JP2009122324A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which excels in developer stirring and supplying performance more than in a case where a plurality of developing devices are installed on a side opposite to a side where a train of photoreceptor drums is opposed to a transfer belt, where a distance between image carriers of adjacent image forming parts is set to be shorter than in a case where a plurality of units are merely inclined to be arranged and the adjacent units are arranged to be partially superposed up and down, and which achieves miniaturization of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a belt type intermediate transfer body 20 which is arranged in an inclined state over the upside of the plurality of image forming parts and to which a toner image formed on the image carrier 15 of the image forming part is primarily transferred. In the developing means 17 of the image forming part, a developer stirring member is arranged at a lower position than a developer supply member 173, and the developer stirring member 174 of the developing means is located below the adjacent image forming parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-211925 JP 2006-30241 A

  Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus capable of forming a full-color image, those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 9-2111925 and 2006-30241 have already been proposed.

  The image forming apparatus according to the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-2111925 includes a plurality of photosensitive drums on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a peripheral surface, a charger for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum, and the photosensitive member. An image writing device that irradiates image light onto the drum, a plurality of developing devices that form toner images of different colors on each of the plurality of photosensitive drums, and a plurality of photosensitive drums that are close to or in contact with each other, and can be rotated. In the color image forming apparatus, comprising: a tensioned transfer belt; and a fixing device that fixes a plurality of color toner images superimposed on the transfer belt on a recording sheet. The plurality of developing devices are arranged on the side opposite to the side where the row of the photosensitive drums faces the transfer belt. Installed It is those who are.

In addition, an image forming apparatus according to the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-30241 includes a belt constructed to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction,
In an image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of units that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and perform a part of an electrophotographic image forming process,
The plurality of units are arranged to face the belt and to be inclined in the same direction as the inclination of the belt, and on the opposite side of the plurality of units to the side opposite to the inclination of the belt, the horizontal unit It has an inclined surface that is inclined in the same direction as the inclination, and when the plurality of units are mounted on the apparatus main body, the adjacent units are partially overlapped with each other.

  By the way, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that the developer agitation / feedability is improved as compared with the case where a plurality of developing devices are installed on the side opposite to the side where the row of photosensitive drums faces the transfer belt. Excellent, compared to the case where a plurality of units are simply inclined and arranged so that a part of the adjacent units overlaps each other, the distance between the image carriers of adjacent image forming units is set narrower. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can achieve downsizing of the apparatus.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, image data is obtained by performing image exposure on a surface of the image carrier, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier, and a charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier. An image exposure unit for forming a corresponding electrostatic latent image and a unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, wherein the developer is supplied to the developer carrier carrying the developer. A developing unit having a developer supplying member and a developer stirring member that stirs the developer while conveying the developer to the developer supplying member, forms a toner image of a corresponding color on the image carrier, and horizontally A plurality of images arranged in parallel in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction so that the first color image forming unit located on one end side of the image forming unit is high and the final color image forming unit located on the other end side is low. An image forming unit,
A belt-like intermediate transfer member that is arranged in an inclined state over the plurality of image forming units and to which a toner image formed on an image carrier of each of the image forming units is primarily transferred;
The developing unit of each of the image forming units has the developer stirring member disposed at a position lower than the developer supply member, and the developer stirring member of the developing unit is positioned below the adjacent image forming unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, each of the image forming units is on a straight line connecting the center of the image carrier and the center of the developer stirring member of the developing unit of the adjacent image forming unit or the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a roll-shaped charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier is positioned upstream of the carrier in the rotation direction.

  Further, in the invention described in claim 3, each of the image forming units has a roll-shaped cleaning member that contacts the back side of the roll-shaped charging unit and cleans the surface of the roll-shaped charging unit. A roll-shaped charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier on a straight line connecting the center of the image carrier and the center of the developer stirring member of the developing unit of the adjacent image forming unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is arranged so that a cleaning member in a shape is positioned.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus in which a plurality of image forming units are arranged in parallel, a large space among the members disposed on the outer periphery of the image carrier of one image forming unit. The distance between the adjacent image forming units can be set smaller by the amount of the developing unit that occupies the lower position than the developer supply member, and the apparatus can be downsized. it can.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in the image forming apparatus in which a plurality of image forming units are arranged in parallel, the distance between the image carriers of the adjacent image forming units can be set narrow, Miniaturization of the device can be achieved.

  Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus in which a plurality of image forming units are arranged in parallel, when the roll-shaped cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the roll-shaped charging unit is provided. Even in such a case, the distance between the image carriers of the adjacent image forming units can be set narrow, and the apparatus can be reduced in size.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows a tandem type digital color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This tandem type digital color multifunction peripheral is provided with an image reading device, but may of course be configured as a printer or the like not provided with an image reading device.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a tandem type digital color multifunction peripheral, and an automatic document feeder that automatically conveys documents 2 one by one in a separated state above the multifunction peripheral body 1. 3 and a document reading device 4 for reading an image of the document 2 conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 3. The document reader 4 illuminates a document 2 placed on a platen glass 5 with a light source 6, and reflects a reflected light image from the document 2 from a full-rate mirror 7, half-rate mirrors 8 and 9, and an imaging lens 10. By scanning and exposing the image reading element 11 made of a CCD or the like through the reduction optical system, the reflected light image of the document 2 is read by the image reading element 11 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm). It is like that.

  The reflected light image of the document 2 read by the document reading device 4 is, for example, image processing device 12 as document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (each 8 bits). The image processing apparatus 12 performs predetermined image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color / moving editing, etc., on the reflectance data of the document 2. Is given. The image processing device 12 is also configured to perform predetermined image processing on image data sent from a personal computer (not shown) or the like.

  The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 12 as described above is similarly processed by the image processing device 12 to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K) (each 8-bit) gradation data of four colors, and as described below, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) image forming units 13Y, 13M, and 13C. The image exposure device 14 performs image exposure with light emitted from the LED light emitting element array in accordance with the gradation data of the document 2 of a predetermined color.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the image carrier that is driven to rotate, the charging means that charges the surface of the image carrier, and the surface of the image carrier that is subjected to image exposure, the electrostatic force corresponding to the image data. Image exposure means for forming a latent image, and means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, a developer supply member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier carrying the developer And a developing means having a developer agitating member for agitating the developer while conveying the developer to the developer supplying member, and forming a toner image of a corresponding color on the image carrier and at one end in the horizontal direction A plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction so that the first color image forming unit positioned is high and the final color image forming unit positioned on the other end side is low And inclined over the plurality of image forming units. And a belt-like intermediate transfer body to which a toner image formed on the image carrier of each image forming section is primarily transferred, and the developing means of each image forming section includes the developer The stirring member is disposed at a position lower than the developer supply member, and the developer stirring member of the developing unit is configured to be positioned below the adjacent image forming unit.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the tandem type digital color MFP main body 1 has four image forming units (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K)). The image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are high in the first color yellow (Y) image forming unit 13Y (positioned above in the vertical direction), and the final color black (K) image forming unit 13K. Are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in a state of being inclined obliquely by a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction so as to be low (located below the vertical direction).

  In this way, the four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are arranged in a state where they are inclined at a predetermined angle. As a result, the length of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K along the horizontal direction is set shorter than when the four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are horizontally arranged. Therefore, the apparatus main body 1 can be reduced in size by reducing the width thereof.

  These four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are basically configured in the same manner. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are roughly divided by a driving unit (not shown) at a predetermined speed. A photosensitive drum 15 as a driven image carrier, a charging roll 16 for primary charging as a roll-shaped charging member that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 15, and a surface of the photosensitive drum 15. An image exposure device 14 including an LED print head that exposes an image corresponding to a predetermined color to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 is developed with toner of a predetermined color. The developing unit 17 is a developing unit that performs cleaning, and a cleaning device 18 that cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 15.

  As the photosensitive drum 15, for example, a photosensitive drum that is formed in a drum shape with a diameter of 30 mm and has an overcoat layer as a protective layer on its surface is used, and is driven at a predetermined rotational speed by a drive motor (not shown). Driven by rotation.

