JP2004163967A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an image forming apparatus which has a plurality of image forming cartridges detachably attached to a main body a superposed array from causing banding due to vibrations of the image forming cartridges. <P>SOLUTION: With the image forming cartridges (4, 5, 6, and 7) attached to the main body (22), a structural member 25 is disposed for separating the adjacent image forming cartridges. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming cartridges arranged in a superimposed arrangement, a plurality of optical writing means or a single optical writing means arranged in an overlapping manner.

[A] Conventional technology 1
A main body, and a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted on the main body in a superimposed arrangement in the direction of gravity, wherein the image forming cartridges are mounted on the main body by the image forming means. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a photosensitive member, wherein the photosensitive member is supported in advance by the image forming cartridge, or the photosensitive member is supported in advance by the main body, and the image forming cartridge is attached to the main body. There is an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which the image forming unit previously supported by the image forming cartridge is in contact with the photoconductor when the photoconductor is mounted.

  In such an image forming apparatus, since each image forming cartridge is detachable from the main body, it is necessary to provide a means for stably supporting the main body in the mounted state, and this mounting state is unstable. Then, so-called banding occurs in an image created under the influence of vibration from the drive system.

Therefore, an unknown image forming apparatus in which banding occurs will be described.
44 to 46 show an example of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming cartridges and capable of forming a full-color image. In FIG. 44, the transfer belt 1 is supported by support rollers 2 and 3 in a vertical direction and is rotatably stretched. When creating an image, the transfer belt 1 is rotated so that the surface on which the transfer sheet is adsorbed moves in a direction in which it moves from bottom to top as indicated by arrows.

  Four image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 (hereinafter, referred to as 4 to 7) are arranged in a vertically overlapping manner so as to face the surface of the transfer belt 1 from the bottom to the top. From the top, the imaging cartridge 4 is black (color code K), the imaging cartridge 5 is cyan (color code C), the imaging cartridge 6 is magenta (color code M), and the imaging cartridge 7 is yellow (color code Y). The latent image on the photoconductor is visualized by the toner.

  These image forming cartridges 4 to 7 have a common mechanical configuration. Therefore, the configuration of the members constituting these image forming cartridges is also common. Therefore, the color codes Y, M, C, and K are added to the end of the codes indicating the members constituting each image forming cartridge, and the structure of the image forming cartridge 5 will be mainly described. Instead of describing the configuration of the image cartridge.

  Each image forming cartridge 5 includes a photoconductor 8C and an image forming unit that forms an image on the photoconductor. The image forming means includes a charging roller 9C as a charging means provided around the drum-shaped photoconductor 8C, a developing roller 10C as a developing means for supplying toner to the photoconductor 8C, and a developing roller 10C on the photoconductor 8C after transfer. A cleaning blade 12C for removing the residual toner is included.

  A replenishing roller 11C for replenishing the developer to the developing roller 10C is attached to the developing roller 10C, and the developer is conveyed toward the replenishing roller 11C while being stirred by the rotating bodies 13C and 14C. It has become. An image writing position on the photoreceptor 9C between the charging roller 9C and the developing roller 10C is irradiated with a light beam Lb emitted from an optical writing unit 104C described later.

  Since the various members for forming an image have a life, each of the image forming cartridges 4 to 7 is provided for convenience of replacement of members, maintenance, and the like. Therefore, as shown in FIG. .) Is provided detachably with respect to 22.

  Along with being detachable, fixing pins 16C and 17C are provided as positioning support means, each having a length in a detaching direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. Further, as shown in FIGS. 46 to 48, a drive joint 5C is provided as drive force input means for applying a drive force to the image forming means and the like.

  In FIG. 45, the main body 22 is configured as a box-shaped frame. The frame is a hexahedral, box-shaped structure. This structure includes a front plate 22a that forms a surface on which the image forming cartridge 5 is attached and detached, a rear plate 22b that forms a surface facing the front plate 22a, and a surface on the right side toward the front plate 22a. A right side plate 22c, a left side plate 22d forming a left side surface toward the front side plate 22a, a top plate 22e forming a ceiling surface, a bottom plate 22f forming a bottom surface, and the like. The main body 22 is assembled into a body having a box-shaped structure composed of the front side plate 22a, the rear side plate 22b, the right side plate 22c, the left side plate 22d, the top plate 22e, the bottom plate 22f, and the like. Although each of these plates is shown in a simple shape in the drawings, it has a complicated shape with cutouts, bent portions, holes, and the like for mounting components.

  The image forming cartridges 4 to 7 are configured to be inserted in the mounting / removing direction from the mounting opening which is largely opened in the front side plate 22a in the vertical direction while being oriented in the axial direction of the photoconductor. On the other hand, in FIGS. 47 and 48, a rectangular window is formed on the side of the image forming cartridge 5, and a part of the photoconductor 8C is exposed from the window. A shaft integral with the photoreceptor 8C is supported by the case of the image forming cartridge 5, and a tapered drive joint 15C is provided at the tip of the shaft.

  As shown in FIG. 49, mounting holes 16C ′ and 17C ′ for fitting with the fixing pins 16C and 17C are formed in the front side plate 22a constituting the main body 22, and as shown in FIGS. 46 and 49, The rear plate 22b is provided with a driving joint 15C 'having a shape to be fitted to the driving joint 15C.

  The attachment of the imaging cartridge 5 to the main body 22 will be described. In FIGS. 45, 47 and 48, the imaging cartridge 5 is moved in the attaching / detaching direction and the fixing pins 16C and 17C are moved as shown in FIGS. 46 and 49. When fitting into the mounting holes 16C ', 17C', at the same time, the drive joint 15C is fitted into the tapered hole of the driving joint 15C so that power can be transmitted. As described above, the drive joint 15C and the driving joint 15C 'provided on the back surface of the rear plate 22b are fitted together, and the fixing pins 16C and 17C are fitted into the mounting holes prepared on the front plate 22a. The main fixation of the image forming cartridge 5 to the cartridge 22 is performed. The driving joint 15c 'is connected to a driving device (not shown). In this way, the image forming cartridge 5 is fixed to the main body 22 with three points as main fulcrums. The same applies to other image forming cartridges.

  In FIG. 44, a pair of registration rollers 18 are provided near the lower portion of the transfer belt 1. When a full-color image is formed, a toner image is formed on each photoreceptor in each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow in each of the imaging cartridges 4 to 7, and in synchronization with this, the toner enters the sheet path indicated by an arrow. Along with the transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is sent out onto the transfer belt 1 by the registration roller 18, and while the transfer sheet moves upward together with the transfer belt 1, toner images are transferred from the respective photoconductors. , C, and K in this order, the color toner image is superimposed on the transfer sheet and discharged. The discharged transfer sheet passes through a fixing device (not shown), on which the above-described superimposed transfer toner image is fixed, and is discharged.

  In this way, the image is formed, and when any of the image forming cartridges 4 to 7 runs out of toner or reaches the time required for required maintenance, the corresponding image forming cartridge is replaced or maintained. Only the image cartridge is removed from the main body 22 and is mounted after required maintenance is performed. Alternatively, the cartridge is replaced with a new image forming cartridge and a new image forming cartridge is mounted.

  For example, the image forming cartridge 5 is supported and fixed at the three points of the fixing pins 16C and 17C and the drive joint 15C as described above in order to make the image forming cartridge 5 detachable from the main body 22. The charging roller 9C, the developing roller 10C, and the like have a shaft shape, and the shaft portions at both ends in the longitudinal direction having the shaft shape are supported by the image forming cartridge 5. The fixing pins 16C and 17C, the drive joint 15C, and the like, which are the support points of 5, are provided on the side surface of the image forming cartridge 5 which is the axial end of the charging roller 9C and the developing roller 10C.

  As described above, the image forming cartridge 5 is supported at both ends in the longitudinal direction in a so-called bridge-like structure with respect to the main body 22, and drives the transfer belt 1, drives the transfer sheet, and drives the fixing device. As a result, the vibration generated in the main body 22 reaches the image forming cartridge 5 and causes the image forming cartridge 5 to vibrate.

  As a basic vibration mode, a vertical vibration mode that generates vertical vibration as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 53A, or a torsional vibration that generates vibration in a torsional direction indicated by an arrow having a different direction in FIG. 53B. Mode exists. When the entire image forming cartridge 5 vibrates in this way, the vibration of the image forming cartridge 5 is directly transmitted to the photosensitive member 8C because the photosensitive member 8C is supported by the image forming cartridge 5, and the photosensitive member 8C is charged from the image forming cartridge 5. Vibration is transmitted to the photoreceptor 8C via image forming means such as the roller 9C, the developing roller 10C, and the cleaning blade 12C, and the displacement mainly due to the vibration of the photoreceptor 8C itself causes the image writing position and the image transfer position to be shifted, and Scanning pitch unevenness occurs in the sub-scanning direction (moving direction of the transfer belt 1 = vertical direction) according to the frequency. Such scanning pitch unevenness causes periodic density unevenness in the sub-scanning direction on an image, and is called banding. The same can be said for the other image forming cartridges 4, 6, and 7.

  On the other hand, as a configuration of another image forming apparatus, there is a type in which a photoconductor is not provided on an image forming cartridge side and a photoconductor is previously supported on a main body side. In this type of image forming apparatus, the image forming cartridge includes a developing roller and a toner hopper that supplies toner to the developing roller, and the image forming cartridge is detachable from the main body. The main body is supported by a structure similar to the fixing pins and the drive joints shown in FIGS.

  In the image forming cartridge having such a configuration, for example, when the image forming cartridge 5 for cyan is illustrated, when the image forming cartridge 5 is mounted on the main body 22, the developing roller 10C is provided in advance on the photoreceptor provided on the main body side. Contact 8C.

  50, 51, and 52 (b), for example, in the case of a cyan image forming cartridge, when the image forming cartridge 5 "is mounted on the main body 22, the photosensitive member 8C" provided in advance on the main body 22 side. The developing roller 10C "provided in the image forming cartridge 5" is disposed at a minute constant interval from the photoconductor 8C ". In this case, as a means for maintaining the minute constant interval, FIG. As shown in the drawing, on the image forming cartridge 5 "side, at both ends in the axial direction of the developing roller 10C" as a part of the image forming means, a large diameter which can be spaced apart from the diameter of the developing roller 10C "by a certain distance. Rings 10C "-1 and 10C" -2 are provided. On the other hand, the photoconductor 8C "is supported on the main body 22 in advance, and the ring 10C" is mounted when the image forming cartridge 5 "is mounted on the main body 22. -1, 10C -2 photoreceptor 8C 'and is adapted to hold a predetermined distance and "developing roller 10C by abutting the ends of the axial direction of the" photoreceptor 8C.

  This relationship is the same for the other image forming cartridges 4 ", 6", and 7 ". That is, as shown in Fig. 51, the photoconductors 8K", 8M ", and 8Y" are pivotally supported on the main body 22 in advance. I have. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 52 (a), 52 (c) and 52 (d), the image forming cartridges 4 ", 6" and 7 "correspond to the rings 10C" -1 and 10 "-2. Developing rollers 10K ", 10M", and 10Y "each having a ring are pivotally supported. By attaching these image forming cartridges 4 ", 6", 7 "to the main body, the developing rollers 10K", 10M ", 10Y" are maintained at a fixed distance from the photoconductors 8K ", 8M", 8Y ". become.

  In the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, the developing roller 10C "supported by the image forming cartridge and the ring 10C" -1, 10C "-2 serving as an interval regulating member is integrated with the main body. When the image forming cartridge vibrates in order to come into contact with the photosensitive member 8C "previously supported by the photosensitive member 8C", the photosensitive member 8C "is developed via the developing roller 10C" as the developing means or the rings 10C "-1, 10C" -2. "Vibrate, causing banding as in the case of the image forming cartridge 5 having the photoconductor 8C.

That is, for example,
(I). In a configuration in which the photosensitive member 8C is supported in advance by the image forming cartridge 5 (more precisely, the case of the image forming cartridge), when the image forming cartridge 5 is mounted on the main body 22 and an image is formed, an image is formed. When the cartridge 5 vibrates, the vibration is transmitted to the photoreceptor 8C via image forming means such as the charging roller 9C, the developing roller 10C, and the cleaning blade 12C, thereby causing banding.

