JP2006018064A - Toner cartridge, developing cartridge, process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide various cartridges having good handling performance, and constituted so that a replacing work can be safely and easily performed and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Regarding a toner hopper attached to the image forming apparatus so as to replenish toner to a development apparatus, the toner hopper is provided with a 1st handle part 22 arranged in a part facing upward when being attached, which can be switched between a standing state and a lying state, and a guide rail for guiding the movement of the apparatus body in the depth direction at the attaching/detaching operation; and the 1st handle part 22 is provided with a locking part 22d coming in contact with the apparatus body side member when the handle part is in the lying state, but does not abut against the member in the standing state, and a stopper part 22b positioned ahead of the locking part 22d in the depth direction, coming in contact with the apparatus body side member in the standing state, but does not abut against the member in the lying state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and various cartridges (toner cartridge, developing cartridge, process cartridge) used therein. More specifically, the present invention relates to various cartridges that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus including a toner hopper and the like, and an image forming apparatus to which the cartridge is attached.

  Conventionally, many image forming apparatuses have a detachable cartridge including a toner hopper or the like. As such a cartridge, there are a cartridge in which only the toner hopper is removable, a cartridge in which the toner hopper and the developing means are integrated, and a cartridge in which the toner hopper is integrated. In any case, this cartridge part is a consumable part, and the weight loss and deterioration occur due to the use of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is appropriately exchanged by a service person or user.

In general, the cartridges are detachable roughly by detaching in a direction perpendicular to the photosensitive member axis (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2) and detaching in a direction parallel to the photosensitive member axis (for example, Patent Document). 3). Of these, the type that is attached and detached in the direction perpendicular to the photosensitive member axis is often attached and detached with a handle provided on the upper surface of the cartridge. In addition, there are types in which the cartridge is detachable in a direction parallel to the photosensitive member axis, and there are those in which the cartridge is put in and out on the tray, and those in which the cartridge is directly locked to the guide of the main body. In any case, various devices have been devised for ease of attachment / detachment and ease of holding the cartridge so that the attachment / detachment can be performed safely and reliably. For example, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3, handles are provided on the top surface of the cartridge and the rear surface in the insertion direction to improve operability during insertion and withdrawal. Further, a spring member is provided on the guide rail of the main body so as to engage with recesses provided at two locations of the cartridge.
JP-A-8-339147 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-44058 Japanese Patent No. 3311250

  However, in the cartridge described in Patent Document 3, when the user pulls the handle on the rear surface in the insertion direction with force when pulling out the cartridge, it does not stop even when the concave portion and the spring member are engaged, and may be ejected as it is. . In this case, there is a problem that the cartridge may fall on the user's foot or the like. Also, there has been a demand for a safe and easy-to-operate device when inserting a cartridge.

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the various conventional cartridges. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide various cartridges and image forming apparatuses that can be replaced safely and easily and have good handling properties.

  The toner cartridge of the present invention, which has been made for the purpose of solving this problem, is a toner cartridge that is attached to the image forming apparatus and replenishes toner to the developing device, and is provided in a position that faces upward when attached. It has a handle that can be switched to a sleeping state, and a detachable operation guide member that guides the movement of the device body in the depth direction during attachment and detachment operations. A first abutting portion that abuts in a standing state and that does not abut in a standing state, and is positioned in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction, abutting on a member on the apparatus body side in a standing state, and lying down Has a second abutting portion that does not abut.

  The toner cartridge of the present invention guides the movement of the apparatus main body in the depth direction by the detachment operation guide member, and is detachable along the axial direction with respect to the apparatus main body. Here, it is preferable that the attachment / detachment operation guide member is a guide rail or a member engaged with the guide rail.

  In addition, according to the toner cartridge of the present invention, since the handle is provided at a position that is upward when attached, the user or the like can carry out the insertion operation or the pull-out operation by holding the handle. When inserting, hold the handle in a standing position and move it backward in the depth direction of the body. Then, since the second contact portion comes into contact, the cartridge is temporarily stopped. Therefore, if the handle is changed to the sleeping state, the contact of the second contact portion is eliminated, and the handle can be further inserted. On the other hand, when pulling out, the handle is pulled out in a sleeping state and moved forward in the depth direction of the main body. Then, since the first contact portion comes into contact, the cartridge is temporarily stopped. Therefore, if the handle is changed to the standing state, the contact of the first contact portion disappears and can be further pulled out. Therefore, the toner cartridge can be replaced safely and easily and has good handling properties.