  In addition, as the charging roll 16, for example, a roll-shaped charger in which a conductive layer made of synthetic resin or rubber and having an adjusted electric resistance is coated on the surface of the core metal is used. A device to which a predetermined charging bias is applied is used. Further, a cleaning roll 16 a as a roll-shaped cleaning member for removing foreign matters such as toner adhering to the surface of the charging roll 16 is disposed on the surface of the charging roll 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image exposure device 14 is individually arranged for each of the four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, and each of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K. The image exposure apparatus 14 provided in the LED includes an LED light emitting element array in which LED light emitting elements are linearly arranged at a predetermined pitch (for example, 600 dpi), and light emitted from each LED light emitting element of the LED light emitting element array. Are provided with a SELFOC lens (trade name) array that forms a spot image on the photosensitive drum 15. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the image exposure device 14 is configured to scan and expose an image on the photosensitive drum 15 from a direction almost immediately below.

  From the image processing apparatus 12, image exposure apparatuses 14Y provided individually in the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). , 14M, 14C, and 14K, image data of each color is sequentially output, and light beams emitted according to the image data from these image exposure devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are applied to the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drum 15. Scanning exposure is performed to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum 15 are respectively developed in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors by developing units 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K. Developed as a toner image.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 15 of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are as follows. On the intermediate transfer belt 20 as a belt-like intermediate transfer member disposed in an inclined state over the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, the images are transferred in multiple by the primary transfer roll 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate transfer belt 20 is a belt-like member stretched by a plurality of rolls, and the lower side running region 20 a of the belt-like member is low on the downstream side in the running direction. And it arrange | positions in the state inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that an upstream may become high.

  That is, the intermediate transfer belt 20 includes a drive roll 22, a backup roll 23, a tension roll 24, a first idler roll 25, and a second idler roll 26, as shown in FIGS. The drive roll 22 is wound around with a constant tension between them and is rotated by a dedicated drive motor excellent in constant speed (not shown) so as to be circulated at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. . As the intermediate transfer belt 20, for example, a flexible synthetic resin film such as PET is formed in a strip shape, and both ends of the synthetic resin film formed in a strip shape are connected by means such as welding, thereby being endless. A belt-shaped one is used. The intermediate transfer belt 20 is arranged in contact with the photosensitive drums 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K in the lower side running region 20a.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the intermediate transfer belt 20 is disposed at the lower end of the intermediate transfer belt 20 that is disposed at an angle θ with respect to the horizontal direction H. A secondary transfer roll 27 as a secondary transfer means for secondary transfer of the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 onto the recording medium is applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 stretched by the backup roll 23. It is arranged to touch.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 in multiple layers are back-up rolls. The recording sheet 28 that is secondarily transferred onto a recording sheet 28 as a recording medium by a pressing force and electrostatic force by a secondary transfer roll 27 that is pressed against the recording medium 23 and onto which the toner images of these colors are transferred is positioned above. It is conveyed to the fixing device 29. The secondary transfer roll 27 is in pressure contact with the side of the backup roll 23, and secondary-transfers each color toner image onto a recording paper 28 that is conveyed upward from below in the vertical direction. . The recording paper 28 onto which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred is subjected to a fixing process by heat and pressure by a fixing device 29, and then first discharged through an outlet roll 30 and a paper discharging path 31 of the fixing device 29. It is discharged onto a first discharge tray 33 provided on the upper part of the main body 1 by the roll 32 or discharged onto a second discharge tray 35 provided above the main body 1 by the second discharge roll 34. Alternatively, the sheet is discharged by a third discharge roll 36 onto a third discharge tray 37 formed of a face-up tray provided on the side of the main body 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 28 is a paper feed tray 40 as a recording medium container disposed inside the multi-function device main body 1 or a paper feed tray 41 disposed below the multi-function device main body 1. To 43 of a predetermined size are once transported to the registration roll 48 via the transport roll 49 and the paper transport path 47 by the paper feed roller 44 and the pair of rollers 45 and 46 for paper separation and transport, and stopped. The recording paper 28 supplied from any of the paper feed trays 40 to 43 is sent to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 20 by a registration roll 48 that rotates at a predetermined timing.

