JP2010128307A - Visible image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce streaky image defects caused by a vibration transmitted through a positioning mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: Visible image forming apparatuses (Uy to Uk) include: image carriers (PRy to PRk); bearings (1 to 1") having an inner ring (2), an outer ring (3) and a rolling element (4) supporting the image carriers (PRy to PRk); bearing support parts (6 to 6") supporting the bearings (1 to 1"); a latent image forming member (42b) forming a latent image on the surfaces of the image carriers (PRy to PRk); a positioning member (43) for the latent image forming member, which is in contact with the outer ring (3) to position the latent image forming member (42b); a developer carrier (24) developing the latent image formed on the surfaces of the image carriers (PRy to PRk) into a visible image; and a positioning member (37) for the developer carrier, which is in contact with the outer ring (3) to position the developer carrier (24). The rotational movement of the outer ring (3) is regulated by the bearing support parts (6 to 6"). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a visible image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, development is performed with a developer holder disposed opposite to the surface of the image carrier. In such an image forming apparatus, various techniques for positioning an image holding member, a developer holding member, and the like with predetermined accuracy are used, and the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 4 below are known. Yes.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-15470 as Patent Document 1 discloses a photosensitive drum (11) including a base portion (21) made of a tubular member and a photosensitive layer (22) formed on the base portion (21). There is described a printer (1) having a developing roller (33) composed of a shaft portion (35) and an elastic layer (36) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion (35). In Patent Document 1, in the printer (1), the axes of the photosensitive drum (11) and the developing roller (33) are parallel, and the photosensitive layer (22) and the elastic layer (36) are used as axes. The both end portions of the base portion (21) and the shaft portion (35) are connected to the drum support hole portions (37a, 38b) and the roller support hole portions (37b, 38b) so that they are uniformly pressed in the direction along the direction. A technique for rotatably supporting a pair of plate-like support members (37, 38) having
In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the base portion (22) and the shaft portion (35) are directly supported by support hole portions (37a, 37b, 38a, 38b) provided in the support members (37, 38). It is supported by the support members (37, 38) via a slide bearing or a rolling bearing.
In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the developing device (14) having the developing roller (33) and the photosensitive drum (10) are provided in the image forming unit (2) together with other devices, and the image forming unit (2). The entire unit (2) is attached to and detached from the printer body.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-265262 as Patent Document 2 describes a unit (A) having a hollow sleeve-shaped photosensitive drum (1) and an exposure head (2) built in the photosensitive drum (1). Has been. In Patent Document 2, a support ring (11) fitted and installed at both ends of a photosensitive drum (1) is rotatably supported by a unit (A) via a bearing (12), and an exposure head (2). Describes a technique for fixing and supporting a support shaft (25) provided at both ends of the unit with a unit (A).
That is, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the photosensitive drum (11) and the exposure head (2) are supported and positioned by the unit (A), and the unit (A) faces the developing sleeve (31). It is configured to be deployable.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-318561 as Patent Document 3 discloses that a cylindrical hollow conductive substrate (2) and a conductive substrate (2) are electrically conductive so that both end portions thereof are non-coating portions (6). An electrophotographic photosensitive member (1) having a photosensitive film (3) covering the outer peripheral surface of the conductive substrate (2) is described. The electrophotographic photosensitive member (1) is not coated with the conductive substrate (2). A technique is described in which the bearing members (5, 5) locked to the film part (6) are fixed to the wall of the image forming apparatus and are held in a state of being positioned in the image forming apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-80156 as Patent Document 4 describes a photosensitive drum (10) that is supported in the same manner as the electrophotographic photosensitive member (1) described in Patent Document 3. That is, Patent Document 4 describes a photosensitive drum (10) in which both ends are rotatably supported by a ring-shaped bearing portion (15) attached to a support frame (12) of the image forming apparatus main body. ing. Patent Document 4 describes an LED writing head (20) having a head body (21) in which LED elements are arranged and a support housing (22) that supports the head body (21). ing. Further, Patent Document 4 discloses a positioning mechanism (31) having a positioning contact portion (31) that comes into contact with the bearing portion (15) and a locking portion (35) that is locked to the support frame (12). 30).
In the technique described in Patent Document 4, the positioning mechanism (30) and the LED writing head (20) are integrally configured, and the positioning contact portion (31) is contacted to the ring-shaped bearing portion (15). Thus, the photosensitive drum (10) and the LED writing head (20) are positioned.

