JP2003287993A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus provided with an exhaust hood for efficiently discharging ozone produced from an electrifier and a movable member which is opened/closed to be linked with a case cover. <P>SOLUTION: When an upper cover 54 is closed, a cam plate 121 connected to the cover 54 through a 1st link 120 is stopped at a position where it is rotated counterclockwise with a bearing 121a part as a fulcrum, and a pin 121c does not hinder the rotation of a 2nd link 122. A shutter 103 does not receive drag from the 2nd link 122 on which the shutter 103 abuts and closes the exhaust hood 101 communicating with a duct 101a by its gravity, whereby the produced ozone is discharged. When the cover 54 is opened, the cam plate 121 is rotated clockwise, and the 2nd link 122 is pressed by the pin 121c and rotated counterclockwise. Then, the claw part 103b of the shutter 103 is pushed up to open the exhaust hood 101. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

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 a structure for discharging ozone generated by a charger of a process cartridge to the outside of a main body case through a filter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a copying machine, a photoconductor having a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer laminated on a base material layer is charged by corona discharge. An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing it to light from a laser or LED, and the image visualized with a developer such as toner is transferred onto a recording medium such as paper and heated by a fixing device. An image is formed by fixing. Ozone is generated as a product at the time of corona discharge in this charging step. It is also known that nitrogen oxides, silicon dioxide, and the like are generated in addition to ozone. For example, a mixed gas of ozone and nitrogen dioxide is exposed on the charge transport layer of the photoconductor in a humid environment. Then, the charge transport layer is converted into cation radicals and deteriorates, which causes deterioration of electric characteristics, that is, deterioration of sensitivity, decrease of potential and increase of residual potential, which adversely affects formation of an electrostatic latent image and forms an image. Cause deterioration of image quality. Therefore, in order to remove ozone from the image forming apparatus, the generated ozone is discharged through a duct provided with a fan, an ozone filter, and the like.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the exhaust chamber for exhausting ozone is formed independently, and a dedicated space for the exhaust chamber is provided inside the main body case. It had to be provided, which was an obstacle to downsizing of the device. Further, since the movable member for opening and closing the exhaust chamber is operated by means such as a solenoid, there are problems that the production process is complicated and the production cost of the apparatus is increased.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and utilizes a space formed when a process cartridge is mounted as an exhaust chamber and provides a movable member for opening and closing the exhaust chamber. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently discharging ozone generated from a charger.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 1 is a housing for supporting a photoconductor and a charger for charging the photoconductor. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge in which an opening communicating with the outside air is formed in the vicinity of a charger is configured to be attachable / detachable. Then, the exhaust passage that communicates the storage portion with the outside of the main body case is connected to the opening of the storage portion and the opening of the casing of the process cartridge in a state where the process cartridge is stored in the storage portion. In order to configure the exhaust chamber, a movable member provided so as to be movable between a contact position in contact with the outer portion of the housing and a separation position in which the housing is separated from the contact position.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, the movable member provided so as to be movable between the contact position in contact with the outer portion of the casing of the process cartridge and the disengagement position in which the process cartridge is disengaged from the contact position is the process cartridge. It is possible to configure an exhaust chamber that connects the opening of the housing and the opening of the storage section opened to the exhaust passage that communicates the storage section with the outside of the main body case.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, ozone generated by the charger is passed through the exhaust chamber and the exhaust passage, and the ozone is generated from the main body. The structure is characterized by being exhausted to the outside of the case.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the effect of the invention according to the first aspect, ozone generated by the charger is exhausted to the outside of the main body case through the exhaust chamber and the exhaust passage.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to the first aspect or the second aspect, an exhaust fan is provided in the exhaust passage, and ozone generated by the charger is generated. Is exhausted outside the main body case.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the exhaust fan provided in the exhaust passage can exhaust the ozone generated by the charger to the outside of the main body case. it can.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 2 or 3, a removing means for removing ozone is provided in the exhaust passage.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 2 or 3, the removing means provided in the exhaust passage can remove ozone.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the movable member has a plate shape, and the accommodating portion has: A support portion that supports the movable member is provided, and the support portion supports the movable member such that a free end thereof is rotatable about one end of the movable member as a fulcrum. There is.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the operation of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the support portion of the movable member is configured such that the free end thereof is rotatable about one end of the movable member as a fulcrum. It is possible to support the movable member.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the supporting portion has the accommodating portion in the mounting direction of the process cartridge. Is provided on the upstream side of the opening.

In the image forming apparatus of this structure, in addition to the operation of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in the mounting direction of the process cartridge, the support portion can be provided on the upstream side of the opening of the storage portion.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is formed in the main body case and closes the accommodating portion. A case cover and an interlocking unit that moves the movable member in association with opening and closing of the case cover are provided.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the operation of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the interlocking means interlocks the movable member with opening and closing of the case cover for closing the storage part. It can be moved.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the seventh aspect, the movable member interlocked with the case cover has its own weight when the case cover is closed. Then, the structure is characterized in that it comes into contact with the casing.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 7, the movable member interlocked with the case cover can contact the housing by its own weight when the case cover is closed. .

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the seventh or eighth aspect of the invention, the process cartridge has a rotation driven body, and the cartridge outer wall has the rotation mechanism. A driving force input unit that transmits a driving force to the driven body is provided, and a driving force output unit that engages with the driving force input unit and applies a driving force to the rotating driven body is provided on the inner wall of the storage unit. The interlocking means engages the driving force input section and the driving force output section when the case cover is closed, and disengages the driving force input section and the driving force output section when the case cover is opened. The configuration is characterized by combining them.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 7 or 8, when the case cover is closed, the interlocking means engages the driving force input section and the driving force output section, and the case cover. When the opening is opened, the driving force input portion and the driving force output portion can be disengaged.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, an opening for communicating with the outside air is formed in the vicinity of the charger of the case that supports the photoreceptor and the charger for charging the photoreceptor. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is configured to be detachable, the storage unit being provided in the main body case, for storing the process cartridge, and having an opening in the storage unit, the storage unit and the outside of the main body case. An exhaust passage communicating with the main body case, and an attachment / detachment opening portion provided on the outer wall of the main body case for inserting the process cartridge into the storage portion, and an opening of the storage portion when the process cartridge is stored, Since the exhaust chamber connecting to the opening of the housing of the process cartridge is configured, the inner side of the accommodation portion into which the process cartridge is inserted is the process car. On the insertion side of the process cartridge of the ridge that is in contact with the insertion back side of the housing opening, a contact position that contacts the insertion side of the process cartridge housing opening of the housing portion, A movable member is provided so as to be movable between a contact position and a separation position.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, the insertion side of the process cartridge in the accommodating portion is in contact with the insertion depth side of the opening of the casing of the process cartridge, while the process cartridge is inserted in the accommodating portion at the insertion side of the process cartridge. A movable member is provided so as to be movable between a contact position that is closer to the insertion side than the opening of the housing and a separation position that separates from the contact position. When the process cartridge is stored, the opening of the storage unit and the process cartridge An exhaust chamber can be configured to connect with the opening of the housing.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the ninth aspect, an elastic body is provided at a portion of the accommodating portion that contacts the casing of the process cartridge. Has been.

