JP2010014806A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, preventing a member in the apparatus from moving when the member is not properly set. <P>SOLUTION: When an exposure part is located in an exposure position, a toner collecting container (a removable member) 49 detachable from the exposure part is located in a first position (Fig.7(b)), thereby closing an opening/closing cover. On the other hand, when the exposure part is located in a retreat position, the toner collecting container 49 is located in a second position (Fig.7(a)) so that the opening/closing cover cannot be closed. Therefore, when the toner collecting part 49 is located in the second position and the exposure part is located in the retreat position, a front cover 21 is not closed to prevent the image forming apparatus 1 from operating when the exposure part is located in the retreat position. Thus, when the toner collecting container 49 is fitted, the image forming apparatus 1 can be prevented from operating when the member (the exposure part) in the apparatus is not properly set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoconductor and transferring it to a recording sheet.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, a toner image is formed by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor with toner (developer), and the toner image is transferred to a recording sheet. A configuration for forming an image is known. The photosensitive member is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent surface is exposed by exposing the surface of the charged photosensitive member with an exposure unit provided to face the surface of the photosensitive drum. An image is formed.

  When performing maintenance or replacement of the photosensitive drum, the photosensitive drum is removed from the image forming apparatus. However, since the exposure unit exposes the surface at an exposure position facing the surface of the photosensitive drum at a minute interval, an attempt was made to remove the photosensitive drum while the exposure unit was in the exposure position. In some cases, the surface of the photosensitive drum may come into contact with the exposed portion.

  As described above, when the surface of the photosensitive drum comes into contact with the exposed portion, the photosensitive member or the exposed portion may be damaged. Therefore, a configuration is known in which the exposure unit can be displaced to a retracted position that is farther from the surface of the photosensitive drum than the exposure position, and the photosensitive drum is removed while the exposure unit is in the retracted position.

  However, in the case of the above configuration, after performing maintenance or replacement of the photosensitive drum while the exposure unit is at the retracted position, the image forming apparatus is operated without forgetting to return the exposure unit to the exposure position. There is a risk of letting you. As an example of a mechanism for preventing such a member in the image forming apparatus from being set properly, a toner collection container (detachable member) for collecting toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum after transfer is used. Techniques that can prevent the user from forgetting to wear are proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4).

JP-A-7-306623 JP-A-9-179364 JP 2002-304104 A JP 2006-308799 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a member (such as an exposure unit or a detachable member) in the apparatus from operating in a state where it is not normally set. For the purpose.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoconductor and transferring the image onto a recording sheet. The electrostatic latent image can be displaced between an exposure position facing the surface and a retracted position farther from the photoconductor than the exposure position, and the electrostatic latent surface is exposed by exposing the charged surface of the photoconductor at the exposure position. An exposure unit for forming an image and detachable from the exposure unit. When the exposure unit is at the exposure position, the exposure unit is at the first position. When the exposure unit is at the retracted position, the second unit is used. The detachable member at the position is provided so as to be openable and closable, and can be closed when the detachable member is at the first position and cannot be closed when the detachable member is at the second position. With cover And wherein the door.

  According to such a configuration, when the detachable member is attached, the opening / closing cover can be closed when the detachable member is in the first position, but when the detachable member is in the second position, the opening / closing cover is provided. Can not be closed. Therefore, when the detachable member is in the second position and the exposure unit is in the retracted position, the opening / closing cover is not closed, and thus the image forming apparatus is prevented from operating in a state where the exposure unit is in the retracted position. be able to. Thereby, when the detachable member is attached, it is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus from operating in a state where the member (exposure unit) in the apparatus is not set normally.

  The image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the detachable member comprises a developer recovery container for recovering the developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor after transfer.

  According to such a configuration, when the developer recovery container is attached, the opening / closing cover cannot be closed when the developer recovery container is in the second position and the exposure unit is in the retracted position. It is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus from operating while the exposure unit is in the retracted position. Moreover, since the detachable member also serves as a developer recovery container, the number of parts can be reduced.

