JP2008304810A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that has four toner containers, the apparatus being designed such that the toner containers can be easily attached or detached by reducing a space required to open a cover used for attaching or detaching the toner container for the black. <P>SOLUTION: The first cover 45a is formed small so as to correspond to the toner container 32K for black and is freely opened or closed with a shaft (a) as its reference. On the other hand, the second cover 45b is formed large so as to correspond to the toner containers 32Y, 32C, and 32M for the remaining three colors and is freely opened or closed with a shaft (b) as its reference. The toner container 32k for black can be attached or detached simply by opening the first cover 45a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image of a plurality of colors, and the same members necessary for forming an image of each color are opened with the cover open to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a detachable image forming apparatus.

  Among image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multi-function machines of these, tandem four-color full-color image forming apparatuses are known. In this image forming apparatus, a photosensitive drum, a process device such as a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning device, a toner container (toner container) for supplying developer (toner) to the developing device, etc. Are provided for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). If the above-described photosensitive drum, each process device, toner container, and the like are units by color, these units by color can perform maintenance and replacement for each color. Note that such color-specific units include those in which a plurality of members are integrally combined to form a unit.

In Patent Document 1, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a developing device, and the like are integrally combined to form a process unit (unit by color) for each color, and a total of four process units can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The composition of the above is disclosed. In this apparatus, the image forming apparatus is provided with a rectangular paper discharge tray that covers almost the whole thereof, and this paper discharge tray has a swing center on the rear end side and lifts the front end side. In this way, the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body can be greatly opened. Thereby, the process unit of each color can be attached and detached from diagonally upward.
JP 2006-189737 A

  However, according to the invention of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, although it is possible to attach and detach any of the four color process units by opening the paper discharge tray, for example, one process unit needs to be attached and detached. Even in this case, the discharge tray opens all the upper parts of the four process units including the process units that do not need to be attached and detached. For this reason, the discharge tray is configured to cover almost the entire image forming apparatus main body, and a large space for opening the discharge tray must be secured above the image forming apparatus main body. was there. Further, since any of the four process units can be attached and detached, there is a problem that the process unit to be attached and detached is wrong. In the above, the case where the process unit is attached / detached has been described as an example, but such a problem also occurs in the entire color-specific unit.

  Therefore, the present invention is provided with a plurality of types of covers that can be properly used according to the color-specific units to be attached / detached, and requires a small space for opening the cover. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce an attachment / detachment error.

  The invention according to claim 1 relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image with a plurality of color developers. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is supported by an image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and a cover member that takes a closed position that covers an upper surface or a side surface of the image forming apparatus and an open position that opens the upper surface or the side surface; A plurality of color-specific units having the same function provided for each color, mounted in an aligned state on the upper surface side or side surface side of the image forming apparatus main body, and in a state where the cover member is disposed at the open position. A color-specific unit that is detachable for each color with respect to the upper surface side or the side surface side, and the cover member is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and arranged in the open position. A first cover that allows only the first color-specific unit to be attached and detached, and is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and disposed in the open position. In has a second cover to allow attachment and detachment of only the remaining of the Color unit, and is characterized in that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the first color-specific unit is a color-specific unit disposed at an end of the plurality of color-specific units in an aligned state. It is characterized by that.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the side on which the operator is located when operating the image forming apparatus main body is the front side of the image forming apparatus main body, the first The color-specific unit is characterized by being located at a position closest to the front side among the plurality of color-specific units.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the plurality of color units are constituted by a color unit for black and a color unit for a color other than black. One color-specific unit is the color-specific unit for black.

  The invention according to claim 5 relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image with a plurality of color developers. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is supported by an image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and a cover member that takes a closed position that covers an upper surface or a side surface of the image forming apparatus and an open position that opens the upper surface or the side surface; A color-specific unit having the same function provided for each color, and mounted in an aligned state on the upper surface side or side surface side of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the upper surface side with the cover member disposed at the open position Or a color-specific unit that can be attached to and detached from each side with respect to the side surface, and the cover member is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and in the state in which the cover member is disposed at the open position. An overall cover that allows the color-specific units to be attached and detached, and is supported by the overall cover so as to be freely opened and closed, and the overall cover is disposed at the closed position. By being opened keep state has, and an auxiliary door for enabling attachment and detachment of the third Color units, is characterized by.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the third color-specific unit corresponds to a color-specific unit disposed at an end of the plurality of color-specific units in an aligned state. It is characterized by being arranged.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, when the side on which the operator is located when operating the image forming apparatus main body is the front side of the image forming apparatus main body, the third The color-specific unit is characterized by being located at a position closest to the front side among the plurality of color-specific units.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the plurality of color-specific units are constituted by a color-specific unit for black and a color-specific unit for a color other than black. The three color-specific units are the black color-specific units.

