JP2004347728A

JP2004347728A - Image forming apparatus

Info

Publication number: JP2004347728A
Application number: JP2003142637A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Kazuosa Kuma; 数修久間; Hirosuke Noguchi; 裕輔野口; Hiroshi Ishii; 洋石井; Makoto Kikura; 真木倉; Yutaka Fukuchi; 豊福地; Kazuyoshi Suzuki; 一喜鈴木
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-20
Filing date: 2003-05-20
Publication date: 2004-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-20
Also published as: JP4373708B2

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus whose working efficiency in replacing and checking the apparatus is enhanced by excellently keeping a positional relation between the terminal of a unit to be supplied with power freely attachable/detachable to/from an apparatus main body and the power feeding terminal of an electric power supply part. SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus has units 7 and 8 to be supplied with power, the units 7 and 8 including at least one of members 6 and 10 to be supplied with power and their terminals 120, 121 and 122 and being attachably/detachably attached to the apparatus body from an aperture part 40A formed at the apparatus body 1, and supplies the member to be supplied with power with electric power from a high voltage power source 110 through a power feeding terminal 92 coming into contact with the above terminal. In the image forming apparatus, a movable unit 41 is provided which is attached to the apparatus body so as to be movable between an opening position where the aperture part 40A is opened and a closing position where it is closed and which holds the member to be supplied with power at a predetermined position by occupying the closing position. The movable unit 41 is provided with the above terminal and the power feeding terminal 92 so as to be opposed to each other when the movable unit occupies the closing position. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の利用分野】
本発明は、カラープリンタ、カラー複写機、カラーファクシミリやそれらの複合機等の画像形成装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来技術】
用紙やフィルム等の記録材にカラー画像を形成する電子写真方式の画像形成装置が知られている。カラー画像形成装置では、一般に４色の現像剤としてのトナーを用いてカラー画像を形成するため、モノクロ専用の画像形成装置に比べて構成部品が多く大型化し易とともに、単位時間当たりに排出できる枚数、すなわちカラープリント時の速度も低くなる。画像形成装置は、パーソナルコンピュータの普及に伴い、パーソナルコンピュータと接続して所謂プリンタとして用いられる場合も増えてパーソナル化が進んでおり、利便性の観点から装置利用者であるユーザーの近くに設置されることが多い。このため、ユーザーの作業性を考慮すると、装置の高さは低く、設置スペースを考えると装置幅が狭いなど小型であるのが望ましい。また、画像形成装置のパーソナル化やメンテナンスコストの削減という観点から、装置の消耗品の交換やメンテナンスをユーザー自身が実施するようになりつつある。
【０００３】
カラー画像形成装置において、プリント速度の高速化を図る場合、１つ感光体の周囲に複数色の現像装置を設け、各現像装置で現像されたトナー像を、感光体を現像装置の数だけ回転させて感光体上でカラー画像を合成して記録材に転写する周知の１ドラム方式よりも、１列に配置された複数の感光体に対して複数の現像装置をそれぞれ近接配置してそれぞれで単色のトナー像を形成し、各トナー像を順次転写して記録材にカラー画像を転写するタンデム方式の画像形成装置の方が有利である。
【０００４】
このようにタンデム型の画像形成装置において、小型化を図る場合、特許文献１のように、感光体や現像装置等を一体化した作像ユニットや中間転写ユニットを装置本体内で水平に配置するよりも、斜めに配置する方が配列方向への装置の長さを短くできる。また、各ユニットは装置本体に設けられた開口部から装置本体に対して着脱自在とされていて、必要に応じて交換やメンテナンスを行えるように構成されている。このような装置本体に対して着脱自在な複数のユニットを有する場合、装着時の位置が定まらないと画像ずれが生じるので、特許文献１に示すように、各ユニットの一端側を装置本体内で支持し、他端側を装置本体に対して開閉自在に設けた保持ユニットによって支持するようになっている。
【０００５】
電子写真プロセスの画像形成装置では、被給電ユニットとなる作像ユニットに設けられる帯電ローラ、現像ローラ、クリーニングローラや、被給電ユニットとなる中間転写ユニットに設けられる中間転写ローラ、中間転写クリーニングローラ、二次転写ローラ等の被給電部材に対して、装置本体内に設けた高圧の電力供給部から電力供給をおこなっている。
【０００６】
一般に電力供給部から被給電ユニットとなる作像ユニットや中間転写ユニットへの電力供給は、電力供給部と各ユニットとを着脱可能なコネクターで接続したり、特許文献２のように、開口部側からみて装置本体内の奥側となる位置に電力供給部の給電端子を設け、各ユニットにも給電端子と対応する位置に端子を設け、各ユニットが装置本体に装着されることで、給電端子と端子とが接触するように構成されている。また、電力供給部の給電端子は、感光体等を回転駆動させるための駆動力を伝達する駆動ユニット内に内蔵されていることが多い。
【０００７】
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−１３９９７６号公報
【特許文献２】
特開平０９−１９００８３号公報
【０００８】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
装置本体に対して着脱自在な各ユニットを有する画像形成装置において、装置の高さを抑えようとした場合、装置本体の上下方向へのスペースを狭める事が考えられる。しかし、このように装置の高さを抑制すると、装置本体内のスペースが狭くなり、コネクターを用いて高圧電源と各ユニットとを接続するものにおいてはコネクターの着脱が困難となる。
【０００９】
装置本体内の給電端子やユニット側の端子は、各ユニットの着脱を繰り返すうちに様々な理由によって変形し、その変形が原因となって電力供給部から被給電ユニットへの通電不良が発生することがある。このような不具合がある場合、特許文献２のように、装置本体の奥側に給電端子や各ユニットの端子があると、各ユニットを装置本体から外さなければ、装置本体内の給電端子やユニット側の端子の状態を確認することができず不便である。特に小型の装置にしようとした場合、ユニットを外した後の装置本体内に十分なスペースの確保が難しく、点検や交換作業を行う場合やりにくい。また、各ユニットは装置本体に対して着脱する関係上、多少のガタを予め設定されているので、着脱操作時にユニットをこじることがあり、このような着脱動作も端子変形の一要因として考えられる。電力供給部の給電端子が感光体等を回転駆動させるための駆動力を伝達する駆動ユニット内に内蔵された構造の場合、変形した給電端子のメンテナンスのためには駆動機構部を一旦分解しなければならず、非常に手間がかかる。
【００１０】
本発明は、装置本体内に対して着脱自在な被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の交換・点検時の作業性に優れた画像形成装置を提供することを目的とする。
【００１１】
本発明は、装置本体内に対して着脱自在な被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性に優れた画像形成装置を提供することを目的とする。
【００１２】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するため、本発明にかかる、少なくとも一つの被給電部材とその端子を含み、装置本体に形成された開口部から装置本体内に着脱可能に装着される被給電ユニットを有し、端子と接触する給電端子を介して被給電部材に高圧電源から電力を供給する画像形成装置では、開口部を開放する位置と閉塞する位置とに移動可能に前記装置本体に装着され、閉塞位置を占めることで被給電部材を所定の位置に保持するとともに給電端子を有する移動ユニットを設け、この移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めた時に、端子と給電端子とが対向するように配設した。このため、移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めると、装置本体内に対して着脱自在な被給電ユニットに設けた被給電部材は所定の位置に保持され、その端子と移動ユニットに設けた給電端子との位置関係が安定する。
【００１３】
移動ユニットは、給電端子が設けられた給電部材と、被給電部材と係合してその位置を定める位置決め部材と、移動ユニットの概観を形成する保護カバーと、絶縁部材とを有し、これら給電部材、位置決め部材、保護カバー及び絶縁部材を積層して配設するとスペースを取らずに移動ユニットを構成することができる。
【００１４】
これら給電部材、位置決め部材、保護カバー及び絶縁部材の積層形態としては、移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めたときに、装置本体側から位置決め部材、絶縁部材、給電部材、保護カバーの順、あるいは装置本体側から絶縁部材、給電部材、位置決め部材、保護カバーの順となるように配置する。絶縁部材を装置本体側に設けると、移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めているときには、装置本体側の金属部との接触による不必要な通電を防止でき、開放位置を占めているときには作業者との接触による通電を防止できるので好ましい。
【００１５】
よって、位置決め部材を装置本体側に設ける場合には非金属で構成するのが好ましい。給電部材、位置決め部材及び絶縁部材は積層状態とされるため、絶縁部材に給電端子を外側から保護する案内筒部を設けると、給電端子と他の部材との接触や干渉を防止できるので好ましい。
【００１６】
絶縁部材の材質を「比較炭化導電指数（ＣＴＩ）」が１７５以上の合成樹脂材料とすると、材料表面を電流が流れることを抑制できる点で好ましい。絶縁部材の材質を、難燃性がＵＬ９４Ｖ−１以上の合成樹脂材料とすると、安全性が高まるので好ましい。
【００１７】
絶縁部材の表面に、給電端子と接続する２ｋｖ以上の高電圧用の裸電極と２ｋｖ未満の低電圧の裸電線とを交互に複数配置すると、通電時の不用意なリークを防止できるので好ましい。絶縁部材の表面に、給電端子と直接または中継端子を介して接続する複数の裸電線を設け、裸電線及び中継端端子を、隣接する裸電線または中継端端子へ供給される印可電圧（ｋＶ）の倍数以上の沿面距離を持って配置すると、通電時の不用意なリークを防止できるので好ましい。
【００１８】
給電部材に電気接点及び配線を設ける場合、電気接点及び配線をプリント基板で形成すると、移動ユニットの部品点数を低減できるので、構造の簡素化を図れるので好ましい。
【００１９】
高圧電源を装置本体に配設する場合、移動ユニットに高圧電源から電力供給を受ける接点端子を設ける。この場合の接点端子は開口部に対面するように移動ユニットに配設すると、移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めただけに電力供給が成されるので、不必要な通電を防止できるので好ましい。
【００２０】
移動ユニットに高圧電源から電力供給を受ける接点端子を設ける場合、接点端子と給電端子とを移動ユニット内を通る被覆電線で接続すると、電線が移動ユニットの外部から見えないので好ましいと共に、電線同士の配置に自由度を持たせられるので好ましい。
【００２１】
被給電ユニットが、潜像が形成される像担持体を有する作像ユニットと、この作像ユニットで形成された潜像が中間転写ベルトに転写される中間転写ユニットである場合、移動ユニットに高圧電源から電力供給を受ける接点端子を設けるとともに、この移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めたときに、作像ユニット、中間転写ユニット及び接点端子を覆う大きさに形成すると、作像ユニット、中間転写ユニット及び接点端子を移動ユニットで隠すことができるので好ましい。
【００２２】
高圧電源を装置本体ではなく移動ユニットに設けると、高圧電源から電力供給を受ける接点端子を設ける必要がなくなり、配線構造の簡素化できるので好ましい。
【００２３】
移動ユニットに被給電部材を所定の位置に保持する規制手段を設けると、各移動ユニットの位置がより安定できるので好ましい。
【００２４】
移動ユニットに、被給電部材を支持する支持軸を保持する軸受を設けると、被給電部材と移動ユニットの位置関係がより安定するので好ましい。軸受の材質としては金属あるいは合成樹脂が挙げられるが、金属製の軸受を場合、被給電部材のアースとして利用することができる。
【００２５】
被給電部材が、中間転写ベルトが巻きかけられた駆動ローラの駆動軸と、像担持体を回転自在に支持する支持軸として場合、移動ユニットに、駆動軸及び支持軸の先端に合成樹脂製の軸受を設け、移動ユニットに合成樹脂製の軸受を保持する金属製の保持部を設けてもよいし、駆動軸及び支持軸の先端に金属製の軸受を設け、移動ユニットに金属製の軸受を保持する合成樹脂製の保持部を設けてもよい。
【００２６】
移動ユニットの支持構造としては、略水平方向にその回動軸線が位置するように設けられた回動部、略垂直方向にその回動軸線が位置するように設けられた回動部で開閉自在に移動することが挙げられる。あるいは、開口部の上下左右にそれぞれ設けた回動部で開閉自在に支持してもよい。
【００２７】
移動ユニットの回動部としては少なくとも１つ以上あれば良く、この回動範囲としては回動部を中心に９０度以上回動可能に設けるのが、作業性の点からは好ましい。
【００２８】
移動ユニットの移動形態としては、回動部を中心とした回動に限定されるものでは、装置本体に対してスライド自在、あるいはスライドかつ回動自在に設けてもよい。
【００２９】