  An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention provides an open / close detection for detecting a closed state of the open / close cover by detecting a detected portion formed on the open / close cover in a state where the open / close cover is closed. When the detachable member is not attached, the device and the detachable member are displaceable. When the detachable member is not attached, it interferes with the detected portion of the opening / closing cover to be closed, and the detachable member is attached to And a displacement member that does not interfere with the detected portion of the opening / closing cover that is closed when in the position.

  According to such a configuration, when the detachable member is not attached, the displacement member interferes with the detected portion of the opening / closing cover that is closed regardless of whether the exposure portion is in the exposure position or the retracted position. Therefore, the closed state of the open / close cover is not detected by the open / close detection device. Therefore, by adopting a configuration such as permitting the image forming operation only when the closed state of the open / close cover is detected, it is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus from operating without the detachable member attached. Can do. Further, when the detachable member is the developer collection container, the developer collected from the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer is performed by performing an image forming operation without the developer collection container attached. It is possible to prevent scattering and the like in the apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when the detachable member is in the second position and the exposure unit is in the retracted position, the opening / closing cover is not closed, so the member (exposure unit) in the apparatus is not set normally. It is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus from operating in the state.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a copying machine that forms an image on a recording sheet based on image data of a document read by the document reading unit 20, and its outer shape is defined by a main body housing 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the main body housing 2, a paper feeding unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a fixing unit 5 and the like are accommodated.

  The paper feed unit 3 includes a recording paper cassette 31 for storing recording paper. The recording paper can be stored in a stacked state on a support plate 32 provided in the recording paper cassette 31. It is like that. The support plate 32 is rotatable around a support shaft 33 provided at one end thereof, and the end on the side opposite to the support shaft 33 is biased upward, whereby the uppermost recording is performed. The paper is pressed against the paper feed roller 34. When the paper feed roller 34 is rotated in this state, the recording paper stored in the recording paper cassette 31 is separated by the paper feed roller 34 and a separation pad (not shown) and formed inside the main body housing 2. One by one is sent out to the conveying path 6.

  The recording paper fed from the recording paper cassette 31 to the conveyance path 6 is conveyed to the image forming unit 4 side through the conveyance path 6. Then, the recording paper is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 7 immediately before the image forming unit 4, and sent to the image forming unit 4 in accordance with the timing at which the image forming unit 4 forms an image on the recording paper.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a photosensitive drum 41, a charger 42, an exposure unit 43, a developing unit 44, a transfer unit 45, and a cleaning device 46, and forms an image on recording paper by an electrophotographic method. A photoconductor is formed on the surface of the cylindrical photoconductor drum 41, and the surface of the photoconductor drum 41 that is rotationally driven is uniformly charged by the charger 42 during image formation. The exposure unit 43 outputs light from an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) based on the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 20. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 uniformly charged by the charger 42 by being exposed to light output from the exposure unit 43.

  On the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, a toner image (developer) supplied from the developing device 44 adheres to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred using the transfer device 45. Transferred to recording paper. The recording paper on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 45 is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 through the conveyance path 6.

  The fixing unit 5 includes a heating roller 18 that is heated to a predetermined temperature, and a pressure roller 19 that contacts the heating roller 18 with a predetermined pressure. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred passes between the heating roller 18 and the pressure roller 19 to fix the toner, and then the discharge tray formed outside the main body housing 2 via the discharge roller 8. 9 is discharged.

  The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning device 46. The cleaning device 46 includes a blade 47 for scraping toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 and a discharge screw for discharging toner scraped by the blade 47 (hereinafter referred to as “waste toner”). 48.

  The discharge screw 48 is configured by forming spiral blades on the outer peripheral surface of a shaft extending in parallel to the photosensitive drum 41. Therefore, by rotating the discharge screw 48, the waste toner can be conveyed and discharged in the axial direction by the spiral blade provided in the discharge screw 48.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, and shows a state in which the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are opened. A front cover 21 and a side cover 22 are attached to the main body housing 2 so as to be openable and closable.