  The invention according to claim 9 relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image with a plurality of color developers. An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is supported by an image forming apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable, and a cover member that takes a closed position that covers an upper surface or a side surface of the image forming apparatus and an open position that opens the upper surface or the side surface; A color-specific unit having the same function provided for each color, and mounted in an aligned state on the upper surface side or side surface side of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the upper surface side with the cover member disposed at the open position Or a color-specific unit that can be attached to and detached from each side with respect to the side surface, and the cover member is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and in the state in which the cover member is disposed at the open position. An overall cover that allows the color-specific units to be attached and detached, and is supported by the overall cover so as to be freely opened and closed, and the overall cover is disposed at the closed position. By being opened keep state has a plurality of auxiliary door that allows individual attachment and detachment of the Color units of each color, and is characterized in that.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices that perform development using a developer for each color, The toner container stores toner to be replenished to the developing device.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the apparatus includes a plurality of process units that form toner images for each color, and the plurality of color-specific units are provided for each color. A plurality of process units for forming a toner image.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when attaching / detaching the color-specific unit corresponding to the first cover, the color-specific unit corresponding to the first cover is simply opened without opening the second cover. Can be removed. On the other hand, when attaching / detaching the color-specific units corresponding to the second cover, the corresponding color-specific units can be attached / detached by simply opening the second cover without opening the first cover. In other words, when attaching / detaching any color unit, the area required to open / close the cover can be reduced compared to opening / closing the cover members corresponding to all colors. The possibility of mistaken units for different colors is reduced. That is, the color-specific unit can be confirmed twice when the first cover or the second cover is opened and closed and when the color-specific unit is attached / detached. It becomes difficult.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the first cover corresponds to the color-specific unit disposed at the end portion, the color-specific unit disposed at the end portion can be attached and detached by opening and closing the first cover. can do.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the first color-specific unit is located at the closest position from the front side, it can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is generally easy to replace the color-specific unit for black that is used most frequently.

  According to the invention of claim 5, all the units by color can be attached and detached by opening the whole cover. On the other hand, by opening the auxiliary door in a state where the entire cover is disposed at the closed position, the third color-specific unit corresponding to the auxiliary door can be attached and detached without opening the entire cover.

  According to the invention of claim 6, since the third cover corresponds to the color-specific unit disposed at the end, the color-based unit disposed at the end can be attached and detached by opening and closing the third cover. can do.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the third color-specific unit is located closest to the front side, it can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is generally easy to replace the color-specific unit for black that is used most frequently.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, all the color-specific units can be attached and detached by opening the entire cover. On the other hand, in a state where the entire cover is disposed at the closed position, any color unit can be attached or detached by opening the auxiliary door corresponding to the color.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the above-described effects can be achieved with respect to the toner container.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the above-described effects can be achieved with respect to the process unit. Examples of the process unit include a developing unit and a drum unit.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the member etc. which attached | subjected the same code | symbol are the same structures, The duplication description about these shall be abbreviate | omitted suitably. Moreover, in each drawing, members and the like that are not necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate.

<Embodiment 1>
With reference to FIG. 1, an outline of the configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 as viewed from the left side.

  Here, examples of the image forming apparatus 1 include a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a complex machine of these. In the following description, an image formation is performed using an electrophotographic tandem four-color full-color printer as an example. The device 1 will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming apparatus main body 2 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The image forming apparatus main body 2 includes a sheet feeding unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a fixing unit 5, and a sheet discharging unit 6. Is provided.