被給電ユニットが、潜像が形成される像担持体をそれぞれ有し、各像担持体が開口部と同一平面上の同一線上に位置するように配設された複数の作像ユニットの場合、移動ユニットの回動部を、各像担持体を結ぶ線と略平行にその回動軸線が位置するように配設すると、移動ユニットの回動時における像担持体の位置と移動ユニットとの位置関係を設定し易いので好ましい。
【００３０】
【発明の実施の形態】
図面を用いて本発明の実施の形態を説明する。本形態において、画像形成装置は、タンデム方式を採用してフルカラー画像を形成可能なカラープリンタ（以下「プリンタ」と記す）である。画像形成装置としては、図１に示すプリンタに限らず、複写機、ファクシミリ装置などてあってもいる。
【００３１】
図１を用いてプリンタとしての基本構成とその動作について説明し、この後に本形態特有の構成と作用について説明する。このプリンタは、装置本体１の下部に記録材としての用紙２９が収納される給紙部２が配設され、その上方に画像形成部３を配置した構成となっている。画像形成部３には、被給電部材となる像担持体を備えた複数の作像手段として４個の作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫを備えた作像部８と、被給電部材となる複数のローラ４，５，６と、これらローラに巻き掛けられた可撓性を有する無端ベルトにより構成された中間転写体としての中間転写ベルト７ａとを有する中間転写ユニット７と、各像担持体に光書込みを行う光書込み部としての光書き込みユニット１５と、用紙２９にトナー像を定着する定着手段２２とが設けられている。作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫと中間転写ユニット７は、装置本体１に対して着脱自在とされている被給電ユニットを構成している。給紙部２から定着手段１１までの間には、用紙２９を搬送する搬送経路Ｒが形成されている。ローラ６は搬送経路Ｒに臨んで配置されている。符号１１０は、高圧電源１１０を示す。
【００３２】
中間転写ベルト７ａのローラ４とローラ５間は、このベルトの下部側ベルト走行辺に相当している。中間転写ベルト７ａには、ローラ６と対向する部位に２次転写装置となる２次転写ローラ２０が搬送経路Ｒに臨むように配設され、ローラ４と対向する部位にベルト表面を清掃するベルトクリーニング装置２１が配設されている。
【００３３】
作像部３は、この下側走行辺に対向するように配置されることで、中間転写ベルト７ａの下方に配設されている。各作像ユニットは、中問転写ベルト７ａに接する像担持体としての感光体ドラム１０をそれぞれ具備している。各感光体ドラム１０の周りには、帯電装置１１、現像装置１２、クリーニング装置１３がそれぞれ配置されている。各感光体ドラム１０が中間転写ベルト７ａに接する位置における中間転写ベルト７ａの内側には、１次転写を行う転写手段としての転写ローラ１４がそれぞれ設けられている。本実施形態において、作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫは、基本的には同一構造に構成されており、図１では代表して作像ユニット８ＢＫの構成にのみ符号を付している。各作像ユニットにおいて、異なるのは各現像装置１２に収納されている現像剤としてのトナーの色が異なる点にある。作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫの各現像装置１２には、それぞれイエロー，シアン，マゼンタ、ブラックのトナーが収納されている。各現像装置１２には、トナーが減ると、装置本体１の上部に配設されたトナー補給ボトルＴ１，Ｔ３，Ｔ３，Ｔ４から補給用のトナーがそれぞれ供給される。
【００３４】
光書き込みユニット１５は、光変調されたレーザ光Ｌを各感光体ドラムの表面に照射して、感光体表面に色毎の潜像を形成するものであり、本形態では、作像部８の下方に配置されている。
【００３５】
画像形成動作が開始されると、各作像ユニット８の感光体ドラム１０が図示しない駆動装置によって時計方向に回転駆動され、各感光体ドラムの表面が帯電装置１１によって所定の極性に一様に帯電される。帯電された各感光体ドラムの表面には、光書き込みユニット１５からレーザ光Ｌがそれぞれ照射されて、それぞれの表面に静電潜像が形成される。このとき、各感光体ドラムに露光する画像情報は所望のフルカラー画像をイエロー、シアン、マゼンタ及びブラックの色情報に分解した単色の画像情報である。このように形成された静電潜像は、各感光体と現像装置１２の間を通るとき、各現像装置１２のトナーによってトナー像として可視像化される。
【００３６】
中間転写ベルト７ａが巻きかけられた複数のローラ４，５，６のうち１つのローラが図示していない駆動装置によって反時計方向に回転駆動され、これにより中間転写ベルト７ａが矢印で示す反時計周り方向に走行駆動され、他のローラが従動回転する。このように走行する中間転写ベルト７ａには、イエローのトナーを有する現像装置１２を具備する作像ユニット８Ｙで形成されたイエロートナー像が転写ローラ１４によって転写される。その転写されたイエロートナー像には、作像ユニット８Ｃ，８Ｍ及び８ＢＫで形成されたシアントナー像、さらにマゼンタトナー像及びブラックトナー像が転写ローラ１４によって順次重ね転写され、かくして中問転写ベルト７ａはその表面にフルカラーのトナー像を担持する。
【００３７】
トナー像が転写された後の各感光体ドラム表面に付着する残留トナーは、各クリーニング装置１３によって感光体ドラム表面から除去され、次いでその表面が図示していない除電装置によって除電作用を受け、その表面電位が初期化されて次の画像形成に備えられる。
【００３８】
一方、給紙部２から給紙される用紙２９は、搬送経路Ｒに送り込まれ、２次転写ローラ２０よりも給紙側に配設されたレジストローラ対２１によって給紙タイミングを計られて、ローラ６と２次転写ローラ２０との対向部に給送される。そして、このとき２次転写ローラ２０には、中問転写ベルト表面のトナー像のトナー帯電極性と逆極性の転写電圧が印加され、これによって中間転写ベルト７ａの表面のトナー像が用紙２９上に一括して転写される。トナー像を転写された用紙２９は、定着手段２２へと搬送され、定着手段２２を通過する際に熱と圧が加えられてトナー像が熔融されて定着される。トナー像が定着されたプリント物２９Ａは、搬送経路Ｒの終端に位置し、装置本体１の上部により構成された排出部２３へと搬送され、装置本体１の上部に構成された積載部３６へと排出される。トナー像を用紙２９に転写後の中間転写ベルト７ａは、このベルトに残留したトナーがクリーニング装置２１より除去される。
【００３９】
このように構成されたプリンタは、４個の作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｍ，８Ｃ及び８ＢＫを中間転写ベルト７ａに対向して設け、中間転写ベルト７ａに順次各色のトナー像を重ね転写するため、作像手段が１つで４色の現像装置を持ち、中間転写ベルト上にトナー像を重ね転写し、その後用紙に転写する形式のものと比べて作像時間を大幅に短縮することができる。また、装置本体１の上部に積載部３６が構成されているので、装置本体１から積載部３６が周囲に飛び出ることがなく、設置面積や占有面積が小さくなる。
【００４０】
以上の説明は、用紙２９上にフルカラー画像を形成するときの画像形成動作であるが、作像部８の作像ユニットのいずれか１つを使用して単色画像を形成したり、２色又は３色の画像を形成したりすることもできる。また、本形態のプリンタを用いてモノクロ印刷をする場合には、作像ユニット８ＢＫの感光体ドラム上にのみ静電潜像を形成して同ユニットによって現像して用紙２９に転写し、定着手段２２で定着すればよい。
【００４１】
本発明の特徴的構成について説明する。
【００４２】
図２は、装置本体１における作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫ及び中間転写ユニット７の支持構造を示す図である。図２において、装置本体１の側面を構成する側壁パネル４０１，４０２のうち、側壁パネル４０１には、開口部４０Ａが形成されている。作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫ及び中間転写ユニット７は、この開口部４０Ａ側から装置本体１に対して着脱自在とされている。
【００４３】
本形態において、作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫ及び中間転写ユニット７は、図１に示すように、装置本体１に対して傾斜して配設されていて、水平に配設する場合に比べて装置の設置面積の縮小化が図られている。このため、開口部４０Ａは、作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫの配列方向に沿って傾斜して開口されている。図２においては、開口部４０Ａ及び作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫは、便宜的に水平に描写されている。開口部４０Ａは、各作像ユニットや中間転写ユニット７における交換対象部品を交換する際などに利用される開口であり、挿脱用開口として機能する。
【００４４】
装置本体１の奥側に位置する側壁パネル４０２には、作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫの感光体１０及び中間転写ユニット７の駆動ローラ６の軸とをそれぞれ回転駆動する駆動手段７０と、各感光体１０の軸と係合するカップリング７１と、中間転写ユニット７の駆動ローラ６の軸６ａと係合するカップリング７２とが、作像ユニット８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫ及び中間転写ユニット７と対向配置されている。図２において、符号１００は、各作像ユニットや中間転写ユニット７から排出される排トナーを回収収納する排トナータンクを示す。この排トナータンク１００は、面板４１が閉塞位置を占めたときに、その外側に位置するように、装置本体１に着脱自在に装着される。
【００４５】
開口部４０Ａの周囲に位置する側壁パネル４０１には、開口部４０Ａを開放する位置と閉塞する位置とに移動可能に装着され、閉塞位置を占めたときに各作像ユニットや中間転写ユニット７と係合してこれらユニットを所定の位置に案内・固定する移動ユニットとしての面板４１が装着とされている。面板４１は、開口部４０Ａの開閉部材であると共に、各作像ユニットの感光体ドラムや中間転写ユニットのローラ６の位置を一方向に偏倚させて各ユニット間で所定の位置関係に規定するための部材として用いられる。
【００４６】
面板４１は、図３に示すように、開口部４０Ａを覆うことができる大きさを持ち面板４１の概観を形成する保護カバー４２と、保護カバー４２の内部に装填されて、感光体ドラムの一部をなす支軸に取り付けられている軸受４３及び中間転写ユニッットないのローラ６の支軸が挿通されている軸受４３Ａを挿嵌できる複数の挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂを備えた金属製の位置決め部材４４と、カバー４２と位置決め部材４４との間に配置されて位置決め部材４４の面に沿って摺動可能な偏倚設定部材４５と、後述する絶縁部材８０及び給電部材９０，９１を備えている。軸受４３，４３Ａは図４に示す。
【００４７】
保護カバー４２は、断面形状が皿形状とされた成型品であり、その下縁には、一対のヒンジ部４２Ａが形成されている。各ヒンジ部４２Ａには、面板４１の回動部を構成する軸部としてのヒンジ軸４６，４６がそれぞれ挿通されるようになっている。面板４１は、図１５に示すように各ヒンジ軸４６が側壁パネル４０１に設けられた軸受部１８０によって支持されることで側壁パネル４０１に回動自在に支持され、開口部４０Ａに開閉自在とされる。本形態では、ヒンジ軸４６が開口部４０Ａの下縁側に位置するため、開口部４０Ａの下方を支点として面板４１が起倒されることにより開口部４０Ａを開閉できるようになっている。
【００４８】
保護カバー４２の揺動端側、つまり、開口部４０Ａの上縁側に対面する開閉端部には、開閉操作に用いられると共に閉塞状態に面板４１を保持するためのロック手段を構成する開閉把手４７が設けられるようになっている。開閉把手４７には、断面が横向きＵ字状をなすロック爪（爪部材）としての弾性片４８，４８が装着される。開閉把手４７は、保護カバー４２の上縁部に形成されている一対の軸受部５５，５５に回動自在に装着されることで、保護カバー４２の外面に対して、その上端部側を支点として近接離間する方向に回動可能とされる。弾性片４８，４８は、面板４１が閉塞位置をしたときに、これと対向する開口部４０Ａの上縁に設けられた爪引っ掛け部５６，５６と係合することで面板４１を閉塞位置に保持する。面板４１のロック状態、すなわち、弾性片４８，４８と爪引っ掛け部５６，５６との係合状態を解除するには、開閉把手４７をカバー４２から離れる方向に回動させる。すると、弾性片４８，４８が狭まる方向に撓み、爪引っ掛け部から離脱させることができる。このように、面板４１は、ロック手段によって閉塞位置に確実に保持されるので、装置本体１に設けられた機器が所定の位置に精度良く案内・固定することができる。
【００４９】
位置決め部材４４は、保護カバー４２に対して締結されることにより一体化されるようになっており、図４に示すように、各軸受４３を対象とする挿嵌部４４Ａ及び軸受４３Ａを対象とする挿嵌部４４Ｂが、図４（ａ）に示すように、上方に向け拡開するＶ字状の傾斜面４４Ａ１，傾斜面４４Ｂ１をそれぞれ有する形状とされている。図４（ｂ）において符号４４Ｃは、Ｖ字状の各傾斜面における内側縁に形成された勾配面である。この勾配面４４Ｃは、面板４１が開口部４０Ａを閉じる際に軸受４３，４３ａを挿嵌部に導入し易くするガイドとして機能する。図４（ｂ）では、軸受４３を支持する挿嵌部４４Ａのみを示す。
【００５０】
偏倚設定部材４５は、図３に示すように、位置決め部材４４に締結されるネジ４９が長穴４５Ａ内に挿通されることによりネジ４９をガイドとして位置決め部材４４の面に沿って各作像ユニットの並置方向に摺動することができるようになっており、位置決め部材４４の挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂに位置する軸受４３，４３Ａと対面する位置に、傾斜面４５Ｂ，４５Ｃがそれぞれ形成されている。傾斜面４５Ｂ，４５Ｃは、軸受４３，４３Ａと当接してこれを押し動かすことにより一方向に軸受４３，４３Ａを偏倚させることができ。
【００５１】
偏倚させるための操作手段として、図４に示す偏心部材５０および復帰バネ５１を備えている。偏心部材５０は、カバー４１に挿通されて支軸の軸端が位置決め部材４４に嵌合して回転自在に支持された揺動部材であり、偏倚設定部材４５における摺動方向一端に対面する偏心カム５０Ａとこれと同軸上に設けられて外部からの回転操作が可能な操作ハンドル部５０Ｂとを備えている。
図３および図４において、偏心部材５０における偏心カム５０Ａは、偏心部材５０の支軸を基端とした揺動半径を有するカムプロフィールで形成されている揺動端を備えており、操作ハンドル部５０Ｂの揺動操作によりカムプロフィールにおける中心から揺動端までの延長線上の最大径部が偏倚設定部材４５の摺動方向一端に対して直角に対向する状態と平行する状態とにそれぞれ態位設定できるようになっている。
【００５２】
復帰バネ５１は、偏心部材５０により押し動かされる方向と反対方向に偏倚設定部材４５を引き動かす付勢力を有しており、一端が位置決め部材４４側に、他端が偏倚設定部材４５に形成されている係止部４５Ａにそれぞれ掛け止められおり、偏倚設定部材４５を各作像ユニットの並列方向となる長手方向と同方向に平行移動可能としている。
【００５３】
偏心部材５０は、カムプロフィールにおいて最小径部分が偏倚設定部材４５に対向当接して、いわゆる、最大径部が偏倚設定部材４５の摺動方向一端面に平行している場合には、復帰バネ５１の付勢力を受けてその状態を維持している。この状態に対して、カムプロフィールにおける最大径部が偏倚設定部材４５の摺動方向一端面と直角に対向している場合には、復帰バネ５１の付勢を受けても元の状態、つまり最小径部分が偏倚設定部材４５に対向当接する状態には復帰しない状態を維持するようになっている。
【００５４】
本形態では、カムプロフィールにおける最大径部分が偏倚設定部材４５の摺動方向一端面と対向当接するときが偏倚設定部材４５の傾斜面４５Ａ、４５Ｂにより軸受４３，４３Ａを位置決め部材４４における挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂの傾斜面一方に押し付ける状態であり、この状態では、偏心部材５０の操作ハンドル部５０Ｂが垂下した状態となる関係とされている。
【００５５】
