the drawing, the transfer material P represents a path conveyed in the apparatus, and does not represent the physical length of the transfer material P.

The scorotron charger 11 gives a uniform charging potential to the image carrier 10 by corona discharge using a control grid and a corona discharge electrode maintained at predetermined potentials. As the corona discharge electrode, a sawtooth electrode or a needle-like electrode can be used.

The image writing unit 12 includes the scorotron charger 1
1 is arranged downstream of the image carrier 10 in the rotation direction. The image writing unit 12 scans the image carrier 1 by, for example, scanning a polygon mirror arranged parallel to the drum axis of the photosensitive drum 10 and rotating and deflecting a light beam of a laser light source.
An exposure unit for exposing 0. In addition, as the image writing unit 12, an LED array element that performs exposure for each line can be used. The image writing unit 12 performs image separation for each color based on image data of each color obtained by color separation of an input image such as a document read by the scanner R.
The photosensitive layer No. 0 is image-exposed to form an electrostatic latent image for each color.

The developing device 13 includes a developing sleeve 130 that rotates in the forward direction with respect to the rotation direction of the image carrier 10, and has yellow (Y), magenta (M),
It contains cyan (C) and black (K) developers. The developing device 13 containing the developer is fixed to the image carrier 10 by a contact roller (not shown) with a predetermined gap, for example, 10 mm.
A developing bias is applied to the developing sleeve 130, the stored developer is supplied to the image carrier 10, and a latent image formed on the image carrier 10 is maintained. Is developed as a toner image.

The intermediate transfer member 20 has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ to 10.
An endless belt of ¹⁵ Ω · cm, for example, a conductive material dispersed in an engineering plastic such as modified polyimide, thermosetting polyimide, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, nylon alloy, etc., having a thickness of 0.1 to 1 A seamless belt having a two-layer structure in which a 0.05 mm semiconductive film substrate is coated with a fluorine coating having a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably as a toner filming preventing layer. As the base of the belt,
In addition, a semiconductive rubber belt having a thickness of 0.5 to 2.0 mm in which a conductive material is dispersed in silicon rubber, urethane rubber, or the like can be used.

The transfer roller 14 is provided to face the photosensitive drum 10 with the intermediate transfer member 20 interposed therebetween.
A transfer area is formed between the image carrier 10 and the image carrier 10. By applying a DC voltage to the transfer roller 14 to form a transfer electric field in the transfer area, the toner images of each color formed on the image carrier 10 are transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 20.

The transfer section 15 is provided below the intermediate transfer member 20 and, by applying a DC voltage, superimposes the toner images of a plurality of image carriers on the intermediate transfer member 20 to form a superimposed toner image on the transfer material. Transfer to the surface.

The fixing section H includes an endless belt film 30.
Is a surf fixing device that is stretched around a driving roller 31, a driven roller, and a heater 32. The film 30 is a film having excellent heat resistance and durability, for example, a high heat-resistant resin material such as polyimide, or a resin such as nickel coated on a metal surface. The fixing unit H transfers the heat of the heater 32 to the transfer material P via the film 30 while applying pressure by the pressure roller 33, and heats and fixes the toner image on the transfer material P. Surf fixing device, compared to the method of fixing the toner image by heating the entire roller by a heat roller having a heat source inside,
Since only the portion to be fixed via the film is heated by the heater 32 to fix the toner image, the heat capacity of the heater 32 can be reduced, and the warm-up time from when the power is turned on to when a predetermined fixing temperature is reached is reduced.

The cleaning device 21 removes toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 20 when the blade 22 comes into contact with the intermediate transfer member 20.

Next, the image forming process will be described. Upon start of image formation, an image processing unit (not shown) performs color separation on an input image read by the scanner R and an input image received from a communication line (not shown) to obtain image data of each color.

When the drive motor of the image carrier 10 (not shown) is started, the yellow (Y) image carrier 10 is rotated clockwise as shown by the arrow, and at the same time, the image carrier 10 is fixed to the predetermined position by the charging action of the scorotron charger 11. Is applied. After the potential is applied to the image carrier 10, the image writing unit 12
Thus, exposure is performed based on the first color signal, that is, Y image data, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the Y image data of the input image is formed on the surface of the image carrier 10. The formed latent image is developed by the developing device 13 to form a yellow (Y) toner image on the image carrier 10.

The Y toner image formed on the image carrier 10 as the image forming body by the above image process is transferred onto the running intermediate transfer body 20 in the transfer area of the transfer roller 14 as the transfer means. .

Next, a potential is applied by the magenta (M) image forming unit by the charging action of the scorotron charger 11, and is exposed by the image writing section 12 based on the second color signal, that is, M image data. Developing device 13
And the M toner image formed on the image carrier 10 is synchronized with the Y toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 20 in the transfer area of the transfer roller 14, and the Y toner image is A superimposed toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 20 from above.