  The sheet feeding unit 3 includes a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 10, pickup rollers 11 and feeding rollers 12 corresponding to the respective sheet feeding cassettes 10, a conveying guide 13, a conveying roller pair 14, and conveying rollers 15. A registration roller pair 16 and the like are disposed. In the three paper feed cassettes 10, a plurality of sheets P having different sizes and orientations are stored in a stacked state. The uppermost sheet P in the sheet feeding cassette 10 is fed by the pickup roller 11 and the feeding roller 12 and is conveyed downstream along the conveyance guide 13 by the conveyance roller pair 14 and the conveyance roller 15. The conveyed sheet P is stopped once while its leading edge is brought into contact with the nip portion of the resist roller pair 16 being stopped, and the skew is corrected. The sheet P is supplied to the conveying belt 20 of the image forming unit 4 described below by the subsequent rotation of the registration roller pair 16.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a transport belt 20 that moves endlessly in the front-rear direction, and four (four colors) that are sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side along the rotation direction (arrow R20 direction). Image forming stations, that is, image forming stations 21, 22, 23, and 24 for black (K), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M) are provided.

  The conveying belt 20 is stretched between a downstream driving roller 25 and an upstream driven roller 26, and the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 3 is rotated by the rotation of the driving roller 25 in the arrow direction. P is supported on the surface and rotated in the direction of arrow R20.

  Since the four color image forming stations 21, 22, 23, and 24 have the same configuration and operation, the black image forming station 21 will be described below, and the description of the other colors will be omitted. The black image forming station 21 is provided with a photosensitive drum 27 as an image carrier so as to be in contact with the conveying belt 20. The photosensitive drum 27 is rotationally driven at a predetermined process speed (circumferential speed) in the direction of the arrow by a driving unit (not shown). The surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging device 28, and the exposure portion 30 removes the charge of the exposed portion based on the image information to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image with black toner attached thereto by the developing device 31. A toner container (toner container) 32K containing black toner is disposed above the developing device 31. When the amount of developer in the black developing device 31 decreases, black toner is supplied. It comes to replenish.

  Similarly, in the image forming stations 22, 23, and 24 of three colors other than black, yellow, cyan, and magenta toner images are respectively formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27. The toner images of the respective colors formed on the surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums 27 are transferred by the transfer device 33 when the sheets P carried on the surface of the conveying belt 20 sequentially pass through the photosensitive drums 27 by the rotation of the conveying belt 20. Sequentially transferred and superposed on the surface of the sheet P. After the toner image is transferred, the photosensitive drum 27 is subjected to the next image formation after the toner remaining on the surface (transfer residual toner) is removed by the cleaning device 34.

  The fixing unit 5 is provided with a fixing roller 35 incorporating a heater (not shown) and a pressure roller 36 pressed against the fixing roller 35 from below, and a fixing nip is provided between the two rollers. N is configured. The sheet P on which the four-color toner image has been transferred to the surface by the image forming unit 4 is heated and pressurized when it passes through the fixing nip N, and the toner image is melted on the surface and mixed and fixed ( Fixed).

  The sheet discharge unit 6 is provided with conveyance roller pairs 37 and 38, a discharge roller pair 39, a discharge tray 46, and the like. In the fixing unit 5 described above, the sheet P having the toner image fixed on the surface thereof is conveyed by the conveying roller pairs 37 and 38, and is faced on the sheet discharge tray 46 by the sheet discharge roller pair 39 with the image surface facing downward. It is discharged by down. Thus, the four-color full-color image formation of black (K), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M) on one surface (front surface) of one sheet P is completed.

  The present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 as viewed from diagonally upward on the front side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner containers (toner containers) 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M viewed from diagonally upward on the front left side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 in a state in which the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b are opened as viewed from diagonally upward on the front right side. Fig.5 (a) is the schematic diagram which looked at the 1st cover 45a and the 2nd cover 45b arrange | positioned in the closed position from upper direction. FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b arranged at the closed position as viewed from the right side.

