JP2003036015A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which has an image forming unit disposed in an upper part of the apparatus body and prevents a drum set from falling by particularly modifying a shape of a unit mounting part. SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with the drum set C1 and a toner set C2 disposed in the upper part of the apparatus body. When the maintenance, etc., is implemented, the upper part of the main upwardly moves, the interior of the apparatus is opened, and the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 are replaced. A protrusion 63c' is formed in an engaging part 63c of the unit mounting part 63 for fitting to a protrusion 101 of the toner set C2. When the protrusion 63c' abuts on and leaves the protrusion 101 of the toner set C2 and a gear C1 of a photoreceptor drum comes off a gear C2 of a developing roller and the toner set C2 is pulled out, the drum set C1 is prevented from being pulled out along with the toner set C2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit arranged on an upper portion of an apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, a tandem type image forming apparatus is commercially available as a color image forming apparatus. In particular, there is also proposed an image forming apparatus in which a heavy image forming unit is arranged in the upper portion of the apparatus main body and the upper portion of the apparatus main body is moved upward with respect to the lower portion of the apparatus main body, which is advantageous in maintenance and the like.

In the above image forming apparatus, a drum set integrally formed with a photosensitive drum and a cleaner for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, and a toner set integrally formed with a developing device and a toner accommodating portion are used. ing. Then, at the time of use, the drum set and the toner set are set at predetermined positions and joined by joint means to form a waste toner recovery path.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a joint portion of the drum set C1 and the toner set C2. In the figure, a TS joint C2-1 rotatably attached to the toner set C2 side has a TS shutter C2-2, and a waste toner receiving port provided on the TS shutter C2-2 is provided on the drum set C1 side. Set it according to the waste toner discharge port provided on the DS shutter C1-1.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a state in which the TS joint C2-1 is set in the drum set C1. Further, FIG. 20 is a view showing the arrangement state of the photosensitive drum C1 ′ forming a part of the drum set C1 and the developing roll C2 ′ forming a part of the toner set C2 at this time. In this state, the gear C1 ″ of the photoconductor drum C1 ′ and the gear C2 ″ of the developing roll C2 ′ are connected, the rotational force is transmitted during the image forming process, and the photoconductor drum C1 ′ rotates with each other.
Develop the electrostatic latent image on top.

[0006]

However, in the image forming apparatus having the above structure, problems occur during maintenance and replacement of the drum set C1 and the toner set C2. That is, as described above, the photosensitive drum C1 '
Since the gear C1 ″ of the developing roll C2 ′ and the gear C2 ″ of the developing roll C2 ′ are coupled, the drum set C1 is also pulled out when the toner set C2 is pulled out, and there is a risk of damaging the drum set C1. Usually, the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 are inserted / removed by removing the TS joint C2-1 and opening the state shown in FIG. However, the user may erroneously pull out the toner set C2 before opening the TS joint C2-1. In such a case, since the gear C1 ″ and the gear C2 ″ are connected as described above, the drum set C1 is also at the same time. The drum set C1 is pulled out and falls on the floor, for example, and the drum set C1 is damaged.

Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus which prevents the drum set C1 from being pulled out at the same time by changing the shape of the unit mounting portion.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the main body of the apparatus is divided into an upper body and a lower body so that the main body can be opened and closed. An image forming apparatus capable of inserting and removing a first sub-unit and a second sub-unit, which form an image forming unit formed by unitizing the unit, wherein the first sub-unit includes at least an image carrier and printing. A toner removing unit that removes the toner remaining on the image carrier later, a waste toner discharge port that discharges the waste toner obtained by the toner removing unit, and a first object to which the driving force is transmitted from the apparatus main body. And a drive unit,
The second sub unit includes at least a waste toner receiving port for receiving the waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharging port of the first sub unit, and a waste toner receiving unit that can be fitted with the waste toner discharging unit. A second driven unit that is connectable to the first driven unit provided in the first sub-unit, and the first sub-unit and the second sub-unit are provided in the image forming apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus including sub-unit insertion / removal means for independently inserting / removing the sub-units in the substantially horizontal direction, the first sub-unit and the second sub-unit are inserted into the sub-unit insertion / removal means. The driven parts of the respective units are connected when they are inserted into a predetermined insertion completion position in relation to the removing means, and when the second sub-unit is not in the insertion completion position, they are separated from each other. Drive Can be achieved by providing an image forming apparatus characterized in that a separation mechanism for releasing the binding.