  The front cover 21 is an open / close cover that forms the front side surface of the main body housing 2, and extends in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 41 in the closed state. On the other hand, the side cover 22 is an open / close cover that forms the lateral side surface of the main body housing 2. When the side cover 22 is closed, the side cover 22 extends in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 41 (front-back direction) and is closed. It extends in a direction orthogonal to the front cover 21.

  The front cover 21 can be opened and closed by being rotatably attached to the main body housing 2 around a rotation shaft 23 extending in the left-right direction at the lower end portion thereof. The side cover 22 can be opened and closed by being rotatably attached to the main body housing 2 around a rotation shaft (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction at the lower end portion thereof. By opening the side cover 22, the conveyance path 6 can be opened, and by opening the front cover 21 or the side cover 22, maintenance of each part in the image forming apparatus 1 such as the photosensitive drum 41 can be performed. it can.

  An opening / closing detection device 10 for detecting the open / closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is attached to the main body housing 2. In this example, the open / close detection device 10 includes a switch (open / close detection switch) 11 having a movable part, and the closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is determined based on a displacement of a predetermined amount or more of the movable part. It can be detected. Each of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is formed with a pressing portion (detected portion) 24. When the pressing portion 24 of each of the closed covers 21 and 22 presses the movable portion of the switch 11, The pressing part 24 is detected, and thereby the closed state of the covers 21 and 22 is detected. The open / close detection device 10 may be integrated with the main body housing 2.

  The opening / closing detection device 10 includes a holding member 12 that holds the switch 11. The holding member 12 includes a front facing surface 13 that faces the front cover 21 when the front cover 21 is closed, and a side facing surface 14 that faces the side cover 22 when the side cover 22 is closed. Is formed. A window 15 is formed on the front facing surface 13 at a position corresponding to the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21, and the pressing portion 24 of the closed front cover 21 is inserted into the window 15. The movable part of the switch 11 is pressed. On the other hand, a window 16 is formed on the side facing surface 14 at a position corresponding to the pressing portion 24 of the side cover 22, and the pressing portion 24 of the closed side cover 22 is inserted into the window 16. Thus, the movable part of the switch 11 is pressed.

  In the present embodiment, the end of the discharge screw 48 of the cleaning device 46 can be exposed by opening the front cover 21. A toner collection container (developer collection container) 49 can be attached to the end of the discharge screw 48 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. The toner collection container 49 is a container for collecting waste toner conveyed by the rotation of the discharge screw 48, and constitutes a detachable member that can be attached to and detached from the main body housing 2.

  In a state where the front cover 21 is closed, the inner surface of the front cover 21 faces the toner collection container 49, and a container housing portion 50 for housing the toner collection container 49 is formed. On the other hand, when the front cover 21 is opened, the container housing portion 50 is opened, and the toner collection container 49 can be attached and detached.

  3A and 3B are partial perspective views showing the configuration of the exposure unit 43. FIG. 3A shows a state where the exposure unit 43 is at the retracted position, and FIG. 3B shows a state where the exposure unit 43 is at the exposure position. . 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the exposure unit 43 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the exposure unit 43 shown in FIG.

  The exposure unit 43 includes a print head 51 in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged, a holding member 52 that holds the print head 51, and an attachment member 53 that attaches the holding member 52 to the main body housing 2. Yes. The holding member 52 is slidably held between the retracted position shown in FIG. 3A and the exposure position shown in FIG. The attachment member 53 is attached to both ends of the holding member 52, and a rotation shaft 54 extending between the two attachment members 53 in the same direction as the print head 51, that is, in the same direction as the photosensitive drum 41, is bridged. Yes. A movable portion 55 for sliding the print head 51 is attached to the rotating shaft 54.