By the same process, the image is synchronized with the superposed toner images of Y and M, and charged and exposed by the cyan (C) image forming unit based on the C image data by the third color signal. The toner image formed on the image carrier 10 formed by the development is formed on the transfer area of the transfer roller 14 by being superposed on the Y and M toner images. Synchronized with the superimposed toner image, the black (K) image forming unit
Based on K image data by the fourth color signal, charging,
The toner image formed on the image carrier 10 formed by exposure and development is superimposed on the Y, M, and C superposed toner images in the transfer area of the transfer roller 14. Y, on the intermediate transfer member 20
A superposed toner image of M, C and K is formed.

On the other hand, the transfer material P is sent out from the paper cassette 17 to be stored, and is conveyed to the registration rollers 41. The registration roller 41 starts rotating in synchronization with the superimposed toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 20, and conveys the transfer material P. The superimposed toner image of the intermediate transfer body 20 overlaps the transfer material P conveyed in synchronization with the intermediate transfer body 20, and the superimposed toner image is transferred to the transfer material P by the urging of the transfer unit 15. Thereafter, the transfer material P is transported to the fixing unit H, and toner powder for forming a toner image is melted and fixed on the transfer material P by the heating action of the fixing unit H. The transfer material P on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged onto a discharge tray T via a discharge roller 42.

Transfer material P on which first toner image has been transferred
When image formation is performed on the rear surface of
9 to convey the transfer material P to a pair of reversible switchback rollers 43. The switchback roller 43 sends the transfer material P to the reversing path 45. Eventually, when the switchback roller 43 stops rotating with the rear end of the transfer material P pinched, and then starts rotating in the reverse direction, the transfer material P is sent to the transport roller 44. The transport roller 44 transports the transfer material P and transports it to the registration roller 41 before starting rotation. At this time, the transfer material P is sent to the registration roller 41 in a state where the transfer material P is turned upside down in the reversing path 45, that is, in a state where the back surface on which the toner image has not been transferred faces the intermediate transfer body 20.

On the other hand, a second toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 20, and the registration roller 41 starts rotating in synchronization with the second toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 20, The transfer material P is transported. The second surface of the intermediate transfer member 20 is placed on the back surface of the transfer material P conveyed in synchronization with the intermediate transfer member 20.
The toner images overlap, and the second toner image is transferred to the back surface of the transfer material P by the urging of the transfer unit 15. Thereafter, a fixing process is performed, and the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray T via a sheet discharge roller.

Next, a method for retracting a plurality of developing units from the image carrier 10 will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the retracting mechanism for a plurality of developing devices. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the developing device retracted from the image carrier. In FIG. 4, the retraction of the Y developing device 13 is shown, but since the developing devices of the respective colors of Y, M, C, and K have the same configuration, the developing devices of the other colors are omitted.

The retracting mechanism S includes a plurality of gears 51 a, 51 b, 51 c, 51 d, and 5, which are power transmission means for transmitting a rotational driving force generated by operating one operation lever 56.
5, 52b, and 52c, and an elastic member 54 having one end fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the other end in contact with the side surface of the developing device 13.
Etc. Gears 51a, 51b, 51 of power transmission means
c and 51d are connected to a dedicated cam member 53 corresponding to the developing device 13 of each color, and are attached to a side surface of the developing device 13. The cam member 53 rotates in conjunction with the gear, and is engaged with the concave portion 131 of the developing device 13 of each color.

When the engaging position of the cam member 53 is at the position shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 13 is urged by the elastic member 54 composed of a metal coil spring or the like to the corresponding image carrier 10 of each color. At this time, the developing sleeve 13 of the developing device 13
0 and the image carrier 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined interval to be in a state where development is possible. The predetermined distance between the developing sleeve 130 and the image carrier 10 is determined by abutting rollers 133 attached to both ends of the rotation shaft 132 of the developing sleeve 130 and the image carrier 10.
Is held by pressure contact with a sheet metal 102 attached to both ends of the rotary shaft 101.

When the developing unit 13 is retracted from the image carrier 10 of each color, the rotational driving force generated by the operation of pushing down the operation lever 56 to the operation position P1 is transmitted to the gear 55, and the gear 55 rotates. By the rotation of the gear 55, the gears 51b and 51c are rotated by the transmission of the rotational driving force. The gear 51b transmits rotational driving force to the gear 51a via 52b, and the gear 51c transmits rotational driving force to the gear 51d via 52c to rotate. Gears 51a, 51
The cam member 53 linked with the rotation of each of the b, 51c, and 51d rotates clockwise, and the concave portion 131 of the developing device 13 is rotated.
Is pressed to move the developing device 13 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the elastic member 54 is urged. The developing device 13 releases the bias of the elastic member 54 by the movement and retreats from the image carrier 10.