With this structure, when the second sub-unit is pulled out, the contacting / separating mechanism surely disconnects the first sub-unit from the driven portion so that the first sub-unit works together. It is possible to reliably pull out only the second sub unit without being pulled out to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, the contacting / separating mechanism is provided on the protrusion formed on the second sub-unit and on the upper body contacting the protrusion. It is a joint unit. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the tip end of the engaging portion in cross section has a projection shape.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, the above-mentioned problem is a developing unit in which the second sub-unit has at least a developing roll and accommodates toner to be supplied to the developing roll. A developing unit that has a protrusion on the side surface of the unit that contacts an engaging portion formed on the unit mounting portion of the upper body of the image forming apparatus, and that is inserted into and removed from the upper body while the protrusion is in contact with the engaging portion. Can be achieved by providing.

With this structure, it is possible to reliably pull out only the developing unit without pulling out the drum unit at the same time when pulling out the developing unit.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus of this embodiment, which is an example of a so-called tandem color printer. In the figure, the printer device 31 is connected to a host device such as a personal computer by a cable (not shown).

The printer device 31 is composed of a device main body upper part 32 and a device main body lower part 33, an operation panel 34 is arranged on the device main body upper part 32, and a paper discharge section 35 for printing paper is also formed on the upper surface thereof. There is. The operation panel 34 is composed of a key operation unit 34a having a plurality of keys arranged therein, and a liquid crystal display 34b which performs display based on display information output from a CPU (not shown). Further, the print output created by the image forming unit described later is discharged to the paper output unit 35 by the rotation of the paper output roll 36, and is sequentially stacked on the paper output unit 35.

A double-sided printing transport unit and a paper feed cassette are set in the lower part 33 of the main body of the apparatus, and for example, by opening a lid (not shown) provided on the side surface of the printer device 31, double-sided printing described later is performed. The transport unit can be attached and detached. Further, a front cover 37 that can be opened and closed is provided on the front surface of the lower part 33 of the apparatus main body, and a paper feed cassette 38 that is detachable from the lower part 33 of the apparatus main body. For example, the front cover 37 is opened during jam processing and maintenance.

On the right side surface of the lower part 33 of the apparatus main body, M
A mounting portion 39 for a PF tray (multi-paper feed tray) and a cover 40 are provided. However, in FIG. 1, the MPF tray is not attached to the attaching portion 39. Further, the cover 40 is a cover for confirming the sheet conveyance path, and in the present embodiment, the cover 40 is opened to perform maintenance such as sheet jam.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the printer device 31 showing a state in which the front cover 37 and the cover 40 are opened. Further, as described above, the paper feed cassette 38 is housed in the lowermost stage of the printer device 31 of the present example, and the paper feed cassette 3
When replenishing the paper to the sheet 8, the paper feed cassette 38 can be pulled out in the arrow direction by pulling the handle 38a forward, for example.

FIG. 3 shows a printer device 31 having the above appearance.
3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the internal configuration of FIG. In the figure, the printer device 31 includes an image forming unit 41, a double-sided printing transport unit 42, and a paper feeding unit 43. here,
The image forming unit 41 has a configuration in which four image forming units 44 to 47 are arranged side by side in the arrow direction, and magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), from the right side to the left side of the drawing of FIG. They are arranged in the order of black (K). Also,
The magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) image forming units 44 to 46 are configured to perform color printing based on the principle of subtractive color mixture, and black (K).
The image forming unit 47 is used for monochrome printing.