  Here, the position where either the first contact portion or the second contact portion contacts the member on the apparatus main body side may be determined to be an arrangement where the cartridge does not move or drop out even if the hand is released. In addition, the position of the cartridge in a state where the first contact portion is in contact is the same as the position of the cartridge in the state where the second contact portion is in contact, or is disposed in front of the depth direction. good.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is desirable that the handle has a hand grip portion positioned in front of the second contact portion in the depth direction.
In this case, even when the cartridge is inserted by holding the grip portion until the second contact portion comes into contact, there is no possibility of pinching the hand. The grip portion may protrude from the upper surface of the cartridge when the handle is standing.

Furthermore, in this invention, it is desirable to have the 2nd handle provided in the front side of the depth direction.
In a state where the cartridge is completely attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the portion facing upward at the time of attachment is generally inserted into the inside, and the handle cannot be handled from the outside. On the other hand, the front surface in the depth direction can generally be exposed even when the cartridge is completely attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. In the present invention, since the second handle is provided there, when the cartridge is removed, the second handle can be pulled out with the hand.

  The present invention also relates to a developing cartridge that is attached to an image forming apparatus and performs development, and is provided at a position that faces upward when attached, and can be switched between a standing state and a sleeping state, and an attachment operation. And a desorption operation guide member for guiding the movement of the apparatus main body in the depth direction during the detachment operation, and the handle abuts the member on the apparatus main body side when lying down and does not abut when standing. A developing cartridge having an abutting portion and a second abutting portion that is positioned in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction and that abuts against a member on the apparatus main body side when standing and does not abut when lying down It extends to.

  The present invention also relates to a process cartridge that is attached to an image forming apparatus and forms an image, and is provided at a position facing upward at the time of attachment, and a handle that can be switched between a standing state and a sleeping state, and an attachment operation. A detachable operation guide member for guiding the movement of the apparatus main body in the depth direction at the time of detachment and detachment operation, and the handle is in contact with the member on the apparatus main body side in a lying state and not in a standing state. A process having one abutting portion and a second abutting portion that is located in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction and that abuts against a member on the apparatus body side when standing and does not abut when lying down Also extends to cartridges.

  The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image by attaching a detachable cartridge to the main body, and the cartridge is provided at a position facing upward at the time of attachment, and can be switched between a standing state and a sleeping state. And a detachable operation guide member that guides movement in the depth direction during attachment and detachment operations. The handle abuts against a member on the main body side when lying down and abuts when standing. A first abutting portion that is not in contact with the body, and a second abutting portion that is positioned in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction and that is in contact with the body side member when standing and does not contact when lying down. The main body includes a second attachment / detachment operation guide member that guides the movement of the cartridge in the depth direction in cooperation with the attachment / detachment operation guide member, a first contacted portion that contacts the first contact portion, and a second contact. Second contacted part with which the contact part comes into contact It extends to an image forming apparatus having a.

  In this image forming apparatus, the first contacted part and the second contacted part may be the front and back of the same member. In this case, the first contact portion is a member that protrudes from the upper surface of the cartridge when the handle is laid down, and the second contact portion is a member that protrudes from the upper surface of the cartridge when the handle is standing. And good.

  According to the toner cartridge, the developing cartridge, the process cartridge, and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, replacement work can be performed safely and easily, and various cartridges and image forming apparatuses having good handling properties are obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best mode for embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a cartridge detachably provided in a tandem color printer.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer 1 to which the cartridge of this embodiment is attached has process units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Are arranged along the transfer belt 31 in a so-called tandem system. The color printer 1 has toner hoppers 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K for each color corresponding to the process units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. The color printer 1 further includes a secondary transfer roller 32, a guide unit 40, a paper feed cassette 50, a fixing unit 60, a paper discharge tray 81, and the like. In the following text, YMCK subscripts are omitted when there is no need to distinguish between them.