That is, the retracting mechanism S transmits the rotational power generated by operating one lever to the cam members provided for the respective color developing devices via a plurality of gears as power transmitting means. The plurality of developing units are simultaneously retracted from the image carrier against the urging force of the elastic member. Therefore, the retreat mechanism S can easily retreat a plurality of developing devices, and connects the plurality of gears serving as power transmission means to the developing devices 13.
Of the image forming apparatus 1,
Resources are used effectively.

When the developing units 13 of the respective colors are made detachable from the image forming apparatus 1, the operating lever 56 is further depressed from the operating position P1 to the operating position P2 to generate a rotational driving force on the gear 55 in the direction of the arrow. Due to the rotational driving force of the gear 55, the cam member 53 further rotates clockwise than when retracted, pushes the concave portions 131 of the developing devices 13 of the respective colors, and moves the developing devices 13 of the respective colors upward. The developing units 13 of the respective colors are placed on the rails 57 apart from the positions where the elastic members 54 are urged by the upward movement. Rail 5
Since the developing device 13 mounted on 7 is located above the position where the elastic member 54 urges, the urging of the elastic member 54 is released, and the developing device 13 is movable in parallel with the rotation axis 101 of the image carrier 10. Become. By moving the developing device 13 to the near side along the rail 57, the developing device 13 becomes detachable from the image forming apparatus 1.

That is, the developing devices 13 of the respective colors, for which the biasing of the elastic members is released by the retracting mechanism S, move in parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, and become detachable from the image forming apparatus 1. For this reason, as compared with the case where the developing units 13 of the respective colors are attached and detached in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the respective elastic members 54, the attaching / detaching space can be reduced, so that the space in the image forming apparatus can be used efficiently.

In this embodiment, the retracting mechanism S has a structure in which a plurality of developing units provided on a plurality of vertically arranged image carriers are simultaneously attached to and detached from each other. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a plurality of developing devices arranged vertically above and below are simultaneously attached and detached.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams in which the developing device is positioned by the cam member of the retracting mechanism. FIG. 5A shows the developing position, FIG. 5B shows the retracting position, and FIG. In the figure,
The rotation phase of the cam member 53 of the evacuation mechanism S, Y, M,
Since the movement of the developing units 13 for each of the colors C and K is performed simultaneously with the same configuration, only one developing unit 13 will be described.

The cam member 53 presses the developing devices 13 of the respective colors against the image carrier 10 at a predetermined interval by the urging force of the elastic member 54 to perform development, and the direction in which the elastic member 54 is urged. Can be positioned at three positions: a retreat position (B) for retreating from the image carrier 10 in the opposite direction to the image carrier 10, and a dismounting position (C) that can be mounted on and detached from the rail 57.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic diagrams in which the developing device is positioned by a cam member of a retracting mechanism different from that of FIG. 5, wherein FIG. 6A is a developing position, FIG. 6B is a retracting position, and FIG. . In the figure, the movement of the developing units 13 of each color of Y, M, C, and K by the rotation phase of the cam member 53 of the retreat mechanism S is performed simultaneously with the same configuration, and therefore, only one developing unit 13 will be described.

The retracting mechanism S is a dedicated cam that engages with the developing devices 13 of each color through a plurality of gears as power transmitting means, as in FIG. The signal is transmitted to the member 53. The cam member 53 is rotated by the transmitted rotational driving force, and positions the developing device 13 at three positions of a developing position (A), a retracted position (B), and a removal position (C).

When the engaging position of the cam member 53 is at the developing position (A), the cam member 53 does not hinder the biasing of the elastic member 54, so that the developing device 13 moves in the direction of the image carrier 10. By being urged by the elastic member 54, the developing sleeve 130 and the image carrier 10 are pressed against each other at a predetermined interval to be in a state where development is possible.

The retracting of the developing device 13 from the image carrier 10 is performed as follows.
The cam member 53 is rotated clockwise to move from the developing position (A) to the retracted position (B). At this time, the cam member 53 presses the concave portion 131 of the developing device 13 to move the developing device 13 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the elastic member 54 is urged, thereby releasing the urging of the elastic member 54 and Retreat from the carrier 10.