In the image forming apparatus having this structure, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 9, an elastic body can be provided in the contact portion of the storage portion with the casing of the process cartridge.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the charger of the process cartridge has an axial direction of the photoconductor. Has been extended.

According to the image forming apparatus of this structure,
Alternatively, in addition to the effect of the invention according to 11, the charger of the process cartridge can be extended along the axial direction of the photoconductor.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge extends along a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoconductor. It is configured to be attached to and detached from the storage portion of the main body case.

According to the image forming apparatus having this structure,
In addition to the operation of the invention according to any one of 1 to 12, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the housing portion of the main body case along the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoconductor.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, the movable member is extended along the axial direction of the photoconductor. The storage portion is provided with a support portion that supports the movable member, and the support portion has a free end that rotates about one end in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the movable member. The movable member is supported so as to be movable.

According to the image forming apparatus having this structure,
In addition to the operation of the invention according to any one of 13 to 13, the support portion of the movable member supports the movable member such that the free end is rotatable about one end in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the movable member as a fulcrum. be able to.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the laser printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of a laser printer 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a feeder section 4 for feeding a sheet 3 as a recording medium in a main body case 2 in a sectional view,
An image forming unit 5 for forming a predetermined image on the fed paper 3 is provided. In the laser printer 1,
The left-hand direction in the figure is the front.

The paper discharge tray 46 is formed at the rear end of the upper part of the main body case 2 so as to hold the printed papers 3 in a stack at the rear side of the upper surface of the main body case 2.
In addition, there is an open space on the front side of the upper surface of the main body case 2 for inserting the process cartridge 17, and the space is vertically moved around the support shaft 54a provided on the front end side of the paper discharge tray 46. The rotating upper cover 54 is configured to cover the cartridge storage portion 57, which is a space for inserting the process cartridge 17.
The top cover 54 is the “case cover” in the present invention, and the open space of the top surface for inserting the process cartridge 17 is the “attachment / detachment opening” in the present invention. The position of the top cover 54 when opened is indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure.

At the rear portion of the main body case 2 (on the right hand side in the figure), the paper 3 discharged from the fixing device 18 of the image forming section 5 provided at the lower rear end side of the main body case is at the upper rear end side. A paper discharge path 44 is provided so as to draw a half arc in the vertical direction along the back surface of the main body case 2 so as to be guided to the provided paper discharge tray 46, and the paper 3 is conveyed onto the paper discharge path 44. A paper discharge roller 45 for performing the above is provided. In the laser printer 1, since the paper discharge path 44 is formed in a semi-arc shape in this manner, the paper 3 printed on the upper surface is discharged toward the lower surface on the paper discharge tray 46, that is, so-called face down. It is possible to perform paper discharge of the type, and when printing multiple sheets,
Since the papers 3 are stacked with the printing surface facing downward in the paper discharge order, the printed papers 3 can be arranged in the print order.

The feeder section 4 is provided in the bottom of the main body case 2, the paper feed roller 8 which is detachably mounted, and the paper feed tray 6, which holds the papers 3 in a stack. The paper pressing plate 7 that presses the paper 3 against the paper feeding roller 8
Is provided above one end of the paper feed tray 6 and is pressed toward the paper feed roller 8 to sandwich the paper 3 with the paper feed roller 8 at the time of paper feeding and to convey the paper 3 in a double feed manner. Separation pad 9 for preventing, conveyance roller 11 which is provided at two places on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of sheet 3 with respect to sheet feed roller 8 and conveys sheet 3, and sheet 3 is passed through each of conveyance rollers 11 And the paper dust removing roller 10 that removes the paper dust by making contact with the transport roller 11 and transports the paper 3 in cooperation with the transport roller 11, and is provided on the downstream side of the transport roller 11 in the transport direction of the paper 3 and A registration roller 12 is provided for adjusting the timing of feeding the sheet 3 at that time.

The paper pressing plate 7 is capable of stacking the papers 3 in a stack, and a support shaft 7a provided at the end farther from the paper feed roller 8 is supported on the bottom surface of the paper feed tray 6. As a result, the nearer end of the support shaft 7a can be moved up and down with the center of rotation as the center of rotation, and a spring (not shown) is urged from the back side toward the paper feed roller 8. ing. Therefore, the sheet pressing plate 7 swings downward against the biasing force of the spring with the support shaft 7a as a fulcrum as the stacking amount of the sheets 3 increases. Paper feed roller 8
The separation pad 9 is disposed so as to face each other, and the separation pad 9 is pressed toward the paper feed roller 8 by the spring 13 disposed on the back side of the separation pad 9.

Further, the feeder portion 4 is provided on the front surface portion (left hand side in the figure) of the main body case 2, and is opened and closed in the front-rear direction (left and right direction in the figure) about the support shaft 14a as a fulcrum. The manual feed tray 14 includes a tray portion 14b that can stack 3 and a cover portion 14c that is configured to slide with respect to the tray portion 14b and become a part of the main body case 2 when the tray portion 14b is closed. A manual feed roller 15 for feeding the sheets 3 stacked on the tray portion 14b of the manual feed tray 14; and a separation pad 25 for preventing double feeding of the sheets 3.

Manual feed roller 15 and separation pad 25
Are arranged so as to face each other, and the separation pad 25 is pressed toward the manual feed roller 15 by a spring (not shown) arranged on the back side of the separation pad 25. When printing, the paper 3 stacked on the manual feed tray 14
It is sent by the frictional force of the rotating manual feed roller 15 and is prevented from being double-fed by the separation pad 25 so that it is conveyed to the registration rollers 12 one by one.

Next, the structure of the image forming section 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming unit 5 viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view in which the image forming unit 5 is disassembled into main components. FIG. 4 is a side view of the process cartridge 17. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 16, a process cartridge 17, a fixing device 18, a duct 100, etc. so as to form an image on the sheet 3 conveyed by the feeder unit 4. It is configured.

The scanner unit 16 is disposed below the paper discharge tray 46 in the upper part of the main body case 2, and has a laser light emitting portion (not shown) for emitting laser light, which is rotationally driven and emits from the laser light emitting portion. The polygon mirror 19 for scanning the scanned laser beam in the main scanning direction, the fθ lens 20 for keeping the scanning speed constant, the reflection mirror 21 for reflecting the scanned laser beam, and the laser beam reflected by the reflection mirror 21 for the photosensitive drum. It is composed of a relay lens 22 and the like for adjusting the focal position for focusing on 27. Based on predetermined image data, the scanner unit 16 passes the laser light emitted from the laser emitting section through a polygon mirror 19, an fθ lens 20, a reflection mirror 21, and a relay lens 22 in this order, as indicated by a chain double-dashed line A. Alternatively, the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 of the process cartridge 17 is exposed and scanned by being reflected.

The process cartridge 17 includes a photosensitive drum 27, a scorotron charger 29, a developing roller 31,
Supply roller 33, toner box 34, transfer roller 3
0, a cleaning roller 51, a secondary roller 52, and the like.