  The print head 51 is close to and opposed to the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 at an interval of about 2.5 mm at the exposure position shown in FIG. 3B, and in this state, the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 is exposed. Thus, an electrostatic latent image can be formed satisfactorily. On the other hand, in the retracted position shown in FIG. 3A, the print head 51 faces the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 at an interval of about 10 mm and is further away from the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 than the exposure position. It becomes. When performing maintenance or replacement of the photosensitive drum 41, the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 and the print head are removed by sliding the photosensitive drum 41 in the axial direction with the print head 51 in the retracted position. Contact with 51 can be prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the holding member 52 holds the print head 51 via a compression spring 56 that is an example of an urging member, so that the print head 51 moves toward the exposure position along the slide direction D. It is energized. The holding member 52 is provided with a latch mechanism 57 for fixing the holding member 52 to the attachment member 53 at each of the exposure position and the retracted position.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the latch mechanism 57 is provided with a latch member 58 and a compression spring 59. The latch member 58 is provided at the end of the holding member 52 so as to face the mounting member 53, and is held so as to be slidable in the direction in which the print head 51 extends. The compression spring 59 is an example of an urging member, and urges the latch member 58 toward the mounting member 53 facing it. The latch member 58 is formed with a convex portion 60 in contact with the attachment member 53 at a position facing the attachment member 53.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting member 53 has a plurality of concave portions 61 and 62 at positions facing the convex portions 60 of the latch member 58 that moves as the holding member 52 slides. In this example, two concave portions 61 and 62 are formed in parallel with the slide direction D of the print head 51, and the convex portion 60 of the latch member 58 enters into one concave portion 61 at the retracted position, and exposure is performed. In the position, it enters into the other recess 62. In FIG. 5, only the configuration of one end of the exposure unit 43 is shown, but a similar latch mechanism 57 is also provided at the other end of the exposure unit 43.

  With the configuration described above, the convex portion 60 of the latch member 58 enters the concave portions 61 and 62 of the mounting member 53 facing each other at the retracted position and the exposure position, so that the print head 51 is good at the retracted position and the exposed position. Can be fixed to. However, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the convex portion 60 is formed in the latch member 58, and a configuration in which the concave portion is formed in the latch member 58 and the convex portion is formed at a position facing the concave portion in the mounting member 53 may be adopted. . In addition, the latch mechanism 57 is not limited to the concave and convex portions, and can employ various other configurations as long as the holding member 52 can be satisfactorily fixed at the retracted position and the exposure position.

  The movable portion 55 attached to the rotating shaft 54 has one end fixed to the rotating shaft 54 and the other end attached to the holding member 52. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 54 rotates, the movable portion 55 fixed to the rotating shaft 54 rotates, and the holding member 52 slides between the retracted position and the exposure position as the movable portion 55 rotates. It has become. A lever-like operation portion 63 is provided at one end of the rotation shaft 54, and the rotation shaft 54 can be rotated and the holding member 52 can be slid by operating the operation portion 63. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, the operation unit 63 can be operated by the toner recovery container 49. More specifically, the operation unit 63 is located in the container storage unit 50 for storing the toner recovery container 49, and comes into contact with the toner recovery container 49 stored in the container storage unit 50. The operation unit 63 rotates. The toner collection container 49 can be attached to the exposure unit 43 via the operation unit 63 and can be attached to and detached from the exposure unit 43.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the toner recovery container 49. 7A and 7B are partial side views of the main body housing 2. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the toner collection container 49 is not attached, and FIG. 7B shows a state in which the toner collection container 49 is attached.

  A toner recovery port 71 into which an end of the discharge screw 48 is inserted and an operation recess 72 for contacting the operation unit 63 are formed on the surface of the toner recovery container 49 facing the discharge screw 48. Yes. As shown in FIG. 7A, the toner collection container 49 is inserted into the end of the discharge screw 48 and then rotated around the discharge screw 48 to the state shown in FIG. 7B. Installed. When the image forming apparatus operates in the mounted state shown in FIG. 7B, waste toner conveyed by the rotation of the discharge screw 48 is collected from the toner collection port 71 into the toner collection container 49.

