JP2010060726A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily replace a process cartridge and a transfer unit while suppressing lowering of strength of a body frame. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a cartridge tray 44 which detachably holds a plurality of process cartridges so that the process cartridges may be arranged in parallel in a front-and-rear (FR) direction, is located at nip forming positions where a plurality of photoreceptor drums form nips with an intermediate transfer belt in an apparatus body, and is detachably provided in the apparatus body by moving along in the front-and-rear (FR) direction from the nip forming position; a projecting part 52 movable between a regulation position where it regulates movement of an intermediate transfer body unit 50 from a normal position when the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is attached to the normal position in the apparatus body, and a regulation releasing position where it does not regulate the position of the intermediate transfer body unit 50; and lever members 45 and 46 operating the projecting part 52 so as to be moved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a function of forming an image on a recording material such as a sheet.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers are mainly used as follows. A developing device that develops a latent image drawn on a photosensitive drum by a laser beam or the like, a transfer unit that transfers the developed toner image onto a recording material, and a fixing device that fixes the transferred toner image on a sheet material It is equipped with.

  As a process cartridge, a charging unit, a developing unit, a photoconductor and the like are integrally formed into a cartridge. This cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus and can be replaced by the user, facilitating maintenance of the main body of the apparatus.

  With respect to the process cartridge mounting / removal configuration, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a system in which an intermediate transfer body unit (transfer unit) is a drawer configuration, the process cartridge is pulled out, and the process cartridge is detached. Further, there is a system in which the process cartridge is replaced by opening the main body upper unit as the main body upper unit.

  FIG. 12 shows a conventional laser beam printer 101 as a representative example. Hereinafter, the overall configuration and function of the laser beam printer 101 will be described.

  The recording material S stacked and stored in the feeding tray 102 is fed by a feeding roller 103 that rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing, is sent to a conveying roller 104, and reaches a nip portion between the in-belt roller 105 and the transfer roller 106. Sent.

  The photosensitive drums 111, 112, 113, and 114 rotate counterclockwise in the figure, and electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the outer peripheral surface by laser light from the laser scanner 120. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed by developing rollers 115, 116, 117, and 118, and toner images are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums 111, 112, 113, and 114.

  The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 111, 112, 113, 114 are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 130. In the case of forming a color image, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors are developed on the photosensitive drums 111, 112, 113, and 114, and the toner images formed on the respective colors are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 130.

  Next, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 130 is transferred to the recording material S sent to the nip portion between the belt inner roller 105 and the transfer roller 106.

  Further, the recording material S to which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the nip portion between the fixing film 107 and the pressure roller 108, where it is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the recording material S.

  The recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged by a discharge roller 109 and a discharge roller 110.

The photosensitive drums 111, 112, 113, 114 are integrated with the developing rollers 115, 116, 117, 118, etc., and the process cartridges C 111, C 112, C 113,
C114 is provided so as to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

The laser scanner 120 and the like are provided in the main body upper unit 140, and the main body upper unit 140 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body so as to be rotatable around a fulcrum 141. The process cartridges C111, C112, C113, and C114 can be attached and detached with the main unit upper unit 140 opened.
JP 2003-316105 A

  However, in the above conventional example, there are concerns about the following problems.

  In the system in which the process cartridge is replaced with the main unit upper unit opened, there has been a concern that the cost of the image forming apparatus main body will be greatly increased and that the downsizing of the image forming apparatus main body will be hindered. This is because the fastening structure between the upper unit of the main body and the main body of the image forming apparatus is complicated, or the main body frame is divided into upper and lower parts, so that the strength of the main body frame is insufficient and it is necessary to increase the stay for reinforcement. This is because