  The image forming apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 has a main body frame 40 that constitutes front, rear, left and right wall surfaces, and a rectangular opening 40 a that opens upward is formed on the upper portion of the main body frame 40. Is formed. The front wall portion, the left wall portion, the right wall portion, and the rear wall portion of the main body frame 40 are covered with a front cover 41, a left cover 42, a right cover 43, and a rear cover 44, respectively, and the opening 40a is It is covered with an upper cover (cover member) 45. On the upper cover 45, a paper discharge tray 46 on which sheets discharged forward from the paper discharge roller pair 39 shown in FIG. 1 are stacked is formed. The upper cover 45 will be described in detail later.

  An operation panel 47 is disposed above the front cover 41, and a manual feed tray 48 is disposed below the front cover 41. A touch panel type liquid crystal display unit and various buttons are arranged on the operation panel 47, and the operator stands on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 and the entire image forming apparatus 1 is operated by the operation panel 47. Can be operated. The lower side of the manual feed tray 48 is swingably supported by the front cover 41, and the upper surface of the manual feed tray 48 can be used as a manual feed tray by pulling and tilting the upper end side toward the front side. The entire front cover 41 is supported by the image forming apparatus main body 2 so that the lower end side is swingable, and the upper end side is openable and closable. In the opened state of the front cover 41, the conveyance guide 13 shown in FIG.

  This embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 (a), and (b). Here, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b are disposed at the open position, as viewed from diagonally upward on the front right side. Fig.5 (a) is the schematic diagram which looked at the 1st cover 45a and the 2nd cover 45b arrange | positioned in the closed position from upper direction. (B) is the schematic diagram which looked at the 1st cover 45a and the 2nd cover 45b arrange | positioned in the closed position from the right side. 5A and 5B, the paper discharge trays 46 (46a and 46b) are not shown, and in FIG. 5B, the first cover 45a and the second cover disposed in the open position are omitted. 45b is indicated by a dotted line.

  In the present embodiment, the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b constituting the upper cover (main body cover) 45 are configured to be openable and closable, and the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M are opened in the open state. Can be detached from above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M are formed in a box shape that is long in the left-right direction, and the toners of the respective colors of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta are stored inside in this order. ing. On the left side surface of the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M, an insertion guide 32a that is long in the vertical direction is provided so as to project leftward (outside). Similarly, an insertion guide (not shown) that is long in the vertical direction is also provided on the right side surface so as to protrude rightward (outside). On the other hand, on the inner surfaces of the left wall portion and the right wall portion of the main body frame 40 of the image forming apparatus main body 2, guide members (for example, guide the insertion guides 32a of the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, 32M described above) in the vertical direction. (Not shown) is provided. The toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M follow the insertion guides 32a and the like with the guide members on the main body frame 40 side in a state in which the upper cover 45 is opened and the opening 40a of the main body frame 40 is opened. By moving them, they can be mounted at a predetermined position on the image forming apparatus main body 2 side and can be taken out from the predetermined position. This attachment and removal, that is, attachment / detachment can be performed individually for each color toner container 32K, 32Y, 32C, 32M without being influenced by other colors. That is, toner containers of any color can be attached and detached individually.

  The toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M mounted at predetermined positions on the image forming apparatus main body 2 are arranged in this order in an aligned state from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 2. That is, among the four color toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M, the black toner container 32K is disposed at a position closest to the front side, and then the yellow toner container 32Y and then the cyan toner container. The toner container 32C and the magenta toner container 32M are arranged at the farthest position.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, the upper cover 45 is divided into two parts, a first cover 45a and a second cover 45b, which open and close independently. Be able to.

  As shown in these drawings, the first cover 45a is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction, the length dimension in the left-right direction is substantially the same as that of the opening 40a, and the length dimension in the front-rear direction is The black toner container (first color-specific unit) 32K in the mounted state is set so as to cover from above. The first cover 45 a has a shaft “a” on the front end side in the left-right direction, and this shaft “a” is supported by the main body frame 40 so as to be swingable. The rear end side of the first cover 45a can be opened and closed substantially in the vertical direction with reference to the axis a. The first cover 45a has a closed position (solid line in FIG. 5 (b)) that covers the front end side portion of the opening 40a from above and is in a standing position, and is on the front end side of the opening 40a. An open position (a dotted line in FIG. 5B) that opens the portion can be taken. When the first cover 45a is disposed at the open position, the black toner container 32K can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 2 from the opened portion. When the first cover 45a is placed in the open position, the first cover 45a is held in an upright position, and the operator places the first cover 45a in the open position and releases his / her hand. Thus, the toner container 32K can be attached and detached.