操作ハンドル５０Ｂは揺動できる形状とされ、基端から延長された揺動端の一部には、揺動端と直角な方向に張り出す係止片５０Ｂ１（図３参照）が設けられている。係止片５０Ｂ１は、操作ハンドル部５０Ｂが垂下した状態の時、開閉把手４７にオーバーラップする張り出し長さを有しており、開閉把手４７の前面に位置して開閉把手４７を覆うようになっている。係止片５０Ｂ１が開閉把手４７とオーバーラップする時期は、操作ハンドル５０Ｂの操作により各作像ユニット同士の位置決めが行われた時点であり、このときには、係止片５０Ｂ１が開閉把手４７の開放移動を阻止して不用意に面板４１が開放されるようなことをなくしている。
【００５６】
このような構成の画像形成装置によると、各作像ユニットや中間転写ユニット７の交換等を行う際には開口部４０Ａを開放する。この場合、開閉把手４７を把持して各弾性片４８の挟持圧以上の力で手前側に回動させると、各弾性片４８が上下方向に狭まるので、各爪引っ掛け部５６との係合状態が解除されることになる。そして、開閉把手４７を持ってカバー４２を下に向けて倒すことで、面板４１が開口部４０Ａを開放する。
面板４１は、開口部４０Ａの下縁側を支点として倒されるので、開閉端側が開口部４０Ａの下縁側に位置することになり、これにより開口部４０Ａを上方から視認しやすい状態とすることができ、作像ユニットや中間転写ユニット７の交換作業時の取り出し及び装着時での作業位置の確認が容易となる。しかも、下開き構造とされている、すなわち重力作用方向に開放されているので、不用意に開口部４０Ａが閉じられるようなことがなく、手を挟むなどのおそれを回避することができる。
【００５７】
面板４１により開口部４０Ａを閉じる場合には、上述した開放時とは逆の手順により面板４１を起こし、各弾性片４８を側壁パネル４０側の爪引っ掛け部５６にそれぞれ弾性的に係合させることで、閉塞位置に保持できる。
【００５８】
面板４１が開口部４０Ａを覆った状態、すなわち開口部４０Ａを閉じる閉塞位置に保持された状態でにおいて、偏心部材５０を操作することにより偏倚設定部材４５による作像ユニット同士の位置決め及び中間転写ユニット７との位置決めが行われる。つまり、閉じられた状態の面板４１に挿通されている偏心部材５０を偏心カム５０Ａの最大径部が偏倚設定部材４５の摺動方向一端に対向当接する状態に回動させる。これにより、偏倚設定部材４５は偏心カム５０Ｂに押し動かされることとなり、図４に示すように、偏倚設定部材４５を摺動させてその傾斜面４５Ｂ，４５Ｃにより位置決め部材４４の挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂに挿嵌されている軸受４３，４３Ａを傾斜面の一方に向けて偏倚させて押し付ける。この結果、各作像ユニットでの各感光体ドラムのピッチおよび各感光体ドラムと対峙する転写ベルト７Ａの位置関係はいずれも同じ方向への偏倚により位置決め部材４４における挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂの傾斜面で規定されることとなり、所定の位置決めが行われる。
【００５９】
面板４１は、開口部４０Ａを閉じた際には、弾性片４８が壁面パネル４０１側に係合することで閉じ状態を維持され、また、偏心部材５０の操作ハンドル部５０Ｂに有する係止片５０Ｂ１が開閉把手４７にオーバーラップした状態を維持されることにより面板４１が不用意に開放されることがない状態を維持される。このため、面板４１は、ロック手段によって閉塞位置に確実に保持されるので、装置本体に設けられた機器が所定の位置に精度良く案内・固定されることになる。
【００６０】
図２において、符号１２０は中間転写ユニット７に設けられた端子、符号１２１は各作像ユニットに設けられた現像装置１２の現像ローラの端子、符号１２２は各作像ユニットに設けられた感光体ドラム１０の端子をそれぞれ示す。これら端子１２０，１２１，１２２は高圧電源１１０から電流供給を受ける被給電部材の端子の一例を示す。本形態では、被給電部材の端子として端子１２０，１２１，１２２を図示したが、これ以外にも各作像ユニットに設けられる帯電ローラやクリーニングローラの端子、中間転写ユニット７に設けられる中間転写クリーニングローラ及び２次転写ローラ２０の端子が存在する。これら端子は図面が煩雑になるので図示を省略したが、各端子とも開口部４０Ａに臨む位置に配設されている。
【００６１】
図２に示す開口部４０Ａの下方には、図１に示す高圧電源１１０と接続される複数の高電圧端子６１を有する高電圧端子ユニット６０が、各端子を開口部４０Ａ側に臨ませて装着されている。高電圧端子６１は、図５に示すように、断面Ｌ字型をなし、面板４１が図示のように閉塞位置を占めた時に、面板４１に設けた複数の接点端子７１と対向するように配設されている。この高電圧端子ユニット６０は、装置本体１に対して着脱自在に設けられている。本形態では、矢印Ａで示す装置本体１の背面側から着脱可能とされている。面板４１には、面板４１が閉塞位置を占めたときに、開口部４０Ａに突出するストッパ９８が形成されている。このストッパ９８は、面板４１が閉塞位置を占めたときに、高電圧端子ユニット６０の側部６０ａと係合して高電圧端子ユニット６０の取出方向への移動を規定する。このため、高電圧端子ユニット６０は、面板４１が開放位置を占めているときには、着脱可能となり、閉塞位置を占めているときには、その位置決めが成されるため、接点端子７１との位置関係が確実に保持される。
【００６２】
面板４１には、図６に示すように、保護カバー４２と位置決め部材４４との間に絶縁部材８０と給電部材９０，９１とが配設される。本形態では、給電部材９０，９１、位置決め部材４４、保護カバー１２及び絶縁部材８０が積層されている。積層順序は、面板４１が閉塞位置を占めたときに、装置本体１側（開口部４０Ａ側）から位置決め部材４４、絶縁部材８０、給電部材９０，９１、保護カバー４２の順とされている。このように、給電部材９０，９１、位置決め部材４４、保護カバー４２及び絶縁部材８０を積層して配設するとスペースを取らずに面板４１を構成することができる。また、位置決め部材４４の内側にこの位置決め部材と近接して絶縁部材８０を積層することで、位置決め部材４４への通電を防止することができる。このため、面板４１が閉塞位置を占めているときには、装置本体１側の金属部との接触による不必要な通電を防止でき、開放位置を占めているときには作業者との接触による通電を防止できる。位置決め部材４４は、剛性を高める点では金属製のものが良いが、樹脂などの非金属製のものを用いてもよい。非金属製と面板４１の軽量化を図ることができる。位置決め部材４４を非金属製とする場合、絶縁材で構成すると、より安全性の点で好ましい。
【００６３】
給電部材９０，９１には、端子１２０，１２１，１２２及び図示しない端子と接触する複数の給電端子９２が設けられている。各給電端子９２は、図７に示すように、圧縮コイルスプリングで構成されている。このため、面板４１が閉塞位置を占めると、各端子と弾性的に接触し、各端子を有するユニットが装置本体１の奥側の側壁パネル４０２に向かって押し込まれ、カップリング７１，７２との係合状態が確実に行える。給電端子９２は、複数の高電圧端子６１と接触可能なる複数の接点端子７１と複数の裸電線９３，９４を介して接続されている。これら裸電線９３，９４は、給電部材９０，９１と絶縁部材８０にそれぞれ形成した凹部９４，９５に挿入されている。
【００６４】
絶縁部材８０には、各給電端子９２を外側から保護する案内筒部９７が複数形成されている。各案内筒部９７は各部材を積載した際に、位置決め部材４４よりも開口部４０Ａ側へ突出する長さを有する円筒形状をなし、各給電端子９２を挿通させている。各給電端子９２は案内筒部９７から突出する長さを有している。
【００６５】
このように面板４１に給電機能を持たせると、面板４１が閉塞位置を占めることで装置本体１内に対して着脱自在な各ユニットは、位置決め部材４４により所定の位置に保持されるとともに、それぞれ端子と各給電端子９２との位置関係が安定し、良好な通電を行える。各給電端子９２は案内筒部９７内に配設されているので、各給電端子９２の長さが長く、ユニット側の端子との当接時に撓んだ場合では、案内筒部９７によってその撓み量が抑制されるので、位置決め部材４４との接触を回避することができると共に、その位置のずれも案内筒部９７の内径の範囲内に留めることができ、端子との位置ずれを最小限抑えられる。
【００６６】
裸電線９４は、図８に示すように、２ｋｖ以上の高電圧用の裸電極９４Ａと２ｋｖ未満の低電圧の裸電線９４Ｂとからなる。このように高電圧用の裸電極９４Ａと低電圧の裸電線９４Ｂが混在している。このため、本形態では、高電圧用の裸電極９４Ａと低電圧の裸電線９４Ｂとを交互に配置している。このように高電圧用の裸電極９４Ａと低電圧の裸電線９４Ｂとを交互に配置すると、通電時の不用意なリークを防止できる。また、裸電線９３，９４のうち、隣接する、例えば裸電線９４Ａと裸電線９４Ｂは、各電線へ供給される印可電圧（ｋＶ）の倍数以上の沿面距離、すなわち表面距離を持って配置している。このように沿面距離を設定して各線を配設すると、通電時の不用意なリークを防止できる。沿面距離を効率的に設定するには、図９に示すように、絶縁部材８０の表面に複数の凸部８０１を形成し、これら凸部８０１の間に裸電線９３や裸電線９４を配設して隣接する線との沿面距離、すなわち表面距離を長くすれば良い。図９は、裸電線９３の場合を示す。
【００６７】
本形態では、装置本体１側から位置決め部材４４、絶縁部材８０、給電部材９０，９１、保護カバー４２の順となるように配設したが、絶縁部材８０、給電部材９０，９１、位置決め部材４４、保護カバー４２の順となるように配置してもよい。あるいは、図１０に示すように、位置決め部材４４、絶縁部材８０、給電部材９０，９１、保護カバー４２の順を確保しながら、位置決め部材４４より装置本体１側に絶縁部材で形成した内側カバー１３０を設けてもよい。
【００６８】
絶縁部材８０の材質に比較炭化導電指数（ＣＴＩ）が１７５以上の合成樹脂材料とすると、材料表面を電流が流れることを抑制できる点で好ましい。また、絶縁部材８０の材質に、難燃性がＵＬ９４Ｖ−１以上の合成樹脂材料を用いると、高圧電流により絶縁部材８０が加熱しても燃えにくくなるので安全性の面で優れる。
【００６９】
図１１は、給電部材と配線等を一枚のプリント基板１４０として形成し、位置決め部材４４、絶縁部材８０及び保護カバー４２と積層配置する面板４１の構成を示す。この場合、プリント基板１４０から接点端子７１及び給電端子９２をそれぞれ突出させて設ける。このように給電部材や配線を１枚のプリント基板１４０で構成すると、面板４１の部品点数を低減できるので、構造の簡素化を図れるとともに、軽量化を図ることができる。
【００７０】
上記形態では、面板４１に設けた接点端子７１と給電端子９２とを裸電線９３，９４で接続したが、両者は被覆電線で接続しても良い。この場合被覆電線を面板４１内に配設することで、面板４１の外部から見えないので見栄えがよくなると共に、面板４１の移動時に配線を挟み込むおそれがなく、耐久性を向上させることができる。また、裸電線でないので、電線同士の配置に自由度を持たせることができる。
【００７１】
図１２は、高圧電源１５０を装置本体１ではなく面板４１内に設けたものである。このように高圧電源１５０を面板４１に設けると、接点端子７１を設ける必要がなくなり、配線構造の簡素化を図れる。
【００７２】
図１３は、面板４１を構成する構成する位置決め部材４４の挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂに支持され、感光体ドラムの支持軸１０ａ及び駆動ローラ６の支持軸６ａをそれぞれ回転自在に支持する軸受４３，４３Ａを、所定の位置に保持する規制手段としてのカム１６０、１６１をそれぞれ設けたものである。カム１６０、１６１は各軸受４３、４３Ａに接離可能に設けられている。この接離機能としては例えば保護カバー４２と位置決め部材４４とで軸を回動自在に支持し、位置決め部材４４よりの軸の一端にカム１６０、１６１をそれぞれ装着し、保護カバー４２よりの軸の他端にレバーを設けることで実現することができる。このようなカム１６０、１６１を設けることで、面板４１と装置本体１側の作像ユニットとの位置がより安定でき、端子間の接触を良好に保つことができる。なお、カム１６０、１６１を設ける場合には、図４に示す偏心部材５０や偏倚設定部材４５の構成は不要となる。これら偏心部材５０や偏倚設定部材４５は、規定手段の一形態となる。
【００７３】
図１３では、支持軸１０ａ及び支持軸６ａに直接軸受４３，４３Ａを取り付け、位置決め部材４４の挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂで支持するようにしているが、位置切る部材４４に直接軸受４３，４３Ａを装着して支持軸１０ａ及び支持軸６ａを回転自在に支持する構成としても良い。軸受４３Ａ、４３Ｂの材質としては金属あるいは合成樹脂が挙げられるが、金属製の場合、感光体ドラム１０や駆動ローラ６のアースとして利用することができる。合成樹脂製の場合には、金属製のものに比べて軽量化を図ることができる。
【００７４】
図１４は、支持軸１０ａ及び支持軸６ａに直接装着した軸受４３，４３Ａを、位置決め部材４４の挿嵌部４４Ａ，４４Ｂで支持するのではなく、位置決め部材４４に設けた保持部１７１，１７２で支持するようにしたものである。この形態において、位置決め部材４４と保持部１７１，１７２とは合成樹脂製であり、軸受４３，４３Ａは金属製である。保持部１７１，１７２はリング状であり、その内径が軸受４３Ａ、４３Ｂの外径と略同一寸法に形成されている。保持部１７１，１７２は、位置決め部材４４と別体で形成され、図示しないネジにより位置決め部材４４に取り付けられている。
【００７５】
このように軸受４３Ａ、４３Ｂを保持部１７１，１７２で支持しても面板４１が閉塞位置を占めたときに、装置本体１側のユニットと面板４１との位置関係が保持されるので、給電のための端子の位置が安定し、両者の接触状態を良好に保つことができる。本形態では、保持部１７１，１７２を合成樹脂製、軸受４３，４３Ａを金属製としたが、保持部１７１，１７２を金属製、軸受４３，４３Ａを合成樹脂製とした形態であっても良い。
【００７６】
次に給電機能を備えた面板４１の支持構造について説明する。図１５に示すように、面板４１は、ヒンジ軸４６，４６と軸受部１８０で構成された回動部１９０によって装置本体１に対して開閉自在とされている。各作像ユニットは、感光体ドラム１０が開口部４０Ａと同一平面上の同一線Ｏ上に配置されている。動部１９０は、この線Ｏと略平行にその回動軸線Ｏ１が位置するように開口部４０Ａの下方に配設されている。このため、面板４１は、回動部１９０の回動軸線Ｏ１を中心に回動されるとともに、感光体ドラム１０と面板４１との位置関係を容易に設定し易くなる。
【００７７】
図１５では、面板４１の回動部１９０を開口部４０Ａの下方に配置してその回動軸線を傾斜させて設けたが、感光体ドラム１０が装置本体１に水平配置される場合には、開口部４０Ａの上方または下方に回動部１９０を配設し、水平方向にその回動軸線が位置するようにしてもよい。
【００７８】
面板４１の回動軸線Ｏ１の配置場所としては、図１６に示すように、開口部４０Ａの左側で回動軸線Ｏ１を垂直方向に設けてもよいし、開口部４０Ａの右側で回動軸線Ｏ１を垂直方向に設けてもよい。あるいは図１７に示すように、面板４１の回動部１９０を開口部４０Ａの右斜め上方に斜めに配設し、面板４１を右斜め上方に向かって開閉回動可能に設けても良い。
【００７９】
面板４１の移動は、上記の形態で示したように回動に限定されるものではなく、図１８に示すように、開口部４０を開閉する方向にスライド自在に装置本体１に設けても良い。この場合、面板４１と装置本体１側とにレール部材などの摺動部材を配設すればよい。スライド方向としては、図１８に示すように装置本体１の背面側が、スライド時に面板４１と干渉する部材がないので好ましいが、この方向に限定されるものではない。なお、面板４１の回動範囲は、回動部を中心に９０度以上回動可能に設けるのが作業性の点からは好ましい。
【００８０】
図１９は、面板４１を側壁パネル４０１に対してスライドかつ回動自在に設けた形成を示す。面板４１の下部には１つのヒンジ部４２Ｂが形成されている。このヒンジ部４２Ｂの両端面には、軸部４６０がそれぞれ開口部４０Ａの内周面に形成された案内孔４３０に向かって突設されている。各軸４６０は、図２２に示すように、各案内孔４３０に、矢印Ｓ１，Ｓ４で示す上下方向及び矢印Ｓ２，Ｓで示す開閉方向に移動及び回動可能に挿入されて支持されている。
【００８１】