  In the above digital color printer and copying machine, when full-color double-sided copying is performed, the recording paper 28 with the image fixed on one side is directly placed on the first discharge tray 33 by the first discharge roll 32. Without discharging, while the rear end of the recording paper 28 is nipped by the first discharge roll 32, the conveyance direction is switched by a switching gate (not shown) and the sheet is conveyed to the duplex conveyance unit 50. In the double-sided conveyance unit 50, the recording paper 28 is conveyed to the registration roll 48 again with the front and back sides of the recording paper 28 reversed by the conveyance roller pairs 52 to 54 provided along the conveyance path 51. This time, after the image is transferred and fixed on the back surface of the recording paper 28, the image is discharged onto the first discharge tray 33 to the third discharge tray 37.

  In FIG. 2, 55Y, 55M, 55C, and 55K are toner cartridges that supply toner of a predetermined color to the developing device 17 of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Since the toner cartridge containing black (K) toner is used frequently, it is formed in a larger size than other color toner cartridges.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 56 denotes a folded manual feed tray, from which a desired material and a recording medium 28 of a predetermined size are fed from a paper feed roller 57 and a paper separating and conveying sheet. The pair of rollers 58 and 59 are conveyed to the registration roll 48 via the conveyance roll 60.

  FIG. 1 shows each image forming unit of the digital color printer and the copying machine.

  The four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are all configured in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1, and these four image forming units 13Y. , 13M, 13C, and 13K, as described above, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are sequentially formed at predetermined timings. As described above, the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K for the respective colors are provided with the photosensitive drums 15, and the surfaces of these photosensitive drums 15 are uniformly formed by the charging rolls 16 for primary charging. Charged. Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 is scanned and exposed with a light beam emitted from the image exposure device 14 according to the image data, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color is formed. The luminous flux scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum 15 is set so as to be exposed at a predetermined angle from substantially directly below the photosensitive drum 15. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 is converted into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors by the developing roll 17a of the developing unit 17 of each image forming unit 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K. The toner is developed into visible toner images, and these visible toner images are sequentially transferred in multiple onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 by charging of the primary transfer roll 21.

  Each of the developing devices 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K employs a two-component developing method using a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier as shown in FIG. The magnetic latent image formed on the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drums 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K is developed by forming a magnetic brush of a two-component developer composed of a carrier and a carrier.

  Each of the developing units 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K includes a developing roll 171 as a developer carrying member in the opening 172 on the photosensitive drum 15 side of the developing unit housing 170 as shown in FIG. The developing roll 171 includes a magnet roll that is fixed inside and a developing sleeve that is rotatably arranged on the outer periphery of the magnet roll.

  Further, a two-component developer 173 composed of toner and a magnetic carrier is accommodated in the developer housing 170 of each of the developers 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K. A supply auger 174 as a developer supply member that supplies the developer 173 to the developing roll 171 while stirring is disposed rotatably. The developer 173 supplied to the developing roll 171 by the supply auger 174 is adsorbed to the surface of the developing roll 171 by the magnetic attractive force of the magnet roll, and after the layer thickness is regulated by the layer thickness regulating member 175, The photosensitive drum 15 is conveyed to a development area facing the photosensitive drum 15.

  In each of the developing devices 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K, a stirring auger 176 as a developer stirring member is rotatably disposed at a position lower than the supply auger 174. The stirring auger 176 has a center of rotation located below the lower end of the supply auger 174, and the stirring auger 176 includes the cleaning device 18 of the adjacent image forming unit 13 and the cleaning member 16 a of the charging roll 16. It is arranged diagonally below.

  Further, on a straight line L connecting the center of the stirring auger 176 and the center of the photosensitive drum 15 of the adjacent image forming unit, a charging roll 16 of the adjacent image forming unit and a cleaning roll 16a of the charging roll 16 are provided. It is arranged so that the center of is located.

  However, the charging roll 16 of the adjacent image forming unit is not disposed on the straight line L connecting the center of the agitating auger 176 and the center of the photosensitive drum 15 of the adjacent image forming unit. The charging roll 16 of the adjacent image forming unit is arranged upstream of the straight line L connecting the center and the center of the photosensitive drum 15 of the adjacent image forming unit in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 15. May be.