  In this configuration, since the photosensitive member 8C and the developing roller 10C are supported by the same supported portion (the image forming cartridge 5), the rings 10 "-1 and 10" as the interval regulating members as shown in FIG. -2, the interval between the photoconductor 8C and the developing roller 10C can be maintained with high precision. Even in this case, the vibration of the image forming cartridge 5 is transmitted to the photoconductor 8C, and the charging roller 9C and the cleaning roller Since the blade 12C and the like are provided in the image forming cartridge 5, when the image forming cartridge 5 vibrates, the photoconductor 8C vibrates even through the image forming means such as the charging roller 9C and the cleaning blade 12C. Therefore, banding occurs.

Also,
(B). As described with reference to FIGS. 50 to 53, the photoconductor 8C "is previously supported by the main body, and when the image forming cartridge is mounted on the main body, the photoconductor 8C" on the main body side is pre-supported by the image forming cartridge. The developing means (developing roller 10C "or the ring 10" -1, 10 "-2 as the spacing regulating member) as the image forming means is in contact with the photoconductor 8C", or the image forming is performed. Even if one of the charging means and the cleaning blade or a plurality of them are in contact with each other, the vibration of the image forming cartridge is transmitted to the photoreceptor 8C "via these image forming means, so that banding occurs.

  It is said that banding caused by the vibration of these image forming cartridges is very easily visually discriminated in the vicinity of the 0.5 mm pitch, but becomes hard to be visually discriminated when the vibration becomes a high frequency and the pitch on the image is narrowed. There are features. For this reason, when the resonance frequency in the above-mentioned vibration mode is low, it is easy to determine visually, and the image quality may be remarkably impaired. Further, in an image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of image forming cartridges, a driving device for each image forming cartridge becomes complicated, so that banding due to vibration becomes remarkable.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, as a known means for supporting an image forming unit detachably attached to a main body, there is the following technique.
a. An elastic member fixed to a push-up member integral with the image forming apparatus main body in a configuration in which a process cartridge in which four side-by-side developing units are integrally mounted together with the photoreceptor belt is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
b. For each of the plurality of toner cartridges detachably mounted on the developing device provided opposite to the latent image carrier, adjacent toner cartridges may be used to prevent rattling between the toner cartridges when the developing device rotates. A configuration in which a concave and convex groove is provided (for example, see Patent Document 2).
b. Regarding a toner cartridge that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus and is attached to a process cartridge having a photosensitive drum and supplies toner, a configuration including a guide member that regulates the position of the toner cartridge pushed into the toner storage unit of the process cartridge (for example, Patent Document 3).
[B] Conventional technology 2
In FIG. 44, four optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y are superposedly arranged in the direction of gravity corresponding to the four image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7. These optical writing units 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y have a common mechanical configuration. Therefore, the configuration of the members constituting these optical writing means is also common. Therefore, the above-mentioned color codes Y, M, C, and K are added to the end of the reference numerals indicating the members constituting each optical writing unit, and the configuration of the optical writing unit 104C will be mainly described. Instead of describing the configuration of the writing means. Further, the operation content is merely a difference that the emitted light beam Lb corresponds to each color image, and the other is common. Therefore, the operation is mainly performed with respect to the optical writing means 104C and the image forming cartridge 5 corresponding thereto. Will be replaced with the description of the other optical writing means and the image forming cartridge.

  The light beam Lb is scanned on the photoconductor 8C by the optical writing unit 104C to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 8C. In the optical writing means 104C, a light beam generated by a laser diode (not shown) is scanned by the action of the polygon mirror 106C, and the target light is passed through the first fθ lens 108C, the return mirrors 110C and 111C, and the second fθ lens 112C. A beam spot is irradiated on the photoconductor 8C.

The image forming cartridge 5 includes, in addition to the photoreceptor 8C, parts such as the cleaning unit, the charging unit, the developing unit, and the toner, which are necessary for the image forming and have a replacement life, as described above.
In such an image forming apparatus, since the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, 7 are arranged at short intervals in the vertical direction, the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M and 104Y cannot be installed. Therefore, these optical writing means are arranged at positions relatively far from the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, 8Y in the horizontal direction.

For example, with respect to the optical writing unit 104C, when vibration occurs, the beam displacement on the photoconductor 8C increases, and a phenomenon called banding described later is easily caused.
As described with reference to FIG. 45, the main body 22 basically includes a front plate 22a, a rear plate 22b, a right plate 22c, a left plate 22d, a top plate 22e, and a bottom plate 22f.
54 and 55, regarding the optical writing means 104C, a plate-like base member 328C is hung between the front side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b, and the optical writing means 104C is installed on the base member 328C. ing.

  The rear end of the base member 328C is fixed to the rear plate 22b, and the front end is supported by the front plate 22a via the adjusting means 330C. A bridge structure is formed by the base member 328C and the adjusting means 330C.

  The adjusting means 330C has a mechanism for vertically displacing the front end of the base member 328C, and can adjust the inclination of the scanning line in the sub-scanning direction of the light beam Lb emitted from the optical writing means 104C. ing. By such adjustment in each optical writing means, it is possible to prevent images of four colors from being superimposed with different inclinations.

  In order to enable the displacement of the base member 328C by adjustment, a slit-shaped notch 128a is formed at the rear end of the base member 328C as shown in FIG. 54, so that the hinge function can be easily realized. ing. Here, the adjusting means 330K, 330C, 330M, and 330Y are provided corresponding to all four colors, respectively. However, the base member of the optical writing means corresponding to one reference color is directly in front of the adjusting means. A configuration in which one adjusting means is omitted while being fixed between the side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b may be employed.

In addition to the above configuration, there is a technique described in the following publication as a technique relating to position adjustment or prevention of position shift of the optical writing means.
The first technique is that an optical writing means is adjustably attached to a device structure via a spring, a screw, or the like (for example, see Patent Document 4). In order to prevent this, the device structure is formed of a material having a small coefficient of thermal expansion such as ceramic (for example, see Patent Document 5). The third technique uses an elastic member between the housing and the cover of the optical writing means. Further, it is intended to suppress the vibration of the cover to prevent the influence on the optical writing (for example, see Patent Document 6).

  As described above, in a configuration in which the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, 7 and the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, 104Y are arranged in a superimposed manner in the direction of gravity, the size of the apparatus can be reduced, but the base members 328K, 328C, Since 328M, 328Y and the adjusting means 330K, 330C, 330M, 330Y have a bridge structure, the basic vibration mode is, for example, the vertical vibration mode shown in FIG. There is a torsional vibration mode shown in FIG. The same applies to the other optical writing means 104K, 104M, and 104Y.

  Therefore, when the vibration of the driving device or the like is transmitted via the front side plate 22c and the rear side plate 22b, and the entire optical writing unit 104C vibrates, a periodic displacement of the light beam position on the photoconductor 8C is caused. Scan pitch unevenness in the sub-scanning direction according to the resonance frequency occurs, and on the image, periodic density unevenness in the sub-scanning direction occurs, and banding occurs.

  This banding is also very easily visually distinguished in the vicinity of the 0.5 mm pitch, but has a feature that the vibration becomes higher in frequency and the pitch on the image becomes narrower, so that it becomes difficult to visually distinguish the banding. For this reason, when the resonance frequency in the vibration mode is low, it is easy to visually discriminate, and the image quality is significantly impaired.

Further, in an image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of optical writing means, firstly, the driving device tends to be complicated and its vibration generation level tends to be high. Third, it is necessary to reduce the cross-sectional area, and it tends to be easily vibrated. Thirdly, it is difficult to construct a structure having sufficient strength around the optical writing means due to space limitations. The problem of banding becomes more serious than that of a single-color image forming apparatus using one optical writing unit.
In the above [A] Conventional Technique 1, banding caused by the vibration of the image forming cartridge becomes a problem, and in [B] Conventional Technique 2, banding caused by the vibration of the optical writing means becomes a problem.

JP-A-5-313425 JP-A-6-148968 JP-A-10-20647 JP-A-5-6071 JP-A-7-104545 JP-A-6-34901

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of banding due to vibration of an image forming cartridge and an optical writing unit.

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object.
(1). A main body, and a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted on the main body in a superimposed arrangement, wherein the image forming cartridges are mounted on the photoreceptor by the image forming means in a state of being mounted on the main body. An image forming apparatus for forming an image, wherein the photosensitive member is supported in advance by the image forming cartridge, or the photosensitive member is supported in advance by the main body and the image forming cartridge is mounted on the main body. An image forming apparatus having a configuration in which a part of the image forming unit supported in advance by the image forming cartridge with respect to the photosensitive member is in a state of being in contact with the photosensitive member, wherein the plurality of image forming cartridges are In the state where the cartridge is mounted on the main body, a structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge is provided for partitioning the adjacent image forming cartridges. .
(2). In the image forming apparatus described in (1), the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge has a length in a mounting / removing direction, and guides the image forming cartridge by engaging with a guided portion of the image forming cartridge. A guide portion is provided (claim 2).
(3). (1) In the image forming apparatus described in (1) or (2), the image forming cartridge partitioning structural member has a pressing unit that generates an elastic pressing force between each of the adjacent image forming cartridges and the structural member. (Claim 3).
(4). (1) In the image forming apparatus described in (2) or (3), the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge includes a viscoelastic pressing force between each of the adjacent image forming cartridges and the structural member. (Claim 4).
(5). (1) The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein a flat plate-shaped second structure is provided on one side of the image forming cartridge and at a spatial position opposite to an image forming portion having a photoconductor in parallel with the overlapping arrangement direction. A member is provided, and the second structural member is connected to the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge (claim 5).
(6). In the image forming apparatus described in (1), the image forming means is any one of a charging roller, a developing means, a cleaning blade, or a plurality of them.
(7). (6) In the image forming apparatus described in (6), the developing unit may include a developing roller that contacts the photosensitive member or an interval regulating member that contacts the photosensitive member and regulates an interval between the developing roller and the photosensitive member. It is provided (claim 7).
(8). A plurality of optical writing means are respectively installed on a plurality of base members supported by the main body and are arranged in a superimposed manner, and a scanning line shift from another optical writing means corresponding to at least one optical writing means. In the image forming apparatus provided with an adjusting unit for adjusting the optical writing unit, a structural member for partitioning the optical writing unit is provided between the optical writing unit that can be adjusted by the adjusting unit and the optical writing unit adjacent thereto. Then, a part of the structural member for partitioning the optical writing means is fixed to the main body, and the distance between the optical writing means which can be adjusted by the structural member for partitioning the optical writing means and the optical writing means adjacent thereto is adjusted. It is determined that the partition has been established (claim 8).
(9). (8) In the image forming apparatus described in (8), a pressing unit that generates an elastic pressing force is provided between the optical writing unit that can be adjusted by the adjustment unit and the structural member for partitioning the optical writing unit. Claim 9).
(10). (8) In the image forming apparatus described in (8), a vibration damping unit that generates a viscoelastic force is provided between the optical writing unit that can be adjusted by the adjustment unit and the structural member for partitioning the optical writing unit. (Claim 10).
(11). (8) In the image forming apparatus described in (8), each of the structural members for partitioning the optical writing unit is fixed to a structural member fixed to the main body in parallel to a direction in which the plurality of optical writing units are superposed. (Claim 11).
(12). In the image forming apparatus according to (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11), A plurality of image forming cartridge partitioning structural members each of which is provided so as to partition between adjacent image forming cartridges under the superimposed arrangement and a part of which is fixed to the main body, A plurality of optical writing unit partitioning structural members provided so as to partition between adjacent optical writing units under the arrangement and a part of each being fixed to the main body, and one side of the plurality of image forming cartridges; A plurality of image forming cartridge partitions which are provided in parallel with the overlapping arrangement direction at a spatial position on the side where the plurality of optical writing means are provided, a part of which is fixed to the main body, and Connected to structural members for Both were to having a common structural member which is articulated with the structural member of the plurality of the light for writing (claim 12).
(13). (1) In the image forming apparatus described in (1), a part of the image forming unit is formed together with a casing separate from the image forming cartridge, and the casing is configured to partition the image forming cartridge. Also used as a member (claim 13).
(14). (13) In the image forming apparatus described in (13), the image forming unit mainly includes a developing unit.
(15). (8) In the image forming apparatus described in (8), the adjusting unit is configured in a housing of the optical writing unit, and the housing is also used as a structural member for partitioning the optical writing unit. ).
(16). (15) In the image forming apparatus described in (15), the adjusting unit includes a rotation holding unit that rotates the other end of the mirror that folds the light beam for scanning with one end in the main scanning direction as a fulcrum and holds the position. (Claim 16).
(17). In the image forming apparatus described in (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (12), (13) or (14), the main body is constituted. An opening having a size such that an image forming cartridge can be attached and detached along the axial direction of the photoconductor on a surface of the box-shaped frame which is located in a direction in which the axis of the photoconductor is extended. Is formed, and the structural member and the frame are fixed in such a manner that one end of the structural member crosses the opening (claim 17).
(18). In the image forming apparatus described in (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (12), (13) or (14), the main body is constituted. One end of the box-shaped frame in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoreceptor in a horizontal plane is configured to be removably opened and closed with an image forming cartridge.
(19). (12) In the image forming apparatus according to (12), a slit having a size corresponding to a diameter of a light beam from the optical writing unit and a scanning width is formed in the common structural member.
(20). In the image forming apparatus having a main body and a plurality of photoconductors on the main body in a superimposed arrangement, an optical writing unit for forming a latent image on the plurality of photoconductors is provided in each of the superposed arrangement directions in the superimposed arrangement direction. A single box-shaped writing unit that emits a plurality of light beams corresponding to the photoconductors is configured, and the writing unit is held at a fixed distance from the plurality of photoconductors arranged in an overlapping manner ( Claim 20).
(21). A main body, and a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted on the main body in a superimposed arrangement, wherein the image forming cartridges are mounted on the photoreceptor by the image forming means in a state of being mounted on the main body. An image forming apparatus for forming an image, wherein the photosensitive member is supported in advance by the image forming cartridge, or the photosensitive member is supported in advance by the main body and the image forming cartridge is mounted on the main body. An image forming apparatus having a configuration in which a part of the image forming means supported in advance by the image forming cartridge with respect to the photosensitive member comes into contact with the photosensitive member; Is composed of one box-shaped writing unit that emits a plurality of light beams corresponding to the respective photoconductors in the overlapping arrangement direction, and the writing unit is And it was maintained at a constant distance to arrayed plurality of photoreceptor (Claim 21).
(22). In the image forming apparatus described in (20) or (21), one box-shaped writing unit is provided with at least a polygon mirror and a folding mirror, and a scanning direction of the polygon mirror in the writing unit is the same as described above. The direction is the same as the arrangement direction of the photoconductors.
(23). (21) In the image forming apparatus described in (22) or (23), the writing unit is attached to a plate-shaped structural member for supporting the writing unit parallel to the overlapping arrangement direction, and the optical writing unit is provided. The distance between the writing unit and the photoconductor is kept constant by fixing a part of the supporting structural member to the main body (claim 23).
(24). (23) In the image forming apparatus described in (23), the writing unit is pressed and held at both ends in the overlapping arrangement direction by a structural member for supporting the writing unit via an elastic member, and the pressing holding unit The writing unit is allowed to move in the overlapping arrangement direction (claim 24).
(25). (24) In the image forming apparatus according to (24), the optical writing unit is point-supported with respect to the writing unit supporting structural member at an intermediate position in the overlapping arrangement direction with respect to the writing unit (claim 25).
(26). (23) In the image forming apparatus described in (24) or (25), a plurality of image forming cartridges supporting the photoreceptor are mounted on the main body, and the image forming apparatus is formed so as to partition between adjacent image forming cartridges. A plurality of structural members for partitioning the image cartridge are provided, and these structural members are respectively connected to the structural members for supporting the writing unit.
(27). In the image forming apparatus described in (23), (24) or (25), the plurality of image forming cartridges are arranged such that a part of the image forming means is in contact with the photosensitive member supported on the main body side. A plurality of structural members for image forming cartridge partitioning are provided on the main body and partition between these adjacent image forming cartridges, and these structural members are respectively connected to the structural members for supporting the writing unit. (Claim 27).
(28). In the image forming apparatus described in (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26) or (27), the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge is long in the mounting / removing direction. And a guide portion which guides the image forming cartridge by engaging with the guided portion of the image forming cartridge is provided.
(29). (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27) or (28), wherein the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge includes: Pressing means for generating an elastic pressing force is provided between each of the adjacent image forming cartridges and the structural member.
(30). (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28) or (29), wherein the structure for partitioning the image forming cartridge is provided. The member is provided with anti-vibration means for generating a viscoelastic pressing force between each of the adjacent image forming cartridges and the structural member.