開口部４０Ａと面板４１には、図１９，図２０に示すように、面板４１の回動すなわち、開閉動作を規定するロック手段４２０が設けられている。ロック手段４２０は、図２１，図２２に示すように開口部４０Ａ側に設けた突起部４２１と、面板４１側に設けられ突起部４２１を収納する空間部４２２とを備えている。空間部４２２は、矢印Ｓ１，Ｓ４で示す方向に延びる孔であり、面板４１がその自重により図２１に示すロック位置を占めたときに突起部４２１と係合し、面板４１を矢印Ｓ１方向に移動した際に突起部４３１との係合状態が解除される断差部４２３が、その内面に形成されている。空間部４２２には、断差部４２３と連続する傾斜面４２４が形成されている。図１９，図２０において、符号４１０は面板４１を開閉動作時に手を入れる凹部を示す。
【００８２】
このような構成によると、図２１に示すロック位置にある面板４１を矢印Ｓ１で示す解除方向（図面では上方）に突起部４２１を通過するまで移動させる。すると、突起部４２１と段差部４２３との係合状態が解除され、面板４１が開閉可能となるので、面板４１を矢印Ｓ２で示す開放方向に移動させることで、開口部４０Ａが開放される。
【００８３】
開口部４０Ａを閉じるには面板４１を破線矢印Ｓ３で示す閉塞方向に移動させて略起立状態とし、破線矢印Ｓ４で示すロック方向に移動させる。すると、突起部４２１と段差部４２３とが係合状態となり面板４１がロック位置に保持される。このため、開閉把手４７や偏心部材５０を設けなくても開口部４０Ａを閉じる閉塞位置に面板４１を保持することができ、面板４１の軽量化や薄型化を図ることができる。
【００８４】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、閉塞位置を占めることで装置本体に設けた被給電部材を所定の位置に保持する移動ユニットに、移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めた時に、被給電部材の端子と対向するように給電端子を配設したので、移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めると、装置本体内に対して被給電ユニットに設けた被給電部材は所定の位置に保持され、その端子と移動ユニットに設けた給電端子との位置関係を良好に保つことができるとともに、給電端子と端子との接触状態が開口側となるので、装置の交換・点検時の作業性が向上する。
【００８５】
本発明によれば、移動ユニットに、給電端子が設けられた給電部材と、被給電部材と係合してその位置を定める位置決め部材と、移動ユニットの概観を形成する保護カバーと、絶縁部材とを積層配置したので、移動ユニット内でスペースを取らずに済み、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の交換・点検時の作業性を向上しつつ小型化を図ることができる。
【００８６】
本発明によれば、給電部材、位置決め部材、保護カバー及び絶縁部材が、装置本体側から位置決め部材、絶縁部材、給電部材、保護カバーとすることで、給電部材から移動ユニットの内面画に位置する位置きる部材への通電を防止でき、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつ安全性も高めることができる。また、絶縁部材を装置本体側に設けると、移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めているときには、装置本体側の金属部との接触による不必要な通電を防止でき、開放位置を占めているときには作業者との接触による通電を防止できるので、より安全性を高めることができる。
【００８７】
本発明によれば、絶縁部材に給電端子を外側から保護する案内筒部を設けているので、給電端子と他の部材との接触や干渉を防止でき、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつより安全性を高めることができる。
【００８８】
本発明によれば、絶縁部材の材質を「比較炭化導電指数（ＣＴＩ）」が１７５以上の合成樹脂材料とすると、材料表面を電流が流れることを抑制できるので、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつより安全性を高めることができる。
【００８９】
本発明によれば、絶縁部材の材質を、難燃性がＵＬ９４Ｖ−１以上の合成樹脂材料とすると、絶縁部材の耐火性能を確保できるので、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつより安全性を高めることができる。
【００９０】
本発明によれば、絶縁部材の表面に、給電端子と接続する２ｋｖ以上の高電圧用の裸電極と２ｋｖ未満の低電圧の裸電線とを交互に複数配置することで、通電時の不用意なリークを防止できるので、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつより安全性を高めることができる。
【００９１】
本発明によれば、絶縁部材の表面に、給電端子と直接または中継端子を介して接続する複数の裸電線を設け、裸電線及び中継端端子を、隣接する裸電線または中継端端子へ供給される印可電圧（ｋＶ）の倍数以上の沿面距離を持って配置すると、通電時の不用意なリークを防止でき、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつより安全性を高めることができる。
【００９２】
本発明によれば、給電部材に電気接点及び配線をプリント基板で形成したので、移動ユニットの部品点数を低減でき、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を構造の簡素化を図ることができる。
【００９３】
本発明によれば、移動ユニットに高圧電源から電力供給を受ける接点端子を設け、この接点端子と給電端子とを移動ユニット内を通る被覆電線で接続したので、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつ、電線が移動ユニットの外部から見えないので見栄えがよくなると共に、電線同士の配置に自由度を持たせられるので、構造の簡素化を図ることができる。
【００９４】
本発明によれば、移動ユニットに高圧電源から電力供給を受ける接点端子を設けるとともに、この移動ユニットが閉塞位置を占めたときに、移動ユニットを作像ユニット、中間転写ユニット及び接点端子を覆う大きさに形成することで、作像ユニット、中間転写ユニット及び接点端子を移動ユニットで隠すことができ、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図りつつ、装置の見栄えがよくなる。
本発明によれば、高圧電源を装置本体ではなく移動ユニットに設けることで、高圧電源から電力供給を受ける接点端子を設ける必要がなくなり、配線構造の簡素化でき、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係を良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性とともに構造の簡素化を図ることができる。
【００９５】
本発明によれば、移動ユニットに被給電部材を所定の位置に保持する規制手段を設けることで、各移動ユニットの位置がより安定するので、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係をより良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図ることができる。
【００９６】
本発明によれば、移動ユニットに、被給電部材を支持する支持軸を保持する軸受を設けるので、被給電部材と移動ユニットの位置関係がより安定し、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係をより良好に保ちながら、装置の小型化や交換・点検時の作業性の向上を図ることができる。
【００９７】
本発明によれば、移動ユニットの回動範囲を、回動部を中心に９０度以上回動可能に設けることで、移動ユニットが開放位置を占めたときに開口部を広く露呈することができ、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係をより良好に保ちながら、装置の交換・点検時の作業性を向上することができる。
【００９８】
本発明によれば、移動ユニットの回動部を、各像担持体を結ぶ線と略平行にその回動軸線が位置するように配設することで、移動ユニットの回動時における像担持体の位置と移動ユニットとの位置関係を設定し易くなり、移動ユニットが開放位置を占めたときに開口部を広く露呈することができ、被給電ユニットの端子と電力供給部の給電端子との位置関係をより良好に保ちながら、装置の交換・点検時の作業性を向上することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明が適用された画像形成装置の内部構成を示す図である。
【図２】装置本体の開口部近傍の概略構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図３】移動世ユニットの部分構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図４】（Ａ）は移動ユニットによる機器の位置決め動作を示す拡大図、（Ｂ）は（Ａ）ｂ−ｂ線断面図である。
【図５】移動ユニットに設けた接続端子と装置本体側に設けた高電圧端子との位置関係を示す拡大斜視図である。
【図６】給電機能を含む移動ユニットの構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図７】移動ユニットを構成する給電部材、位置決め部材、保護カバー、絶縁部材及び給電端子の構成を端子との位置関係を示す部分拡大断面図である。
【図８】高電圧用裸電線と低圧用裸電線の配置構成を示す部分拡大断面図である。
【図９】隣接する裸電線の沿面距離を説明するための拡大断面図である。
【図１０】内側カバーを備えた移動ユニットの構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図１１】プリント基板を有する移動ユニットの構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図１２】高圧電源を備えた移動ユニットの構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図１３】規制手段の構成と配設例を示す拡大図である。
【図１４】被給電部材の軸受を支える保持部の構成と配設例を示す拡大図である。
【図１５】移動ユニットの回動部の配置構成と画像形成装置との位置関係を示す斜視図である。
【図１６】移動ユニットの回動部の別な配置構成と画像形成装置との位置関係を示す斜視図である。
【図１７】移動ユニットの回動部の別な配置構成と画像形成装置との位置関係を示す斜視図である。
【図１８】スライド式の移動ユニットと画像形成装置との位置関係を示す斜視図である。
【図１９】スライドかつ回動自在な移動ユニットの構成を示す図である。
【図２０】移動ユニットが上方に移動したとの状態を示す図である。
【図２１】移動ユニットをスライドかつ回動させる機構を示す拡大断面図である。
【図２２】移動ユニットのスライドかつ回動動作を示す断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１装置本体
６駆動ローラ（被給電部材）
６ａ駆動ローラの支持軸
７中間転写ユニット（被給電ユニット）
７ａ中間転写ベルト
８Ｙ，８Ｃ，８Ｍ，８ＢＫ作像ユニット（被給電ユニット）
１０像担持体（被給電部材）
４０Ａ開口部
４１移動ユニット
４２保護カバー
４３Ａ、４３Ｂ軸受
４４位置決め部材
５０，１６０規制手段
７１接点端子
８０絶縁部材
９０，９１給電部材
９２給電端子
９３，９４裸電線
９４Ａ高電圧用裸電線
９４Ｂ低圧用裸電線
９７案内筒部
１１０、１５０高圧電源
１２０，１２１，１２２被給電部材の端子
１４０プリント基板
１９０回動部
１７１、１７２保持部
Ｏ各像担持体を結ぶ線
Ｏ１回動軸線[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a color printer, a color copier, a color facsimile, and a multifunction peripheral thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material such as paper or film is known. In a color image forming apparatus, a color image is generally formed using toner as a developer of four colors. Therefore, compared to an image forming apparatus dedicated to monochrome, the number of components is large, the size is easily increased, and the number of sheets that can be discharged per unit time is increased. That is, the speed during color printing also decreases. With the spread of personal computers, image forming apparatuses are increasingly used as so-called printers connected to personal computers, and personalization is progressing. From the viewpoint of convenience, image forming apparatuses are installed near users who are apparatus users. Often. For this reason, it is desirable that the height of the device is low in consideration of the workability of the user, and that the device is small in size such as the width of the device is narrow in consideration of the installation space. Further, from the viewpoint of personalization of the image forming apparatus and reduction of maintenance costs, the user himself has been carrying out replacement and maintenance of consumables of the apparatus.
[0003]
To increase the printing speed in a color image forming apparatus, a plurality of color developing devices are provided around one photoconductor, and the toner image developed by each developing device is rotated by the number of photoconductors by the number of developing devices. Then, a plurality of developing devices are arranged closer to a plurality of photoconductors arranged in one row, respectively, than in a well-known one-drum system in which a color image is synthesized on a photoconductor and transferred to a recording material. A tandem-type image forming apparatus that forms a single-color toner image, sequentially transfers each toner image, and transfers a color image to a recording material is more advantageous.