  Each process unit 10 is a general unit for image formation, and includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a cleaning device, and the like. Each toner hopper 20 contains toner of each color supplied to the corresponding process unit 10. In this color printer 1, each toner hopper 20 is made into a cartridge and is detachable from the color printer 1. Each toner hopper 20 engages with a guide portion 40 provided in the main body of the color printer 1 and is slidable in the photosensitive member axial direction (the depth direction in FIG. 1).

  An image forming operation of the color printer 1 will be briefly described. In the color printer 1, toner images of different colors are sequentially transferred onto the transfer belt 31 by each process unit 10 based on image data instructed to form an image. The superimposed toner images are transferred onto the recording paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 50 by the secondary transfer roller 32. The recording sheet on which the toner image is transferred is fixed by the fixing unit 60 and is discharged to the discharge tray 81.

  Next, the toner hopper 20 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner hopper 20 has a tank portion 21 as its main component. A retractable first handle portion 22 is provided on the upper surface of the tank portion 21, and a second handle portion 23 for drawer is provided on the front surface of the hand. Further, a guide rail 24 that engages with a guide portion 40 (see FIG. 1) of the main body is provided on a side surface of the tank portion 21. The toner hopper 20 is inserted into an opening provided in the main body front cover 41 of the color printer 1 so that the guide rail 24 is engaged with the guide portion 40 and attached in a predetermined arrangement. In these drawings, only the toner hopper 20Y is shown, but the other colors have the same configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first handle portion 22 of the toner hopper 20 has a grip portion 22a, a stopper portion 22b, a rotating shaft portion 22c, and a lock portion 22d. The hand grip portion 22a is a handle that is used when a user or the like hangs and holds the toner hopper 20. The stopper portion 22b is a step-like member provided in the same plane range as the hand grip portion 22a, and a substantially triangular prism-shaped lock portion 22d is integrally formed at the tip thereof. The lock portion 22d protrudes from the same plane range as the grip portion 22a toward the front side in FIG.

  Note that the grip portion 22a of the first handle portion 22 is disposed substantially parallel to the axial direction of the toner hopper 20, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 2, the lock portion 22d, the stopper portion 22b, and the hand grip portion 22a are arranged in this order from the back side in the insertion direction. Further, at both end portions of the grip portion 22a, there are provided rotating shaft portions 22c that are fitted into the upper surface of the tank portion 21. When the first handle portion 22 is rotated as shown in FIG. 3 by being rotated about the rotation shaft portion 22 c, the first handle portion 22 becomes substantially parallel to the upper surface of the toner hopper 20. Further, the axial direction of the rotary shaft portion 22 c is a direction intersecting the surface of the main body front cover 41.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the front cover 41 of the main body of the color printer 1 has stopper ribs 42 above the openings into which the toner hoppers 20 are inserted. These are convex portions provided at positions where the toner hoppers 20 come into contact with the first handle portion 22 when the toner hoppers 20 are attached and detached, and the toner hoppers 20 are temporarily stopped by coming into contact therewith. .

  Next, the positional relationship between the first handle portion 22 and the stopper rib 42 of the main body front cover 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the front cover 41 of the main body shows only a portion around the stopper rib 42, and the toner hopper 20 shows only a portion of the upper surface thereof. In the upright state of the first handle portion 22 shown in FIG. 6, the stopper portion 22b contacts the stopper rib 42, and the lock portion 22d does not contact. Therefore, in this state, the toner hopper 20 cannot be moved from the position in FIG. 6 to the right in the drawing, but can be moved to the left in the drawing. On the other hand, in the state where the first handle portion 22 shown in FIG. 7 is tilted, the stopper portion 22b is not in contact with the stopper rib 42, but the left surface of the lock portion 22d is in contact. Therefore, in this state, the toner hopper 20 cannot be moved from the position in FIG. 7 to the left in the drawing, but can be moved to the right in the drawing.