  The operation recess 72 includes a first contact surface 73 and a second contact surface 74 that contact the operation unit 63, respectively. In this example, the first contact surface 73 and the second contact surface 74 are formed to extend in parallel with a predetermined distance from each other. As shown in FIG. 7A, the first contact surface 73 is in contact with the operation unit 63 when the exposure unit 43 is in the retracted position. If the toner collection container 49 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 7 from this state, the operation unit 63 separated from the first contact surface 73 contacts the second contact surface 74 and receives from the second contact surface 74. Rotate by force. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the toner collection container 49 is rotated until the exposure unit 43 reaches the exposure position, whereby the mounting of the toner collection container 49 is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a rib 70 is formed on the inner surface of the front cover 21 at a position corresponding to the outer edge of the attached toner collection container 49. The rib 70 may be formed at a position corresponding to a part of the outer edge of the toner recovery container 49 as in the example of FIG. 2 or may be formed over the entire outer periphery of the toner recovery container 49. Good. With such a configuration, when the toner collection container 49 is in the mounted state (first position) as shown in FIG. 7B, the front cover 21 is closed without the rib 70 contacting the toner collection container 49. Can be done. On the other hand, when the toner collection container 49 is not attached (second position) as shown in FIG. 7A, the front cover 21 cannot be closed because the rib 70 contacts the toner collection container 49. It is like that.

  However, the toner collection container 49 is not limited to the configuration in which the toner collection container 49 is in contact with the operation unit 63 via the concave operation recess 72, and may be configured to be in contact with the operation unit 63 through a convex portion, for example. . In addition, the configuration in which the front cover 21 can be closed only when the toner collection container 49 is attached is not limited to the above-described rib 70, and other various configurations can be employed. is there.

  In the present embodiment, when the toner collection container 49 is attached, the front cover 21 can be closed when the toner collection container 49 is in the attached state, but when the toner collection container 49 is not attached, the front cover 21 can be closed. The cover 21 cannot be closed. Therefore, when the toner collection container 49 is not attached and the exposure unit 43 is in the retracted position, the front cover 21 is not closed, so that the image forming apparatus 1 operates with the exposure unit 43 in the retracted position. Can be prevented. Thereby, when the toner recovery container 49 is attached, it is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus 1 from operating in a state where the member (exposure unit 43) in the apparatus is not set normally.

  8A and 8B are partial side views of the image forming apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A is a state in which the toner recovery container 49 is not mounted, and FIG. 8B is a state in which the toner recovery container 49 is mounted. Respectively. Although not shown in FIG. 8, also in the present embodiment, the toner recovery container 49 is formed with an operation recess 72 for contacting the operation portion 63 as in the above embodiment. When the toner collection container 49 is in the mounted state (first position) as shown in FIG. 8B, the exposure unit 43 is in the exposure position and the front cover 21 can be closed. . On the other hand, when the toner collection container 49 is not attached (second position) as shown in FIG. 8A, the exposure unit 43 is in the retracted position, and the front cover 21 cannot be closed. Yes.

  In this example, a displacement member 75 that can be displaced in contact with the toner recovery container 49 is provided. The displacement member 75 is attached to the main body housing 2 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 76. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the displacement member 75 is urged clockwise in FIG. 8 by an urging member such as a spring, for example, and when no external force is applied, the displacement member 75 is shown in FIG. Thus, one end of the displacement member 75 is in a state of covering the window 15 of the open / close detection device 10. Therefore, in a state where the toner recovery container 49 is not attached, or in a non-attached state as shown in FIG. Can not be pressed.

  On the other hand, when the toner collection container 49 is attached and rotated from the unmounted state (second position) in FIG. 8A to the mounted state (first position) in FIG. The other end of 75 comes into contact with the toner collection container 49, and the displacement member 75 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 76. As a result, the window 15 of the open / close detection device 10 covered by the one end of the displacement member 75 is opened, so that the displacement member 75 does not interfere with the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21 to be closed, and the movable portion of the switch 11. Can be pressed.