Here, each of the image forming units 44 to 4 described above.
Reference numeral 7 is composed of a drum set C1 and a toner set C2, respectively, and has the same structure except for the developer (color thereof) contained in the developing container. Therefore, the configuration will be described by taking the image forming unit 46 for yellow (Y) as an example. Drum set C
1 (first sub-unit) accommodates a photosensitive drum 50, a charger 51a, a cleaner 51e, and the like, and a print head 51b is disposed above the drum set C1.
On the other hand, the toner set C2 (second sub-unit) contains the developing roll 51c and toner. Further, the toner set C2 is provided with a movable connecting mechanism described later, which reliably connects the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 without disturbing the insertion / removal of the drum set C1, and thus the waste set described later. An image forming unit having a toner collecting mechanism is configured. This configuration will be described later in detail.

The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 50 is made of, for example, an organic photoconductive material, and in the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 50, the charger 51a, the print head 51b, the developing roll 51c, and the transfer device 51d. , A cleaner 51e are sequentially arranged, the photosensitive drum 50 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the charger 5
By applying the electric charge from 1a, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 50 is uniformly charged. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 50 by optical writing based on the print information from the print head 51b, and a toner image is formed by the developing process by the developing roll 51c. At this time, the photosensitive drum 5
The toner image formed on the peripheral surface of 0 is formed by the yellow (Y) toner contained in the developing container 51c. The toner image thus formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 50 is transferred to the transfer device 51d as the photoconductor drum 50 rotates in the arrow direction.
And is transferred onto a sheet of paper which moves in the direction of the arrow just below the photosensitive drum 50.

Further, each of the image forming units 44 to 46 described above.
The drum set C1 (first sub-unit) and the toner set C2 (second sub-unit) that configure the above are detachably attached to the apparatus main body. This can be independently inserted and removed by a unit mounting portion which will be described later, and the unit mounting portion has a part of the drum set C.
1 has a rail shape for inserting and removing the toner set C2 while sliding the toner set C2 in a substantially horizontal direction. Further, the print head 51b is positioned in a space inside the unit mounting portion.

On the other hand, the sheet is transported by the sheet cassette 38, the standby roll 52, the transport belt 53, the drive roll 54, etc., which constitute the above-mentioned sheet feeder 43, and the sheet is fed by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 55. The paper carried out from the cassette 38 is
It is sent to the standby roll 52, and further, is sent on the conveyor belt 53 at the timing matching the toner image, and each transfer device 51d
Reach Then, the toner image is transferred by each transfer device 51 d, and the paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed by the conveyor belt 53.
In accordance with the movement of, the toner is moved on the conveyor belt 53 in the direction of the arrow, and the heat fixing process is performed in the fixing unit 56.

Further, not only the yellow (Y) toner image but also the magenta (M) and cyan (C) toner images transferred by the drum set C1 are transferred to the upper surface of the paper, and the subtraction method described above is performed. Printing of colors according to the color mixture is performed. The above-mentioned paper includes not only the paper carried out from the paper feed cassette 38 but also the paper supplied from the MPF tray 39 '. In this case, the paper is carried into the machine by the paper feed roller 39a, The printing process is performed according to the route.

Further, the fixing unit 56 is the heat roll 5
6a, 56b, and a cleaning roll 56c. While the paper is nipped and conveyed between the above-mentioned thermal rolls 56a and 56b, the toner images of, for example, a plurality of colors transferred to the paper are melted and thermally fixed on the paper. The paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 56 is conveyed upward or leftward on the paper via the switching plate 61.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the upper part 32 of the main body of the printer device 31 having the above-mentioned configuration is opened. As shown in the figure, the upper part 32 of the main body of the apparatus is opened while keeping substantially horizontal with the lower part 33 of the main body. Therefore, at the time of opening, the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 can be inserted and removed in a substantially horizontal direction.

Thus, when replacing the drum set C1, the drum set C1 is pulled out toward the front and a new drum set C1 is inserted, as shown in FIG. Also,
To replace the toner set C2, the toner set C2 is pulled out toward the front and a new toner set C2 is inserted, as shown in FIG.