[0004]
In order to reduce the size of the tandem-type image forming apparatus as described above, an image forming unit and an intermediate transfer unit in which a photoconductor, a developing device, and the like are integrated are horizontally arranged in the apparatus main body, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163873. The oblique arrangement can shorten the length of the device in the arrangement direction, rather than the oblique arrangement. Each unit is detachable from the apparatus main body through an opening provided in the apparatus main body, and is configured so that replacement and maintenance can be performed as necessary. When a plurality of units are detachably attached to such an apparatus main body, an image shift occurs if a position at the time of mounting is not fixed. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1, one end of each unit is placed inside the apparatus main body. The main body is supported by a holding unit provided at the other end side so as to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body.
[0005]
In an image forming apparatus for an electrophotographic process, a charging roller, a developing roller, and a cleaning roller provided in an image forming unit serving as a power-supplied unit, an intermediate transfer roller provided in an intermediate transfer unit serving as a power-supplied unit, an intermediate transfer cleaning roller, Power is supplied to a power-supplied member such as a secondary transfer roller from a high-voltage power supply unit provided in the apparatus main body.
[0006]
In general, power is supplied from the power supply unit to the image forming unit and the intermediate transfer unit that are power-supplied units by connecting the power supply unit and each unit with a detachable connector, or as described in Patent Document 2, by opening the side. A power supply terminal of the power supply unit is provided at a position on the back side in the apparatus main body when viewed from the viewpoint, a terminal is provided at a position corresponding to the power supply terminal also at each unit, and each unit is mounted on the apparatus main body, so that the power supply terminal And the terminal are in contact with each other. In addition, the power supply terminal of the power supply unit is often built in a drive unit that transmits a driving force for rotationally driving a photoconductor or the like.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-139976
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-09-190083
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In an image forming apparatus having units detachable from the apparatus main body, in order to reduce the height of the apparatus, it is conceivable to reduce the space in the vertical direction of the apparatus main body. However, when the height of the device is suppressed in this way, the space in the device main body becomes narrow, and it becomes difficult to attach and detach the connector in the case where the high-voltage power supply is connected to each unit using the connector.
[0009]
The power supply terminals in the device body and the terminals on the unit side may be deformed for various reasons while repeating attachment and detachment of each unit, and the deformation may cause poor conduction from the power supply unit to the unit to be powered. There is. In the case where there is such a problem, if there is a power supply terminal or a terminal of each unit on the back side of the apparatus main body as in Patent Document 2, if each unit is not removed from the apparatus main body, the power supply terminal or the unit in the apparatus main body is provided. The state of the terminal on the side cannot be checked, which is inconvenient. In particular, when trying to reduce the size of the device, it is difficult to secure a sufficient space in the device body after removing the unit, and it is difficult to perform inspection and replacement work. Further, since each unit is set in advance with a certain amount of play in relation to being attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, the unit may be twisted at the time of the attaching / detaching operation, and such attaching / detaching operation is also considered as one factor of the terminal deformation. . In the case where the power supply terminal of the power supply unit is built in the drive unit that transmits the driving force for rotating the photoconductor etc., the drive mechanism must be disassembled once for maintenance of the deformed power supply terminal. Must be done, which is very time-consuming.
[0010]
The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus which is excellent in workability at the time of replacement and inspection of a device while maintaining a good positional relationship between a terminal of a power supply unit detachable with respect to the inside of the device main body and a power supply terminal of a power supply unit. The purpose is to provide.
[0011]
The present invention is excellent in workability at the time of downsizing and replacement / inspection of a device while maintaining a good positional relationship between a terminal of a power-supplied unit and a power supply terminal of a power supply unit which can be detachably mounted in the device main body. It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, including at least one power-supplied member and a terminal thereof, a power-supplied unit detachably mounted in the apparatus main body from an opening formed in the apparatus main body, In an image forming apparatus that supplies power from a high-voltage power supply to a power-supplied member via a power supply terminal that contacts a terminal, the image forming apparatus is movably mounted on the apparatus main body between a position where an opening is opened and a position where the opening is closed. A mobile unit having a power supply terminal is provided while holding the power-supplied member at a predetermined position by occupying the terminal. When the mobile unit occupies the closed position, the terminal and the power supply terminal are arranged to face each other. Therefore, when the moving unit occupies the closed position, the power-supplied member provided on the power-supplied unit detachable from the apparatus main body is held at a predetermined position, and the terminal and the power-supplying terminal provided on the mobile unit are connected. The positional relationship is stabilized.
[0013]
The mobile unit includes a power supply member provided with a power supply terminal, a positioning member that engages with the power-supplied member to determine its position, a protective cover that forms an overview of the mobile unit, and an insulating member. When the member, the positioning member, the protective cover, and the insulating member are stacked and provided, the moving unit can be configured without taking up space.
[0014]
When the moving unit occupies the closed position, the positioning member, the insulating member, the power supply member, and the protective cover may be arranged in this order, or the power supply member, the positioning member, the protective cover, and the insulating member may be stacked. The insulating member, the power supply member, the positioning member, and the protective cover are arranged in this order from the side. When the insulating member is provided on the apparatus main body side, unnecessary energization due to contact with the metal part on the apparatus main body side can be prevented when the moving unit occupies the closed position, and communication with the worker when the moving unit occupies the open position. This is preferable because it is possible to prevent energization by contact.
[0015]
Therefore, when the positioning member is provided on the apparatus main body side, it is preferable that the positioning member be made of a nonmetal. Since the power supply member, the positioning member, and the insulating member are in a laminated state, it is preferable to provide the insulating member with a guide tube portion that protects the power supply terminal from the outside, because contact and interference between the power supply terminal and other members can be prevented.
[0016]
It is preferable that the material of the insulating member is a synthetic resin material having a “comparative carbonization conductivity index (CTI)” of 175 or more, since it is possible to suppress a current from flowing through the material surface. It is preferable to use a synthetic resin material having a flame retardancy of UL94V-1 or more as the material of the insulating member because safety is enhanced.
[0017]
It is preferable to alternately arrange a plurality of bare electrodes for high voltage of 2 kv or more and bare wires of low voltage of less than 2 kv connected to the power supply terminal on the surface of the insulating member, because it is possible to prevent inadvertent leakage during energization. A plurality of bare wires connected directly to the power supply terminal or via the relay terminal are provided on the surface of the insulating member, and the bare wire and the relay end terminal are applied to an adjacent bare wire or the relay end terminal with an applied voltage (kV). It is preferable to arrange them with a creepage distance that is a multiple of or more, because it is possible to prevent inadvertent leakage during energization.
[0018]
In the case where the electric contact and the wiring are provided on the power supply member, it is preferable to form the electric contact and the wiring on a printed circuit board because the number of components of the moving unit can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.
[0019]
When a high-voltage power supply is provided in the apparatus main body, a contact terminal for receiving power supply from the high-voltage power supply is provided in the mobile unit. In this case, it is preferable that the contact terminal be disposed on the moving unit so as to face the opening, since power is supplied only when the moving unit occupies the closed position, unnecessary power supply can be prevented, which is preferable.
[0020]
When a contact terminal for receiving power supply from a high-voltage power supply is provided in the mobile unit, it is preferable to connect the contact terminal and the power supply terminal with a covered electric wire passing through the inside of the mobile unit, since the electric wire cannot be seen from the outside of the mobile unit. It is preferable because the arrangement can be given a degree of freedom.
[0021]
When the power-supplied unit is an image forming unit having an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and an intermediate transfer unit for transferring the latent image formed by the image forming unit to an intermediate transfer belt, a high voltage is applied to the moving unit. A contact terminal for receiving power supply from a power source is provided, and when the moving unit occupies the closed position, the moving unit is formed to have a size to cover the image forming unit, the intermediate transfer unit and the contact terminal. This is preferable because the contact terminals can be hidden by the moving unit.
[0022]
It is preferable to provide the high-voltage power supply not in the apparatus main body but in the moving unit, because it is not necessary to provide a contact terminal receiving power supply from the high-voltage power supply, and the wiring structure can be simplified.
[0023]
It is preferable to provide a restricting means for holding the power-supplied member at a predetermined position in the moving unit, since the position of each moving unit can be further stabilized.
[0024]
It is preferable to provide the moving unit with a bearing that holds a support shaft that supports the power-supplied member, because the positional relationship between the power-supplied member and the moving unit is more stable. Examples of the material of the bearing include metal and synthetic resin. In the case of a metal bearing, the bearing can be used as a ground for the power-supplied member.
[0025]
When the power-supplied member is a drive shaft of a drive roller around which the intermediate transfer belt is wound and a support shaft for rotatably supporting the image carrier, the moving unit includes a drive shaft and a synthetic resin A bearing may be provided, and the moving unit may be provided with a metal holding portion for holding a synthetic resin bearing, or a metal bearing may be provided at the tip of the drive shaft and the support shaft, and the moving unit may be provided with a metal bearing. A holding portion made of synthetic resin for holding may be provided.
[0026]
The supporting structure of the moving unit is openable and closable by a rotating part provided so that its rotating axis is located substantially in the horizontal direction, and a rotating part provided so that its rotating axis is located in the substantially vertical direction. Moving to. Alternatively, it may be supported to be freely openable and closable by rotating portions provided on the upper, lower, left and right sides of the opening.
[0027]
It is sufficient that at least one or more rotating parts of the moving unit are provided, and it is preferable that this rotating range is provided so as to be able to rotate at least 90 degrees around the rotating part from the viewpoint of workability.
[0028]
The movement mode of the moving unit is not limited to the rotation around the rotation unit, and may be provided so as to be slidable or slidable and rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body.
[0029]
In the case where the power supply unit is a plurality of image forming units each having an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and each image carrier being arranged on the same line on the same plane as the opening, When the rotation unit of the moving unit is disposed so that its rotation axis is positioned substantially parallel to the line connecting the image carriers, the position of the image carrier and the position of the moving unit when the moving unit is rotated This is preferable because the relationship can be easily set.
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a color printer (hereinafter, referred to as “printer”) that can form a full-color image by employing a tandem method. The image forming apparatus is not limited to the printer shown in FIG. 1, but may be a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like.
[0031]
The basic configuration and operation of the printer will be described with reference to FIG. 1, and then the configuration and operation unique to this embodiment will be described. This printer has a configuration in which a paper feed unit 2 for storing paper 29 as a recording material is provided at a lower portion of an apparatus main body 1, and an image forming unit 3 is provided above the paper feed unit 2. The image forming unit 3 includes an image forming unit 8 including four image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8BK as a plurality of image forming units including an image carrier that is a power-supplied member; An intermediate transfer unit 7 having a plurality of rollers 4, 5, and 6, an intermediate transfer belt 7a as an intermediate transfer body constituted by a flexible endless belt wound around these rollers; An optical writing unit 15 as an optical writing unit for performing optical writing on a body, and a fixing unit 22 for fixing a toner image on paper 29 are provided. The image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, 8BK and the intermediate transfer unit 7 constitute a power-supplied unit that is detachable from the apparatus main body 1. A transport path R for transporting the paper 29 is formed between the paper feed unit 2 and the fixing unit 11. The roller 6 is arranged facing the transport path R. Reference numeral 110 indicates a high-voltage power supply 110.
[0032]
The space between the roller 4 and the roller 5 of the intermediate transfer belt 7a corresponds to the lower belt running side of the belt. In the intermediate transfer belt 7a, a secondary transfer roller 20 serving as a secondary transfer device is disposed at a portion facing the roller 6 so as to face the transport path R, and a belt for cleaning the belt surface is provided at a portion facing the roller 4. A cleaning device 21 is provided.
[0033]
The image forming unit 3 is disposed below the intermediate transfer belt 7a by being arranged to face the lower traveling side. Each image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 7a. A charging device 11, a developing device 12, and a cleaning device 13 are arranged around each photosensitive drum 10. Transfer rollers 14 as transfer means for performing primary transfer are provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 7a at positions where the respective photosensitive drums 10 are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 7a. In the present embodiment, the image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8BK are basically configured to have the same structure. In FIG. 1, only the configuration of the image forming unit 8BK is represented by reference numerals. The difference between the image forming units is that the color of the toner as the developer stored in each developing device 12 is different. The developing devices 12 of the image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8BK store yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners, respectively. When the amount of toner decreases, toner for replenishment is supplied from the toner replenishing bottles T1, T3, T3, and T4 disposed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1 to the respective developing devices 12.
[0034]
The optical writing unit 15 irradiates the surface of each photoconductor drum with the light-modulated laser beam L to form a latent image for each color on the photoconductor surface. It is located below.
[0035]
When the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive drum 10 of each image forming unit 8 is rotated clockwise by a driving device (not shown), and the surface of each photosensitive drum is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging device 11. Be charged. Laser light L is irradiated from the optical writing unit 15 to the charged surface of each photosensitive drum, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on each surface. At this time, the image information to be exposed on each photosensitive drum is monochrome image information obtained by decomposing a desired full-color image into yellow, cyan, magenta, and black color information. When the electrostatic latent image thus formed passes between each photoconductor and the developing device 12, it is visualized as a toner image by the toner of each developing device 12.
[0036]
One of the rollers 4, 5, and 6 around which the intermediate transfer belt 7a is wound is driven to rotate counterclockwise by a driving device (not shown), whereby the intermediate transfer belt 7a is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow. The traveling roller is driven to rotate in the circumferential direction, and the other rollers are driven to rotate. The transfer roller 14 transfers the yellow toner image formed by the image forming unit 8Y including the developing device 12 having the yellow toner to the intermediate transfer belt 7a running as described above. On the transferred yellow toner image, the cyan toner image formed by the image forming units 8C, 8M and 8BK, and further the magenta toner image and the black toner image are sequentially superimposed and transferred by the transfer roller 14, and thus the intermediate transfer belt 7a Carries a full-color toner image on its surface.