  According to the first, sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, the plate-shaped structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge is provided between the image forming cartridges, so that the vibration around the image forming cartridge mounting member can be effectively reduced. Banding due to vibration can be prevented.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a structural member functioning to prevent banding is provided with a guide function, a detachable structure excellent in banding prevention and operability can be realized at a small size and at low cost.

  According to the third, sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, since the pressing member for generating an elastic force with the cartridge is provided on the structural member in a state where the image forming cartridge is mounted, banding due to resonance of the entire image forming cartridge is prevented. In addition, it is possible to realize a small-sized, low-cost, and detachable configuration excellent in operability.

  According to the fourth, sixth, and seventh aspects of the present invention, the image forming cartridge is mounted and provided with vibration damping means for generating a viscoelastic force with another adjacent image forming cartridge. Can be prevented, and a detachable configuration that is small, low-cost, and excellent in operability can be realized.

  According to the fifth, sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, a second plate-shaped structural member is provided on the side opposite to a certain image forming portion such as a photoreceptor, and is connected to the structural member provided between image forming cartridges. Vibration proof by improving the rigidity near the image forming cartridge mounting portion and rigidity of the plate-like structural member provided between the image forming cartridges can be improved, and banding can be prevented.

  The invention according to claim 8 has a configuration in which the optical writing means is partitioned by the optical writing means partitioning structural member fixed to the main body, so that vibration around the fixing portion of the optical writing means with respect to the main body can be suppressed. , Banding can be suppressed.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the pressing means for generating an elastic pressing force is provided between the optical writing means and the structural member. Vibration can be suppressed, and banding can be suppressed with high accuracy.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the vibration isolating means for generating a viscoelastic force is provided between the optical writing means and the structural member, the optical writing means itself can be provided in addition to the vibration suppressing effect of the structural member. Vibration can be suppressed, and banding can be suppressed with high accuracy.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure in which a structural member fixed to the main body is provided in parallel with the direction in which the optical writing means are superposed, and the structural member for partitioning the optical writing means is fixed to the structural member in a connected state. Therefore, the strength of the main body can be increased, the vibration suppressing function of the optical writing means itself can be enhanced, and banding can be suppressed with high accuracy.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of structural members for partitioning the image forming cartridge and the plurality of structural members for partitioning the optical writing means are connected to a common structural member, so that the plurality of structural members for partitioning the image forming cartridge are provided. The structural member, the plurality of structural members for partitioning the optical writing means, the common structure, and the main body are combined with each other to form an integrated structure, which synergistically increases the overall rigidity and can prevent banding. Further, since the common structure is shared as a reinforcing means for a plurality of structural members for partitioning the optical writing means and a reinforcing means for a plurality of structural members for partitioning the optical writing means, the configuration can be simplified and downsized. .

  In the invention according to claim 13, the casing of the image forming means is also used as a structural member for partitioning between the image forming cartridges, so that the configuration can be simplified and the size can be reduced.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, since the developing means is located at a position separating the image forming cartridges, and therefore, the casing of the developing means is located, the casing of the developing means can be easily changed without changing the layout of parts. Can also be used as a structural member.

  In the invention according to claim 15, since the adjusting means is formed in the housing of the optical writing means and the housing is also used as a structural member for partitioning between the optical writing means, the structure can be simplified and downsized. .

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the adjusting means is a rotation holding means for rotating and holding the folding mirror in the housing, so that the housing is also used as a structural member for partitioning between the optical writing means. Can be easily performed.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the opening for attaching and detaching the imaging cartridge formed on the surface of the box-shaped frame is reinforced so as to cross with the structural member for partitioning the imaging cartridge. A reduction in rigidity can be avoided and banding can be prevented.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary to provide an opening in the side plate portion of the box-shaped frame to which the image forming cartridge is directly mounted, the rigidity of the structure can be maintained and it is effective in preventing banding.

  According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the opening having a minimum width and length for transmitting the light beam is formed in the common structural member as the opening for transmitting the light beam. The reduction is minimized, which is effective in preventing banding.

  According to the twentieth and twenty-first aspects of the present invention, since the optical writing means is a single box-shaped writing unit, the strength can be increased, the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced in size, and the installation area can be reduced. .

  Since the scanning direction in the writing unit is set to be the same as the arrangement direction of the photoconductors, the installation area of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the number of polygon scanners serving as heat sources can be reduced, a rise in temperature inside the image forming apparatus can be suppressed low.

  Since the writing unit is attached to the structural member fixed to the main body, the rigidity of the main body increases, which is effective in preventing banding.

  In the invention according to claim 24, image quality such as color unevenness due to distortion due to thermal expansion of the writing unit is less likely to occur.

  According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the effect of preventing color unevenness is further enhanced by dividing the displacement due to the thermal expansion of the writing unit into two halves, which is the upper half of the point support.

  Since the structural members for partitioning the image forming cartridge and the structural members for supporting the writing unit are connected to each other, the rigidity of the entire main body is improved, which is effective in preventing banding.

  According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, a detachable structure excellent in banding prevention and operability can be realized at a small size and at low cost.

  In the invention according to claim 29, since the pressing means is provided, in addition to the effect of suppressing the vibration of the structural member, the vibration of the optical writing means itself can be suppressed, and the banding can be suppressed with high precision. .

  According to the thirty-first aspect of the present invention, the image forming cartridge is mounted, and the vibration damping means for generating a viscoelastic force with another adjacent image forming cartridge is provided. It is possible to realize a detachable configuration which can be prevented, and which is small, low-cost, and excellent in operability.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[1] First Embodiment The example described below is based on the improved configuration based on the configuration mainly related to the image forming cartridge described with reference to FIGS. It has been added.

  The present invention is intended to prevent banding due to the vibration of the photoconductor caused by the vibration of the image forming cartridge. A configuration in which a photoconductor is supported in advance by an image forming cartridge (more precisely, a case of the image forming cartridge); When a photoconductor is supported on the main body in advance and the image forming cartridge is mounted on the main body, a charging roller, a developing roller, or an interval as image forming means supported in advance by the image forming cartridge with respect to the photoconductor on the main body side The present invention can be applied to any configuration in which one or more of the developing unit having the regulating member and the cleaning blade is in contact with the photoconductor.

Hereinafter, the configuration described with reference to FIGS. 44 to 49 and FIG. 53, that is, an image forming apparatus of a type in which a photosensitive member is provided on the image forming cartridge side and no photosensitive member is provided on the main body side will be described. However, an image forming apparatus that does not employ such a configuration, that is, as described with reference to FIGS. 50 to 52, the photosensitive member is not provided in the image forming cartridge, and the photosensitive member is provided in the image forming cartridge on the main body side. A ring 10C "-1, 10C" -2 is provided as a developing roller which comes into contact with the photoreceptor provided or an interval regulating member which comes into contact with the photoreceptor provided on the main body side. The photosensitive member contacting means (rings 10C "-1, 10C" -2 as a developing roller or an interval regulating member) provided on these image forming cartridges by being mounted on the main body is provided on the main body side. Even for contacting type image forming apparatus to the photosensitive member, which is intended to be able to apply the examples described below (claim 6).
(1) Example Corresponding to Claim 1 An example corresponding to claim 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus having an image forming cartridge mounted thereon, and FIG. 1B is a view of a main part of the image forming apparatus viewed from a side.
In order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, it is desirable that a plurality of image forming cartridges arranged in a superimposed manner in the direction of gravity are mounted at a small pitch in the vertical direction. In this example, of the plurality of imaging cartridges 4 to 7 arranged at a narrow pitch, a structural member (hereinafter, referred to as a horizontal stay) 25 that partitions between adjacent imaging cartridges is used for each of the adjacent imaging cartridges. It is provided between the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7. That is, the horizontal stay 25 is provided between the imaging cartridge 4 and the imaging cartridge 5, between the imaging cartridge 5 and the imaging cartridge 6, and between the imaging cartridge 6 and the imaging cartridge 7, respectively. . A horizontal stay 25 similar to the above is provided so as to face a portion facing the upper surface of the image forming cartridge 4 and a lower surface of the image forming cartridge 7.