  On the other hand, the length of the second cover 45b in the left-right direction is the same as that of the first cover 45a described above, and the second cover 45b is formed in a rectangular shape having a length in the front-rear direction longer than that of the first cover 45a. The toner containers 32Y, 32C, and 32M for cyan, magenta, and magenta are set so as to cover from above. The second cover 45 b has a shaft b directed in the left-right direction on the rear end side, and this shaft b is supported by the main body frame 40 so as to be swingable. The front end of the second cover 45b can be opened and closed substantially in the vertical direction with reference to the axis b. The second cover 45b has a closed position (solid line in FIG. 5 (b)) that covers the rear end side portion of the opening 40a from above and is in a standing position, and the rear end of the opening 40a. An open position (a dotted line in FIG. 5B) that opens the side portion can be taken. When the second cover 45b is disposed at the open position, the yellow, cyan, and magenta toner containers 32Y, 32C, and 32M are attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 2 from the opened portion. be able to. When the second cover 45b is disposed in the open position, the second cover 45b is configured to maintain an upright posture, and the operator places the second cover 45b in the open position and releases the hand. Thus, the toner containers 32Y, 32C, and 32M can be attached and detached.

  Incidentally, in correspondence with the above-described upper cover 45 being divided into the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b, the paper discharge tray 46 is also divided into the first paper discharge tray 46a and the second paper discharge tray 46b. It is divided. Further, when both the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b are disposed at the closed position, the leading edge (rear edge) of the first cover 45a and the leading edge (front edge) of the second cover 45b Are arranged close to each other. Here, when all of the four color toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M are attached and detached, it is necessary to open both the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b.

  According to the present embodiment, the upper cover 45 is divided into the first cover 45a corresponding to the black toner container 32K and the second cover 45b corresponding to the remaining three colors, and each is individually opened and closed. Therefore, when attaching / detaching a single toner container, the entire upper cover 45 needs to be opened. Thus, when attaching / detaching one toner container, the first cover 45a or the second cover 45 is provided. Since it is sufficient to open either one of 45b, the space required to open the cover can be reduced. In general, the toner container 32K storing black toner, which is consumed more than other colors, has a higher frequency of attachment / detachment than the toner containers 32Y, 32C, and 32M of other colors. In the embodiment, the black toner container 32K is mounted at a position closest to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, and can be attached / detached only by opening / closing only the dedicated first cover 45a. Therefore, the attaching / detaching work is simplified. Since only the black toner container 32K can be detached by opening the first cover 45a, the toner containers for all four colors can be detached when the upper cover is opened as in the prior art. Unlike the above, there is less possibility that the mounting position of the black toner container 32K is wrong.

  In the above description, the case where the axis a serving as the swing center of the first cover 45a is provided on the front end side of the first cover 45a has been described as an example, but instead, the rear end side of the first cover 45a. And the front end side may be configured to be opened and closed substantially vertically.

  In the above description, the dedicated first cover 45a is provided for the black toner container 32K. Instead, the first cover 45a corresponds to the black toner container 32K and the yellow toner container 32Y. The second cover 45b may be formed in a size corresponding to the cyan toner container 32C and the magenta toner container 32M. In this case, the space required when the cover is opened is further reduced.

<Embodiment 2>
The present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B. Here, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the upper cover (cover member) 51 is disposed at the open position, as viewed from obliquely upward on the front right side. Fig.7 (a) is the schematic diagram which looked at the whole cover 51a and auxiliary door 51b which were arrange | positioned in the closed position from the upper direction. (B) is the schematic diagram which looked at the whole cover 51a and the auxiliary door 51b which were arrange | positioned in the closed position from the right side. 7A and 7B, the paper discharge trays 46 (46a and 46b) are not shown. In FIG. 7B, the entire cover 51a and the auxiliary door 51b arranged at the open position are shown. Illustrated with a dotted line.