  Residual toner, paper dust, and the like are removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 after the toner image transfer process by the cleaning device 18 to prepare for the next image forming process. The cleaning device 18 includes a cleaning blade 61, and the cleaning blade 61 removes waste toner, paper dust, and the like on the photosensitive drum 15.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, residual toner, paper dust, and the like are removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 after the toner image transfer process is completed as shown in FIG. 2 to prepare for the next image forming process. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 63 includes a cleaning blade 64. The cleaning blade 64 removes residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the intermediate transfer belt 25.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 70 denotes a waste toner collection box, 74 denotes a control circuit, 75 denotes a low voltage power source, and 77 denotes a high voltage power source.

  In the above configuration, in the multi-function device according to this embodiment, as compared with the case where a plurality of developing devices are installed on the side opposite to the side where the photosensitive drum row faces the transfer belt, as follows. Compared with the case where the developer agitating / feeding performance is excellent, a plurality of units are simply inclined and arranged so that a part of the adjacent units overlaps each other in the vertical direction. The distance between the image carriers can be set narrow, and the apparatus can be downsized.

  That is, in the tandem type digital color multifunction peripheral as the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black ( K) The toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 in a multiplexed manner, and then collectively from the intermediate transfer belt 20 onto the recording paper 28. The image is secondarily transferred and subjected to a fixing process by the fixing device 29, and a full-color or monochrome image is formed on the recording paper 28.

  By the way, in the tandem type digital color multifunction peripheral, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image forming unit 13Y corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). , 13M, 13C, and 13K are provided in parallel, and these image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K have a vertical height relative to that of the first color yellow (Y) image forming unit 13Y. The image forming unit 13Y of the final color black (K) is arranged in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction so that the height in the vertical direction is relatively low.

  In each of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, the stirring augers 176 of the developing units 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K are disposed at a position lower than the supply auger 174, and the supply auger 174 is provided. It is disposed so as to be positioned below the adjacent image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K.

  Therefore, each of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K has a stirring auger 176 in addition to the supply auger 174 that supplies the developer 173 to the developing roller 171 by the developing units 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K. Even when the developer 173 is sufficiently agitated and then supplied to the developing roll 171 to stabilize the development characteristics, the distance between adjacent image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K , That is, the pitch between the photosensitive drums 15 of the adjacent image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K can be set as small as the space in which the stirring auger 176 is disposed. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size by setting the length in the horizontal direction shorter.

  In each of the developing devices 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K, the stirring auger 176 is disposed below the supply auger 174. However, similarly to the case where the stirring auger 176 and the supply auger 174 are horizontally disposed. The developer can be transferred between the stirring auger 176 and the supply auger 174.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing an image forming unit of a tandem type full-color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a tandem type full-color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of a tandem type full-color multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an arrangement state of the intermediate transfer belt.

Explanation of symbols

  15: photosensitive drum (image carrier), 16: charging roll, 16a: cleaning member, 17: developing device (developing means), 174: supply auger, 174: stirring auger.

Claims (3)

An image carrier that is driven to rotate, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier, and an image exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image according to image data by performing image exposure on the surface of the image carrier. And a means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, a developer supply member that supplies the developer to the developer carrier that carries the developer, and development to the developer supply member A developing means having a developer stirring member that stirs while conveying the agent, forms a corresponding color toner image on the image carrier, and forms an image of the first color located at one end in the horizontal direction A plurality of image forming units arranged in parallel in a state of being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the image forming unit of the final color located on the other end side is low,
A belt-like intermediate transfer member that is arranged in an inclined state over the plurality of image forming units and to which a toner image formed on an image carrier of each of the image forming units is primarily transferred;
The developing unit of each of the image forming units has the developer stirring member disposed at a position lower than the developer supply member, and the developer stirring member of the developing unit is positioned below the adjacent image forming unit. An image forming apparatus. Each of the image forming units is on the straight line connecting the center of the image carrier and the center of the developer stirring member of the developing unit of the adjacent image forming unit or on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the image carrier. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a roll-shaped charging means for charging the surface of the body is positioned. Each of the image forming units has a roll-shaped cleaning member that contacts the back side of the roll-shaped charging unit and cleans the surface of the roll-shaped charging unit, and is adjacent to the center of the image carrier. The roll-shaped charging unit for charging the surface of the image carrier and the roll-shaped cleaning member are positioned on a straight line connecting the center of the developer stirring member of the developing unit of the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images