Next, the automatic opening / closing mechanism of the waste toner delivery section between the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 in the printer device 31 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described. 7 to 9 are views for explaining the automatic opening / closing mechanism. First,
In FIG. 7, the drum set C1 is the drum set C.
1, a waste toner discharge port for discharging the waste toner obtained by the cleaner 51e and a drum set shutter (hereinafter referred to as a DS shutter) 80 for opening and closing the waste toner discharge port. On the other hand, the toner set C2 receives waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharge port of the drum set C1 above the tip of a movable connecting mechanism 71 that is rotatably provided in the lower part on the front side of the toner set C2. A toner receiving port and a toner set shutter (hereinafter referred to as TS shutter) 72 that opens and closes the waste toner receiving port are provided. The TS shutter 72 is a torsion coil spring 7
The shutter is always urged by 2'in the direction of closing the shutter (counterclockwise on the paper surface) (see FIG. 9A).

Although FIG. 7 shows a state in which the DS shutter 80 and the TS shutter 72 are separated from each other, the DS shutter 8
No. 0 has a structure in which the hook 79 protruding from the casing 78 of the drum set C1 does not open even if touched by the hand. When the TS joint 71 is rotated to the DS shutter 80 side and closed, the hook 76 of the casing 78 of the drum set is pushed up by the hook 76 provided on the back side of the TS shutter 72, and at the same time, hooked on the hook 76 of the TS shutter 72. The hooks 77 and 79 provided adjacent to each other are engaged with each other, so that the DS shutter 80 is fitted with the TS shutter 72 (state of FIG. 8). The DS shutter 80 has a structure that rotates together with the TS shutter 72, and when the waste toner receiving port of the TS shutter 72 opens,
The waste toner discharge port of the DS shutter 80 is also opened.

When the upper part 32 of the apparatus main body is opened, the TS shutter 72 is closed by the torsion coil spring 72 'as described above, and the DS shutter 80 is also closed.
When pulling out the drum set C1 and the toner set C2, pulling the handle 75 at the lower part of the movable coupling mechanism 71 a little forward, the TS shutter 72 fitted with the hook 79 of the casing 78 is released, and the force of the tension spring 74 is released. The movable connecting mechanism 71 is opened with.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the internal structure of the movable connecting mechanism 71. The movable connecting mechanism 71 is provided with a tension spring. Further, this figure is a view of the movable connecting mechanism 71 as seen from above, and also shows a part of the configuration of the drum set C1 and the toner set C2. A guide plate 71c having a predetermined curvature is arranged near the rotation axis of the TS joint 71, and a hook 71c ′ is formed at one end of the guide plate 71c. A tension spring 74 is attached to the hook 71c '.
And one end of the tension spring 74 is hooked on a hook 71c ″ provided on the housing of the toner set C2.

The tension spring 74 has a predetermined spring constant and constantly applies a tension biasing force between the hooks 71c 'and 71c ". Therefore, the movable connecting mechanism 71 is constantly biased in the arrow direction. A lock member 71e is also formed on the guide plate 71c, and the lock member 71e is configured to lock on the hook 71c ″ when it reaches the position of the hook 71c ″. However, the locking force is weak,
For example, the lock can be released with a light force.

Here, the opening of the movable connecting mechanism 71 is as follows.
When the upper body is opened, the handle of the movable connecting mechanism 71 is pulled slightly forward. At this time, since the urging force of the tension spring 74 acts in the direction of closing the movable connecting mechanism 71, the movable connecting mechanism 71 is released against the urging force.

Next, when the TS joint 71 is released by 90 degrees, the state shown in FIG. 11 is obtained, and the lock member 71e is lightly locked at the position of the hook 71c ". Therefore, in this state, replacement work of the drum set C1 and the like can be performed. Next, when the movable connecting mechanism 71 is closed from the state shown in Fig. 11, the movable connecting mechanism 71 is closed to the DS shutter 80 side by only lightly pushing in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure.

FIG. 12 shows the movable connecting mechanism 7 by the above operation.
1 shows a state in which 1 has moved in the direction of the DS shutter 80. Next, in order to set the TS shutter 72 on the DS shutter 80, the pressing portion (push portion) is pressed to bring it into the state shown in FIG. In this state, the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 can be extracted respectively. Also, drum set C
1. To set the toner set C2, after inserting each, set the movable connecting mechanism 71 to the drum set C1 as described above.
Close and set in the casing.