  Here, since the lock portion 22d is arranged on the right side of the stopper portion 22b in the figure, the position where the stopper portion 22b shown in FIG. 6 is in contact with the stopper rib 42 is the position of the lock portion 22d shown in FIG. Compared with the position where the stopper rib 42 is in contact, the first handle portion 22 is located closer to the main body front cover 41. That is, the toner hopper 20 is inserted to the end. Therefore, for example, when the toner hopper 20 is inserted, if the first handle portion 22 is tilted after reaching the position shown in FIG. 6, the toner hopper 20 is located on the right side of the figure from the position shown in FIG. Conversely, when the toner hopper 20 is taken out, if the first handle portion 22 is raised after reaching the position shown in FIG. 7, the toner hopper 20 is located on the left side of the drawing from the position shown in FIG.

  At these stop positions, the arrangement of the first handle portion 22 is determined in relation to the position of the center of gravity of the toner hopper 20 and the like so that the toner hopper 20 can be stably stopped without moving or dropping to the left or right. Has been. Further, the position shown in FIG. 6 and the position shown in FIG.

  The first handle portion 22 may have a color different from that of other portions of the toner hopper 20. In this way, even when the first handle portion 22 is in a collapsed state when unpacking or pulling out, it can be easily understood that the portion is a handle depending on the color. Further, the color of the first handle portion 22 may match the color of the toner stored in the tank portion 21 of the toner hopper 20. If the same color as the toner of the toner hopper 20 to be inserted is displayed in the vicinity of the stopper rib 42 of the front cover 41 of the main body, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion.

  Next, a procedure for replacing the toner hopper 20 will be described. The toner hopper 20 needs to be replaced because the toner contained therein decreases as the color printer 1 is used. At the time of replacement, first, the front panel of the color printer 1 is opened. As a result, the front cover 41 of the main body is exposed and the front surface of the toner hopper 20 can be seen. Therefore, the user can place a finger on the second handle 23 on the front side of the toner hopper 20 and pull it forward.

  At this time, the inserted toner hopper 20 is in a state as shown in FIG. 3 because the first handle portion 22 is in a tilted state. The toner hopper 20 cannot be pulled out any more because the lock portion 22d abuts against the stopper rib 42 at the position shown in FIG. Therefore, the toner hopper 20 cannot be pulled out vigorously with only the finger placed on the second handle portion 23. As a result, there is no possibility that the toner hopper 20 jumps out excessively or falls onto the user's foot or the like.

  Further, even if the user releases the second handle 23 at this stop position, the toner hopper 20 does not fall and stops at that position. Therefore, the user once releases the hand at this position and raises the first handle portion 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the lock by the lock portion 22d is released and can be further pulled out. Therefore, the user can remove the toner hopper 20 by holding and pulling out the first handle portion 22. At this time, since the user is holding the first handle portion 22, even if the guide rail 24 of the toner hopper 20 is detached from the guide portion 40 of the main body, the user can safely take out the toner hopper 20 without dropping it. This completes the toner hopper 20 removal operation.

  Next, the mounting operation of the toner hopper 20 will be described. The user grasps the first handle portion 22 of the toner hopper 20 taken out from the package or the like, and inserts the tip end portion into the opening of the front cover 41 of the main body. At this time, the insertion position is adjusted so that the guide rail 24 of the toner hopper 20 is engaged with the guide portion 40 in the main body. When inserted to the position shown in FIG. 6, the stopper portion 22b comes into contact with the stopper rib 42 and cannot be inserted any further. Even if the first handle portion 22 is released at this position, the toner hopper 20 does not fall and stops. Therefore, there is no possibility of dropping the toner hopper 20 by releasing the hand at an unstable position. Moreover, since there is the stopper portion 22b, a finger is not sandwiched between the first handle portion 22 and the main body front cover 41.

  Therefore, the user once releases the hand at this position and falls down the first handle portion 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the stopper portion 22b and the stopper rib 42 are not in contact with each other. Therefore, it becomes possible to push further into the back. Therefore, it is possible to insert the toner hopper 20 into a predetermined position by placing the finger on the second handle portion 23 and pushing the toner hopper 20 further. Thereby, the toner hopper 20 can be attached easily and reliably. Finally, the front panel of the color printer 1 is closed. This completes the replacement work of the toner hopper 20.