[0037]
Residual toner adhering to the surface of each photoconductor drum after the transfer of the toner image is removed from the surface of the photoconductor drum by each cleaning device 13, and then the surface is subjected to a charge removal operation by a charge removal device (not shown). The surface potential is initialized to prepare for the next image formation.
[0038]
On the other hand, the paper 29 fed from the paper feed unit 2 is sent to the transport path R, and the paper feed timing is measured by a pair of registration rollers 21 disposed closer to the paper feed side than the secondary transfer roller 20. The sheet is fed to an opposing portion between the roller 6 and the secondary transfer roller 20. At this time, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt surface is applied to the secondary transfer roller 20, whereby the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7 a is printed on the paper 29. It is transcribed collectively. The sheet 29 onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 22, and when passing through the fixing unit 22, heat and pressure are applied to fuse the toner image and fix it. The printed matter 29A on which the toner image has been fixed is located at the end of the conveyance path R, is conveyed to the discharge unit 23 formed by the upper part of the apparatus main body 1, and is transferred to the stacking part 36 formed by the upper part of the apparatus main body 1. Is discharged. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 7 a after transferring the toner image onto the paper 29 is removed by the cleaning device 21.
[0039]
The printer having such a configuration is provided with four image forming units 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 7a, and sequentially superimposes the toner images of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 7a. The image forming time can be significantly reduced as compared with a type in which a single image unit has a developing device for four colors, a toner image is superimposed and transferred on an intermediate transfer belt, and then transferred to paper. Further, since the loading section 36 is formed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1, the loading section 36 does not jump out of the apparatus main body 1 to the periphery, and the installation area and the occupied area are reduced.
[0040]
The above description is an image forming operation when forming a full-color image on the paper 29. However, a single-color image is formed using any one of the image forming units of the image forming unit 8, or a two-color image is formed. It is also possible to form an image of three colors. When monochrome printing is performed using the printer of the present embodiment, an electrostatic latent image is formed only on the photosensitive drum of the image forming unit 8BK, developed by the unit, transferred to the paper 29, and fixed by the fixing unit. It is sufficient to fix at 22.
[0041]
The characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described.
[0042]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a support structure of the image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, 8BK and the intermediate transfer unit 7 in the apparatus main body 1. In FIG. 2, an opening 40 A is formed in the side wall panel 401 among the side wall panels 401 and 402 constituting the side surface of the apparatus main body 1. The image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, 8BK and the intermediate transfer unit 7 are detachable from the apparatus main body 1 from the opening 40A side.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, 8BK and the intermediate transfer unit 7 are arranged obliquely with respect to the apparatus main body 1 and are arranged horizontally. In comparison, the installation area of the apparatus is reduced. For this reason, the opening 40A is inclined and opened along the arrangement direction of the image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8BK. In FIG. 2, the opening 40A and the imaging units 8Y, 8C, 8M, 8BK are drawn horizontally for convenience. The opening 40A is an opening used when exchanging a replacement target component in each image forming unit or the intermediate transfer unit 7, and functions as an insertion opening.
[0044]
The side wall panel 402 located on the back side of the apparatus main body 1 includes a driving unit 70 for rotatingly driving the photosensitive members 10 of the image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8BK and the shaft of the driving roller 6 of the intermediate transfer unit 7, respectively. The coupling 71 that engages with the shaft of each photoconductor 10 and the coupling 72 that engages with the shaft 6a of the drive roller 6 of the intermediate transfer unit 7 form the image forming units 8Y, 8C, 8M, 8BK and the intermediate transfer. It is arranged to face the unit 7. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a waste toner tank that collects and stores waste toner discharged from each image forming unit and the intermediate transfer unit 7. When the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, the waste toner tank 100 is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 1 so as to be located outside the closed position.
[0045]
The side wall panel 401 located around the opening 40A is movably attached to a position where the opening 40A is opened and a position where the opening 40A is closed, and when the closed position is occupied, each image forming unit and the intermediate transfer unit 7 are connected. A face plate 41 is mounted as a moving unit that engages and guides and fixes these units at predetermined positions. The face plate 41 is an opening / closing member for the opening 40A, and biases the positions of the photosensitive drum of each image forming unit and the roller 6 of the intermediate transfer unit in one direction to define a predetermined positional relationship between the units. It is used as a member.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 3, the face plate 41 has a size enough to cover the opening 40A and forms a general view of the face plate 41, and is mounted inside the protective cover 42 to form one of the photosensitive drums. Metal positioning member having a plurality of insertion portions 44A and 44B capable of inserting the bearing 43 attached to the support shaft forming the portion and the bearing 43A through which the support shaft of the roller 6 without the intermediate transfer unit is inserted. 44, a bias setting member 45 disposed between the cover 42 and the positioning member 44 and slidable along the surface of the positioning member 44, and an insulating member 80 and power feeding members 90 and 91 to be described later. The bearings 43 and 43A are shown in FIG.
[0047]
The protective cover 42 is a molded product having a dish-shaped cross section, and has a pair of hinge portions 42A formed on the lower edge thereof. Hinge shafts 46, 46 serving as shaft portions constituting a rotating portion of the face plate 41 are inserted into the respective hinge portions 42A. As shown in FIG. 15, the face plate 41 is rotatably supported by the side wall panel 401 by each hinge shaft 46 being supported by a bearing portion 180 provided on the side wall panel 401, and can be opened and closed by the opening 40A. You. In this embodiment, since the hinge shaft 46 is located on the lower edge side of the opening 40A, the opening 40A can be opened and closed by turning the face plate 41 up and down with the lower part of the opening 40A as a fulcrum.
[0048]
An opening / closing handle 47 which is used for opening / closing operation and constitutes a lock means for holding the face plate 41 in a closed state is provided on the swinging end side of the protective cover 42, that is, the opening / closing end portion facing the upper edge side of the opening 40A. Is provided. Elastic pieces 48, 48 as lock claws (claw members) having a U-shaped cross section are attached to the opening / closing handle 47. The opening / closing handle 47 is rotatably mounted on a pair of bearings 55, 55 formed on the upper edge of the protection cover 42, so that the upper end of the opening / closing handle 47 is supported on the outer surface of the protection cover 42. It is rotatable in the direction of approaching and separating. When the face plate 41 is in the closed position, the elastic pieces 48, 48 hold the face plate 41 in the closed position by engaging with the claw hooks 56, 56 provided on the upper edge of the opening 40A opposed thereto. I do. To release the locked state of the face plate 41, that is, the state of engagement between the elastic pieces 48, 48 and the claw hooks 56, 56, the open / close handle 47 is rotated in a direction away from the cover 42. Then, the elastic pieces 48, 48 bend in the narrowing direction, and can be detached from the hook portion. As described above, since the face plate 41 is securely held at the closed position by the locking means, the device provided on the apparatus main body 1 can be accurately guided and fixed at a predetermined position.
[0049]
The positioning member 44 is integrated by being fastened to the protective cover 42, and as shown in FIG. 4, the positioning member 44 is intended for the insertion portion 44 A and the bearing 43 A for each bearing 43. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the insertion portion 44B has V-shaped inclined surfaces 44A1 and 44B1 that expand upward. In FIG. 4B, reference numeral 44C is a slope formed on the inner edge of each V-shaped slope. The slope surface 44C functions as a guide for facilitating the introduction of the bearings 43, 43a into the insertion portion when the face plate 41 closes the opening 40A. FIG. 4B shows only the insertion portion 44 A that supports the bearing 43.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 3, the bias setting member 45 is provided along the surface of the positioning member 44 with the screw 49 fastened to the positioning member 44 being inserted into the long hole 45 A and using the screw 49 as a guide. The inclined surfaces 45B and 45C are formed at positions facing the bearings 43 and 43A located at the insertion portions 44A and 44B of the positioning member 44, respectively. . The inclined surfaces 45B and 45C are able to bias the bearings 43 and 43A in one direction by contacting and pushing the bearings 43 and 43A.
[0051]
An eccentric member 50 and a return spring 51 shown in FIG. The eccentric member 50 is a swinging member that is inserted through the cover 41, the shaft end of the support shaft is fitted to the positioning member 44, and is rotatably supported, and the eccentric member 50 faces one end of the bias setting member 45 in the sliding direction. There is provided a cam 50A and an operation handle 50B provided coaxially with the cam 50A and capable of rotating from the outside.
3 and 4, the eccentric cam 50A of the eccentric member 50 has a swing end formed of a cam profile having a swing radius with the support shaft of the eccentric member 50 as a base end. By the swing operation of 50B, the positions of the maximum diameter portion on the extension line from the center to the swing end of the cam profile are set to a state in which the largest diameter portion is opposed to one end in the sliding direction of the bias setting member 45 at right angles and a state in which it is parallel. I can do it.
[0052]
The return spring 51 has an urging force for pulling the bias setting member 45 in a direction opposite to the direction pushed and moved by the eccentric member 50, and one end is formed on the positioning member 44 side and the other end is formed on the bias setting member 45. Each of the bias setting members 45 is parallel-movable in the same direction as the longitudinal direction which is the parallel direction of the image forming units.
[0053]
The eccentric member 50 has a return spring 51 when the minimum diameter portion of the cam profile is in contact with the offset setting member 45 and the so-called maximum diameter portion is parallel to one end surface of the offset setting member 45 in the sliding direction. The state is maintained by the urging force of. In contrast to this state, when the maximum diameter portion of the cam profile faces perpendicularly to one end surface of the bias setting member 45 in the sliding direction, the original state, that is, the maximum state even when the return spring 51 is urged. A state in which the small-diameter portion does not return to the state in which the small-diameter portion abuts against the bias setting member 45 is maintained.
[0054]
In this embodiment, when the largest diameter portion of the cam profile abuts against one end surface of the bias setting member 45 in the sliding direction, the bearings 43 and 43A are inserted into the positioning member 44 by the inclined surfaces 45A and 45B of the bias setting member 45. In this state, the operation handle portion 50B of the eccentric member 50 is suspended.
[0055]
The operation handle 50B has a shape capable of swinging, and a locking piece 50B1 (see FIG. 3) projecting in a direction perpendicular to the swinging end is provided at a part of the swinging end extending from the base end. . The locking piece 50B1 has a protruding length that overlaps the opening / closing handle 47 when the operation handle portion 50B hangs down. ing. The time when the locking piece 50B1 overlaps with the opening / closing handle 47 is when the respective image forming units are positioned by operating the operation handle 50B. To prevent the face plate 41 from being opened carelessly.
[0056]
According to the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, the opening 40A is opened when each image forming unit or the intermediate transfer unit 7 is replaced. In this case, when the open / close handle 47 is gripped and rotated toward the near side with a force equal to or greater than the holding pressure of each elastic piece 48, each elastic piece 48 narrows in the vertical direction, so that the engagement state with each claw hook 56 is achieved. Will be canceled. The face plate 41 opens the opening 40A by holding the opening / closing handle 47 and tilting the cover 42 downward.
Since the face plate 41 is tilted with the lower edge side of the opening 40A as a fulcrum, the open / close end is located at the lower edge side of the opening 40A, thereby making it possible to make the opening 40A easily visible from above. In addition, it becomes easy to take out the image forming unit and the intermediate transfer unit 7 during the replacement work and to confirm the work position at the time of attachment. Moreover, since the opening 40A has a downward opening structure, that is, is opened in the direction of gravitational force, the opening 40A is not inadvertently closed, and the possibility of pinching a hand can be avoided.
[0057]
When the opening 40A is closed by the face plate 41, the face plate 41 is raised by a procedure reverse to the above-described opening, and each elastic piece 48 is elastically engaged with the claw hook 56 on the side wall panel 40 side. Can be held in the closed position.
[0058]
In a state where the face plate 41 covers the opening 40A, that is, in a state where the face plate 41 is held at a closed position that closes the opening 40A, the eccentric member 50 is operated to position the image forming units by the offset setting member 45 and to perform the intermediate transfer unit. 7 is performed. That is, the eccentric member 50 inserted into the closed face plate 41 is rotated so that the maximum diameter portion of the eccentric cam 50A is in contact with one end of the bias setting member 45 in the sliding direction. As a result, the bias setting member 45 is pushed and moved by the eccentric cam 50B, and as shown in FIG. 4, the bias setting member 45 is slid, and the insertion portions 44A, 44A of the positioning member 44 are moved by the inclined surfaces 45B, 45C. The bearings 43 and 43A inserted into the 44B are biased and pressed toward one of the inclined surfaces. As a result, the pitch of each photoconductor drum in each image forming unit and the positional relationship of the transfer belt 7A facing each photoconductor drum are all deviated in the same direction, so that the inclination of the insertion portions 44A and 44B of the positioning member 44 is reduced. The plane is defined by the plane, and predetermined positioning is performed.
[0059]
When the opening 40A is closed, the face plate 41 is maintained in a closed state by the elastic piece 48 engaging with the wall surface panel 401 side, and the locking piece 50B1 provided on the operation handle 50B of the eccentric member 50 is provided. Is maintained so as to overlap the opening / closing handle 47, so that the face plate 41 is not inadvertently opened. For this reason, the face plate 41 is reliably held at the closed position by the lock means, so that the equipment provided in the apparatus main body is accurately guided and fixed at a predetermined position.
[0060]
2, reference numeral 120 denotes a terminal provided in the intermediate transfer unit 7, reference numeral 121 denotes a terminal of a developing roller of the developing device 12 provided in each image forming unit, and reference numeral 122 denotes a photoconductor provided in each image forming unit. The terminals of the drum 10 are shown. These terminals 120, 121, and 122 are examples of terminals of a power-supplied member that receives current supply from the high-voltage power supply 110. In this embodiment, the terminals 120, 121, and 122 are illustrated as terminals of the power-supplied member. However, in addition to the terminals, terminals of a charging roller and a cleaning roller provided in each image forming unit, and intermediate transfer cleaning provided in the intermediate transfer unit 7. There are rollers and terminals for the secondary transfer roller 20. Although these terminals are not shown because the drawing is complicated, each terminal is arranged at a position facing the opening 40A.