The photosensitive drum 27 is arranged on the side of the developing roller 31 such that the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum 27 is parallel to the rotating shaft of the developing roller 31, and is in contact with the developing roller 31 in the arrow direction (see FIG. 2). In the counterclockwise direction). The photoconductor drum 27 includes a charge generation layer in which an organic photoconductor such as an azo pigment or a phthalocyanine pigment is dispersed as a charge generation material in a binder resin on a conductive base material, or a resin such as polycarbonate in a hydrazone type or aryl type. It is a drum in which a charge transport layer in which an amine-based compound is mixed is laminated. When the photoconductor drum 27 is irradiated with a laser beam or the like, light is generated in the charge generation layer due to light absorption, and the charge is transported to the surface of the photoconductor drum 27 by the charge transport layer, and the scorotron charger 29.
By eliminating the surface potential that has been electrically charged, it is possible to provide a potential difference between the potential of the irradiated portion and the non-irradiated portion. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 27 by exposing and scanning the laser light based on the image data. still,
The photoconductor drum 27 is the "photoconductor" in the present invention.

Scorotron type charger 2 as charging means
The reference numerals 9 are provided above the photoconductor drum 27 at predetermined intervals so as not to contact the photoconductor drum 27. The scorotron type charger 29 is a scorotron type charger for positive charging that generates corona discharge from a discharge wire such as tungsten, and is configured to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 to a positive polarity. Has been done.
The scorotron charger 29 is turned on / off by a charging power source. The upper surface of the casing of the process cartridge 17 at the portion where the scorotron charger 29 is provided is opened so that products such as ozone generated during charging can be discharged to the outside of the process cartridge 17. It communicates with the outside air. In addition, scorotron type charger 2
Reference numeral 9 is the "charging device" in the present invention, and the opening 171 on the upper surface of the process cartridge 17 at the portion where the scorotron type charging device 29 is provided is the "opening in the housing of the process cartridge" in the present invention.

Further, the developing roller 31 is the photosensitive drum 2
7 is disposed downstream of the position of the scorotron charger 29 in the rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2),
It is arranged so as to be rotatable in the arrow direction (clockwise in FIG. 2). The developing roller 31 has a metal roller shaft covered with a roller made of a conductive rubber material, and a developing bias is applied from a developing bias applying power source (not shown).

Next, the supply roller 33 is the developing roller 31.
At the side position of the photosensitive drum 2 with the developing roller 31 interposed therebetween.
7 is rotatably arranged at a position opposite to 7, and abuts against the developing roller 31 in a compressed state. The supply roller 33 has a metal roller shaft covered with a roller made of a conductive foam material, and frictionally charges toner supplied to the developing roller 31.

The toner box 34 is provided at a side position of the supply roller 33, and the inside thereof is filled with the toner supplied to the developing roller 31 via the supply roller 33. In the present embodiment, a positively chargeable non-magnetic one-component toner is used as the developer, and this toner includes a polymerizable monomer, for example, a styrene-based monomer such as styrene, an acrylic acid, an alkyl ( It is a polymerized toner obtained by copolymerizing an acrylic monomer such as C1 to C4 acrylate and alkyl (C1 to C4) methacrylate by a known polymerization method such as suspension polymerization. To such a polymerized toner, a coloring agent such as carbon black, a wax, and the like are mixed, and an external additive such as silica is added to improve fluidity. The particle size is about 6 to 10 μm.

The toner in the toner box 34 is stored in the rotation shaft 35 provided at the center of the toner box 34.
The agitator 36 supported by is rotated in the arrow direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) to be agitated. A window 38 for detecting the remaining amount of toner is provided on the side wall of the toner box 34.
And a cleaner 3 supported by the rotary shaft 35.
It is designed to be cleaned by 9.

A transfer roller 30 is disposed downstream of the developing roller 31 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 27 and below the photosensitive drum 27, and is arranged in the direction of the arrow (see FIG. 2).
In the clockwise direction). The transfer roller 30 has a metal roller shaft covered with a roller made of an ion conductive rubber material, and is configured such that a transfer bias (transfer forward bias) is applied from a transfer bias applying power source during transfer. Has been done.

Next, the cleaning roller 51 is arranged at the lateral position of the photosensitive drum 27. This arrangement position is a downstream position of the transfer roller 30 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 27 and an upstream position of the scorotron charger 29. A secondary roller 52 is provided at a position on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 27 with the cleaning roller 51 interposed therebetween so as to come into contact with the cleaning roller 51.
A sliding contact member 53 is in contact with the next roller 52.

In this laser printer 1, the photosensitive drum 27 is cleaned by the cleanerless method. After the toner is transferred from the photoconductor drum 27 to the sheet 3 by the transfer roller 30, the residual toner and paper dust remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 27 are electrically sucked by the cleaning roller 51. Then, the cleaning roller 51 is configured such that only the paper dust is electrically attracted by the secondary roller 52, and the paper dust attracted by the secondary roller 52 is caught by the sliding contact member 53.

An exposure window 69 is provided above the photoconductor drum 27 so that the laser beam from the scanner unit 16 is directly applied to the photoconductor drum 27.
The exposure window 69 is located on the upper surface of the casing of the process cartridge 17 closer to the toner box 34 than the opening 171 of the scorotron charger 29, so that the photosensitive drum 27 can communicate with the outside of the process cartridge 17. It is open to.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotation center shaft 27a, which is the drive shaft of the photosensitive drum 27, projects from both left and right sides of the casing of the process cartridge 17, and the rotation center shaft 27a. A transmission gear 27b is fixed to. The transmission gear 27b is the process cartridge 17
A part of the gear surface is exposed on one side surface of the casing. The cartridge storage portion 57 is provided with a drive gear GM (see FIG. 6) that meshes with the transmission gear 27b, and is configured to be rotationally driven by power from a main motor (not shown). Guide plates 60 are provided in the vicinity of the rotation center shaft 27a, and guide the insertion direction of the process cartridge 17 so that the process cartridge 17 can be inserted smoothly when it is mounted. Further, the agitator 36 in the toner box 34, the developing roller 31, etc. are adapted to be rotated by receiving a driving force from another driving system, and the process cartridge 17 provided with the transmission gear 27b.
A driving force input unit 110 for inputting the driving force is provided at a substantially central portion of one side surface. The driving force input portion 110 is formed with a cylindrical bearing portion 110a, and two protrusions are provided on the inner wall thereof so as to face each other in the central axis direction. This driving force input unit 11
The side where 0 is provided is the process cartridge 17
Inserting direction into the main body case 2 (right-hand direction in Fig. 4)
Is the side surface on the right hand side.

The fixing device 18 is, as shown in FIGS.
The heating roller 41, a pressing roller 42 that presses the heating roller 41, and a pair of conveying rollers 43 that are provided on the downstream side of the heating roller 41 and the pressing roller 42 are disposed on the downstream side of the process cartridge 17. ing. The heating roller 41 is made of metal, and is provided with a halogen lamp for heating inside a cylindrical roller, and the paper 3 transfers the toner transferred onto the paper 3 in the process cartridge 17 to the heating roller 41 and the pressing roller. The sheet 3 is heated and fixed while passing between the sheet 42 and the sheet 42, and then the sheet 3 is conveyed to the sheet discharge path 44 by the conveying roller 43.