  These horizontal stays 25 are formed of plate-like members having both ends bent upward in a direction orthogonal to the mounting / removing direction of each image forming cartridge, and near a mounting opening of the image forming cartridge formed on the front side plate 22a. It is fixed to the part and the rear side plate 22b by fastening means (not shown).

  Each of the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 is supported on the upper surface of the horizontal stay 25, respectively. The horizontal stay 25 is fixed to the vicinity of the end of the mounting opening of the image forming cartridge of the front plate 22a and the rear plate 22b by fastening means, so that the front plate 22a and the rear plate 22b are fixed by the horizontal stay 25 to the image forming cartridge. Will be fastened immediately.

  With respect to the image forming cartridge 5, the vibration of the fixing pins 16C and 17C, the drive joint 15C, and the like that use the front side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b as a scaffold can be effectively suppressed. The same applies to other image forming cartridges. In particular, the horizontal stay 25 has a structure that divides the surface just against the vibration mode in which the front side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b vibrate in plane, so that the low frequency resonance mode disadvantageous to banding is eliminated and the high frequency resonance mode is eliminated. It is only effective.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in a configuration in which a similar horizontal stay 25 is provided above the uppermost image forming cartridge 4 where there is no adjacent image forming cartridge or below the lowermost image forming cartridge 7, Since the rigidity of the entire support structure of the image forming cartridge is increased, it is suitable for preventing banding.

  The horizontal stay 25 may be provided with an opening or a notch to the extent that the strength is not impaired for the purpose of securing a cooling path, forming a mounting shape, and the like. Further, since the edge of the horizontal stay 25 is exposed at the mounting opening of the image forming cartridge, it is preferable to provide a bend or a fold for improving safety and strength.

  The image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 have substantially the same cross-sectional shape, for example, extending in the axial direction of the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y, respectively. If it is attached and detached in the axial direction, even if the horizontal stay 25 is formed with irregularities along the cross-sectional shape of these image forming cartridges, interference will not occur at the time of attachment and detachment, so that the strength of the structure is increased and space is not wasted. Can be.

Further, since the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 have exactly the same mechanical configuration except that the color of the developer to be stored is different, they can be manufactured with the same specifications and are efficient in mass production. Become a target.
In carrying out the present example, for the photoconductors 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K, etc., which require precise positioning accuracy with respect to the main body 22, for example, the bearings of the drive shafts of these photoconductors are provided with corresponding work. It is preferable to use a support structure that is supported with play (clearance) in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the image cartridge. Then, the image forming cartridge is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position on the horizontal stay 25. In this case, when the image forming cartridge is fixed to the main body, the drive shaft of the photosensitive member supported with play on the image forming cartridge moves within the range of the play and is shown in FIG. Such a drive joint 15C is joined to a driving joint 15C ′ provided on the main body side, and a power transmission state can be obtained.

As described above, if the photosensitive member is configured to be supported in a so-called float manner with respect to the image forming cartridge, the drive shaft of the photosensitive member is positioned when the image forming cartridge is positioned and supported with respect to the main body 22 via the horizontal stay 25. And a drive joint integral with the drive joint of the drive system. As a result, the photoconductor is precisely positioned on the main body, and the image forming cartridge does not need to adopt a support structure that precisely positions and supports the photoconductor with respect to the image forming cartridge. In addition, since the imaging cartridge is configured to be supported by the horizontal stay 25, vibration can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to maintain both the accuracy of attaching the photosensitive member to the main body and the suppression of vibration of the image forming cartridge. A plurality of horizontal stays are arranged in the direction of gravity corresponding to a plurality of image forming cartridges arranged in the direction of gravity so that vibrations in the vertical direction can be effectively suppressed. ,
It is valid.
(2) Example Corresponding to Claim 2 FIG. 2 shows an example corresponding to claim 2. FIG. 2A is a front view of a main part of the image forming apparatus on which the image forming cartridge is mounted, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the main part of the image forming apparatus. For example, the lower surface of the imaging cartridge 5 has a W-shaped curved surface formed along the curved surfaces of the adjacent rotating bodies 13C and 14C, and the boundary between the two downwardly convex curved surfaces is oriented in the attaching / detaching direction. It is formed in a concave shape having a length.

  In this example, the concave portion formed on the lower surface of the image forming cartridge 5 and having a length in the attaching / detaching direction is formed on the upper surface of the horizontal stay 25 described in (1) as the guided portion 26C. A guide portion 27C formed of a plate-like member for guiding the image forming cartridge 5 by engaging with the horizontal stay 25 is provided so as to stand upright on the surface of the horizontal stay 25. The same applies to other image forming cartridges. The horizontal stay 25 located above the image forming cartridge 4 is not provided because there is no object to be guided.

  In this example, in this example, the guided portion 26C is the rotating bodies 13C and 14C, the guided portion 26K is the rotating bodies 13K and 14K, the guided portion 26M is the rotating bodies 13M and 14M, and the guided portion 26Y is the rotating body 13Y. The w-shaped shape of the casing of the imaging cartridge along the contour of 14Y is used.

  As described above, since the guide portion is provided along the concave portion forming the guided portion of each of the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7, when the image forming cartridge is mounted, the image forming cartridge is moved in the attaching / detaching direction. Unnecessary collision or breakage due to a shift or rotation in the right-left direction orthogonal to each other can be prevented.

  In this example, the heights of the guide portions 27K, 27C, 27M, and 27Y are increased from the middle as shown in FIG. 2B. By doing so, the gap between each guide portion and each guided portion is reduced in the latter half of the operation of mounting the image forming cartridge, so that accurate guidance can be achieved, and the operability of attaching / detaching operation and maintaining accuracy during mounting are maintained. Is done well.

Further, each of the guide portions 27K, 27C, 27M, and 27Y having a guide rail function may be formed integrally with the horizontal stay 25 as a structural member, or may be formed as a separate component and integrally fixed by fastening means. It can also be configured. Further, since the guide portions 27K, 27C, 27M, and 27Y are formed in a vertical plate shape as in this example, the bending rigidity in the vertical direction of the horizontal stay 25 can be increased, so that mechanical strength is improved and banding is prevented. Is preferred.
(3) Example Corresponding to Claim 3 FIG. 3 shows an example corresponding to claim 3. FIG. 3A is a front view of a main part of the image forming apparatus on which the image forming cartridge is mounted, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the main part of the image forming apparatus.

  In this example, among the horizontal stays 25 described in (1) above, between the image forming cartridge 4 and the image forming cartridge 5, between the image forming cartridge 5 and the image forming cartridge 6, between the image forming cartridge 6 and the image forming cartridge 7, The pressing means for pressing the adjacent image forming cartridges is provided for each of the horizontal stays 25 between them. These pressing means generate an elastic pressing force between each adjacent image forming cartridge and the horizontal stay.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the pressing means is constituted by leaf springs 28U and 28D. The leaf springs 28U and 28D each have a fixed portion 28a and a curved portion 28b, and the fixed portion 28a is fixed to the upper surface of the horizontal stay 25 such that the convex portion of the curved portion 28b faces upward. The leaf spring 28D has a fixing portion 28a fixed to the lower surface of the horizontal stay 25 such that the convex portion of the curved portion 28b faces downward.

  The fixed portions of the leaf springs 28U and 28D are the upper surface and the lower surface near the approximate center of the horizontal stay 25. The leaf spring 28U applies an upward elastic pressing force to the image forming cartridge 4 mounted on the horizontal stay 25. The leaf spring 28D is mounted below the horizontal stay 25 so as to apply a downward elastic pressing force to the cartridge 5 respectively. Focusing on the leaf spring provided on the horizontal stay 25 between the imaging cartridge 4 and the imaging cartridge 5, the leaf spring 28U has the curved portion 28b elastically pushing up the imaging cartridge 4 above, and the leaf spring 28D Functions to elastically push down the lower image forming cartridge 5.

  The same applies to the leaf springs 28U and 28D provided on the horizontal stay 25 between the imaging cartridge 5 and the imaging cartridge 6 and the horizontal stay 25 between the imaging cartridge 6 and the imaging cartridge 7, respectively. By the elastic pressing support by the leaf springs 28U and 28D, each of the image forming cartridges 4 to 7 supported in a bridge shape presses the abdominal part of the amplitude of vibration, so that an effective vibration suppressing effect can be obtained. it can.

  When applied in combination with this example and the examples of the guide portions 27K, 27C, 27M, and 27Y shown in FIG. 2, each leaf spring 28U is provided on the lower surface of each image forming cartridge as shown in FIG. The guide portions 27K, 27C, 27M, and 27Y are configured. In this case, the leaf springs 28U do not interfere with the guide portions 27K, 27C, 27M, and 27Y. As in the example in (a), each image forming cartridge is provided with a leaf spring 28U at each of two points so as to come into contact with two convex portions positioned with the concave portion therebetween to avoid interference.

  If the elasticity of the leaf spring 28D for pressing the upper surface and the elasticity of the leaf spring 28U for pressing the lower surface of an arbitrary image forming cartridge are substantially the same and provided at opposing positions, the elastic forces are canceled out and the entire image forming cartridge is bent. It is preferable because there is no such thing. For the above-mentioned reason, it is preferable to provide a leaf spring or an equivalent part also on the end surface of each of the imaging cartridges at the upper end and the lower end in a superposed arrangement without adjacent imaging cartridges.

  If the leaf springs 28U and 28D are engaged with the click recesses formed in the image forming cartridge to generate a click feeling when the image forming cartridge is mounted at the regular mounting position, the operation feeling can be improved. This is preferable because the effect of improving the banding and preventing banding can be obtained at the same time.

Further, if a configuration is adopted in which the engagement of the click recess is strengthened so as to assist the fixing in the mounting direction by the elastic force, there is no need to provide a special fixing means in the mounting direction such as a lock lever, and the cost is reduced. Down can be planned. When the leaf spring of this embodiment is used in combination with the configuration in which the guide is provided as in the above-described example (2), the operability at the time of attaching and detaching the image forming cartridge can also be improved. The pressing means can be constituted by other means made of an elastic member instead of the leaf springs 28U and 28D.
(4) Example Corresponding to Claim 4 FIG. 4 shows an example corresponding to claim 4. FIG. 4A is a front view of a main part of the image forming apparatus having the image forming cartridge mounted thereon, and FIG. 4B is a view of a main part of the image forming apparatus viewed from the side.

  An anti-vibration rubber 29 as anti-vibration means is provided on the lower surface of the horizontal stay 25 located immediately above the imaging cartridge 4 so as to contact the upper surface of the imaging cartridge 4 and generate a viscoelastic pressing force therebetween. Provided. Similarly, an anti-vibration rubber 29 is similarly provided on the lower surface of the horizontal stay 25 located immediately above each of the image forming cartridges 5, 6, and 7. These vibration-isolating rubbers 29 have a rectangular plate shape as shown in FIG. 7 and are attached to the horizontal stay 25.

  Further, on the upper surface of the horizontal stay 25 between the image forming cartridge 4 and the image forming cartridge 5, near the position opposite to the position where the vibration isolating rubber 29 is provided, the leaf spring 28U described in FIG. Was provided. Similarly, on the upper surface of the horizontal stay 25 between the imaging cartridge 5 and the imaging cartridge 6, in the vicinity of a position opposed to the position where the anti-vibration rubber 29 is provided, the imaging cartridge 6 and the imaging cartridge 7 A leaf spring 28U is also provided on the upper surface of the horizontal stay 25 between the position and the position where the vibration isolating rubber 29 is provided and near the opposing position.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the casing of the image forming cartridge is formed in a concave portion at the position opposite to the position where the vibration isolating rubber 29 is provided, so that the casing for avoiding the concave portion is formed. The configuration is such that a leaf spring 28U is provided at two convex points with a concave section therebetween. The leaf spring 28U and the vibration isolating rubber 29 constitute a vibration isolating means in the present invention.

  Each leaf spring 28U elastically pushes the image forming cartridge upward. The image forming cartridge pushed up elastically in this manner is pressed by the vibration isolating rubber 29 contacting the upper surface so as to generate a viscoelastic pressing force. Since the vibration isolating rubber is used as described above, the vibration isolating effect by the heat conversion of the vibration energy utilizing the viscoelastic property becomes remarkable.

  In this example, even if the elastic force of the leaf spring is set to be low, a vibration-proof effect due to the viscosity of the vibration-proof rubber 29 can be obtained, so that the force acting on the image forming cartridge can be reduced. In other words, the deformation due to the leaf spring support can be kept small, which is also effective in maintaining accuracy.