  Similarly, in the method of pulling out the intermediate transfer member unit, a large hole for pulling out the unit is formed on the side surface of the main body frame, and there is a concern about the strength of the main body frame.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to facilitate replacement of a process cartridge and a transfer unit while suppressing a decrease in strength of a main body frame.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A plurality of process cartridges each having an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier;
A transfer unit detachably attached to the apparatus main body, in order to transfer the developer image formed on the image carrier, between the image carrier and the image carrier A transfer unit having a transfer member forming a nip portion;
In an image forming apparatus comprising:
A moving member that detachably holds a plurality of the process cartridges so as to be arranged in parallel in one direction,
In the apparatus main body, the plurality of image carriers are positioned at a nip part forming position for forming the nip part with the transfer member, and move from the nip part forming position along the one direction with respect to the apparatus main body. A movable member detachably provided,
Between a restriction position that restricts the transfer unit from moving from the normal position when the transfer unit is mounted at a normal position in the apparatus main body, and a restriction release position that does not restrict the position of the transfer unit. A movable regulating member,
An operating member for moving the regulating member;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily replace the process cartridge and the transfer unit while suppressing a decrease in strength of the main body frame.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the scope to the following embodiments.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a copying machine, a printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which an image carrier and process means such as a charging unit and a developing unit that act on the image carrier are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is. Here, since the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user himself, the apparatus main body can be easily maintained.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a laser beam printer 1 as an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the laser beam printer 1 of the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the overall configuration and function of the laser beam printer 1 of the present embodiment will be described. Here, in this embodiment, the front side of the laser beam printer 1 is indicated by F, and the rear side is indicated by R. Further, the front-rear direction of the laser beam printer 1 is indicated by arrows using F and R. Further, the vertical direction in the state where the laser beam printer 1 is installed is defined as the vertical direction. The laser beam printer 1 main body (image forming apparatus main body) is referred to as an apparatus main body.

  The recording material S stacked and stored in the feeding tray 2 is fed by a feeding roller 3 that rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing, is sent to a conveying roller 4, and reaches a nip portion between the belt inner roller 5 and the transfer roller 6. Sent.

  The photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 serving as image carriers are rotated counterclockwise in the figure, and electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the outer peripheral surface by laser light from the laser scanner 20. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing rollers 15, 16, 17, and 18, and toner images (developer images) are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14. Here, at least the developing rollers 15, 16, 17, and 18 correspond to process means for forming toner images on the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14.

  The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 are nips formed between the intermediate transfer belt 30 serving as a transfer member and the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14, respectively. Is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 30. When forming a color image, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors are developed on the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14, and toner images formed on the respective colors are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 30.

  Next, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 30 is transferred to the recording material S sent to the nip portion between the belt inner roller 5 and the transfer roller 6.

  Further, the recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the nip portion between the fixing film 7 and the pressure roller 8 where it is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the recording material S.

  The recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged by a discharge roller 9 and a discharge roller 10.

  The photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 of this embodiment can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body as process cartridges C11, C12, C13, and C14 integrated with the developing rollers 15, 16, 17, 18, and the like. Is provided. The intermediate transfer belt 30 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body as an intermediate transfer body unit 50 as a transfer unit together with the in-belt roller 5 and the like.

  Next, an outline of a process cartridge replacement method will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the laser beam printer 1 of the present embodiment, and shows a state in which a cartridge door 40 as an opening / closing member is opened. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the laser beam printer 1 of the present embodiment, and is a view showing a state where the cartridge door 40 is opened. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the replacement of the process cartridge of the present embodiment, and shows a state in which the cartridge tray 44 as a moving member is pulled out. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the replacement of the process cartridge according to the present embodiment, and is a perspective view showing an interlocking mechanism portion of the cartridge door 40 and the tray holding members 42 and 43. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the replacement of the process cartridge according to the present embodiment, and is a perspective view showing an interlocking mechanism portion of the cartridge door 40 and the tray holding member 42.

  In the laser beam printer 1 of this embodiment, the process cartridge is replaced by a method of placing the process cartridge on a tray and improving the usability by front access.

  That is, the front side of the laser beam printer 1 is provided with a cartridge door 40 for opening and closing an opening 49 for allowing the process cartridge to pass therethrough. Here, the process cartridges C11, C12, C13, and C14 are held on the cartridge tray 44 in a state of being arranged in parallel in one direction. The direction (one direction) in which the process cartridges C11, C12, C13, and C14 are arranged in parallel is the front-rear (FR) direction of the laser beam printer 1.

  The cartridge door 40 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body, and the opening 49 is opened, so that the cartridge tray 44 holding the process cartridge can be passed through the opening 49. By opening the opening 49 in this manner, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the cartridge tray 44 outside the apparatus main body, and the process cartridge can be taken out from the apparatus main body.