[0061]
A high-voltage terminal unit 60 having a plurality of high-voltage terminals 61 connected to the high-voltage power supply 110 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted below the opening 40A shown in FIG. 2 with each terminal facing the opening 40A side. Have been. As shown in FIG. 5, the high-voltage terminal 61 has an L-shaped cross section, and is arranged so as to face a plurality of contact terminals 71 provided on the face plate 41 when the face plate 41 occupies the closed position as shown. Is established. The high voltage terminal unit 60 is provided detachably with respect to the apparatus main body 1. In the present embodiment, it is detachable from the back side of the apparatus main body 1 indicated by arrow A. When the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, a stopper 98 is formed on the face plate 41 and protrudes from the opening 40A. When the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, the stopper 98 engages with the side portion 60a of the high-voltage terminal unit 60 to regulate the movement of the high-voltage terminal unit 60 in the removal direction. Therefore, the high-voltage terminal unit 60 is detachable when the face plate 41 occupies the open position, and is positioned when the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, so that the positional relationship with the contact terminal 71 is ensured. Is held.
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 6, the insulating member 80 and the power supply members 90 and 91 are disposed on the face plate 41 between the protective cover 42 and the positioning member 44. In the present embodiment, the power supply members 90 and 91, the positioning member 44, the protective cover 12, and the insulating member 80 are stacked. The stacking order is such that when the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, the positioning member 44, the insulating member 80, the power supply members 90 and 91, and the protective cover 42 are arranged in this order from the apparatus body 1 side (opening 40A side). As described above, when the power supply members 90 and 91, the positioning member 44, the protective cover 42, and the insulating member 80 are stacked and disposed, the face plate 41 can be configured without taking up space. In addition, by laminating the insulating member 80 inside the positioning member 44 in close proximity to the positioning member, it is possible to prevent electricity from being supplied to the positioning member 44. For this reason, when the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, unnecessary energization due to contact with the metal part of the apparatus main body 1 can be prevented, and when the open position is occupied, energization due to contact with the worker can be prevented. . The positioning member 44 is preferably made of metal in order to increase rigidity, but may be made of non-metal such as resin. The non-metallic material and the weight of the face plate 41 can be reduced. When the positioning member 44 is made of a nonmetal, it is preferable that the positioning member 44 be made of an insulating material in terms of safety.
[0063]
The power supply members 90 and 91 are provided with terminals 120, 121 and 122 and a plurality of power supply terminals 92 that come into contact with terminals (not shown). Each power supply terminal 92 is formed of a compression coil spring as shown in FIG. For this reason, when the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, the unit comes into elastic contact with each terminal, and the unit having each terminal is pushed toward the side wall panel 402 on the back side of the apparatus main body 1, and the unit is closed. The engagement state can be reliably performed. The power supply terminal 92 is connected to a plurality of contact terminals 71 that can make contact with the plurality of high-voltage terminals 61 via a plurality of bare wires 93 and 94. These bare electric wires 93 and 94 are inserted into concave portions 94 and 95 formed in the power supply members 90 and 91 and the insulating member 80, respectively.
[0064]
The insulating member 80 is provided with a plurality of guide cylinders 97 that protect the power supply terminals 92 from the outside. Each of the guide cylinders 97 has a cylindrical shape having a length protruding from the positioning member 44 toward the opening 40A when the respective members are stacked, and the power supply terminals 92 are inserted therethrough. Each power supply terminal 92 has a length protruding from the guide cylinder 97.
[0065]
When the face plate 41 is provided with a power supply function in this way, each unit detachable from the apparatus main body 1 by occupying the closed position by the face plate 41 is held at a predetermined position by the positioning member 44, and The positional relationship between the terminal and each power supply terminal 92 is stabilized, and good energization can be performed. Since each power supply terminal 92 is provided in the guide cylinder 97, if the length of each power supply terminal 92 is long, and the power supply terminal 92 is bent at the time of contact with the terminal on the unit side, the bending is caused by the guide cylinder 97. Since the amount is suppressed, the contact with the positioning member 44 can be avoided, and the displacement can be kept within the range of the inner diameter of the guide cylinder 97, and the displacement with the terminal can be minimized. Can be
[0066]
As shown in FIG. 8, the bare wire 94 includes a bare electrode 94A for high voltage of 2 kv or more and a bare voltage 94B of low voltage of less than 2 kv. As described above, the bare electrode 94A for high voltage and the bare wire 94B for low voltage are mixed. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the high-voltage bare electrodes 94A and the low-voltage bare wires 94B are alternately arranged. By thus arranging the high-voltage bare electrodes 94A and the low-voltage bare wires 94B alternately, it is possible to prevent inadvertent leakage during energization. Adjacent of the bare wires 93 and 94, for example, the bare wires 94A and 94B are arranged with a creepage distance that is a multiple of the applied voltage (kV) supplied to each wire or more, that is, a surface distance. I have. By arranging each line with the creepage distance set in this way, it is possible to prevent inadvertent leakage during energization. In order to efficiently set the creepage distance, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of convex portions 801 are formed on the surface of the insulating member 80, and the bare electric wires 93 and 94 are arranged between these convex portions 801. Then, the creepage distance between adjacent lines, that is, the surface distance may be increased. FIG. 9 shows the case of the bare electric wire 93.
[0067]
In the present embodiment, the positioning member 44, the insulating members 80, the power supply members 90 and 91, and the protective cover 42 are arranged in this order from the apparatus main body 1 side, but the insulating member 80, the power supply members 90 and 91, and the positioning member 44 are arranged in this order. , The protective cover 42 may be arranged in this order. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, the inner cover 130 formed of an insulating member on the apparatus main body 1 side from the positioning member 44 while securing the order of the positioning member 44, the insulating member 80, the power supply members 90 and 91, and the protective cover 42. May be provided.
[0068]
It is preferable that the material of the insulating member 80 be a synthetic resin material having a comparative carbonization conductivity index (CTI) of 175 or more, since current can be suppressed from flowing through the material surface. Further, when a synthetic resin material having a flame retardancy of UL94V-1 or more is used as the material of the insulating member 80, the insulating member 80 is less likely to burn even when heated by a high-voltage current, so that it is excellent in terms of safety.
[0069]
FIG. 11 shows a configuration of the face plate 41 in which the power supply member, the wiring, and the like are formed as one printed circuit board 140 and the positioning member 44, the insulating member 80, and the protective cover 42 are stacked and arranged. In this case, the contact terminal 71 and the power supply terminal 92 are provided so as to protrude from the printed circuit board 140, respectively. When the power supply member and the wiring are configured by one printed circuit board 140 in this manner, the number of components of the face plate 41 can be reduced, so that the structure can be simplified and the weight can be reduced.
[0070]
In the above embodiment, the contact terminals 71 provided on the face plate 41 and the power supply terminals 92 are connected by bare wires 93 and 94, but they may be connected by covered wires. In this case, by disposing the covered electric wire in the face plate 41, the appearance is improved because the cover wire is not visible from the outside of the face plate 41, and there is no possibility that the wiring is pinched when the face plate 41 is moved, and the durability can be improved. In addition, since the wires are not bare wires, the wires can be freely arranged.
[0071]
FIG. 12 shows a configuration in which the high-voltage power supply 150 is provided not in the apparatus main body 1 but in the face plate 41. When the high-voltage power supply 150 is provided on the face plate 41 as described above, it is not necessary to provide the contact terminals 71, and the wiring structure can be simplified.
[0072]
FIG. 13 shows bearings 43 supported by the insertion portions 44A and 44B of the positioning member 44 constituting the face plate 41 and rotatably supporting the support shaft 10a of the photosensitive drum and the support shaft 6a of the drive roller 6, respectively. 43A are provided with cams 160 and 161 as regulating means for holding the same at a predetermined position. The cams 160 and 161 are provided so as to be able to contact and separate from the bearings 43 and 43A. As this contact / separation function, for example, the shaft is rotatably supported by the protective cover 42 and the positioning member 44, and cams 160 and 161 are attached to one end of the shaft from the positioning member 44, respectively. This can be realized by providing a lever at the other end. By providing such cams 160 and 161, the position between the face plate 41 and the image forming unit on the apparatus main body 1 side can be more stabilized, and the contact between the terminals can be kept good. In the case where the cams 160 and 161 are provided, the configurations of the eccentric member 50 and the bias setting member 45 shown in FIG. The eccentric member 50 and the bias setting member 45 are one form of the defining means.
[0073]
In FIG. 13, the bearings 43, 43A are directly attached to the support shaft 10a and the support shaft 6a, and are supported by the insertion portions 44A, 44B of the positioning member 44. A configuration may be adopted in which the supporting shaft 10a and the supporting shaft 6a are rotatably supported by being mounted. As a material of the bearings 43A and 43B, a metal or a synthetic resin can be cited. In the case of a metal, the bearing 43A and 43B can be used as a ground for the photosensitive drum 10 and the driving roller 6. In the case of a synthetic resin, the weight can be reduced as compared with that of a metal.
[0074]
FIG. 14 does not support the bearings 43 and 43A directly mounted on the support shaft 10a and the support shaft 6a with the insertion portions 44A and 44B of the positioning member 44, but with the holding portions 171 and 172 provided on the positioning member 44. It is intended to be supported. In this embodiment, the positioning member 44 and the holding portions 171 and 172 are made of synthetic resin, and the bearings 43 and 43A are made of metal. The holding portions 171 and 172 are ring-shaped, and have an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the bearings 43A and 43B. The holding portions 171 and 172 are formed separately from the positioning member 44, and are attached to the positioning member 44 by screws (not shown).
[0075]
Even if the bearings 43A and 43B are supported by the holding portions 171 and 172 in this manner, when the face plate 41 occupies the closed position, the positional relationship between the unit on the apparatus body 1 and the face plate 41 is maintained. The positions of the terminals for the contact are stable, and the contact state between the two can be kept good. In the present embodiment, the holding portions 171 and 172 are made of synthetic resin, and the bearings 43 and 43A are made of metal. However, the holding portions 171 and 172 may be made of metal and the bearings 43 and 43A may be made of synthetic resin. .
[0076]
Next, a support structure of the face plate 41 having a power supply function will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the face plate 41 can be freely opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 1 by a rotating portion 190 including hinge shafts 46 and 46 and a bearing portion 180. In each image forming unit, the photosensitive drum 10 is arranged on the same line O on the same plane as the opening 40A. The moving portion 190 is disposed below the opening 40A so that the rotation axis O1 is positioned substantially parallel to the line O. Therefore, the face plate 41 is turned around the turning axis O1 of the turning portion 190, and the positional relationship between the photosensitive drum 10 and the face plate 41 is easily set.
[0077]
In FIG. 15, the rotating portion 190 of the face plate 41 is arranged below the opening 40 A and its rotating axis is inclined. However, when the photosensitive drum 10 is horizontally arranged on the apparatus main body 1, The rotation unit 190 may be provided above or below the opening 40A, and the rotation axis may be positioned in the horizontal direction.
[0078]
As shown in FIG. 16, the rotation axis O1 of the face plate 41 may be provided on the left side of the opening 40A in the vertical direction, or on the right side of the opening 40A. May be provided in the vertical direction. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 17, the rotating portion 190 of the face plate 41 may be disposed obliquely to the upper right of the opening 40 A, and the face plate 41 may be opened and closed to the upper right.
[0079]
The movement of the face plate 41 is not limited to the rotation as shown in the above embodiment, but may be provided in the apparatus main body 1 so as to be slidable in the direction of opening and closing the opening 40 as shown in FIG. . In this case, a sliding member such as a rail member may be provided on the face plate 41 and the apparatus body 1 side. As the sliding direction, as shown in FIG. 18, the rear side of the apparatus main body 1 is preferable because there is no member that interferes with the face plate 41 during sliding, but is not limited to this direction. It is preferable from the viewpoint of workability that the rotation range of the face plate 41 is provided so as to be rotatable by 90 degrees or more around the rotation portion.
[0080]
FIG. 19 shows a configuration in which the face plate 41 is slidably and rotatably provided with respect to the side wall panel 401. One hinge portion 42B is formed below the face plate 41. On both end surfaces of the hinge portion 42B, shaft portions 460 are provided to project toward guide holes 430 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion 40A. As shown in FIG. 22, each shaft 460 is inserted and supported in each guide hole 430 so as to be movable and rotatable in the vertical direction indicated by arrows S1 and S4 and the opening and closing direction indicated by arrows S2 and S.
[0081]
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the opening 40A and the face plate 41 are provided with lock means 420 for regulating the rotation of the face plate 41, that is, the opening / closing operation. The locking means 420 includes a projection 421 provided on the side of the opening 40A as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, and a space 422 provided on the side of the face plate 41 for accommodating the projection 421. The space 422 is a hole extending in the directions indicated by arrows S1 and S4, and engages with the protrusion 421 when the face plate 41 occupies the lock position shown in FIG. 21 by its own weight, and moves the face plate 41 in the direction of arrow S1. A difference portion 423 that is released from engagement with the protrusion 431 when moved is formed on the inner surface thereof. In the space 422, an inclined surface 424 that is continuous with the difference portion 423 is formed. In FIGS. 19 and 20, reference numeral 410 denotes a concave portion for putting a hand in opening and closing the face plate 41.
[0082]
According to such a configuration, the face plate 41 at the lock position shown in FIG. 21 is moved in the release direction (upward in the drawing) indicated by the arrow S1 until it passes through the protrusion 421. Then, the engagement between the projection 421 and the step 423 is released, and the face plate 41 can be opened and closed. The opening 40A is opened by moving the face plate 41 in the opening direction indicated by the arrow S2.
[0083]
To close the opening 40A, the face plate 41 is moved in the closing direction indicated by the dashed arrow S3 so as to be substantially upright, and is moved in the locking direction indicated by the dashed arrow S4. Then, the projection 421 and the step 423 are engaged with each other, and the face plate 41 is held at the lock position. Therefore, the face plate 41 can be held at the closed position that closes the opening 40A without providing the opening / closing handle 47 or the eccentric member 50, and the weight and thickness of the face plate 41 can be reduced.