When the developing unit 13 is at the retracted position (B) where the developing unit 13 is retracted from the image carrier 10, the unit in which the image carrier 10 of each color and the intermediate transfer body 20 are integrated is formed as an image. After the device 1 is removed from the side or upper surface, the cam member 53 is rotated to set the engagement position of the cam member 53 to the removal position (C). At this time, the image carrier 1
Since 0 has been removed, the developing device 13 is movable in the direction in which the elastic member 54 is biased on the table 58 on which the developing device 13 is placed, and becomes detachable from the image forming apparatus 1. Therefore, compared to mounting and dismounting in the direction opposite to the direction in which the elastic member 54 is urged (rightward in FIG. 3), no special mounting / dismounting space is provided, and the space in the image forming apparatus is efficiently used. it can.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the retracting mechanism S when a belt is used as a power transmitting means for transmitting the rotational driving force to the cam member 53.

The power transmission means of the retracting mechanism S is a belt 7
0, pulley 75, pulleys 71a, 71b, 71c,
71d.

Pulleys 71a, 71b of power transmission means,
71c and 71d are connected to a dedicated cam member 53 corresponding to the developing device 13 of each color, and are attached to a side surface of the developing device 13. The cam member 53 rotates in conjunction with the gear,
It is engaged with the concave portion 131 of the developing device 13 of each color.

The belt 70 includes pulleys 72, 73, 7
The rotation driving force generated by operating the operation lever 56 is transmitted to the pulley 75. The pulley 75 is rotated by the transmitted rotational driving force to run the belt 70, and transmits the rotational driving force to another pulley via the belt 70. Pulleys 71a, 71b, 71
The belts 70 and 71d rotate as the belt 70 runs, and the cam member 53 rotates. The cam member 53 is engaged with the concave portion 131 of the developing device 13 for each color, as in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6. The rotation of the cam member 53 causes the developing device 13 to retreat from the image carrier 10.

That is, the retracting mechanism S transmits the rotational power generated by operating one lever to the cam members provided corresponding to the developing devices of the respective colors via a belt as a power transmitting means, and the elastic member. The plurality of developing devices are simultaneously retracted from the image carrier against the urging force of the developing device.

[0057]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which a retracting mechanism for simultaneously retracting a plurality of developing units from an image carrier is efficiently disposed in the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional retracting mechanism of a plurality of developing units arranged vertically around one image carrier.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention in which a plurality of developing units are vertically arranged.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a retracting mechanism of a plurality of developing devices.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a developing device retracted from an image carrier.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram in which a developing device is positioned by a cam member of a retracting mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram in which a developing device is positioned by a cam member of a retracting mechanism having a form different from that of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a retracting mechanism when a belt is used as a power transmission unit that transmits a rotational driving force to a cam member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image carrier 13 Developing device 14 Transfer roller 15 Transfer part 20 Intermediate transfer member 51a Gear 53 Cam member 54 Elastic member 55 Gear 56 Operation lever 130 Developing sleeve S Evacuation mechanism

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Miyasaka 2970, Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Kimio Nishizawa 2970, Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Takayuki Ushibo 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F term (reference) 2H030 AA06 AB02 AD16 BB02 BB22 BB33 BB42 BB71 2H071 BA03 BA13 BA14 BA15 BA22 BA42 CA01 CA05 DA08 DA15 DA26 2H077 BA04 BA07 BA08 BA09

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of developing units for developing a latent image on an image carrier to form a toner image, wherein the plurality of developer units are urged against the image carrier by an elastic member. A dedicated cam member is provided corresponding to each of the developing devices, and the cam member is connected to power transmission means, and a rotational driving force generated by operating one operation lever is transmitted through the power transmission means. An image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of developing units are simultaneously retracted from the image carrier against the urging force of the elastic member by transmitting to the cam member. 2. The cam member may position the developing device at a developing position for developing the image carrier, a retreat position for retreating from the image carrier, and a detaching position for being detachable from the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is capable of performing the following. 3. The power transmission unit according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission unit includes a plurality of gears.
Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission unit is a belt. 5. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of developing devices for developing a latent image on an image carrier to form a toner image, wherein the plurality of developing devices are urged toward the image carrier. And an evacuation mechanism for releasing the urging of each of the plurality of elastic members. The urging of each of the plurality of elastic members is released by the evacuation mechanism, and the image carrier is displayed on the image. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that, after being removed from the forming apparatus, each of the plurality of developing units is moved in a biasing direction of the plurality of elastic members so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. . 6. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing units for developing a latent image on a rotating image carrier to form a toner image, wherein each of the plurality of developing units is urged against the image carrier. A plurality of elastic members, and a retracting mechanism for releasing the urging of each of the plurality of elastic members. After the urging of each of the plurality of elastic members is released by the retracting mechanism, the plurality of developing devices Each of the image forming apparatuses is configured to move parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier and to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. 7. The image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image carriers, wherein each of the plurality of developing units develops the corresponding image carrier, and is arranged vertically in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.