  Further, the cartridge door 40 is opened with respect to the apparatus main body, and the opening 49 is opened, whereby the cartridge tray 44 holding the process cartridge can be inserted (moved) into the apparatus main body.

  Here, in this embodiment, the cartridge door 40 is provided so as to be openable and closable (rotatable) with respect to the apparatus main body about a horizontal axis 41 on the lower side of the door.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of left and right tray holding members 42 and 43 whose longitudinal direction is the front-rear direction are disposed as holding members facing the left and right frames (housing, frame body) of the apparatus main body. Has been. The tray holding members 42 and 43 are provided so as to hold a cartridge tray (frame member in this embodiment) 44. That is, the cartridge tray 44 is held between the tray holding members 42 and 43 so as to be slidable horizontally in the front-rear direction. Then, in conjunction with the opening operation (rotation operation) when the cartridge door 40 is opened, the tray holding members 42 and 43 are moved forward and upward by a predetermined amount with respect to the position shown in FIG.

  Conventionally, before pulling out the process cartridge from the apparatus main body, it is necessary to release the contact connection between the fixing member, the drive connection, and the power feeding unit, and complicated mechanical parts such as a link mechanism with the drawer door for release are required. . On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the tray holding members 42 and 43 holding the cartridge tray 44 move in conjunction with the opening operation when the cartridge door 40 is opened. It can be detached from the main body.

  Next, an interlocking mechanism between the cartridge door 40 and the tray holding members 42 and 43 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The horizontal shaft 41 of the cartridge door 40 is held by a bearing so as to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body (not shown). The cartridge door 40 and the tray holding members 42 and 43 are lever members 45 and 46 as operation members, horizontal shafts 45a and 46a provided on the lever members 45 and 46, respectively, and vertically long portions provided on the tray holding members 42 and 43, respectively. It is connected via holes 42a and 43a. Thus, when the cartridge door 40 is opened and closed, a moving force for moving in the front-rear direction acts on the left and right tray holding members 42 and 43.

  The left and right tray holding members 42 and 43 are provided with two pin shafts 42b spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, and the two pin shafts 42b are guide holes 47 provided in the left and right frames of the apparatus main body. Is engaged. Due to the engagement of the pin shaft 42b and the guide hole 47, the tray holding members 42 and 43 are supported by the left and right frames, respectively. Accordingly, the left and right tray holding members 42 and 43 have a degree of freedom to move with respect to the left frame 48 and the right frame (not shown) in the guide range of the guide hole 47, respectively. Here, the tray holding members 42, 43, the pin shaft 42 b, and the guide hole 47 make contact / separation that allows the process cartridges C 11, C 12, C 13, C 14 to contact / separate (retract) from the intermediate transfer belt 30. Corresponds to means.

  As described above, the tray holding members 42 and 43 are moved forward and upward by a predetermined amount in conjunction with the opening operation (rotation operation) when the cartridge door 40 is opened. Due to the upward movement of the tray holding members 42 and 43, the cartridge tray 44 is also moved from the nip portion forming position where the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 and the intermediate transfer belt 30 form the nip portion shown in FIG. It moves upward as shown in FIG. Thus, the cartridge tray 44 is positioned at the retracted position where the photosensitive drums 11, 12, 13, and 14 are lifted from the intermediate transfer belt 30. At this position, the cartridge tray 44 can be pulled out from the apparatus main body.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where the cartridge tray 44 is pulled out from the retracted position shown in FIG. When the cartridge tray 44 is pulled out, the upper surfaces of the process cartridges C11, C12, C13, and C14 are opened. Then, the respective process cartridges C11, C12, C13, and C14 can be removed upward (in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5) outside the laser beam printer 1. Here, the position of the cartridge tray 44 shown in FIG. 5 is a position moved from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 along one direction (front-rear direction) in which the process cartridges C11, C12, C13, C14 are arranged in parallel. (Removal position).

  When the process cartridges C11, C12, C13, and C14 are mounted on the apparatus main body, the reverse procedure is performed.

  Next, a method for replacing the intermediate transfer body unit 50 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining replacement of the intermediate transfer member unit 50 of the present embodiment.