By employing a configuration in which a leaf spring and an anti-vibration rubber are used together as in this example, a pressing force of the image forming cartridge against the anti-vibration rubber can be effectively generated. In addition, the configuration relating to the guide portion and the guided portion described in (2) above is used together, and the guide shape is devised so that the frictional force of the vibration-proof rubber 29 becomes strong immediately before the mounting of the image forming cartridge is completed. By doing so, it is possible to appropriately reduce the increase in the operation force when the image forming cartridge slides on the anti-vibration rubber 29.
(5) Example Corresponding to Claims 5 and 19 FIG. 5 shows an example corresponding to claim 5. FIG. 5A is a front view of a main part of the image forming apparatus on which the image forming cartridge is mounted, and FIG. 5B is a side view of the main part of the image forming apparatus.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 8, as a second structural member, a flat vertical plate is formed on the left end face of the horizontal stay 25 so as to face the left side plate 22 d in FIG. A stay 30 was provided. In the vertical stay 30, mounting pieces 30b, 30b located opposite to each other in the scanning direction of the light beam Lb are fixed to the front plate 22a and the rear plate 22b, respectively. The upper end of the vertical stay 30 is fixed to the top plate 22e, and the lower end is fixed to the bottom plate 22f. Then, a vertical plane portion is fixed to each horizontal stay 25 by a fastening member with a screw 210.

  As described above, since each horizontal stay 25 is firmly fixed and held to the main body via the vertical stay 30, the suppression of the plane vibration mode of the front side plate 22 a and the rear side plate 22 b is further strengthened. Since the stay 30 and the stay 30 are substantially perpendicular to each other, the sectional moment is very large, the bending rigidity is excellent, and the rigidity is extremely high.

  In particular, the improvement in bending stiffness reduces and reduces the vibration of the horizontal stay 25 itself when performing vibration suppression as in the examples described in the above (3) and (4). Very effective.

Further, in the present example, the respective photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y are located at positions to the left of the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 in FIG. If an image writing device that irradiates a light beam is arranged, and these image writing devices are also supported by a structure according to the structure 25 using the vertical stay 30, the vertical stay 30 can be moved in the vertical direction. Each of the image forming cartridges and the image writing device receives a compressive stress (buckling load) due to its own weight. The state of receiving the compressive stress is that the strength is increased, the amount of deformation is reduced, and the resonance is suppressed, as compared with a configuration in which an image forming cartridge or an image writing device for four colors is formed only on a horizontally extending plate. It is advantageous in such points. Regarding this point, [3] Third Embodiment (I)
This will be described in detail in the section.

  Since it is necessary to guide the light beam Lb for writing to the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y on the left side of each of the image forming cartridges 4 to 7, as shown in FIG. An opening 30d having a length corresponding to the scanning direction of the light beam Lb and a width corresponding to the diameter of the light beam is provided.

As described above, since the openings 30d having the minimum width and length for allowing the light beam Lb to pass therethrough are formed in the vertical stay 30, a decrease in rigidity of the structure of the vertical stay is minimized, and banding is prevented. ,It is valid.
The light beam Lb guided to each of the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y via the opening 30d is shown by a dashed line in FIG. In addition to the above-described opening 30a for the optical path, openings and cutouts are provided as necessary so as not to impair the strength for the purpose of securing a cooling passage, forming a mounting hole, and the like.

  For example, in FIG. 8, holes 30c above and below the opening 30d are for fixing the horizontal stay 25. Note that these holes 30c are merely examples, and the number and the number of holes 30c are appropriately formed as needed. In this example, the present configuration is realized by using the fastening means by the screw 210, but the realization method is not limited, such as welding when using a metal material and integrally forming by injection molding when using a resin material. .

As described above, the embodiments have been described with respect to the five configuration examples of (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5). It is more preferable that the prevention and the improvement in operability and cost reduction obtained as a secondary effect can be realized with a synergistic effect.
In FIGS. 3 and 4, the arrangement of the leaf springs 28U, 28D and the like is schematically shown schematically, and is actually configured according to that shown in FIG. And Further, the pressing means can be constituted by other means made of an elastic member instead of the leaf springs 28U and 28D.
[2] Second Embodiment The example described below is based on the configuration mainly related to the optical writing means described with reference to FIG. 54 and FIG. It has been added. The same parts as those of the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the structure or function will not be repeated unless particularly necessary.
(1) Example Corresponding to Claim 8 As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the image forming apparatus in this embodiment is a full-color image forming apparatus. The four imaging cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are arranged in a superimposed manner in the direction of gravity, and four optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 04Y are superimposed in the direction of gravity in correspondence with these imaging cartridges. Are arranged regularly. These optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y are respectively provided with adjusting means 330K, 330C, 330M, and 330Y for adjusting the shift of the scanning line with respect to other optical writing means, as described in the related art. Have.

  A plate-like light is provided between the vertically adjacent optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y, more specifically, between the base member 328K and the lower optical writing means 104C as shown in FIG. A writing member partitioning structural member 202 is arranged to partition between the optical writing units. The structural member 202 has its ends fixed to the front plate 22a and the rear plate 22b by fastening means (not shown).

  The same applies to the structural members 202 similarly provided between the optical writing means 104C and the optical writing means 104M and between the optical writing means 104M and the optical writing means 104Y. In FIG. 9, the base member 328K of the optical writing unit 104K, the base member 328C of the optical writing unit 104C, the base member 328M of the optical writing unit 104M, the base member 328Y of the optical writing unit 104Y, and the like are omitted.

  The structural strength of the front plate 22a and the rear plate 22b is particularly increased by the presence of the structural member 202 provided between the optical writing means, and as a result, the periphery of the fixed portion of the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y, that is, the front plate Vibration around the fixed portion with respect to the rear plate 22b and the rear side plate 22b is suppressed.

  In particular, since the structural member 202 has a structure in which the front side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b vibrate in a plane, the structure member 202 divides the plane, thereby eliminating a low-frequency resonance mode in which banding is likely to occur and a high-frequency resonance mode. Only mode is effective.

  As shown by the two-dot chain lines P1 and P2 in FIG. 11, the structural member 202 may be similarly provided above the optical writing unit 104K where no adjacent optical writing unit exists and below the optical writing unit 104Y. In this case, the overall strength of the device structure can be further increased, and the banding suppressing function can be enhanced.

The structural member 202 may be provided with an opening or a notch for the purpose of securing a cooling path, forming an attachment shape, or the like to such an extent that strength (strength at which the above-mentioned banding suppressing function is exhibited) is not impaired. Further, a bend or a turn may be provided to improve the strength.
In order to further reduce the size of the apparatus, it is desirable that the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, 7 and the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, 104Y be juxtaposed at a narrow pitch.
(2) Example Corresponding to Claim 9 This will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 12, and 13.
In this example, in addition to the structural member 202, for example, for the structural member 202 between the optical writing unit 104C and the optical writing unit 104M, the elastic member is pressed on the lower surface of the structural member 202 with respect to the optical writing unit 104M. A leaf spring 280D as a pressing means for generating pressure is provided, and a leaf spring 280U as a pressing means for generating an elastic pressing force on the optical writing means 104C is provided on the upper surface of the structural member 202. . The same applies to the other structural members 202.

  The leaf springs 280U and 280D as these pressing means are made of the same shape and material as the leaf springs 28U and 28D already described with reference to FIG. 6, respectively, and are attached to the upper and lower surfaces at substantially the center of the structural member 202. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the curved portion 28b of the leaf spring 280U and the curved portion 28b of the leaf spring 280D have different curvature bulges, but this is due to the difference in the distance to the object to be pressed. Is different from the position with respect to the base members 328K, 328C, 328M, 328Y, etc. and the position with respect to the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, 104Y, etc. In FIG. 12, the base members 328K, 328C, 328M, and 328Y are omitted. As described above, the leaf springs 280U and 280D are set to have a size that applies vertical pressing force to the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M and 104Y when assembled.

  For example, since the optical writing unit 104C is a member (movable member) that can be displaced by the adjusting unit 330C together with the base member 328C, it cannot be directly fixed to the structural member 202. The same applies to the other optical writing means 104K, 104M and 104Y.

  In order to obtain the function of supporting the optical writing unit 104C by the structural member 202 while maintaining the movable configuration of the optical writing unit 104C, plate springs 280U and 280D are provided as the pressing unit. The pressing force by the leaf springs 280U and 280D is, for example, the amplitude of a vibration mode (see FIG. 56 (a)) in which both ends of the optical writing means 104C located on the bridge structure are nodes and the center is an antinode. Therefore, in addition to the vibration suppressing function due to the presence of the structural member 202, a vibration suppressing function can be further obtained. The same applies to the other optical writing means 104K, 104M and 104Y.

  If the pressing forces of 280U and 280D are the same, the pressing force (elastic force) of each of the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M and 104Y at the top and bottom is canceled out, and these optical writing means are not bent, which is preferable. .

In this example, leaf springs 280U and 280D are also attached to the upper surface of the uppermost structural member 202 and the lower surface of the lowermost structural member 202. These do not actually exhibit the pressing function because there is no member to be pressed, but they are significant from the viewpoint of standardization as a component of the structural member 202 having the leaf springs 280U and 280D, that is, from the viewpoint of general versatility. In a configuration in which the number of means is further increased, there is an advantage that the same structural member 202 can be used immediately. Also, from the viewpoint that the mechanical strength of the structural member 202 is improved by the existence of the leaf springs 280U and 280D, it is desirable to attach the leaf springs 280U and 280D to the upper and lower surfaces of all the structural members 202. The leaf springs 280U and 280D are an example of a pressing unit, and may be configured by another elastic unit.
(3) Example Corresponding to Claim 10 This will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 14, and 15.
In this example, in addition to the structural member 202, for example, for the structural member 202 between the optical writing unit 104C and the optical writing unit 104M, the viscoelasticity is set between the structural member 202 and the optical writing unit 104M below it. A rubber damper 29D is provided as a vibration damping means for generating a natural force, and a vibration damping rubber 29U similar to the rubber damping rubber 29D is similarly provided between the structural member 202 and the optical writing means 104C thereabove. I have. Similarly, anti-vibration rubbers 29U and 29D are provided between the other structural members 202 and the optical writing means located above and below, respectively.

  These anti-vibration rubbers 29U and 29D have the same material and shape as the rectangular plate-shaped anti-vibration rubber 29 having the viscoelastic characteristics described in FIG. And fix them on the upper and lower surfaces. In FIG. 14, the base members 328K, 328C, 328M, and 328Y are omitted. According to this example, the above-described vibration mode is effectively suppressed by the vibration-proofing effect of the vibration-proofing means including the vibration-proofing rubbers 29U and 29D by the heat conversion of the vibration energy.

  The anti-vibration rubbers 29U and 29D as the anti-vibration means can obtain the anti-vibration effect due to the viscosity even if the elastic force is set lower than the elastic suppression by the leaf springs 280U and 280D as the pressing means. Since it is possible, the force acting on the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, 104Y104 can be reduced, and the deformation due to the anti-vibration support can be suppressed, which is also effective in maintaining accuracy.

Also in this example, for the same reason as in the examples shown in FIGS. 6, 12, and 13, the upper surfaces of the uppermost structural member 202 and the lower surfaces of the lowermost structural members 202 are also provided with the vibration isolating rubbers 29U and 29D. Is installed.
Further, the vibration isolating rubbers 29U and 29D as the vibration isolating means are brought into contact with the base members 328K, 328C, 328M and 328Y or the optical writing means 10K, 104C, 104M and 104Y via elastic members such as leaf springs. For example, the adjusting means 130K, 130C, 130M, and 130Y can function without requiring large deformation of the vibration isolation rubber, which is preferable.
(4) Example Corresponding to Claim 11 An explanation will be given based on FIGS. 8, 16, and 17.
As shown in FIG. 16, each of the plurality of structural members 202 in this example has vertical pieces 202a and 202b which stand vertically at the left and right ends, and the left vertical piece 202a is fixed to the left plate 22d by a fastening means. ing. The vertical piece 202b on the right side (on the side of the image forming cartridge) is a structural member which is provided in parallel with the arrangement direction of the plurality of optical writing means arranged in a superimposed manner and which is substantially orthogonal to each structural member 202. It is connected and fixed to the stay 300.