When the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 are set in this way and then lowered to close the upper portion 32 of the apparatus main body, the TS shutter 72 is provided on the upper surface of the sub-frame 70 attached to the lower portion 33 of the apparatus main body. Protrusion 7
3 abuts (see FIG. 9A). This protrusion 73 is TS
It is attached so as to rotate integrally with the shutter 72. When the upper part 32 of the apparatus main body is further lowered, the projection 73 that abuts the sub-frame 70 is pushed up, and when the TS shutter 72 is opened against the screw coil spring 72 ', the DS shutter 80 fitted with this is also opened,
Waste toner discharge port on the drum set C1 side and toner set C
The waste toner receiving port on the second side is opened.

When the upper portion 32 of the apparatus main body is lifted up and opened again from this state, the projection 73 of the TS shutter 72 and the sub-frame 70 are disengaged, and the TS shutter 72 is opened.
Is closed again by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 72 '. As described above, the TS shutter 72 and the DS shutter 80 for delivering the waste toner are automatically opened / closed in association with the elevation of the upper part 32 of the apparatus main body, and therefore the operation is very simple.

On the other hand, FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the sectional structure of the drum set C1 and the toner set C2. The unit mounting portion 63 has rail portions 63a and 63b that serve as guides when inserting and removing the drum set C1, and a rail portion 6 that serves as a guide when inserting and removing the toner set C2.
3d and 63e are also formed. That is, the rail portion 6 described above.
There is a U-shaped cross-section processed portion above 3a, and the inside of this U-shaped cross-section portion constitutes a rail portion 63d. The rail portion 63d serves as a guide rail for the toner set C2 located on the left side of the drawing with respect to the drum set C1.

There is also a processed portion having a U-shaped cross section above the rail portion 63b, and the inside of this U-shaped cross-sectional portion constitutes a rail portion 63e. The rail portion 63e serves as a guide rail for the toner set C2 located on the right side of the drawing with respect to the drum set C1.

The protruding portions 100a and 100b of the toner set C2 are engaged with the rail portions 63d and 63e. For example, the protruding portion 100a is engaged with the rail portion 63d, and the protruding portion 100b is engaged with the rail portion 63e. Further, the thickness t of the protruding portion 100a is formed thinner than the width T of the rail portion 63d, and the protruding portion 100a is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. The same applies to the protruding portion 100b, and the thickness t of the protruding portion 100b is also the width T of the rail portion 63d.
In contrast, the protrusion 100b is formed to be thin, and the protrusion 100b is also vertically movable. Therefore, the toner set C
2 itself has a margin in the vertical direction with respect to the unit mounting portion 63.

In the above structure, when the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 are mounted on the unit mounting portion 63, the protrusion 66a of the drum set C1 and the DS stay are held while holding the drum set C1 as described above. 67 indicates the rail portions 63a and 63b as shown in FIG.
The drum set C1 is pushed in in a substantially horizontal direction (from the front side to the back side on the paper surface) as it is so that the drum set C1 is positioned corresponding to. Then, the protruding portion 66a
When the DS stay 67 is slid on the rail portions 63a and 63b and moves to the back while sliding on the rail portions and the tip of the drum set C1 is detected by a sensor (not shown) on the apparatus main body side, the insertion is performed. To complete.

Next, when the toner set C2 is mounted, the toner set C2 is held, the protruding portions 100a and 100b of the toner set C2 are engaged with the rail portions 63e and 63d, and the rail portions 63e and 63d are used as guides for the toner. Push the set C2 in a substantially horizontal direction. At this time, the protrusions 100a and 100b are formed on the rail portions 63e and 63d.
It is in a state of sliding on the rail portion in a state of being hung on, and the engaging portion 63c of the unit mounting portion 63 is in contact with the protrusion 101 provided on the side surface of the toner set C2.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the state at this time. Protrusion 101 provided on the side surface of toner set C2
Moves to the back while abutting on the engaging portion 63c provided on the unit mounting portion 63. Also, the protrusions 100a, 10
0b moves along the rail portions 63d and 63e.