The intermediate transfer body unit 50 is positioned by the positioning unit 51 of the laser beam printer 1, thereby being positioned at a normal position in the apparatus main body.

  When the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is replaced, the cartridge tray 44 is removed from the laser beam printer 1 in the state shown in FIG. That is, when replacing the intermediate transfer body unit 50, first, the cartridge door 40 is opened, and the cartridge tray 44 is pulled out from the laser beam printer 1 as shown in FIG. Then, the cartridge tray 44 is taken out from the laser beam printer 1 in the state shown in FIG. Thereafter, the front side of the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is lifted (see FIG. 8), and the intermediate transfer body unit 50 can be taken out of the laser beam printer 1 by removing it from the positioning portion 51 (releasing the positioning state).

  9 and 10 are schematic views showing a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment, and are perspective views showing the intermediate transfer member unit 50 and the tray holding member 43. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the intermediate transfer member unit 50 is in a state where the positioning upper portion 53 of the intermediate transfer member unit 50 is pressed by the convex portion 52 of the tray holding member 43 when the cartridge door 40 is closed. ing. In a state where the cartridge door 40 is closed, the tray holding member 43 holds the cartridge tray 44 located at the nip portion forming position. 9 and 10, for convenience of explanation, only the tray holding member 43 side is shown, but the configuration on the tray holding member 42 side is the same as the configuration on the tray holding member 43 side. That is, positioning upper portions 53 provided at both ends of the intermediate transfer body unit 50 are provided in the tray holding members 42 and 43, respectively, with respect to a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction (axial direction of the photosensitive drum). It will be pressed by the convex part.

  Since the convex portion 52 is located at a restriction position (position shown in FIG. 9) that presses the positioning upper portion 53, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 moves from the regular position when the convex portion 52 is mounted at the regular position in the apparatus main body. This is to be regulated and corresponds to a regulating member. Thereby, it can be regulated that the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is detached from the positioning portion 51 (the positioning state is released).

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the intermediate transfer body unit 50 from freely floating with respect to the apparatus main body due to external impact or vibration.

  Further, the convex portion 52 of the tray holding member 43 moves when the cartridge door 40 is opened, and is separated (separated) from the positioning upper portion 53 of the intermediate transfer body unit 50, so that the position of the positioning upper portion 53 is not restricted. Located in the release position (see FIG. 10). Thereby, there is no obstacle when the intermediate transfer unit 50 is replaced.

  Thus, in conjunction with the opening operation of the cartridge door 40, the prevention of the intermediate transfer body unit 50 from being lifted is released. For this reason, after the cartridge door 40 is opened, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 can be replaced only by a simple operation (operation) of removing the cartridge tray 44.

  Next, the case where the replaced intermediate transfer member unit 50 is mounted will be described.

  After replacing the intermediate transfer body unit 50, the replaced intermediate transfer body unit 50 is mounted in the apparatus main body, and the cartridge tray 44 holding the process cartridge is moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. When the cartridge door 40 is closed in this state, the tray holding members 42 and 43 connected to the cartridge door 40 via the lever members 45 and 46 move in conjunction with the closing operation of the cartridge door 40. .

  As a result, the cartridge tray 44 held by the tray holding members 42 and 43 is positioned at the nip portion forming position. Further, the convex portion of the tray holding member is positioned at a restriction position (position shown in FIG. 9) that presses the positioning upper portion 53 of the intermediate transfer body unit 50.

  In this manner, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 can be prevented from floating in conjunction with the closing operation of the cartridge door 40. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the intermediate transfer body unit 50 from freely floating with respect to the apparatus main body due to an external impact or vibration only by a simple operation (operation) of closing the cartridge door 40.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cartridge tray 44 that detachably holds a plurality of process cartridges is configured to be movable in the direction in which the plurality of process cartridges are arranged in parallel. As a result, the process cartridge can be easily replaced while suppressing a decrease in strength of the frame of the apparatus main body.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the cartridge door 40 is closed, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 that can be replaced with respect to the apparatus main body is prevented from floating, and when the cartridge door 40 is opened, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is It is configured to be free with respect to the apparatus main body. Thereby, the intermediate transfer member unit 50 can be easily replaced.