  As described in detail above, according to the color printer 1 having the toner hopper 20, the toner hopper 20 can be changed in a state of being stably locked to the main body. Therefore, the replacement work of the toner hopper 20 is easy. Further, when the toner hopper 20 is separated from the main body, the toner hopper 20 can be held by gripping the first handle 22, which is safe and easy to handle. Accordingly, the toner hopper 20 can be replaced safely and easily and has good handling properties.

In addition, this form is only a mere illustration and does not limit this invention at all. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.
For example, the shape of the stopper portion 22b and the lock portion 22d is an example, and any shape can be used as long as it can properly contact the stopper rib 42 of the front cover 41 of the main body.
Further, for example, in the above embodiment, the guide rail 24 is provided on the side surface of the toner hopper 20 and the guide portion 40 is provided on the main body, but these may be reversed. That is, a guide rail may be provided on the main body, and a member that engages with the rail may be provided on the cartridge side.
Further, for example, in the above embodiment, the toner hopper 20 is formed as a single cartridge, but the present invention can also be applied to a developing cartridge including a developing device, an imaging cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and the like.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a toner hopper is attached. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where a toner hopper is removed. It is a perspective view which shows a handle. It is a front view which shows a main body side cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of a handle and a main body side cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the positional relationship of a handle and a main body side cover.

Explanation of symbols

1 Color printer (image forming device)
20 Toner hopper (toner cartridge)
22 First handle (handle)
22a Hand grip 22b Stopper (second contact part)
22d Lock part (first contact part)
23 Second handle (second handle)
24 guide rail (desorption operation guide member)
40 Guide portion (second desorption operation guide member)
42 Stopper rib (first contacted part, second contacted part)

Claims (6)

In a toner cartridge attached to an image forming apparatus and supplying toner to a developing device,
A handle that is provided at a location that faces upward when installed, and can be switched between a standing state and a sleeping state;
A desorption operation guide member for guiding the movement of the apparatus body in the depth direction during the attachment operation and the removal operation,
The handle is
A first abutting portion that abuts the member on the apparatus body side when lying down and does not abut when standing;
A toner having a second abutting portion that is positioned in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction and that abuts against a member on the apparatus main body side when standing and does not abut when lying down. cartridge. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the handle includes:
A toner cartridge having a hand grip portion positioned in front of the second contact portion in the depth direction. In the toner cartridge according to claim 1 or 2,
A toner cartridge having a second handle provided on the front side in the depth direction. In a developing cartridge attached to an image forming apparatus for developing,
A handle that is provided at a location that faces upward when installed, and can be switched between a standing state and a sleeping state;
A desorption operation guide member for guiding the movement of the apparatus body in the depth direction during the attachment operation and the removal operation,
The handle is
A first abutting portion that abuts the member on the apparatus body side when lying down and does not abut when standing;
A development comprising: a second abutting portion which is positioned in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction and abuts against a member on the apparatus main body side when standing, but does not abut when lying down. cartridge. In a process cartridge that is attached to an image forming apparatus and forms an image,
A handle that is provided at a location that faces upward when installed, and can be switched between a standing state and a sleeping state;
A desorption operation guide member for guiding the movement of the apparatus body in the depth direction during the attachment operation and the removal operation,
The handle is
A first abutting portion that abuts the member on the apparatus body side when lying down and does not abut when standing;
A process comprising: a second abutting portion that is positioned in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction and that abuts against a member on the apparatus main body side when standing and does not abut when lying down. cartridge. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image by attaching a removable cartridge to the main body,
The cartridge is
A handle that is provided at a location that faces upward when installed, and can be switched between a standing state and a sleeping state;
A desorption operation guide member that guides movement in the depth direction during attachment operation and removal operation,
The handle is
A first abutting portion that abuts the member on the main body side in a lying state and does not abut in a standing state;
A second abutting portion that is positioned in front of the first abutting portion in the depth direction, and that abuts on the member on the main body side when standing and does not abut when lying down;
The body is
A second detachment operation guide member for guiding movement of the cartridge in the depth direction in cooperation with the detachment operation guide member;
A first abutted portion with which the first abutting portion abuts;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a second abutted portion with which the second abutting portion abuts.

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