  As the vertical stay 300, one having the same shape and size as the vertical stay 30 shown in FIG. 8 can be used. Therefore, the components of the vertical stay 300 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the vertical stay 30, and a mounting piece 30a for fixing to the top plate 22e and the bottom plate 22f, and a mounting piece 30b for fixing to the front side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b. And a fixing hole 30c for fixing to the structural member 202 is formed around the opening 30d, and a slit-like opening 30d as an optical path of the light beam Lb is formed in the optical writing means 104K. Four are formed corresponding to the numbers of 104C, 104M, and 104Y.

  As shown in FIG. 17, a screw hole 202c is formed in the vertical piece 202b on the right side of the structural member 202 at a position corresponding to the fixing hole 30c of the vertical stay 300, and the structural member 202 and the vertical stay 300 It is integrally fixed with a screw 210 'as a fastening means shown in FIG.

  In this example, the suppression of the plane vibration mode of the front side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b is further strengthened by the presence of the vertical stay 300 as compared with the configuration including only the structural member 202. In addition, since the horizontal structural member 202 and the vertical stay 300 are substantially orthogonal to each other, the sectional moment is extremely large, and a rigid body having excellent bending rigidity is obtained. This improvement in bending stiffness reduces the effect of vibration on the structural member 2 itself in the vibration suppressing configuration using the leaf springs 280U and 280D as the pressing means and the vibration isolating rubbers 29U and 29D as the vibration isolating means. The anti-vibration function can be further enhanced by combining the anti-vibration configurations.

  In the case of this example, the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y are arranged in a superimposed manner in the direction of gravity, and have a configuration corresponding thereto, so that the vertical stay 300 has its own weight and the weight of the structural member 202. In the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction (parallel direction parallel to the thickness direction), so that the strength can be improved, the amount of deformation can be reduced, and the resonance mode can be eliminated as compared with the configuration in which the optical writing means are juxtaposed in the horizontal direction. It is advantageous.

The vertical stay 300 is formed with the slit-shaped opening 30d as described above. In addition to this, for the purpose of securing the cooling path, forming the mounting shape, and the like, the opening and the cutout are formed to such an extent that the strength is not impaired. May be provided. Further, in this example, the structural member 202 and the vertical stay 300 are fixed by using the screw 210 as a fastening means. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Then, they can be integrally formed by injection molding.
[3] Third Embodiment In the embodiment described below, banding is prevented by using all or a part of the configuration according to the example described above.
(1) Example Corresponding to Claim 12 Description will be made based on FIG. In the section [1] of the first embodiment (5), the configuration in which the horizontal stay 25 is connected to the vertical stay 30 has been described with reference to FIGS. In the section [2] of the second embodiment (four), the configuration in which the structural member 202 is connected to the vertical stay 300 has been described with reference to FIGS. In these examples, the vertical stay 30 and the vertical stay 300 are described as separate members having the same shape and size.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 5, a vertical stay 30 connected with a horizontal stay 25 for partitioning between a plurality of image forming cartridges and a structural member 202 for partitioning between a plurality of optical writing means as shown in FIG. The connected vertical stay 300 is shared by the same member. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the object to which the horizontal stay 25 is connected and the object to which the structural member 202 is connected are shown as the same vertical stay 30. Therefore, the vertical stay 30 corresponds to a common structural member in the present invention.

  In this example, a plurality of horizontal stays 25 for partitioning the image forming cartridge and a plurality of structural members 202 for partitioning the optical writing means are connected to a common vertical stay 30, so that the horizontal stay 25 and the vertical stay 30 are separated. The structural member 202 and the main body 22 are combined with each other to form an integrated structure, which synergistically increases the overall rigidity and can prevent banding. In addition, since the vertical stay 30 is shared as a reinforcing means for the plurality of structural members 202 and a reinforcing means for the plurality of horizontal stays 25, the configuration can be simplified and the size can be reduced.

In the example shown in FIG. 19, the left end of the structural member 202 does not reach the left side plate 22d. This is due to the layout convenience of arranging the parts. Even in such a configuration, the structural member 202 is fixed to the front side plate 22a and the rear side plate 22b in the front-rear direction, respectively, which is effective in preventing banding. Depending on the layout, there may be a configuration in which the left side plate 22d and the left end of the structural member 202 are fixed as shown in FIG. In FIG. 19, the horizontal stay 25, the vertical stay 30, and the structural member 202 are indicated by bold lines to schematically show that they are an integrated structure.
(2) Example Corresponding to Claims 13 and 14 Referring to FIG. 1, each of the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 is partitioned by a structural member 25 that partitions these image forming cartridges. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the image forming means is housed in a casing separate from the image forming cartridge, and the casing which covers the image forming means has the same function as the structural member 25. Partition member.

  Specifically, what is indicated by reference numeral 35 in FIG. 20 is the casing of the image forming means, which is schematically shown by a thick line. In this example, the image forming means formed in the casing 35 is, for example, the developing means including the developing roller 10K, the replenishing roller 11K, the rotating bodies 13K and 14K around the image forming cartridge 4.

  Here, the rotators 13K and 14K are means for stirring the developer composed of toner and carrier, and the supply roller 11K is a roller for supplying the developer stirred by the rotators 13K and 14K to the photoconductor 8K. The developing roller 10K is a roller that supplies toner to the photoconductor 8K.

  The developing means including the developing roller 10K, the replenishing roller 11K, the rotating bodies 13K and 14K are a part of the image forming means, and the charging roller 9K and the cleaning blade 12K as the image forming means provided on the image forming cartridge 4 side. , The casing 35 covering the developing means functions to effectively separate the image forming cartridge 4 and the image forming cartridge 5 from each other. The other image forming cartridges are similarly separated from each other by the casings 35 between the image forming cartridges.

  The charging roller 9K, the cleaning blade 12K, and the like provided on the image forming cartridge 4 include consumable parts that need to be replaced in a relatively short period of time. On the other hand, members such as a developing roller 10K, a replenishing roller 11K, and rotators 13K and 14K as developing means for supplying toner to the photoconductor 8K and performing a developing function can withstand repeated use for a relatively long time. If means for externally replenishing are provided separately, they can be housed in the casing 35 and the casing 35 can be fixedly and firmly attached to the main body 22 without any particular trouble. Therefore, the casing 35 can be firmly fixed to the main body 22. The same can be said for the casings attached to the other image forming cartridges 5, 6, 7. Therefore, by using these casings 35 also as partition members between image forming cartridges, the structure can be strengthened and vibration of the image forming cartridge can be prevented.

  Further, the casing 35 has, for example, a roll shape surrounding the developing roller 10K, the replenishing roller 11K, the rotating bodies 13K and 14K, etc., and has a depth in the front-rear direction, and has a front end in the longitudinal direction. Since the portion is fixed to the front plate 22a and the rear end is fixed to the rear plate 22b, the strength as an integral structure with the main body 22 is increased, and the prevention of vibration of the image forming cartridge is enhanced.

  These casings 35 are interposed between the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7, and have the function of partitioning the respective image forming cartridges in the same manner as the structural member 25, and also have the original function of the casing of covering the image forming means. Play. As described above, in the present embodiment, the casing of the image forming means is also used as a structural member for partitioning between image forming cartridges, so that the configuration is simplified and miniaturized as compared with a case where the structural members 25 partition between image forming cartridges. The occurrence of banding can be prevented as illustrated.

As a modification of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, if a configuration is adopted in which a part of each casing 35 is extended and the extended portion 35a is connected to the vertical stay 30 described with reference to FIG. 5 or FIG. Can be increased.
In the above example, the developing unit is housed in the casing that separates the image forming cartridges. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the casing that separates the image forming cartridges may be configured to house other image forming units. .
(3) Examples Corresponding to Claims 15 and 16 In the examples described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 18, each of the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y has an adjusting means 330K for adjusting the shift of the scanning line. , 330C, 330M, and 330Y. However, these adjusting means 330K, 330C, 330M, and 330Y are provided outside each housing, which is a case containing the optical writing means, and are configured to swing each housing. There was a drawback that the member 202 could not be shared.

  In this example, by adopting a configuration in which the adjusting means for adjusting the shift of the scanning line can be accommodated in the housing, the housing itself is replaced with the structural member 202 for partitioning the optical writing means. It is what it was. Hereinafter, examples of the adjusting means that can be accommodated in the housing will be described.

  If the optical writing means are provided with adjusting means which can be accommodated in the housing and each of the optical writing means is represented by 104K ', 104C', 104M ', and 104Y', these have a common configuration. The adjusting means will be described.

  In FIG. 22, the housing of the optical writing means 104K is schematically shown by a rectangular frame indicated by reference numeral 104K. As described above, the housing is provided with the polygon mirror 106K, the first fθ lens 108K, the return mirrors 110K and 111K, and the like.

  Among these members, in this example, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the folding mirror 111K is connected to one end 36 in the longitudinal direction of the mirror which is a direction corresponding to the main scanning direction of the light beam Lb. The end 37 can be freely rotated by an arbitrary amount. With this rotation, the scanning line of the light beam Lb on the photoconductor 8K is shifted in the sub-scanning direction at a position corresponding to the other end 37 in the main scanning direction, and the entire scanning line is, for example, at an angle θ. Get the tilt. Further, the rotation holding means was constituted so as to be held at the position after the rotation, and this was used as the adjustment means.

  In FIG. 25A, the surface on the one end 36 side of the return mirror 111K is supported by a knife edge 38 so as to be rotatable while maintaining the angle of return of the light beam by the mirror. The surface on the other end 37 side is pressed by an extensible spring 40 as elastic means, and the opposite surface is pressed by a moving member 41. In FIG. 25B illustrating the configuration around the moving member 41, the moving member 41 is a kind of nut screwed to a screw 43 that rotates integrally with the shaft of the motor. An axially long groove 45 is formed at the immediate portion of the moving member 41, and a detent 44 is fitted into the groove 45 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

  In the present example, the knife edge 38, the spring 40, the moving member 41, the motor 42, the screw 43, the rotation stopper 44, and the like constitute a rotation holding means. Adjusting means. In this adjusting means, by driving the motor 42, the folding mirror 111K can be rotated with the knife edge 38 as a fulcrum, and the position after the rotation can be maintained.

  Since the adjusting means as in this example is provided so as to be attached to the folding mirror 111K, it can be accommodated in the housing of the optical writing means 104K '. If the adjusting means is configured in the optical writing means 104K ', the housing of the optical writing means 104K' can be statically attached to the main body 22 as a whole. The structural member 202 for partitioning the writing means can be replaced.

  The optical writing means 104K ', 104C', 104M ', and 104Y' shown in FIG. 26 are such that the adjusting means described with reference to FIGS. These optical writing means 104K ', 104C', 104M ', and 104Y' are configured such that each bottom plate 47 of each housing is appropriately larger or has a higher rigidity than a normal one, and the front end is a front side plate 22a and the rear end is a rear end. The parts are fixed to the rear side plate 22b, respectively. As described above, since a part of the housing serves as a structural member for partitioning the optical writing means, compared to the examples of FIGS. 9 to 19 in which the structural member 202 is provided separately from the housing, the structure can be simplified by sharing the member. Size and size can be reduced.

In the example shown in FIG. 27, each of the bottom plates 47 as a part of the housing constituting the optical writing means 104K ', 104C', 104M ', and 104Y' and partitioning the optical writing means has been described with reference to FIGS. It is connected to the vertical stay 300 according to the example. The vertical stay 300 has an upper end fixed to the top plate 22e, a lower end fixed to the bottom plate 22f, a front end fixed to the front plate 22a, and a rear end fixed to the rear plate 22b. Further, as a modified example, the structural member 25 shown in FIG.
(4) Example Corresponding to Claim 17 This example presupposes the configuration having the horizontal stay 25 described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 28, the box-shaped frame in which the main body 22 of the image forming apparatus is formed includes a front plate 22a, a rear plate 22b, a right plate 22c, a left plate 22d, a top plate e, and a bottom plate 22f. In this box-shaped frame, a plurality of horizontal stays 25 as partition members for partitioning between the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are arranged in a superimposed manner. Image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are provided from above so as to be partitioned by these horizontal stays 25.

  The axial directions of the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y in these image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are orthogonal to the front plate 22a, and the image forming cartridges are moved along the axial direction of the photoconductors. In order to make the cartridges detachable, one rectangular opening 50 that is long in the vertical direction and large enough to allow the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, 7 to pass therethrough is formed. The front end of each horizontal stay 25 and the front side plate 22a are fixed by screws 51 as fastening means in such a manner that the front end of each horizontal stay 25 crosses the opening 50 in the left-right direction.