  Further, the tray holding members 42 and 43 are operated in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the cartridge door 40, and the intermediate transfer body unit 50 can be regulated and released. As a result, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 can be replaced only by a simple operation of opening and closing the cartridge door 40. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the intermediate transfer body unit 50 from floating with respect to the apparatus main body due to external impact or vibration only by a simple operation of closing the cartridge door 40. Since the intermediate transfer body unit 50 can be replaced using the opening 49 for replacing (detaching) the process cartridge, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 can be replaced with a simple operation without reducing the strength of the main body frame. it can.

  Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability without lowering the strength of the main body frame with an inexpensive and simple structure, and to avoid damage inside the image forming apparatus against external vibration and impact.

  In this embodiment, the cartridge tray 44 is held by the tray holding members 42 and 43 so that the cartridge tray 44 is moved from the nip portion forming position shown in FIG. 2 to the retracted position shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cartridge tray 44 may be provided with a pin shaft, and a guide hole for guiding the pin shaft from the position where the nip portion is formed to the outside of the apparatus main body may be provided in the frame of the apparatus main body. In this case, the cartridge tray 44 may be moved along the front-rear direction from the nip portion forming position.

  In the present embodiment, the tray holding members 42 and 43 that constitute the restricting member are moved in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the cartridge door 40, but the present invention is not limited to this. In contrast to the configuration of the present embodiment, the cartridge door 40 and the lever members 45 and 46 may not be interlocked, and the lever members 45 and 46 may be provided so that the user can operate them. With such a configuration, the tray holding members 42 and 43 may be moved in conjunction with the operation of the lever members 45 and 46 by the user.

In the present embodiment, the convex portion 52 which is a part of the tray holding members 42 and 43 restricts the position of the intermediate transfer body unit 50 as a restricting member, but is not limited thereto. A member different from the tray holding members 42 and 43 may be moved by the lever members 45 and 46 to restrict the position of the intermediate transfer body unit 50.

  The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where the intermediate transfer body unit 50 of the present embodiment is not positioned by the positioning portion 51 of the laser beam printer 1. Here, the tray holding member 43 shown in FIG. 11 is shown moving in the arrow direction. In FIG. 11, in the direction of the arrow, the vertically long holes 43a take positions indicated by reference numerals 43a1, 43a2, and 43a3. Correspondingly, the convex portions 52 take positions indicated by reference numerals 52a, 52b, and 52c. . In the present embodiment, the different components from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same components as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  In the first embodiment, when the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is not reliably positioned at the positioning portion 51 (normal position) of the laser beam printer 1 at the time of replacement (FIG. 11), the following may be concerned. The That is, in such a case, if the cartridge door 40 is closed and the tray holding members 42 and 43 are moved and the cartridge tray 44 is moved to the nip portion forming position, the process cartridge is damaged when contacting the intermediate transfer belt 30. there's a possibility that.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the cartridge door 40 is closed, the pressed portion 54 that is pressed toward the positioning portion 51 by the convex portion 52 of the tray holding member 43 that moves from the restriction release position to the restriction position is an intermediate transfer. The body unit 50 is provided.

  With such a configuration, when the cartridge door 40 is closed, the convex portion 52 of the tray holding member 43 pushes the pressed portion 54 of the intermediate transfer body unit 50, so that the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is placed in the normal position, that is, the positioning portion 51. Can be pushed into.

  When the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is in the normal position, that is, when the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is reliably positioned by the positioning portion 51, the convex portion 52 of the tray holding member 43 does not touch the pressed portion 54 of the intermediate transfer body unit 50. Is arranged.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, when the cartridge door 40 is closed, the intermediate transfer body unit 50 that is not in the normal position can be pushed into the normal position. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the intermediate transfer belt 30 from being damaged due to the cartridge tray 44 entering the apparatus main body while the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is not in the normal position.

  Here, the intermediate transfer belt 30 may float (displace) with respect to the positioning portion 51 so that it cannot be pushed in by the tray holding members 42 and 43.

  In this embodiment, in such a case, when the cartridge tray 44 is to be mounted on the laser beam printer 1, the cartridge tray 44 hits the intermediate transfer body unit 50 so that it cannot enter the laser beam printer 1 main body. It is configured.

  This is because when the cartridge tray 44 is held at the retracted position by the tray holding members 42 and 43, a part of the intermediate transfer body unit 50 exists in an area where the cartridge tray 44 is located.