The duct 100, which is sucked by a fan (not shown) and discharges the atmosphere to the outside of the main body case, is extended in the width direction of the process cartridge 17 by the length in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the insertion direction). The exhaust passage has a tubular shape and has a V-shape when viewed from the side. The inside is
A duct 100a that is divided into two chambers by a partition wall that divides the width direction into two parts and that mainly exhausts products such as ozone generated from the scorotron charger 29.
A duct 100b for discharging an atmosphere mainly containing heat generated from the fixing device 18 is configured (see FIG. 5).

Further, when the process cartridge 17 is mounted in the main body case 2, the scorotron type charger 29 of the upper surface of the casing of the process cartridge 17 is attached.
Near the opening 171 provided near the shutter 1
03, a lower wall surface of the duct 100a, a partition member 104 made of an elastic member such as rubber or sponge, and a left side surface 5 of the storage section, which is the left and right side surfaces of a cartridge storage section 57 described later.
7a and the right side surface 57b of the storage portion so as to cover the exhaust chamber 101
Is configured. Then, the scorotron type charger 29
Ozone generated from the exhaust chamber 101 fills the exhaust chamber 101, and the opening 105 is formed in a portion of the lower surface of the duct 100a facing the scorotron charger 29 so that the atmosphere containing the ozone is sucked and exhausted to the duct 100a. Are formed. The opening 105 is the "opening of the storage" in the present invention.

Incidentally, the partition member 104 is in the width direction of the process cartridge 17 (the insertion direction) by the length of the duct 100, at the portion of the lower surface of the duct 100a, which is in contact with the tip end portion in the insertion direction when the process cartridge 17 is mounted. It is provided so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the direction). Further, it also plays a role as a shock absorbing material for shock when the process cartridge 17 is inserted. The shutter 103 is a long plate-like member extending in the width direction of the process cartridge 17, and a support shaft 103a provided at one edge of the shutter 103 in the lateral direction has a support portion provided on the lower surface of the duct 101a. It is supported by 100c. The supporting portion 100c includes a shutter 103.
Is supported so that the support shaft side of the shutter 103 is on the downstream side of the free end side in the insertion direction of the process cartridge 17, and the free end side is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The shutter 10
3 is the “movable member” in the present invention, and the partition member 1
04 is the "elastic body" in the present invention.

The opening 1 is also formed on the lower surface of the duct 100b.
06 is provided and mounted in the process cartridge 17
The atmosphere of the exhaust chamber 102, which is constituted by the wall surface of the front end portion in the insertion direction of the, the lower surface of the duct 100b, the fixing device 18, the static elimination plate 107, etc., is exhausted. still,
The neutralizing plate 107 is provided between the process cartridge 17 and the fixing device 18 on the conveyance path of the paper 3 so as to neutralize the paper 3 charged by passing through the process cartridge 17 during printing. , Has a shape in which a plurality of grooves are arranged in a line in the conveyance direction of the paper 3, and functions as a paper guide (see FIG. 5).

Then, as shown in FIG.
The scanner unit 16 is provided on the upper wall (upper surface 61 described later).
An opening (not shown) is opened on the left side (back side in the figure) of the device, and an exhaust pipe 108 communicating with the outside air is provided from the opening to the outside of the main body case 2. A fan 108b for sucking the atmosphere of the exhaust chamber 101 and exhausting it to the outside of the main body case 2 is provided at a downstream portion of the exhaust passage of the exhaust pipe 108.
And an ozone filter 108a for removing ozone contained in the atmosphere. Incidentally, the duct 100a
The exhaust stack 108 is the "exhaust passage" in the present invention, the fan 108b is the "exhaust fan" in the present invention, and the ozone filter 108a is the "removing means" in the present invention.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the cartridge housing portion 57, which is the housing portion of the process cartridge 17 of the main body case 2, will be described. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the periphery of the cartridge storage portion 57.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a mounting position of the process cartridge 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front side portion of the upper surface of the main body case 2 (front side of the paper discharge tray 46) is surrounded by a front plate 2a of the main body case and left and right side plates of the main body case (not shown). There is an open space for inserting the process cartridge 17, and the upper surface cover 54 that rotates up and down around the support shaft 54a on the front end side of the paper discharge tray 46 is configured to cover the insertion space.

Further, a bottom surface 56 is formed on the bottom surface side of the inner wall of the cartridge housing portion 57, and the guide groove 55a,
It is formed so as to be inclined rearward and downward in substantially the same direction as 55b. The bottom surface 56 is formed to have an open upper surface (slide surface). Further, an upper wall portion of the duct 100 is formed on the upper surface side of the inner wall of the cartridge accommodating portion 57, and the duct 100 is inclined from the arrangement position (the central position inside the main body case 2) to the vicinity of the support shaft 54a of the upper surface cover 54. The upper surface 61 is formed so as to extend in a shape (inclined forward and upward).
The upper surface 61 holds the scanner unit 16 above, so that the laser beam generated by the scanner unit 16 is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 of the process cartridge 17 in the width direction (insertion direction) of the process cartridge 17. A slit-shaped window 61a is provided so as to extend in the (direction orthogonal to the direction). In addition, the cartridge storage unit 5
Reference numeral 7 is the "storage unit" in the present invention.

Then, as shown in FIG.
A metal main body frame (not shown), which is composed of a left side surface 88a of the main body frame, a right side surface 88b of the main body frame, and the like, and which supports each device constituting the laser printer 1
Is provided. Further, on the inner surface side of the left and right side surfaces 88a, 88b of the main body frame, the left side surface 5 of the storage portion made of resin is provided.
7a and the right side surface 57b of the storage portion are provided,
It constitutes an inner wall on the side of the cartridge storage portion 57.
The left side surface 57a of the storage portion and the right side surface 57b of the storage portion are inclined (rearward downward inclined shape) from the body case front plate 2a side toward the image forming position (below the scanner unit 16).
Guide grooves 55a and 55b are provided respectively, and the pair of left and right guide grooves 55a and 55b vertically sandwich the rotation center shaft 27a of the photosensitive drum 27 protruding from both left and right sides of the process cartridge 17. Further, it is formed in a substantially U-shaped groove in a side view, and the rotation center shaft 27a can be rotatably positioned and supported at the lower end (insertion stop position) of the guide groove.

Further, on the right side surface 57b of the storage portion, at the position upstream of the guide groove 55b from the closed end position of the guide groove 55b (the insertion stop position of the rotation center shaft 27a when the process cartridge 17 is inserted), the storage portion right side is located. Through holes 86 are provided on both sides of the surface 57b. The through hole 86 is provided in the driving force input section 11 of the process cartridge 17.
An opening is formed to allow the leading end portion (see FIG. 12) of the driving force output portion 115 that engages with 0 to apply a driving force to the developing roller 31 and the like, and withdraws. Further, a pin 85 for supporting a second link 122 of a link mechanism to be described later is provided in a protruding manner on the outer surface side of the storage section right side surface 57b (the surface side facing the body frame right side surface 88b). The pin 85 is disposed slightly above the vertical direction of the through hole 86 on the rear end side of the main body case 2, and engages with the bearing 122a (see FIG. 8) of the second link 122 to store the second link 122 in the storage portion. Right side 57
It is rotatably supported at a position between b and the right side surface 88b of the main body frame.