At this time, since the engaging portion 63c and the protrusion 101 are in contact with each other as described above, the developing roller 51c disposed on the toner set C2 side is at a slightly higher position and is disposed on the drum set C1. The photosensitive drum 50 and the developing roller 51c are separated from each other as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the toner set C2 is mounted, the developing roll 51
C does not rub against the photosensitive drum 50 and damage the photosensitive drum 50 and the developing roll 51c.

Next, the drum set C is carried out as described above.
After setting 1 and toner set C2, upper machine body 3
When 2 is closed, a lever (not shown) contacts the shaft of the drum set C1 and pushes the photosensitive drum 50 upward. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 50 and the developing roll 51c come into contact with each other. At this time, as described above, the toner set C2 has a margin to move upward, and as shown in FIG.
0a and 100b are in a state of being floated by the width A (or width B) from the lower surfaces of the rail portions 63d and 63e, and the toner set C
The developing roll 51c pushes the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 50 by its own weight of 2. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 50 and the developing roll 51
A pressure corresponding to the weight of the toner set C2 is applied between c.

The drum set C1 also has a rail portion 63 because the photosensitive drum 50 is pushed upward.
It is in a state of being floated by the width C with respect to a and 63b. Therefore, according to this example, by closing the upper body 32, the photoconductor drum 50 and the developing roll 51c are automatically brought into pressure contact with each other at a predetermined pressure. The development processing can be performed by reliably rotating 51c.

Next, in the above structure, when maintenance or replacement of the drum set C1 and the toner set C2 is performed, the lock (not shown) is unlocked and the upper portion 32 of the apparatus main body is raised as described above. At this time, the pressure contact between the photosensitive drum 50 and the developing roller 51c shown in FIG.
Return to the state of. Here, as described above, the TS shutter 7
When removing 2 and pulling out the toner set C2, there is no problem because it is a prescribed procedure. However, for example, the user may accidentally pull out the toner set C2 without removing the TS shutter 72.

In this example, even in the above case, only the toner set C2 is pulled out, and the drum set C1 is not pulled out together. 16 (a) and 16 (b) are views for explaining this, and FIG. 16 (a) shows the drum set C1.
And FIG. 3B is a plan view of the toner set C2, and FIG. When the toner set C2 is pulled out in the state shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the protrusion 101 of the toner set C2 is placed on the engagement portion 63c formed in the unit mounting portion 63.
Rides up and is pulled out along the above-mentioned rail portions 63e and 63d. At this time, the engaging portion 63c formed on the unit mounting portion 63 is formed higher than the conventional one.

17 (a) and 17 (b) are sectional views for explaining the relationship between the engaging portion 63c and the protrusion 101. FIG. 17 (a) shows the conventional structure, and FIG. 17 (b) shows this example. It is a composition. As can be seen by comparing the two figures, a protrusion 63c 'is further formed on the engaging portion 63c of this example. The protrusion 63c 'has a function of further separating the toner set C2 in the arrow direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the upper part 32 of the main body of the apparatus is first raised, the toner set C2 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow by its own weight. In this example, the protrusion 63
By forming c ′, they are separated in the arrow direction shown in FIG.

In this state, the gear C1 "of the photosensitive drum 50 and the gear C2" of the developing roller 51c are disengaged, and when the toner set C2 is pulled out in this state, only the toner set C2 is pulled out. That is, since the gear C1 ″ and the gear C2 ″ are disengaged at this point, the drum set C1 is not pulled out together with the toner set C2.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, even if the toner set C2 is pulled out, the drum set C
1 will not be pulled out together, and the drum set C1 will not be damaged by falling on the floor, for example.

[0051]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the drum set is prevented from falling and the damage to the drum set is prevented in the image forming apparatus in connection with the replacement work of the image forming unit. You can

It is also possible to prevent damage to the toner set and damage to the developing roll.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, which is an example of a so-called tandem type color printer.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the printer device with a front cover and the like opened.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of a printer device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which an upper part of the apparatus main body is opened.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating replacement of a drum set with the upper part of the apparatus main body opened.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating replacement of a toner set in a state where the upper part of the apparatus main body is opened.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic opening / closing mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic opening / closing mechanism.