  In this embodiment, the opening 50 for attaching and detaching the imaging cartridge formed on the front side plate 22a constituting the surface of the box-shaped frame is reinforced so as to cross with the horizontal stay 25 which is a structural member for partitioning the imaging cartridge. Therefore, the rigidity of the front side plate 22a and the entire box-shaped frame due to the formation of the opening 50 can be avoided, and banding can be prevented.

  A modified example of the present example will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 28, the opening 50 is a single opening communicating with the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 for attachment and detachment. In this example, not one continuous opening like the opening 50 but one opening is made to correspond to one image forming cartridge. In FIG. 29, reference numeral 54 denotes an opening formed for attaching and detaching the image forming cartridge 4. Similarly, openings formed for the imaging cartridges 5, 6, and 7 are indicated by reference numerals 55, 56, and 57, respectively.

In this example, a part of the front side plate 22a remains in a rib shape between the adjacent openings 54, 55, 56, 57. After overlapping the front ends of the horizontal stays 25 with the remaining portions in the rib shape, the front ends of the horizontal stays 25 are fixed to the front side plate 22d by screws 51 as fastening means at each position in the left-right direction. ing. In this configuration, since the size of one opening is small and the space between the openings remains in a rib shape, the reduction in rigidity due to the formation of the opening is smaller than in the example described with reference to FIG. No. In addition, since the reinforcing members are reinforced by the horizontal stays 25, the rigidity of the box-shaped frame is reduced and the effect of preventing banding is more remarkable.
(5) Example Corresponding to Claim 18 This example presupposes the configuration having the horizontal stay 25 described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 30, the box-shaped frame in which the main body 22 of the image forming apparatus is formed includes a front plate 22a, a rear plate 22b, a right plate 22c, a left plate 22d, a top plate e, and a bottom plate 22f. In this box-shaped frame, a plurality of horizontal stays 25 as partition members for partitioning between the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are arranged in a superimposed manner. Image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are provided from above so as to be partitioned by these horizontal stays 25.

  In this example, the right side plate 22c is located in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, 8Y located in the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, 7 in a horizontal plane. . The transfer belt 1 described with reference to FIG. 9 is provided inside the right side plate 22c. Therefore, the entire right side plate 22c is constituted by a lid 58 surrounding the transfer belt 1, and the entire right side plate 22c can be opened and closed as a lid while the transfer belt 1 is held.

  In order to be able to open and close, the lower part of the lid 58 and the lower plate 22f are connected by a hinge or a fulcrum shaft (not shown). When the lid 58 is open as shown in FIG. 30, the portion of the right side plate 22c is completely open, so that the image forming cartridge can be easily attached and detached by using the opening on the right side plate side. FIG. 30 illustrates a state where the imaging cartridge 4 is taken out.

  FIG. 31 shows a modification. In this example, the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are attached and detached from the left side plate 22d side. In the example described so far, the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, 104Y, the optical writing means 104K ', 104C', 104M ', 104Y', the vertical stay 30 are provided on the left side of the imaging cartridges 4, 5, 6, 7. , 300, etc. are arranged, so that these obstacles prevent the image forming cartridge from being detached from the left side plate 22d side.

  In this example, one flat box-shaped optical writing unit described later is used in place of the optical writing means 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y and the optical writing means 104K ', 104C', 104M ', and 104Y'. Configured. This optical writing unit is indicated by reference numeral 100 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 31, the writing unit 100 is housed in a lid 59 mainly composed of the left side plate 22d. The lid 59 can be opened and closed with the pivot 60 as a fulcrum. When the lid 59 is opened as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 31, an opening corresponding to the left side plate 22d is formed. The image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 can be easily attached and detached through the openings.

In each of these examples, the side plate of the box-shaped frame in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the photoreceptor in the horizontal plane is constituted by a lid that can be opened and closed in its entirety. It is not necessary to form an opening in the portion of the front side plate 22a that directly supports the image forming cartridge as in the examples shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the rigidity of the structure can be maintained, and it is effective in preventing banding. .
(6) Example Corresponding to Claims 20 and 21 This example relates to an example in which the optical writing means is configured as one box-shaped writing unit 100 as in the example described in FIG. In the examples shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, the writing unit 100 is fixed to the structure 102, and the front-back end of the structure 102 is fixed to the front plate 22a and the rear plate 22b. As in the above-described example, the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are arranged in a vertically overlapping manner and fixed to the main body 22.

  The writing unit 100 has openings 100K, 100C, 100M, and 100Y for emitting the light beam Lb corresponding to the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y provided on the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively. are doing. The writing unit 100 is held at a fixed distance from the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y, and writes an image with the light beam Lb.

As described above, when the optical writing unit is configured by one writing unit 100, positioning is easier than when the optical writing unit is configured by the four optical writing units 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y as described in FIG. Thus, the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced in size. Furthermore, since the writing unit 100 is configured to have a single unit, the strength can be increased, for example, by easily adding a reinforcing member for increasing rigidity. Further, if the writing unit has a flat configuration, the installation area of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.
(7) Example Corresponding to Claim 22 This example relates to the configuration of the writing unit 100 described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 34A shows a state in which one box-shaped writing unit 100 is attached to the image forming apparatus. A polygon mirror 70, which is driven to rotate by a motor 72, is provided at a central portion to constitute a polygon scanner. The rotation axis direction of the polygon mirror 70 is orthogonal to the axis directions of the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, 8Y and the like.

  At a position (not shown) of the writing unit 100, four light sources are provided. Each light source is modulated by cyan, magenta, yellow, and black image signals, and becomes a writing light beam. The light is incident on four points on the surface. The scanning direction of the light beam by the polygon mirror 70 in the writing unit 100 is a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the polygon mirror 70, and the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, 8Y are arranged in the same direction as this scanning direction. I have.

  When the light beam for black is emitted from the polygon mirror 70, it is emitted from the opening 100K to the photoconductor 8K through the fθ lens 73, mirrors 74 and 75, the long lens 76, and the mirror 77. When the light beam for cyan is emitted from the polygon mirror 70, it is emitted toward the photoconductor 8C from the opening 100C through the fθ lens 73, mirrors 78 and 79, the long lens 80, and the mirror 81. When the light beam for magenta is emitted from the polygon mirror 70, it is emitted toward the photoconductor 8M from the opening 100M via the fθ lens 83, mirrors 84 and 85, the long lens 86, and the mirror 871. When the light beam for yellow is emitted from the polygon mirror 70, it is emitted toward the photoconductor 8Y from the opening 100Y via the fθ lens 83, mirrors 88 and 89, the long lens 90, and the mirror 91. Each of the openings 100K, 100C, 100M, and 100Y is covered with dustproof glass as shown in FIG.

As described above, since the scanning direction in the writing unit is the same as the arrangement direction of the photoconductors, four units are arranged like the optical writing units 104K, 104C, 104M, and 104Y shown in FIG. Compared with the configuration, the image forming apparatus can be configured as one box that is flat in the horizontal direction, and the installation area of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the number of polygon scanners serving as heat sources can be reduced from four to one, the rise in temperature inside the image forming apparatus can be suppressed low.
(8) Example Corresponding to Claim 23 This example relates to how to attach the writing unit 100 having the configuration shown in FIG. 34 to the image forming apparatus.
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, a flat writing unit is arranged in the arrangement direction of the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7, which are vertically superimposed, that is, in the up and down direction. A supporting structural member 92 is provided. The structural member 92 is fixed to the front plate 22a, the rear plate 22b, the top plate 22e, and the bottom plate 22f.

  On this structural member 90, four pedestals 90a for attaching the writing unit 100 are formed. The writing unit 100 is mounted by using bolts 94 as mounting means using these pedestals 92a. With such an attachment mode, the distance between the writing unit 100 and the photoconductors 8K, 8C, 8M, and 8Y is kept constant. Note that a configuration without the pedestal 92a may be adopted.

In this example, the structural member 92 is integrally fixed to the front plate 22a, the rear plate 22b, the top plate 22e, the bottom plate 22f, etc., so that the rigidity of the entire main body 22 is increased, and the writing unit 100 is attached to the structural member 92. Is effective in preventing banding.
(9) Example Corresponding to Claim 24 In the examples shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, usually, the structure 92 is made of metal, and the frame of the writing unit 100 is made of a resin material. Since the writing unit 100 has a built-in polygon scanner as a heat source, the writing unit 100 thermally expands when the temperature rises with scanning. The writing unit 100 has an end attached to the structure 92. When the writing unit 100 thermally expands, the structure 92 also thermally expands. However, since the frame of the writing unit and the structure 92 also have different coefficients of thermal expansion due to the difference in material, the writing unit 92 needs to be positioned at the end where it is attached. There is a possibility that the intermediate portion is distorted in a curved shape without being changed.

  For example, in FIG. 34, if the writing unit attempts to extend in the vertical direction in a state where the upper end and the lower end, which are the attachment portions to the structure, are suppressed, the writing unit 100 moves away from the photoconductor side at the center in the vertical direction. Curving in the direction. Then, for example, the mirror 77 is also displaced under the influence of the curved deformation, and the path of the light beam Lb is shifted by the angle β. Even if the deviation of the angle β is a small angle, it is enlarged at the position of the photoconductor and becomes a large deviation. Since such a shift amount of the light beam Lb differs for each photoconductor, the overlapping state of each color when forming a full-color image is disturbed and image quality is deteriorated. In order to prevent such image quality disturbance, in this example, measures were taken to minimize the displacement of the writing unit 100.

  In this example, the writing unit 100 is pressed and held on the structural member 92 at both ends in the vertical direction via an elastic member, and the pressing and holding portion allows the writing unit 100 to move in the vertical direction.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 37, a hole 140 is formed in a portion of the mounting seat 100a formed at the upper end of the writing unit 100, and the bolt 94 is passed through the hole 140 via a washer 96 made of an elastic member. The tip of the bolt is screwed into the structural member 92. An extensible spring 95 is interposed between the structural member 92 and the mounting seat 100a. The diameter D of the hole 140 is larger than the diameter d of the bolt 94, so that the writing unit 100 is allowed to move up and down. The end of the writing unit 100 is also attached to the structural member 92 with the same configuration.

  With this configuration, when the spring light writing unit 100, which is an elastic member, thermally expands, the optical writing unit 100 can be displaced in the vertical direction within a margin of a difference between the diameter D and the diameter d. Therefore, even if there is thermal expansion, the optical writing unit 100 does not bend in a curved shape as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 37 and can extend in the vertical direction, so that the displacement of the light beam Lb is suppressed to a small value. Can be

  FIG. 38 shows a modified example. In this example, a bolt 97 is screwed into a pedestal 92a formed on the structural member 92, and a spring 98 as an elastic member is interposed between the mounting seat 100a and the head of the bolt 94. Let me. In this example as well, the hole 140 is made larger than the diameter of the bolt, so that the writing unit 100 is allowed to move in the vertical direction during thermal expansion.

According to these examples, the structural member 92 and the writing unit 100 are elastically fastened and the baldness at the time of thermal expansion of the writing unit 100 is secured. The resulting color unevenness does not occur.
(10) Example Corresponding to Claim 25 As described in FIG. 35, FIG. 38, etc., the writing unit 100 is vertically attached to the structural member 92 by the bolt 94 via the elastic member only at the upper and lower end positions thereof. In the case of mounting with room, the length of the portion that has been thermally expanded is absorbed in the vertical direction, so that the curved distortion is eliminated. However, vertical displacement has not been eliminated. This example aims to further reduce the amount of vertical displacement.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 38 and FIG. 39, the pin 99 supports the intermediate position in the vertical direction of the writing unit 100 at two places in the horizontal direction with respect to the structural member 92.

By doing so, the amount of vertical displacement of the writing unit 100 due to thermal expansion is divided into an upper half and a lower half. Therefore, color unevenness due to thermal expansion can be further reduced.
(11) Example Corresponding to Claim 26 This example is similar to the example shown in FIG. 19, in which the structural member 92 described in FIG. 35 to FIG. The horizontal stays 25 for partitioning the image forming cartridges 4, 5, 6, and 7 are connected. In this example, the horizontal stay 25 effective for preventing vibration of the image forming cartridge is connected to the structural member 92 for supporting the writing unit 100 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the horizontal stay 25. The rigidity of the whole 22 is improved, which is effective in preventing banding.
(13) Example Corresponding to Claim 27 This example is a modification of the example described in FIGS. 40 and 41, and is an example of application to an image forming apparatus of the type described in FIGS. In such an image forming apparatus, photoconductors 8K ", 8C", 8M ", and 8Y" are supported in advance as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 43 (a), (b), (c), and (d), no photosensitive member is supported on each of the image forming cartridges 4 ", 5", 6 ", and 7". When such an image forming cartridge is mounted on the main body 22, a part of the image forming means, for example, the ring 10C "-1, 10C" -2 or the like as shown in FIG. Become.