On the outer surface side of the right side surface 88b of the main body frame (the surface side facing the side surface of the main body case 2), a link holder 124 for supporting a cam plate 121 and a retractable plate 123 of a link mechanism described later (see FIG. A fixing portion 88c for fixing (see 9) is provided. The fixing portion 88c is provided with a through hole 88d penetrating to the front and back of the right side surface 88b of the main body frame, and the driving force output portion 115 is projected through the through hole 88d and the through hole 86 of the right side surface 57b of the housing portion. The through hole 88d is provided at a position facing the through hole 86 so as to be retractable. A slide hole 88e is provided above it. This slide hole 88
e has a shape of a curved ellipse, and a cam plate 1 described later.
The pin 121c of No. 21 is opened so as to project to a portion between the right side surface 88b of the main body frame and the right side surface 57b of the storage portion.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the process cartridge 17 is mounted, first, the guide groove 55 is formed with the photosensitive drum 27 side of the process cartridge 17 as the head.
The left and right ends of the rotation center shaft 27a are inserted into a and 55b and dropped. At this time, the guide plate 60 at a position appropriately separated from the rotation center shaft 27a on the rear side of the insertion also includes the guide groove 55.
It is inserted along a and 55b (state of the two-dot chain line B).
With the bottom of the process cartridge 17 in sliding contact with the bottom surface 56, the process cartridge 17 is stably guided and moved obliquely downward (state indicated by a chain double-dashed line C).

At the position where the rotation center shaft 27a is supported at the insertion stop position of the guide grooves 55a and 55b, the bottom of the process cartridge 17 is disengaged from the bottom surface 56, and the process cartridge 17 is centered on the rotation center shaft 27a. Rotate downward (counterclockwise in the figure) and the rear part of the insert will fall. Then, the bottom surface of the process cartridge 17 comes into contact with the support portion 58, and the insertion tip end portion comes into contact with the partition member 104, so that the process cartridge 17 is stabilized without distortion.

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the structure of the link mechanism for opening and closing the shutter 103 of the exhaust chamber 101 for exhausting the atmosphere containing ozone will be described in conjunction with the opening and closing of the top cover 54. To do. FIG. 7 is a view showing the vicinity of the shutter 103 as seen from the insertion port of the process cartridge 17. FIG. 8 is a side view of the link mechanism. Figure 9
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the structure of the link mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 7, the shutter 103 is
The plate-shaped member is long in the width direction of the process cartridge 17 (the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction). The length in the longitudinal direction is almost the same as the width of the process cartridge 17.
As described above, the spindle 1 provided on one end side in the lateral direction
03a is supported by the support portion 100c on the lower surface of the duct 100a. Also, on the right hand side (process cartridge 17
A claw portion 103b protruding in an L shape is provided on the axis of the support shaft 103a from the right hand side in the insertion direction) of the support shaft 103a, and a member that interlocks when the shutter 103 is opened and closed is brought into contact with this portion. When the shutter 103 is closed, the shutter 10
An end of the No. 3 opposite to the support shaft 103a, that is, a free end comes into contact with a portion between the opening portion of the scorotron charger 29 of the process cartridge 17 and the exposure window 69. The upper surface 61 of the storage portion 57 and the flat surface of the shutter 103 are rotatively moved to be substantially parallel to each other (see FIG. 10). still,
The free end of the shutter 103 is the process cartridge 17
The position of the shutter 103 when it comes into contact with the portion between the opening portion of the scorotron charger 29 and the exposure window 69 is the “contact position” in the present invention, and is the upper surface 61 of the cartridge housing 57 and the shutter 103. The position where the plane is substantially parallel is the "disengagement position" in the present invention.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the link mechanism is composed of a first link 120, a cam plate 121, a second link 122, a retractable plate 123, and a link holder 124. There is. This link mechanism is the "interlocking device" in the present invention.

The link holder 124 supports the cam plate 121 and the projecting / retracting plate 123 while supporting the right side surface 88b of the main body frame.
The link mechanism is fixed to the fixing portion 88c of the main body frame by a fastening means such as a screw.
It is a plate body made of a metal and having a substantially long plate shape to be arranged in b. A through hole 124a is provided at one end side in the longitudinal direction, and when the link holder 124 is fixed to the main body frame right side surface 88b, the through hole 124a, the through hole 88d of the main body frame right side surface 88b, and the storage section right side. The driving force output portion 115 is opened through the through hole 86 of the surface 57b so as to be able to move in and out. On the other end side, a lock pin 124e is provided at a portion near one end in the short-side direction, and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface.

Further, two shaft support plates 124b, each of which has an elliptical tip end, are provided in the direction orthogonal to the plate surface from both edges of a substantially middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the link holder 124,
A rotation shaft 124c is provided that connects the surfaces of the link holder 124 along the lateral direction. A cam shaft 124d is provided at a substantially intermediate position between the shaft support plate 124b and the lock pin 124e in the same direction as the lock pin 124e, and engages with the cam shaft 124d when the link holder 124 is fixed. The shaft support plate 12 is inserted from the cam shaft 124d so that the pin 121c of the cam plate 121 is protruded between the body frame right side surface 88b and the storage section right side surface 57b.
A slide hole 124f is opened at a position near 4b. The slide hole 124f has the same curved elliptical shape as the slide hole 88e, and has the pin 121c of the cam plate 121.
Can penetrate through the slide hole 124f and the slide hole 88e.

The first link 120 is an elongated flat plate-shaped flat plate, and a spindle provided at one end thereof on one side surface of the top cover 54 (side surface on the right-hand side of the body case 2). A bearing 120a rotatably engaged with 54b and a bearing 120b rotatably engaged with a support shaft 121b provided at the end of the cam plate 121 are provided at the other end.

The cam plate 121 is a substantially U-shaped flat plate provided with protruding side plate-shaped side plate portions radially extending from both ends of the back plate which is a back plate portion, and an edge of one side plate. A spindle 121b is provided in the section. At the joint between the side plate portion provided with the support shaft 121b and the back plate portion, a clip-shaped locking portion 121d is provided at the outer edge of the back plate portion so as to project when the top cover 54 is opened. The lock pin 124e can be sandwiched and locked by the portion, and the open state can be maintained. Further, a bearing 121a is provided at the joint between the other side plate portion and the back plate portion, engages with the pin 124d of the link holder 124, and the cam plate 121 can rotate about this engaging portion as a fulcrum. ing. Further, a pin 121c is projectingly provided at an intermediate portion of the other side plate portion. The pin 121c is provided so as to project toward the back side of the drawing in the drawing (see FIG. 12).
The link 122 is contacted and rotated.
The edge of this side plate portion is bent toward the front side of the paper surface in the drawing (see FIG. 12), and the slope 121e thereof is the retractable plate 12.
It comes into contact with 3 and pushes it.