  However, the displacement member 75 is not limited to a configuration in which the window 15 of the open / close detection device 10 is covered by the urging force of the urging member in a state where the toner collection container 49 is not mounted, and the above-described displacement member 75 is, for example, due to its own weight The structure etc. which become the state which covered the window 15 may be sufficient. The displacement member 75 is not limited to the configuration covering the window 15 as long as it interferes with the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21 when the toner collection container 49 is not attached. A configuration can be employed.

  The open / close detection device 10 is not limited to a configuration in which the cover 21 and 22 are closed by being pressed by the pressing portions 24 of the covers 21 and 22. For example, the open / close detection device 10 is detected on the covers 21 and 22. A configuration may be adopted in which the closed state of each of the covers 21 and 22 is detected by optically detecting the portion. In this case, the displacement member 75 may be configured to interfere with the detected portion of the front cover 21 that is closed when the toner recovery container 49 is not attached.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 80 and a display unit 81 in addition to the above-described units such as the paper feeding unit 3, the image forming unit 4, the fixing unit 5, and the open / close detection device 10. The control unit 80 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls the operation of each other unit by the CPU executing a computer program. The display unit 81 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, and can display various information on the display screen.

  A detection signal is input to the control unit 80 from the switch 11 of the open / close detection device 10. The control unit 80 functions as a permission processing unit that performs processing for permitting an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the control unit 80 permits the operation of each unit such as the paper feeding unit 3, the image forming unit 4, and the fixing unit 5 when the closed state of the front cover 21 is detected by the open / close detection device 10. ing. In particular, in the present embodiment, the control unit 80 detects the paper feed unit 3, the image forming unit 4, the fixing unit 5, etc. only when the open / close detection device 10 detects the closed state of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22. The operation of each part is allowed.

  In this way, in addition to the opening / closing cover (in this example, the front cover 21) that forms the container housing portion 50 in the closed state, when an opening / closing cover that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body housing 2 is provided, all of them are provided. The operation of each part may be permitted only when the open / close cover is closed. In this case, as an open / close cover other than the open / close cover that forms the container housing portion 50 in the closed state, the open cover is opened when the jammed recording paper is removed like the side cover 22 that opens the conveyance path 6 in the open state. An openable cover may be used. However, when such other opening / closing covers are not provided, only when the closing state of the opening / closing cover (in this example, the front cover 21) forming the container housing portion 50 in the closed state is detected. The operation of each unit such as the sheet feeding unit 3, the image forming unit 4, and the fixing unit 5 may be permitted. As an example of the process for permitting the image forming operation, there is a process in which each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 is set in a state (standby state) in which the image forming operation can be started based on the input of image data. Can do.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the control unit 80 based on a detection signal from the open / close detection device 10. The process performed by the control unit 80 described below is applicable to both the first embodiment described using FIGS. 1 to 7 and the second embodiment described using FIG. When the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 are closed with the toner collection container 49 attached, the rib 70 does not contact the toner collection container 49 in the first embodiment, and in addition to this in the second embodiment. Since the window 15 of the opening / closing detection device 10 is not covered by the displacement member 75, the closed state is detected by the opening / closing detection device 10 (Yes in step S101). In this case, a process for permitting the image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1 is performed (step S102).

  On the other hand, in a state where the toner collection container 49 is not attached, the rib 70 contacts the toner collection container 49 in the first embodiment, and in addition, in the second embodiment, the rib 70 is displaced to the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21 that is closed. Since the member 75 interferes, the closed state is not detected by the open / close detection device 10 (No in step S101). In this case, the process for permitting the image forming operation by the image forming apparatus 1 is not performed, so that the image forming operation is prohibited (step S103). In this case, an error display indicating that at least one of the front cover 21 and the side cover 22 is open or the toner collection container 49 is not attached is displayed on the display unit 81 (step S104). ). However, the configuration is not limited to notifying the error by displaying on the display unit 81, but may be configured to notify the error by voice, for example.