  In the present embodiment, the upper cover 51 includes an entire cover 51a and an auxiliary door 51b, and all the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M are attached and detached from above with the entire cover 51a being opened. In addition, by opening only the auxiliary door 51b, only the black toner container 32K can be attached and detached.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the above-described first embodiment, the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M are arranged in this order in order from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 2.

  Of the upper cover 51, the entire cover 51a is formed to have substantially the same size as the opening (see FIG. 6) of the main body frame 40, and the axis a disposed in the left-right direction toward the rear end side is The body frame 40 is supported so as to be swingable. The front cover side of the whole cover 51a can be opened and closed substantially in the vertical direction with the axis a as a reference. The entire cover 51a has a closed position (solid line in FIG. 5B) that covers the opening 40a from above, and an open position (FIG. 5B) that opens the opening 40a in a standing posture. (Dotted line). The entire cover 51a has a rectangular window 51c that is long in the left-right direction on the front end side. The window 51c is formed to a size that allows the black toner container 32K to pass through in the vertical direction. An auxiliary door 51b is disposed in the window 51c.

  The auxiliary door 51b is formed to be slightly smaller than the above-described window portion 51c, and has a shaft b on the front end side in the left-right direction. The shaft b is supported by the window portion 51c so as to be swingable. Thus, the rear end side can be opened and closed substantially vertically. As shown in FIG. 5B, the auxiliary door 51b can take a substantially horizontal closed position and a substantially vertical open position with the axis b as the center in a state where the entire cover 51a is disposed at the closed position. it can. Since the auxiliary door 51b is supported by the entire cover 51a via the shaft b, when the entire cover 15a is opened from the closed position to the opened position, the auxiliary door 51b is moved to the position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When the entire cover 51a is moved from the open position to the closed position, it is disposed at the closed position indicated by a dotted line in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, in the above-described first embodiment, when all the color toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M are attached and detached, the two covers (the first cover 45a and the second cover 45b) are opened. Unlike the necessity, the attachment / detachment is possible only by opening one whole cover 51a. Therefore, the attachment / detachment work of the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, 32M can be simplified. In general, it is sufficient to open only the auxiliary door 51b when attaching or detaching the black toner container 32K that is frequently attached or detached.

  In the above description of the present embodiment, the window 51c and the auxiliary door 51b are provided corresponding to the black toner container 32K, but instead, the four color toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M are provided. Correspondingly, four window portions may be provided individually, and an auxiliary door may be provided in each window portion. Separately, the entire cover 51a is provided with a window corresponding to the black toner container 32K and a window approximately three times as large as the remaining three color toner containers 32Y, 32C, and 32M. And an auxiliary door may be provided in each of these two windows.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the axes a and b serving as the swing centers of the covers are directed to the left and right directions has been described as an example. Instead, the shaft serving as the swing center is provided. However, it may be configured with the front-rear direction on the left end side or the right end side of each cover.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus including four toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M (for four colors) has been described as an example. The present invention can also be applied to a case where there are fewer toner containers (for example, two or three) or more than this (for example, six). Here, as an example where the number of toner containers is less than four, there are two colors of black and red. As an example where there are more than four toner containers, in addition to the above four colors, for light cyan and for light magenta There are six cases having toner containers and six cases having toner containers of special colors such as gold and silver in addition to the above four colors.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the cover members according to the present invention are the upper covers 45 and 51 that cover the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the color units are the toner containers 32K, 32Y, 32C, and 32M. Although a case has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cover member may be a front cover, a left cover, or a right cover that covers the front surface, the left surface, and the right surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2. Further, as the color-specific unit, for example, a developing device is unitized to form an image. The image forming apparatus main body 2 may be configured to be detachable, or the photosensitive drum, the charging device, and the cleaning device may be integrated into a unit so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 2.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a general apparatus in which a plurality of detachable members and units mounted in an aligned state with respect to an apparatus main body are attached and detached by opening a cover.

2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the left side. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus viewed from the front right and diagonally above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a single toner container (toner container) as viewed from the front left and obliquely upward. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus with the first cover and the second cover opened as viewed obliquely from the upper front right side. (A) is the schematic diagram which looked at the 1st cover and 2nd cover arrange | positioned in a closed position from the upper part, (b) looked at the 1st cover and 2nd cover arrange | positioned in a closed position from the right side. It is a schematic diagram. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus in a state where a cover member is disposed at an open position, as viewed obliquely from the upper front right side. (A) is the schematic diagram which looked at the whole cover and auxiliary door which were arrange | positioned in the closed position from the upper direction, (b) is the schematic diagram which looked at the whole cover and auxiliary door arranged in the closed position from the right side. .