The second link 122 is a dogleg-shaped flat plate having a bearing 122a at the bent portion, and engages with the pin 85 (see FIG. 5) on the right side surface 57b of the storage portion. The right side surface 8 of the main body frame with this engaging portion as a fulcrum
It is rotatable at a position between 8b and the right side surface 57b of the storage portion. Link holder 124 supporting the cam plate 121
Is fixed to the fixing portion 88c on the right side surface 88b of the main body frame, the pin 121c slides into the slide holes 124f, 88.
A pressing force is applied to the contact portion 122c on the one end side of the second link 122 that is projected from e and is fixed inside the cartridge housing portion 57. Then, the protruding portion 12 extending in the longitudinal direction of the second link 122 from the other end side
2b is in contact with the claw portion 103b of the shutter 103, and the pressing force from the second link 122 causes the shutter 103 to open.

The push-out plate 123 is a substantially rectangular flat plate, and is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction with a semi-circular cut-out engaging portion 123a for the push-out operation of the driving force output portion 115. ing. Also, on the other edge, along the latitudinal direction,
A projecting groove portion 123c formed in a convex groove shape is provided from the back side of the paper in the drawing toward the front side. Two bearings 123b having a plate-like tip and an elliptic tip are projected from both side edges of the edge in the longitudinal direction in a direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the push-out plate 123, and the plane portion thereof has a central portion. Are perforated in a circle. Then, the two shaft support plates 12 of the link holder 124
A rotary shaft 124c connecting 4b is supported by the perforated portion,
The upper portion of the protruding portion 123c bent in a U-shape (see FIG. 12) (the edge portion in the longitudinal direction of the outgoing / retracting plate 123) is pressed by the inclined surface 121e of the cam plate 121, so that the rotating shaft 124c With the fulcrum as the fulcrum, the edge end side provided with the engaging portion 123a is movable in the front-back direction of the paper surface in the drawing.

The driving force output section 115 has a drive shaft P1 integrally formed with the second drive gear P rotated by the drive source.
Is movable along the axial direction to the tip of the drive shaft, and the drive shaft P1
And a pair of protrusions are provided on both sides of the tip end portion 115b of the hollow cylindrical body which is rotatably fitted to the process cartridge 17. Bearing part 110a of the input part 110
(See FIG. 12), this protrusion causes the bearing portion 1 to
The rotation driving force is supplied to the driving force input unit 110 by coming into contact with the protrusion 10a. This driving force output unit 1
15 is a right side surface 57b of the storage portion of the cartridge storage portion 57.
A brim 115a, which is an operating portion provided on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical tubular body, is movable back and forth so as to engage and disengage with the driving force input portion 110 via a through hole 86 opened in the.
The spring 116 (FIG. 12) interposed between the second drive gear P and
(Refer to FIG. 5), the tip 115b is always urged toward the cartridge storage portion 57, so
It projects from the through hole 86 of b. Also, this brim 115a
From the side opposite to the side where the spring 116 is biased,
When the engaging portion 123a of 23 is in contact and the push-out plate 123 rotates, the engaging portion 123a presses the brim 115a, so that the tip portion 115 resists the biasing force of the spring 116.
b is saved.

Next, the printing operation of the laser printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Paper tray 6
The uppermost sheet 3 stacked on the sheet pressing plate 7 is pressed toward the sheet feeding roller 8 from the back side of the sheet pressing plate 7 by a spring (not shown). When printing is started, the paper 3 is sent by the frictional force between the paper 3 and the rotating paper feed roller 8, and is first sandwiched between the paper feed roller 8 and the separation pad 9. At this time, a plurality of sheets 3 may be double-fed due to the mutual frictional force. Therefore, a separation pad 9 is provided in order to prevent a plurality of sheets from being conveyed while being double-fed, and the front end surface of the double-fed sheets 3 in the conveyance direction causes friction with the separation pad 9. Due to the resistance due to the force, the double-fed sheets 3 are separated into single sheets. The paper 3 separated into single sheets is removed of paper dust adhering to the surface thereof when passing through the paper dust removing roller 10, and is sent to the registration roller 12 by the facing conveyance roller 11.

On the other hand, in the scanner unit 16, the laser light generated by the laser emitting section (not shown) is emitted to the polygon mirror 19 based on the laser drive signal generated by the engine controller (not shown). . The polygon mirror 19 receives the incident laser light in the main scanning direction (paper 3
Scanning in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the fθ lens 20.
Emit to. The fθ lens 20 converts the laser light scanned by the polygon mirror 19 at a constant angular velocity into a constant velocity scan. Then, the traveling direction of the laser light is changed by the reflection mirror 21, is converged by the relay lens 22, and is imaged on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27.

The surface potential of the photosensitive drum 27 is set to about 10 by the scorotron charger 29.
It is charged to 00V. Next, the photosensitive drum 27 rotating in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise in the figure) is irradiated with laser light. The laser light is emitted on the main scanning line of the paper 3 so that the portion to be developed is irradiated and the portion not to be developed is not irradiated, and the portion irradiated with the laser light (bright portion).
Has its surface potential lowered to, for example, about 100V. The rotation of the photoconductor drum 27 also irradiates the laser beam in the sub-scanning direction (conveyance direction of the paper 3), and the part (dark part) and the bright part which are not irradiated with the laser light are on the surface of the photoconductor drum 27. An electrically invisible image, that is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface.

The toner in the toner box 34 is
By the rotation of the supply roller 33, the toner is supplied to the developing roller 31. At this time, the supply roller 33 and the developing roller 31 are positively triboelectrically charged, and further adjusted to be a thin layer having a constant thickness and carried on the developing roller 31. A positive bias of, for example, about 300 to 400 V is applied to the developing roller 31. Due to the rotation of the developing roller 31, when the toner carried on the developing roller 31 and positively charged comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 27 so as to face it, the static toner formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is formed. Transfer to a latent image. That is, the potential of the developing roller 31 is lower than the potential of the dark portion (+ 1000V) and the potential of the bright portion (+1.
00V), the toner selectively transfers to the light portion having a low electric potential. In this way, a visible image with toner is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 27, and development is performed.

The registration roller 12 registers the sheet 3 and sends out the sheet 3 at the timing when the leading edge of the visible image formed on the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 27 and the leading edge of the sheet 3 coincide with each other. Then, when the sheet 3 passes between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30, the potential of the bright portion (+
The toner electrostatically attached to the surface of the photoconductor drum 27 tries to transfer to the transfer roller 30 to which a negative bias lower than 100 V), for example, about −200 V is applied. However, the toner is blocked by the paper 3 and cannot be transferred to the transfer roller 30. As a result, the toner is transferred onto the paper 3. That is, the visible image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is transferred onto the paper 3.

Then, the paper 3 on which the toner is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 18. The grounded charge eliminator 107 passing therethrough removes the residual charges on the toner and the paper 3. Then, the fixing device 18 uses the paper 3 on which the toner is placed.
Then, heat of about 200 degrees by the heating roller 41 and pressure by the pressing roller 42 are applied to fuse the toner onto the sheet 3 to form a permanent image. The heating roller 41 and the pressing roller 42 are respectively grounded via a diode, and the surface potential of the pressing roller 42 is lower than the surface potential of the heating roller 41. Therefore, the positively charged toner placed on the heating roller 41 side of the sheet 3 is electrically attracted to the pressing roller 42 via the sheet 3, so that the toner is attracted to the heating roller 41 during fixing. Distortion of the image due to is prevented.