  Therefore, it can be recognized that the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is not in the normal position before the cartridge tray 44 is mounted.

  As described above, when the intermediate transfer body unit 50 cannot be pushed into the normal position, the cartridge tray 44 cannot enter the apparatus main body. This makes it possible to recognize that the intermediate transfer body unit 50 is not in the normal position at the time of replacement, thereby preventing damage to the intermediate transfer belt 30 due to the cartridge tray 44 entering the apparatus main body. .

1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment, and illustrates a state where a cartridge door is opened. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment, and illustrates a state where a cartridge door is opened. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining replacement of a process cartridge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the replacement of the process cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment, and is a perspective view illustrating an interlocking mechanism portion of a cartridge door and a tray holding member. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the replacement of the process cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment, and is a perspective view illustrating an interlocking mechanism portion of a cartridge door and a tray holding member. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining replacement of an intermediate transfer member unit according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a characteristic configuration of Embodiment 1, and is a perspective view illustrating an intermediate transfer body unit and a tray holding member. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a characteristic configuration of Embodiment 1, and is a perspective view illustrating an intermediate transfer body unit and a tray holding member. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a characteristic configuration of Example 2, and is a perspective view illustrating an intermediate transfer body unit and a tray holding member. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser beam printer 11, 12, 13, 14 Photosensitive drum 15, 16, 17, 18 Developing roller 30 Intermediate transfer belt 44 Cartridge tray 45, 46 Lever member 50 Intermediate transfer body unit 52 Convex part C11, C12, C13, C14 Process cartridge

Claims (5)

A plurality of process cartridges each having an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier;
A transfer unit detachably attached to the apparatus main body, in order to transfer the developer image formed on the image carrier, between the image carrier and the image carrier A transfer unit having a transfer member forming a nip portion;
In an image forming apparatus comprising:
A moving member that detachably holds a plurality of the process cartridges so as to be arranged in parallel in one direction,
In the apparatus main body, the plurality of image carriers are positioned at a nip part forming position for forming the nip part with the transfer member, and move from the nip part forming position along the one direction with respect to the apparatus main body. A movable member detachably provided,
Between a restriction position that restricts the transfer unit from moving from the normal position when the transfer unit is mounted at a normal position in the apparatus main body, and a restriction release position that does not restrict the position of the transfer unit. A movable regulating member,
An operating member for moving the regulating member;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A holding member capable of holding the moving member is movably movable, and the moving member held by the holding member can be retracted from the nip forming position so that the image carrier is brought into contact with and separated from the transfer member. Equipped with possible contact and separation means,
The moving member is provided in a retracted position held by the holding member and retracted from the nip portion forming position so as to be movable along the one direction with respect to the apparatus main body.
A part of the holding member regulates the position of the transfer unit as the regulating member,
The operation member moves the holding member;
When the moving member held by the holding member is located at the nip portion forming position, the holding member restricts the transfer unit from moving from the normal position;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the moving member held by the holding member is positioned at the retracted position, the holding member does not regulate a position of the transfer unit. An opening / closing member provided so as to be openable / closable with respect to the apparatus main body;
The operation member is provided to move the holding member in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member,
By the opening operation of the opening and closing member, the moving member held by the holding member is positioned at the retracted position, the holding member does not regulate the position of the transfer unit,
By the closing operation of the opening / closing member, the moving member held by the holding member is positioned at the nip portion forming position, and the holding member restricts the transfer unit from moving from the normal position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   When the transfer unit is mounted on the apparatus main body from the state where the moving member and the transfer unit are detached from the apparatus main body, the transfer unit is mounted with a deviation from the normal position. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressed portion that is pressed toward the normal position by the restriction member that moves from the restriction release position to the restriction position. 5. Image forming apparatus. When the transfer unit is mounted on the apparatus main body from a state where the moving member and the transfer unit are removed from the apparatus main body, the transfer unit is mounted with a deviation from the normal position. When the pressed member is not pressed by the restriction member that moves from the restriction release position to the restriction position, the movement member is positioned when the movement member is held at the retracted position by the holding member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a part of the transfer unit is present in a region where the image is transferred.

Images