  In the second embodiment, when the toner collection container 49 is not attached, the displacement member 75 is placed on the pressing portion 24 of the front cover 21 to be closed regardless of whether the exposure portion 43 is in the exposure position or the retracted position. , The closed state of the front cover 21 is not detected by the open / close detection device 10. Therefore, by permitting the image forming operation only when the closed state of the front cover 21 is detected, it is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus 1 from operating without the toner collection container 49 attached. . This prevents the toner collected from the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 after the transfer from being scattered into the apparatus and causing a failure or the like by performing the image forming operation without the toner collecting container 49 attached. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the toner collection container 49 is mounted by rotating is described. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, the configuration is such that the toner collection container 49 is mounted by sliding. There may be. Further, the displacement member 75 is not limited to a configuration that rotates in contact with the toner recovery container 49, and may be configured to be slidable, for example.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the toner collection container 49 as an example of the attachment / detachment member has been described. However, the attachment / detachment member is not limited to the toner collection container 49 and can be attached to and detached from the exposure unit 43. Other members such as the developing device 44 may be used as long as the configuration is appropriate.

  Moreover, although the above embodiment demonstrated the case where this invention was applied to the front cover 21 as an example of an opening / closing cover, the said opening / closing cover is not restricted to the front cover 21, but other opening / closing covers, such as the side cover 22. There may be.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a copying machine has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the present invention is not limited to a copying machine as long as it is an image forming apparatus provided with a photoreceptor. In addition, the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a printer.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a part of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1, showing a state in which a front cover and a side cover are opened. It is the fragmentary perspective view which showed the structure of the exposure part, (a) has shown the state in which an exposure part exists in a retracted position, (b) has shown the state in which an exposure part exists in an exposure position, respectively. It is AA sectional drawing of the exposure part shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a BB cross-sectional view of the exposure portion shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a toner recovery container. 4A and 4B are partial side views of the main body housing, in which FIG. 5A shows a state in which the toner collection container is not mounted, and FIG. 4A and 4B are partial side views of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A shows a state in which a toner collection container is not attached, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which a control part performs based on the detection signal from an opening / closing detection apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Main body housing 10 Opening / closing detection apparatus 11 Switch 15 Window 16 Window 21 Front cover 22 Side cover 24 Press part 41 Photosensitive drum 43 Exposure part 49 Toner collection container 51 Print head 52 Holding member 53 Mounting member 54 Rotating shaft 55 Movable part 57 Latch mechanism 63 Operation part 70 Rib 71 Toner recovery port 72 Recess for operation 73 First contact surface 74 Second contact surface 75 Displacement member 80 Control part

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoconductor and transferring it to a recording paper,
It is possible to displace between an exposure position facing the surface of the photoconductor and a retracted position farther from the photoconductor than the exposure position, and exposing the charged surface of the photoconductor at the exposure position. An exposure unit for forming the electrostatic latent image;
A detachable member that is attachable to and detachable from the exposure unit, is in a first position when the exposure unit is in the exposure position, and is in a second position when the exposure unit is in the retracted position;
An opening / closing cover provided so as to be openable and closable, which can be closed when the detachable member is in the first position and cannot be closed when the detachable member is in the second position. An image forming apparatus.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detachable member comprises a developer collecting container for collecting the developer remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after transfer. An open / close detection device for detecting a closed state of the open / close cover by detecting a detected portion formed on the open / close cover in a state where the open / close cover is closed;
When the attachment / detachment member is displaceable and the attachment / detachment member is not attached, it interferes with the detected portion of the opening / closing cover to be closed, and the attachment / detachment member is attached and is in the first position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a displacement member that does not interfere with the detected portion of the opening / closing cover that is closed.

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