The sheet 3 on which the toner is heated and fixed by pressure is conveyed by the sheet discharge roller 45 on the sheet discharge path 44, and is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 46 with the printing surface facing downward. Similarly, the paper 3 to be printed next is stacked on the paper discharge tray 46 with the printing surface facing down on the paper 3 previously discharged. In this way, the user can obtain the sheets 3 arranged in the printing order.

Next, the operation of the link mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the operation of the shutter 103 opened and closed by the link mechanism. FIG. 11 shows a push-out plate 1 that is linked by a link mechanism.
It is a figure which shows operation | movement of 23. FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the driving force output unit 115 that is retracted and retracted by the link mechanism. In each figure, the top cover 5
The positions of the respective parts of the link mechanism when No. 4 is opened are shown by a solid line, and the positions of the parts of the link mechanism when the top cover 54 is closed are shown by a two-dot chain line.

First, referring to FIG. 10, the upper surface cover 54
A state in which the shutter 103 is opened / closed in accordance with the opening / closing operation will be described. As shown in FIG.
When the upper cover 54 that is opened and closed with the a as a fulcrum is closed, the support shaft 54b is positioned on the front surface side (left-hand direction in the figure) of the main body case 2 substantially horizontal to the support shaft 54a. The cam plate 121, which rotates about the bearing 121a as a fulcrum, has its engaging portion pushed downward by the first link 120 connected by the support shaft 120b and rotated counterclockwise. Stop at position. At this time, the pin 121c of the cam plate 121 stops at a position close to the upper surface 61 of the cartridge storage portion 57.

On the other hand, the shutter 103 has a support shaft 103a.
The free end rotates up and down with the fulcrum as the fulcrum, but when the supporting force is not applied to the claw portion 103b, the free end is at the closed position, that is, the lowest position of the movable range due to its own weight. It comes into contact with a predetermined position on the upper surface of the process cartridge 17 (a position between the opening portion of the scorotron charger 29 and the exposure window 69 shown in FIG. 2). The second link 122 that rotates about the bearing 122a as a fulcrum
The butt portion 122b of the shutter 103, which abuts on the claw portion 103b of the shutter 103, receives a pressing force from the shutter 103 which is about to close due to its own weight. Second link 12
In No. 2, since the abutting portion 122b is pressed downward, a rotational force clockwise about the fulcrum is obtained. Further, the pin 121c of the cam plate 121 is at the uppermost position of its movable range and does not hinder the rotation of the second link 122, so the shutter 103 is closed.

When the top cover 54 is opened (shown by a chain double-dashed line in the figure), the position of the support shaft 54b is moved higher than when it is closed. Then, the first link 120 connected to the support shaft 54b is pulled up, and the cam plate 121 is rotated clockwise. The cam plate 121 rotates about the bearing 121a as a fulcrum, and as a result, the pin 121c is moved downward. The pin 121c is the contact portion 12 of the second link 122.
2c is pressed downward, and the second link 122 causes the bearing 122a to
Rotate counterclockwise with the part as a fulcrum. Then, the protruding portion 122b moves upward and presses the claw portion 103b of the shutter 103 from below, so that the shutter 1
Shutter 1 against the downward pressure due to 03's own weight
Push 03 up to the open position.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the manner in which the driving force output portion 115 is retracted with the opening / closing operation of the top cover 54 will be described. The top cover 54
The operation of the first link 120 that interlocks with the top cover 54 and the rotation of the cam plate 121 when opening or closing are similar to those described above.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the top cover 54 is closed, the sloped surface 121e of the cam plate 121 has the protruding / retracting plate 1.
It is rotated and moved to a position not in contact with 23, and the push-out plate 123 does not receive the pressing force from the cam plate 121. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the driving force output section 115 is biased by the spring 116 when viewed from the side, and the tip end 115b thereof is a driving force input provided on the side surface of the mounted process cartridge 17. Engage with the engaging portion of section 110.

When the top cover 54 is opened, the sloped surface 121e of the cam plate 121 causes the projecting and retracting plate 123 to come into contact with the slant surface 121e.
touch c. As the cam plate 121 rotates, the slope 121
e gradually presses the contact portion 123c. The push-out plate 123 uses the bearing 123b as a fulcrum, and the engaging portion 1
23a side is the right side surface 57 of the storage portion of the cartridge storage portion 57.
It is rotationally moved in a direction away from b. This engaging portion 12
3a resists the spring 116 biasing the brim 115a of the driving force output portion 115 from the opposite side, presses the brim 115a, and the leading end 115b of the brim 115a is pushed to the process cartridge 17a.
The driving force input section 110 is separated from the bearing section 110a.

As described above, when the top cover 54 is opened, the link mechanism is interlocked to push the shutter 103 up to the open position, whereby the process cartridge 17 is opened.
Since the driving force input section 110 is separated from the driving force output section 115 at the same time as being released from the contact with the shutter 103, the attachment / detachment operation can be smoothly performed. Further, when the top cover 54 is closed, the shutter 1
03 is released from the supporting force that pushes the shutter 103 to the open position by the linkage of the link mechanism, and seals the exhaust chamber 101 by its own weight. The driving force input unit 110 is released and is biased by the spring 116.
Engage with. Then, at the time of printing, the scorotron charger 2
The atmosphere of the exhaust chamber 101, which is filled with ozone generated from 9, is sucked by the fan 108b and discharged to the outside of the main body case 2. In that case, the atmosphere is changed to the ozone filter 10
By passing through 8a, ozone which is harmful to the human body can be removed.

Needless to say, the present invention can be modified in various ways. For example, the shutter 103 closes the exhaust chamber 101 by its own weight, but the exhaust chamber 101 may be closed by using a biasing force such as a spring. Further, the support portion 100c of the duct 101a that supports the shutter 103 is arranged such that the support shaft side of the shutter 103 is located upstream of the free end side in the insertion direction of the process cartridge 17 when the shutter 103 is supported. May be. The exhaust chamber 101 is provided mainly for discharging ozone generated from the charger,
It may be used for discharging the atmosphere containing the generated heat. Further, in the present embodiment, the process cartridge 1
7, the lower surface of the duct 100 and the partition member 10
4, the exhaust chamber 101 is configured, and the shutter 103 is configured to open and close the opening portion of the exhaust chamber.
The exhaust chamber may be configured by a shutter that opens and closes so as to cover the upper surface portion of the process cartridge 17.