[0084]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the moving unit that holds the power-supplied member provided in the apparatus main body at a predetermined position by occupying the closed position is configured to face the terminal of the power-supplied member when the moving unit occupies the closed position. When the mobile unit occupies the closed position, the power-supplied member provided in the power-supplied unit is held at a predetermined position with respect to the inside of the apparatus body, and the power supply terminal provided in the mobile unit is provided. The positional relationship with the terminal can be kept good, and the contact state between the power supply terminal and the terminal is on the opening side, so that the workability at the time of replacement and inspection of the device is improved.
[0085]
According to the present invention, a power supply member provided with a power supply terminal, a positioning member that engages with a power-supplied member to determine its position, a protective cover that forms an overview of the mobile unit, an insulating member, The stacking arrangement eliminates the need for space in the mobile unit and improves the workability when replacing and inspecting equipment while maintaining a good positional relationship between the terminals of the power supply unit and the power supply terminals of the power supply unit. It is possible to reduce the size while reducing the size.
[0086]
According to the present invention, the power supply member, the positioning member, the protective cover, and the insulating member are positioned from the power supply member to the inner surface of the moving unit by forming the positioning member, the insulating member, the power supply member, and the protective cover from the apparatus main body side. Power can be prevented from being applied to the members that can be located, and the positional relationship between the terminals of the power-supplied unit and the power supply terminals of the power supply unit can be maintained in a good position. Can also be enhanced. In addition, when the insulating member is provided on the apparatus main body side, unnecessary energization due to contact with the metal part on the apparatus main body side can be prevented when the moving unit occupies the closed position, and when the moving unit is occupying the open position, the worker is in the open position. Since energization due to contact with the contact can be prevented, safety can be further improved.
[0087]
According to the present invention, since the guide member for protecting the power supply terminal from the outside is provided on the insulating member, contact and interference between the power supply terminal and other members can be prevented, and the terminal of the power supply unit and the power supply unit can be prevented from interfering with each other. While maintaining a good positional relationship with the power supply terminal, safety can be further improved while miniaturizing the device and improving workability at the time of replacement and inspection.
[0088]
According to the present invention, when the material of the insulating member is a synthetic resin material having a “comparative carbonization conductivity index (CTI)” of 175 or more, current can be suppressed from flowing through the material surface. It is possible to further improve the safety while maintaining a good positional relationship with the power supply terminal of the unit, while reducing the size of the device and improving the workability at the time of replacement and inspection.
[0089]
According to the present invention, when the material of the insulating member is a synthetic resin material having a flame retardancy of UL94V-1 or more, the fire resistance of the insulating member can be ensured. It is possible to further improve the safety while maintaining the good positional relationship, while reducing the size of the device and improving the workability at the time of replacement and inspection.
[0090]
According to the present invention, by alternately arranging a plurality of bare electrodes for high voltage of 2 kv or more and bare wires of low voltage of less than 2 kv connected to the power supply terminal on the surface of the insulating member, carelessness at the time of energization is provided. Leakage can be prevented, and while maintaining a good positional relationship between the terminals of the power-supplied unit and the power supply terminals of the power supply section, safety is improved while miniaturizing the equipment and improving workability during replacement and inspection. Can be enhanced.
[0091]
According to the present invention, on the surface of the insulating member, a plurality of bare wires connected directly to the power supply terminal or via the relay terminal are provided, and the bare wire and the relay end terminal are supplied to the adjacent bare wire or the relay end terminal. When it is arranged with a creepage distance equal to or more than a multiple of the applied voltage (kV), it is possible to prevent inadvertent leakage during energization and to maintain a good positional relationship between the terminal of the power supply unit and the power supply terminal of the power supply unit. Further, safety can be further improved while miniaturizing the device and improving workability at the time of replacement and inspection.
[0092]
According to the present invention, since the electric contacts and the wiring are formed on the power supply member by the printed circuit board, the number of components of the moving unit can be reduced, and the positional relationship between the terminal of the power supply unit and the power supply terminal of the power supply unit can be kept good. However, it is possible to simplify the structure of the apparatus and to improve the workability at the time of replacement and inspection.
[0093]
According to the present invention, the mobile unit is provided with the contact terminal for receiving the power supply from the high-voltage power supply, and the contact terminal and the power supply terminal are connected by the insulated wire passing through the inside of the mobile unit. While maintaining a good positional relationship with the power supply terminals, miniaturizing the equipment and improving the workability during replacement and inspection, the wires are not visible from the outside of the moving unit, so the appearance is good and the arrangement of the wires Can be given a degree of freedom, so that the structure can be simplified.
[0094]
According to the present invention, the movable unit is provided with a contact terminal for receiving power supply from the high-voltage power supply, and when the movable unit occupies the closed position, the movable unit covers the image forming unit, the intermediate transfer unit, and the contact terminal. With this arrangement, the image forming unit, the intermediate transfer unit and the contact terminal can be hidden by the moving unit, and the positional relationship between the terminal of the power supply unit and the power supply terminal of the power supply unit can be kept good while maintaining the positional relationship of the apparatus. The appearance of the device is improved while miniaturization and improvement of workability at the time of replacement and inspection are achieved.
According to the present invention, by providing the high-voltage power supply in the mobile unit instead of the apparatus main body, it is not necessary to provide a contact terminal for receiving power supply from the high-voltage power supply, and the wiring structure can be simplified, and the terminal of the power supply unit and the power supply The device can be downsized and the structure can be simplified and the workability at the time of replacement / inspection can be improved while maintaining a good positional relationship with the power supply terminal of the unit.
[0095]
According to the present invention, the position of each moving unit is more stabilized by providing the mobile unit with the restricting means for holding the power-supplied member at a predetermined position. It is possible to reduce the size of the device and improve the workability at the time of replacement / inspection while maintaining the positional relationship more favorable.
[0096]
According to the present invention, since the moving unit is provided with the bearing that holds the support shaft that supports the power-supplied member, the positional relationship between the power-supplied member and the mobile unit is more stable, and the terminals of the power-supplied unit and the power supply unit are connected. It is possible to reduce the size of the device and to improve the workability at the time of replacement and inspection while maintaining a better positional relationship with the power supply terminal.
[0097]
According to the present invention, the opening range can be widely exposed when the moving unit occupies the open position by providing the turning range of the moving unit so as to be able to turn at least 90 degrees about the turning unit. In addition, it is possible to improve the workability at the time of replacement and inspection of the device, while maintaining the positional relationship between the terminal of the power-supplied unit and the power supply terminal of the power supply unit better.
[0098]
According to the present invention, the rotation unit of the moving unit is disposed so that its rotation axis is positioned substantially parallel to the line connecting the image carriers, so that the image carrier at the time of rotation of the moving unit is provided. It is easy to set the positional relationship between the position of the mobile unit and the mobile unit, and when the mobile unit occupies the open position, the opening can be widely exposed. The workability at the time of replacement and inspection of the device can be improved while maintaining the relationship better.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration near an opening of the apparatus main body.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a partial configuration of a mobile unit.
4A is an enlarged view showing a positioning operation of the device by the moving unit, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a positional relationship between a connection terminal provided on the moving unit and a high voltage terminal provided on the apparatus main body side.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a mobile unit including a power supply function.
FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a positional relationship between a power supply member, a positioning member, a protective cover, an insulating member, and a power supply terminal that constitute the moving unit and terminals.
FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an arrangement configuration of a high-voltage bare wire and a low-voltage bare wire.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining a creepage distance between adjacent bare electric wires.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a moving unit having an inner cover.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a moving unit having a printed board.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a moving unit provided with a high-voltage power supply.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a configuration and an arrangement example of a regulating unit.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged view showing a configuration and an arrangement example of a holding portion for supporting a bearing of a power-supplied member.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a positional relationship between an arrangement configuration of a rotating unit of the moving unit and an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a positional relationship between another arrangement configuration of the rotating unit of the moving unit and the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between another arrangement configuration of the rotating unit of the moving unit and the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a positional relationship between a slide-type moving unit and an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sliding and rotatable moving unit.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the moving unit has moved upward.
FIG. 21 is an enlarged sectional view showing a mechanism for sliding and rotating a moving unit.
FIG. 22 is a sectional view showing a sliding and rotating operation of the moving unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Device body
6. Driving roller (powered member)
6a Support shaft of drive roller
7 Intermediate transfer unit (powered unit)
7a Intermediate transfer belt
8Y, 8C, 8M, 8BK Imaging unit (powered unit)
10. Image carrier (power-supplied member)
40A opening
41 Mobile unit
42 Protective cover
43A, 43B Bearing
44 Positioning member
50,160 Regulatory measures
71 Contact terminal
80 Insulation member
90, 91 power supply member
92 Power supply terminal
93,94 bare wire
94A bare wire for high voltage
94B Low voltage bare wire
97 Guide tube
110, 150 High voltage power supply
120, 121, 122 Terminal of Powered Member
140 Printed circuit board
190 Rotating part
171, 172 Holder
O Line connecting each image carrier
O1 Rotation axis

Claims

A power receiving unit including at least one power receiving member and a terminal thereof, the power receiving unit being detachably mounted in the apparatus main body from an opening formed in the apparatus main body, and the power feeding terminal contacting the terminal; In an image forming apparatus that supplies power from a high-voltage power supply to a power-supplied member,
A moving unit having the power supply terminal while being movably mounted on the apparatus main body so as to be movable between a position where the opening is opened and a position where the opening is closed, and holding the power-supplied member at a predetermined position by occupying the closed position; ,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the terminal and the power supply terminal are arranged so as to face each other when the moving unit occupies a closed position.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The moving unit includes a power supply member provided with the power supply terminal, a positioning member that engages with the power-supplied member to determine a position thereof, a protective cover that forms an overview of the mobile unit, and an insulating member. An image forming apparatus, wherein the power supply member, the positioning member, the protective cover, and the insulating member are stacked and disposed.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The moving unit includes a power supply member provided with the power supply terminal, a positioning member that engages with the power-supplied member to determine a position thereof, a protective cover that forms an overview of the mobile unit, and an insulating member. When the moving unit occupies the closed position, the power supply member, the positioning member, the protection cover, and the insulation member are arranged in the order of the positioning member, the insulation member, the power supply member, and the protection cover from the apparatus main body side. An image forming apparatus, which is provided.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The moving unit includes a power supply member provided with the power supply terminal, a positioning member that engages with the power-supplied member to determine a position thereof, a protective cover that forms an overview of the mobile unit, and an insulating member. When the moving unit occupies the closed position, the power supply terminal, the positioning member, the protection cover, and the insulation member are arranged in the order of the insulation member, the power supply member, the positioning member, and the protection cover from the apparatus body side. An image forming apparatus characterized by being arranged.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the positioning member is made of a non-metal.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4, or 5,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the insulating member has a guide cylinder for protecting the power supply terminal from the outside.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein a material of the insulating member is a synthetic resin material having a “comparison carbonization conductivity index (CTI)” of 175 or more.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein the material of the insulating member is a synthetic resin material having a flame retardancy of UL94V-1 or more.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of bare electrodes for high voltage of 2 kv or more and bare wires of low voltage of less than 2 kv connected to the power supply terminal are alternately arranged on the surface of the insulating member.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
On the surface of the insulating member, there are a plurality of bare wires connected directly to the power supply terminal or via a relay terminal, and the bare wire and the relay end terminal are supplied to the adjacent bare wire or the relay end terminal. An image forming apparatus having a creepage distance equal to or more than a multiple of an applied voltage (kV).

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The power supply member has an electric contact and a wiring, and the electric contact and the wiring are formed on a printed circuit board.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit has a contact terminal receiving power supply from the high-voltage power supply.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The mobile unit has a contact terminal receiving power supply from the high-voltage power supply,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the contact terminal and the power supply terminal are connected by a covered electric wire passing through the inside of the moving unit.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The power-supplied unit is an image forming unit having an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and an intermediate transfer unit where the latent image formed by the image forming unit is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt. Having a contact terminal receiving power supply from the high-voltage power supply,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the moving unit is sized to cover the image forming unit, the intermediate transfer unit and the contact terminals when occupying the closed position.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus, wherein the high-voltage power supply is provided in the moving unit.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein the movable unit is provided with regulating means for holding the power-supplied member at a predetermined position.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is provided with a metal bearing that holds a support shaft that supports the power-supplied member.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is provided with a synthetic resin bearing for holding a support shaft for supporting the power-supplied member.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The power-supplied member is a drive shaft of a drive roller around which the intermediate transfer belt is wound, and a support shaft that rotatably supports the image carrier.
Image forming, wherein the moving unit is provided with a synthetic resin bearing at the tip of the drive shaft and the support shaft, and the moving unit is provided with a metal holding portion for holding the synthetic resin bearing. apparatus.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The power-supplied member is a drive shaft of a drive roller around which the intermediate transfer belt is wound, and a support shaft that rotatably supports the image carrier.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is provided with a metal bearing at the tip of the drive shaft and the support shaft, and the moving unit is provided with a holding portion made of a synthetic resin for holding the metal bearing. .

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is supported to be freely opened and closed by a rotating unit provided so that its rotating axis is positioned substantially horizontally.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is supported to be freely opened and closed by a rotating unit provided such that its rotating axis is positioned substantially vertically.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the movable unit is supported by a rotating unit provided on the right side of the opening so as to be openable and closable.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the movable unit is supported by a rotating unit provided on the left side of the opening so as to be freely opened and closed.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is supported by a rotating unit provided above the opening to be openable and closable.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is supported by a rotating part provided below the opening to be openable and closable.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is provided so as to be rotatable by 90 degrees or more around one or more rotating parts.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is provided slidably with respect to the apparatus main body.

The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the moving unit is provided so as to be slidable and rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The power-supplied unit includes a plurality of image forming units each having an image carrier on which a latent image is formed, and a plurality of image forming units arranged so that each image carrier is located on the same line on the same plane as the opening. Yes,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit includes a rotation unit disposed so that a rotation axis thereof is substantially parallel to a line connecting the image carriers.