Even in this type of image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 42, the image forming cartridges 4 ", 5", 6 ", and 7" By connecting the horizontal stays 25, the rigidity of the main body 22 can be increased and banding can be prevented.
(14) Example Corresponding to Claim 28 The guide portions 27K, 27C, 27M, and 27Y described in FIG. 2 are applied to the image forming cartridge described in FIGS.
(15) Example Corresponding to Claim 29 The leaf springs 28U and 28D as the pressing means described in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 are applied to the image forming cartridge described in FIGS.
(16) Example Corresponding to Claim 30 As described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7, the vibration-proof rubber 29 as a vibration-proof means for generating a viscoelastic pressing force between the horizontal stay 25 and the image forming cartridge is provided. It is provided on the horizontal stay 25 described with reference to FIGS.

  In each of the examples described above, the description is focused on the characteristic configuration. However, by combining these characteristic configurations with other examples as much as possible, the anti-shake function can be further enhanced synergistically.

FIG. 1A is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view of a main part illustrating an example of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a side view of a main part illustrating an example of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a side view of a main part explaining an example of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a side view of a main part illustrating an example of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 5A is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a side view of a main part illustrating an example of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a horizontal stay. It is a perspective view of a vibration-proof rubber. It is a perspective view of a vertical stay. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. 1 is a plan view of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the present invention. 1 is a side view of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part of the image forming cartridge illustrating a swing direction of a mirror. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the principle of adjusting the scanning inclination by rotating a mirror. FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part for explaining a principle of adjusting a scanning inclination by rotating a mirror. FIG. 25A is a perspective view illustrating the entire configuration of the mirror rotation holding unit, and FIG. 25B is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the main part of the mirror rotation holding unit. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. It is the perspective view of the main body explaining the opening part formed in the front side plate. It is the perspective view of the main body explaining the opening part formed in the front side plate. It is a perspective view of the main body which made the lid structure which can open and close a part of main body. It is a perspective view of the main body which made the lid structure which can open and close a part of main body. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 34A is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the writing unit and the positional relationship between the writing unit and the photoconductor, and FIG. 34B is a partial cross-sectional view of the writing unit illustrating dustproof glass in the opening. . FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a mounting part of the optical writing unit. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a mounting part of the optical writing unit. It is the perspective view explaining the attachment state of the optical writing unit. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus illustrating an example of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of an image forming apparatus of a type in which a photoconductor is supported on a main body side, illustrating an example of the present invention. FIG. 43A is a front view of a black image forming cartridge that does not support a photoreceptor, FIG. 43B is a front view of a cyan image forming cartridge that does not support a photoreceptor, and FIG. FIG. 43D is a front view of a magenta image forming cartridge that does not support the photoconductor, and FIG. 43D is a front view of a yellow image forming cartridge that does not support the photoconductor. FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a main part of a conventional image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. 1 is an external perspective view of a conventional image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 46 is a sectional view taken along the arrow JJ in FIG. 45. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the image forming cartridge. FIG. 4 is a side view of the image forming cartridge. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where an image forming cartridge is mounted on a main body. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an interval regulating member that regulates an interval between a developing roller and a photoconductor. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a part of an image forming apparatus of a type in which a photoconductor is supported on a main body side in advance. 52A is a front view of a black image forming cartridge not supporting a photoconductor, FIG. 52B is a front view of a cyan image forming cartridge not supporting a photoconductor, and FIG. FIG. 52D is a front view of a magenta image forming cartridge that does not support the photoconductor, and FIG. 52D is a front view of a yellow image forming cartridge that does not support the photoconductor. FIG. 53A is a diagram illustrating a state in which vertical vibrations are generated in the image forming cartridge, and FIG. 53B is a diagram illustrating a state in which torsional vibrations are generated in the image forming cartridge. FIG. 46 is a sectional view taken along the line QQ in FIG. 45. FIG. 56 is a sectional view taken along the line WW in FIG. 54. FIG. 56A is a diagram for explaining the vertical vibration mode, and FIG. 56B is a diagram for explaining the torsional vibration mode.

Explanation of reference numerals

4, 5, 6, 7 Image forming cartridge 25 Horizontal stays 27K, 27C, 27M, 27Y Guide portions 28U, 28D Leaf spring 29 Anti-vibration rubber 30, 300 Vertical stay 100 Writing unit

Claims (30)

A main body, and a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted on the main body in a superimposed arrangement, wherein the image forming cartridges are mounted on the photoreceptor by the image forming means in a state of being mounted on the main body. An image forming apparatus that performs image formation,
A configuration in which the photoconductor is supported in advance by the image forming cartridge, or a configuration in which the photoconductor is pre-supported by the main body and the image forming cartridge is mounted on the main body. In an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which a part of the image forming unit supported in advance is in a state of contacting the photoconductor,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image forming cartridges mounted on the main body; and a structural member for partitioning image forming cartridges for partitioning adjacent image forming cartridges.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge has a length in a detaching direction, and guides the image forming cartridge by engaging with a guided portion of the image forming cartridge. An image forming apparatus provided with a guide unit.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge is provided with a pressing unit that generates an elastic pressing force between each of the adjacent image forming cartridges and the structural member. An image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structural members for partitioning the image forming cartridge prevent viscoelastic pressing force from being generated between each of the adjacent image forming cartridges and the structural member. An image forming apparatus comprising a vibration unit.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second structure has a flat plate-like shape parallel to the overlapping arrangement direction at a spatial position on one side of the image forming cartridge opposite to an image forming portion having a photoconductor. An image forming apparatus, comprising a member, and connecting the second structural member and the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit is one of a charging roller, a developing unit, and a cleaning blade, or a plurality thereof.   7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the developing unit includes a developing roller that contacts the photosensitive member or an interval regulating member that contacts the photosensitive member and regulates an interval between the developing roller and the photosensitive member. An image forming apparatus comprising: A plurality of optical writing means are respectively installed on a plurality of base members supported by the main body and are arranged in a superimposed manner, and a scanning line shift from another optical writing means corresponding to at least one optical writing means. In an image forming apparatus provided with an adjusting unit for adjusting
A structural member for partitioning the optical writing means is provided between the optical writing means that can be adjusted by the adjusting means and the optical writing means adjacent thereto, and a part of the structural member for partitioning the optical writing means is the main body. An image forming apparatus, wherein the optical writing means which is adjustable and the optical writing means adjacent thereto are partitioned by the optical writing means partitioning structural member.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a pressing unit that generates an elastic pressing force is provided between the optical writing unit that can be adjusted by the adjustment unit and the optical writing unit partitioning structural member. An image forming apparatus.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a vibration damping unit that generates a viscoelastic force between the optical writing unit that can be adjusted by the adjustment unit and the structural member for partitioning the optical writing unit. An image forming apparatus comprising:   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the structural members for partitioning the optical writing unit is fixed to a structural member fixed to the main body in parallel with a direction in which the plurality of optical writing units are superposed. An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11,
A plurality of image forming cartridge partitioning structural members provided so as to partition between adjacent image forming cartridges under the superimposed arrangement and a part of each of which is fixed to the main body,
A plurality of optical writing means partitioning structural members provided so as to partition between adjacent optical writing means under the superimposed arrangement, a part of which is fixed to the main body,
One side of the plurality of imaging cartridges is provided in parallel with the overlapping arrangement direction at a spatial position on the side where the plurality of optical writing means is provided, and a part is fixed to the main body; An image forming apparatus comprising: a common structural member connected to the plurality of image forming cartridge partitioning structural members and also connected to the plurality of optical writing structural members.   2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of said image forming means is formed together with a casing separate from said image forming cartridge, and said casing is used for partitioning said image forming cartridge between image forming cartridges. An image forming apparatus characterized by being used also as a member.   14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image forming unit mainly includes a developing unit.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting unit is configured in a housing of the optical writing unit, and the housing is also used as a structural member for partitioning the optical writing unit. Image forming apparatus.   16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the adjustment unit includes a rotation holding unit that rotates and holds the position of the mirror that folds the light beam for scanning around an arbitrary position in the main scanning direction as a fulcrum. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, or 14, wherein an axis of the photoconductor extends in a box-shaped frame in which the main body is formed. An opening having a size that allows the image forming cartridge to be detachable along the axial direction of the photoconductor is formed on the upper surface, and one end of the structural member traverses this opening. An image forming apparatus, wherein the structural member and the frame are fixed in an aspect.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, or 14, wherein an axial direction and a horizontal plane of the photoconductor are included in a box-shaped frame in which the main body is formed. An image forming apparatus, wherein one end in a direction orthogonal to the inside of the image forming apparatus is configured to be removably opened and closed with an image forming cartridge.   13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a slit having a size corresponding to a diameter and a scanning width of a light beam from the optical writing unit is formed in the common structural member.   In the image forming apparatus having a main body and a plurality of photoconductors on the main body in a superimposed arrangement, an optical writing unit for forming a latent image on the plurality of photoconductors is provided in each of the superposed arrangement directions in the superimposed arrangement direction. A box-shaped writing unit that emits a plurality of light beams corresponding to the photoconductors, and the writing unit is held at a fixed distance from the plurality of photoconductors arranged in an overlapping manner; An image forming apparatus comprising: A main body, and a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted on the main body in a superimposed arrangement, wherein the image forming cartridges are mounted on the photoreceptor by the image forming means in a state of being mounted on the main body. An image forming apparatus that performs image formation,
A configuration in which the photoconductor is supported in advance by the image forming cartridge, or a configuration in which the photoconductor is pre-supported by the main body and the image forming cartridge is mounted on the main body. In an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which a part of the image forming unit supported in advance is in a state of contacting the photoconductor,
The optical writing means for forming a latent image on the plurality of photoconductors, comprises a box-shaped writing unit that emits a plurality of light beams corresponding to the respective photoconductors in the overlapping arrangement direction, An image forming apparatus, wherein the writing unit is held at a fixed distance from the plurality of photoconductors arranged in a superimposed manner.   22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one polygonal mirror and a folding mirror are provided in the one box-shaped writing unit, and a scanning direction of the polygon mirror in the writing unit is the photoconductor. The image forming apparatus is arranged in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the image forming apparatus.   24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, 22 or 23, wherein the writing unit is attached to a plate-shaped structural member for supporting the writing unit parallel to the overlapping arrangement direction, and the structure for supporting the optical writing unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein a distance between the writing unit and the photoconductor is kept constant by fixing a part of the member to the main body.   24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the writing unit is pressed and held at both ends in the overlapping arrangement direction on the writing unit supporting structural member via an elastic member, and the pressing and holding unit is An image forming apparatus, wherein the writing unit is allowed to move in a superimposed arrangement direction.   25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the optical writing unit is point-supported with respect to the writing unit supporting structural member at an intermediate position in the overlapping arrangement direction with respect to the writing unit. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, 24, or 25,
A plurality of imaging cartridges supporting the photoreceptor are mounted on the main body, and a plurality of structural members for partitioning the imaging cartridge are provided so as to partition between the adjacent imaging cartridges. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is connected to the structural members for supporting the writing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, 24, or 25,
A plurality of image forming cartridges are mounted on the main body so that a part of the image forming means is in contact with the photoconductor supported on the main body side, and the adjacent image forming cartridges are partitioned. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of structural members for partitioning an image forming cartridge; and these structural members are respectively connected to the structural members for supporting the writing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27,
The structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge is provided with a guide portion having a length in a mounting / removing direction and guiding the image forming cartridge by engaging with a guided portion of the image forming cartridge. Image forming apparatus.   29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28, wherein the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge is provided between each of the adjacent image forming cartridges and the structural member. An image forming apparatus comprising: a pressing unit that generates an elastic pressing force. 30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, or 29, wherein the structural member for partitioning the image forming cartridge includes the adjacent image forming cartridge and the structural member. An image forming apparatus comprising a vibration isolating means for generating a viscoelastic pressing force therebetween.

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