[0094]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the contact position that contacts the outer portion of the casing of the process cartridge and the disengagement position that disengages from the contact position are provided. A movable member, which is movably provided, constitutes an exhaust chamber that connects the opening of the casing of the process cartridge and the opening of the storage portion that is opened in the exhaust passage that communicates the storage portion with the outside of the main body case. You can Therefore, the atmosphere near the charger can be exhausted from the opening of the casing of the process cartridge to the outside of the main body case through the exhaust chamber and the exhaust passage.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, ozone generated by the charger is exhausted to the outside of the main body case through the exhaust chamber and the exhaust passage. It Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the photoreceptor due to ozone.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect of the invention, the exhaust fan provided in the exhaust passage causes the ozone generated by the charger to generate ozone. Can be vented outside. Therefore,
Ozone can be efficiently exhausted.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 2 or 3, the removing means provided in the exhaust passage can remove ozone. Therefore, ozone can be removed from the atmosphere exhausted to the outside of the main body case.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the support portion of the movable member has a free end with one end of the movable member as a fulcrum. The movable member can be supported so as to be rotatable. Therefore, the structure of the movable member can be simplified.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in the mounting direction of the process cartridge, the supporting portion is provided on the upstream side of the opening of the storage portion. Can be provided. Therefore, the capacity of the exhaust chamber can be reduced to improve the exhaust efficiency.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the interlocking means opens and closes the case cover for closing the storage section. The movable member can be moved in conjunction with each other.
Therefore, it is possible to easily move the movable member.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 8, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 7, the movable member interlocked with the case cover has its own weight when the case cover is closed, so Can be contacted. Therefore, the structure for opening and closing the movable member can be simplified.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 9, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 7 or 8, the interlocking means causes the driving force input section and the driving force output section to operate when the case cover is closed. The driving force input portion and the driving force output portion can be disengaged by engaging them and opening the case cover. Therefore, it is possible to easily engage and disengage the driving force input portion and the driving force output portion.

In the image forming apparatus according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the insertion side of the process cartridge in the accommodating portion is in contact with the insertion depth side of the opening of the casing of the process cartridge while the process cartridge in the accommodating portion is inserted. On the side,
A movable member is provided so as to be movable between a contact position that contacts the insertion side of the opening of the process cartridge housing and a disengagement position that disengages from the contact position, and an opening of the storage portion when the process cartridge is stored, An exhaust chamber can be configured to connect with the opening of the casing of the process cartridge. Therefore, the atmosphere near the charger can be exhausted from the opening of the casing of the process cartridge to the outside of the main body case through the exhaust chamber and the exhaust passage.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 11, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 9,
An elastic body can be provided at the contact portion with the housing of the process cartridge. Therefore, the sealing rate of the exhaust chamber and the exhaust efficiency can be improved.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 12, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the charger of the process cartridge is extended along the axial direction of the photoconductor. can do. Therefore, the charger can charge the photoconductor along the axial direction of the photoconductor.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge has a main body case along a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoconductor. Can be attached to and detached from the storage part. Therefore, the process cartridge can be inserted in the main body case, which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the photoconductor.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, the support portion of the movable member has a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the movable member. The movable member can be supported so that the free end can rotate about one end of the. Therefore, the structure of the movable member can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a laser printer 1 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming unit 5 viewed from the side.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view in which the image forming unit 5 is disassembled into main components.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a process cartridge 17.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the periphery of the cartridge storage portion 57.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation when the process cartridge 17 is mounted.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the periphery of the shutter 103 as seen from the process cartridge 17 insertion port.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the link mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of a link mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation of the shutter 103 opened and closed by a link mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation of a push-out plate 123 which is interlocked by a link mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing the operation of the driving force output section 115 that is retracted and retracted by the link mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 laser printer 2 body case 17 Process cartridge 27 Photosensitive drum 29 Scorotron type charger 54 Top cover 57 Cartridge compartment 100a duct 101 Exhaust chamber 103 shutter 104 Partition member 105 opening 108 Exhaust stack 108a ozone filter 108b fan 110 Driving force input section 115 Driving force output section 120 First link 121 cam plate 122 Second link 123 Board

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H027 JA02 JB03 JB13 JB15 JB17                       JB27                 2H171 FA01 FA02 FA03 FA09 FA11                       FA28 GA03 GA24 HA23 JA23                       JA27 JA29 JA30 JA31 KA05                       KA17 NA04 NA05 QA02 QA13                       QB02 QB15 QB17 QB35 QC03                       QC23 WA02 WA05                 2H200 FA01 GA23 HA12 HB03 HB26                       HB48 LA03 LA38 LB27 LB29                       NA02 NA09

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge, in which an opening for communicating with the outside air is formed in the vicinity of the charger of a casing that supports a photoreceptor and a charger for charging the photoreceptor, is detachable. And a storage section provided in the main body case for storing the process cartridge, an exhaust passage opening to the storage section and communicating the storage section with the outside of the main body case, the process cartridge In the state of being housed in the housing, an exhaust chamber that connects the opening of the housing and the opening of the housing of the process cartridge is configured. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a movable member that is provided so as to be movable between a detachment position where it is detached. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ozone generated by the charger is exhausted to the outside of the main body case through the exhaust chamber and the exhaust passage. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an exhaust fan is provided in the exhaust passage to exhaust ozone generated by the charger to the outside of the main body case. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a removal unit for removing ozone is provided in the exhaust passage. 5. The movable member has a plate shape, and the storage portion is provided with a support portion for supporting the movable member, and the support portion has a free end rotatable about one end of the movable member as a fulcrum. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is supported so as to be movable. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is provided on the upstream side of the opening of the storage portion in the mounting direction of the process cartridge. . 7. A case cover, which is formed on the main body case and closes the storage part, and an interlocking unit that moves the movable member in conjunction with opening and closing of the case cover. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the movable member interlocked with the case cover comes into contact with the housing by its own weight when the case cover is closed. 9. The process cartridge has a rotary driven body, a drive force input section for transmitting a drive force to the rotary driven body is provided on an outer wall of the cartridge, and the drive force is provided on an inner wall of the storage section. A driving force output unit that engages an input unit to apply a driving force to the rotary driven body is provided, and the interlocking unit engages the driving force input unit and the driving force output unit when the case cover is closed. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the driving force input section and the driving force output section are disengaged when the case cover is opened and the case cover is opened. 10. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge, in which an opening communicating with the outside air is formed in the vicinity of the charger of a casing that supports a photoreceptor and a charger for charging the photoreceptor, is detachable. A housing portion for housing the process cartridge, an exhaust passage provided in the body case, opened to the housing portion, and communicating the housing portion with the outside of the body case, and an outer wall of the body case. And a detachable opening for inserting the process cartridge into the storage portion, and connecting the opening of the storage portion and the opening of the housing of the process cartridge when storing the process cartridge. In order to configure the exhaust chamber, the inner side of the accommodation portion into which the process cartridge is inserted is closer to the inner side than the opening of the housing of the process cartridge. While touching, on the insertion side of the process cartridge of the accommodating portion, it is possible to move between a contact position that contacts the insertion side of the opening of the housing of the process cartridge and a separation position that separates from the contact position. An image forming apparatus, wherein a movable member is provided in the image forming apparatus. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an elastic body is provided at a portion of the housing portion that comes into contact with the casing of the process cartridge. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charger of the process cartridge is extended along an axial direction of the photoconductor. 13. The image according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the storage portion of the main body case along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the photoconductor. Forming equipment. 14. The movable member has a plate shape extending along the axial direction of the photoconductor, and the storage portion is provided with a support portion for supporting the movable member. The image according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the movable member is supported so that a free end thereof can rotate about one end in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the movable member as a fulcrum. Forming equipment.