9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an automatic opening / closing mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a movable connection mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which the movable connecting mechanism is released by 90 degrees.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the movable connecting mechanism has moved to the position of the DS shutter.

FIG. 13 shows a toner set C2 together with a drum set C1.
It is a figure explaining the cross-sectional structure of.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the engaging portion of the unit mounting portion abuts on a protrusion provided on the side surface of the toner set.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which a protrusion is floated by a width A (or a width B) from the lower surface of the rail portion.

16A is a drum set C1 and a toner set C. FIG.
It is a top view of FIG. 2, and (b) is the front view.

17 (a) and 17 (b) are views for explaining the relationship between the engaging portion and the protrusion.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 Printer device 32 Upper part of device body 33 Lower part of device 34 Operation panel 34a Key operation part 34b liquid crystal display 35 paper output section 36 paper ejection roll 37 Front cover 38 paper cassettes 39 MPF tray 40 cover 41 Image forming unit 42 Transport unit for double-sided printing 43 paper feeder 44-47 Image forming unit 50 photoconductor drum 51a charger 51b print head 51c Developing roll 51d transfer device 51e cleaner 50f drum shaft 52 Standby roll 53 Conveyor belt 54 drive roll 55 paper feed rollers 56 fixing unit 56a, 56b heat roll 56c cleaning roll 61 Switching plate 63 Unit mounting part 63a Rail part 63b Rail part 64 guides 66a protrusion 67 DS Stay 69 DS shutter 71 TS joint (movable connection mechanism) 71a Pressing part (push part) 71b contact part 71c guide plate 71c'71c "hook 71e Lock member 72 TS shutter 72 74 Extension spring 76, 77, 79 hooks 78 casing 80 DS shutter 100a, 100b Projection 101 protrusion

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Noriki Ono             2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo             Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo office (72) Inventor Naruhito Tachibana             2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo             Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Tokyo office F term (reference) 2H035 CA07 CB01 CD01 CD05 CD07                       CD14 CD15                 2H071 AA02 AA10 BA05 BA13 BA15                       BA19 BA20 BA22 BA27 CA01                       CA02 DA08 DA13 DA15 EA18                 2H077 AA37 AC16 AD02 AD06 BA09                       GA13                 2H134 GA01 GB02 JA01 JA11 JB01                       JB03 KF05 KJ02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first sub-unit that constitutes an image forming unit in which an apparatus main body is openably and closably divided into an upper body and a lower body, and a part of the configuration of the apparatus is unitized in the upper body when opened. And an image forming apparatus in which the second sub-unit can be inserted and removed, wherein the first sub-unit includes at least an image carrier and a toner removing unit that removes toner remaining on the image carrier after printing. A waste toner discharge port for discharging the waste toner obtained by the toner removing means, and a first driven portion to which a driving force is transmitted from the apparatus main body, wherein the second sub-unit includes at least the first driven portion. A waste toner receiving port for receiving the waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharging port of the first sub unit, the waste toner receiving unit that can be fitted with the waste toner discharging unit, and the first sub unit are provided. The first cover A second driven unit that can be connected to a moving unit, and a sub unit insertion / removal for independently inserting and removing the first sub unit and the second sub unit in the image forming apparatus main body in a substantially horizontal direction. In the image forming apparatus including means, the first sub-unit and the second sub-unit are inserted into the sub-unit insertion / removal means at predetermined insertion completion positions in association with the sub-unit insertion / removal means. In this case, the driven parts of the respective units are connected, and a contact / separation mechanism is provided for releasing the connection of the driven parts of the respective units when the second sub-unit is not at the insertion completion position. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 2. The contacting / separating mechanism is a protrusion formed on the second sub-unit, and an engaging portion provided on the upper body in contact with the protrusion. Image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a tip of a cross section of the engaging portion has a protrusion shape. 4. The second sub-unit is a developing unit that has at least a developing roll and stores toner to be supplied to the developing roll, and a side surface of the developing unit is formed on an upper body of an image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion that contacts the engaged portion, and the protrusion is inserted into and removed from the upper machine body while the protrusion is in contact with the engaging portion.