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Image forming apparatus main body, 3 ... Sheet feeding part, 4 ... Image forming part, 5 ... Fixing part, 6 ... Sheet discharge part, 32C ... Toner for cyan Container (unit by color), 32K... Toner container for black (first color unit), 32M... Magenta toner container (unit by color), 32Y... Yellow toner container (unit by color) ), 45, 51 ... Upper cover (cover member), 45a ... First cover, 45b ... Second cover, 51a ... Whole cover, 51b ... Auxiliary door

Claims (11)

In an image forming apparatus that forms an image with a plurality of color developers,
A cover member that is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed, and that takes a closed position that covers an upper surface or a side surface of the image forming apparatus and an open position that opens the upper surface or the side surface;
A plurality of color-specific units having the same function provided for each color, mounted in an aligned state on the upper surface side or side surface side of the image forming apparatus main body, and in a state where the cover member is disposed at the open position. A color-specific unit detachable for each color with respect to the upper surface side or the side surface side,
The cover member is
A first cover that is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and that allows only the first color-specific unit to be attached and detached in a state of being disposed at the open position;
A second cover that is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and that allows only the remaining color-specific units to be attached and detached in a state where the image forming apparatus body is disposed at the open position.
An image forming apparatus. The first color-specific unit is a color-specific unit disposed at an end of the plurality of color-specific units in an aligned state.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. In the image forming apparatus main body, when the side on which the operator is positioned when operating the image forming apparatus main body is the front side, the first color-specific unit is the most front side among the plurality of color-specific units. Located close to the
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The plurality of color units are constituted by a color unit for black and a color unit for a color other than black,
The first color-specific unit is the color-specific unit for black.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image with a plurality of color developers,
A cover member that is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed, and that takes a closed position that covers an upper surface or a side surface of the image forming apparatus and an open position that opens the upper surface or the side surface;
A color-specific unit having the same function provided for each color, and mounted in an aligned state on the upper surface side or side surface side of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the upper surface side with the cover member disposed at the open position Or a color-specific unit that can be attached to and detached from each side with respect to the side surface,
The cover member is
An overall cover that is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and that allows the color-specific units of all colors to be attached and detached in a state of being disposed at the open position;
An auxiliary door that is supported by the entire cover so as to be opened and closed, and is opened in a state where the entire cover is disposed at the closed position, thereby enabling the third color-specific unit to be attached and detached. Having
An image forming apparatus. The third color-specific unit is arranged corresponding to the color-specific unit arranged at an end of the plurality of color-specific units in an aligned state.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. In the image forming apparatus main body, when the side on which the operator is located when operating the image forming apparatus main body is the front side, the third color-specific unit is the most front side among the plurality of color-specific units. Located close to the
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The plurality of color units are constituted by a color unit for black and a color unit for a color other than black,
The third color-specific unit is the color-specific unit for black.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image with a plurality of color developers,
A cover member that is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed, and that takes a closed position that covers an upper surface or a side surface of the image forming apparatus and an open position that opens the upper surface or the side surface;
A color-specific unit having the same function provided for each color, and mounted in an aligned state on the upper surface side or side surface side of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the upper surface side with the cover member disposed at the open position Or a color-specific unit that can be attached to and detached from each side with respect to the side surface,
The cover member is
An overall cover that is supported by the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, and that allows the color-specific units of all colors to be attached and detached in a state of being disposed at the open position;
A plurality of units that are supported by the whole cover so as to be freely opened and closed, and are opened in a state where the whole cover is arranged at the closed position, so that the units for each color can be individually attached and detached. An auxiliary door,
An image forming apparatus. Provided with a plurality of developing devices for developing with a developer for each color,
The plurality of color units are toner containers storing toner to be supplied to the developing device;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. It has a plurality of process units that form toner images for each color,
The plurality of color units are a plurality of process units that form toner images for the respective colors.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

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