JP 2003-15470 A (“0026” to “0032”, “0052”, FIGS. 3 and 9) JP-A-5-265262 ("0017" to "0026", "0030" FIGS. 1 and 2) JP 2001-318561 A ("0015", "0029", FIG. 1) JP 2001-80156 A ("0014" to "0018", FIGS. 1 and 2)

  It is a technical object of the present invention to reduce striped image defects caused by vibration propagating through a positioning mechanism.

In order to solve the technical problem, a visible image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided.
An image carrier,
An inner ring that supports the image carrier, an outer ring that is concentrically arranged with the inner ring and has a larger diameter than the inner ring, and that is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the inner ring and the outer ring can rotate with each other. A rolling element that supports the rolling element;
A bearing support for supporting the bearing;
A latent image forming member that forms a latent image on the surface of the image carrier;
A latent image forming member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the latent image forming member, contacting the outer ring, and determining a position of the latent image forming member with respect to the image carrier;
A developer holding body that is disposed opposite to the image holding body and holds a developer on the surface thereof, wherein the latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body is developed into a visible image with the developer. An agent holder,
A developer holding member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the developer holding member and determining a position of the developer holding member with respect to the image holding member in contact with the outer ring;
With
Rotational movement of the outer ring is restricted by the bearing support portion.

In order to solve the technical problem, a visible image forming apparatus according to claim 2 is provided.
An image carrier,
An inner ring that supports the image carrier, an outer ring that is concentrically arranged with the inner ring and has a larger diameter than the inner ring, and that is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the inner ring and the outer ring can rotate with each other. A rolling element that supports the bearing, and the bearing having a regulated portion that is formed on the outer ring and restricts the rotational movement of the outer ring,
A bearing support portion for supporting the bearing, the bearing support portion having a restriction portion corresponding to the restricted portion;
A latent image forming member that forms a latent image on the surface of the image carrier;
A latent image forming member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the latent image forming member, contacting the outer ring, and determining a position of the latent image forming member with respect to the image carrier;
A developer holder that is disposed opposite to the image carrier and holds a developer on a surface thereof, wherein the latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier is developed into a visible image with a developer. A developer holder,
A developer holding member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the developer holding member and determining a position of the developer holding member with respect to the image holding member in contact with the outer ring;
It is provided with.

The invention according to claim 3 is the visible image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
The outer ring has the regulated portion configured by at least one of a concave portion or a convex portion,
In the case where the regulated portion is a concave portion, the regulated portion is configured by a convex portion formed corresponding to the concave portion,
In the case where the regulated portion is a convex portion, the regulated portion is constituted by a concave portion formed corresponding to the convex portion.

The invention according to claim 4 is the visible image forming apparatus according to claim 3,
A gap is formed along the radial direction of the bearing between the concave portion and the convex portion in a state where the convex portion is attached to the concave portion.

The invention according to claim 5 is the visible image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
The regulated portion configured by a flat portion formed on the outer ring;
The restricting portion configured by a support-side flat portion formed corresponding to the flat portion;
It is provided with.

In order to solve the technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention provides:
A visible image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A transfer device for transferring the visible image to a medium;
A fixing device for fixing the visible image transferred to the medium to the medium;
It is provided with.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the image defect of the stripe pattern generated by the vibration propagating through the positioning mechanism as compared with the case where the rotational movement of the outer ring of the bearing is not restricted. it can.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the rotational movement of the outer ring of the bearing can be reliably restricted as compared with the case where the structure is not restricted.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the movement of the rotation center of the image carrier can be reduced as compared with the case where no gap is formed along the radial direction.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the rotational movement of the outer ring of the bearing can be reliably restricted as compared with the case where the structure is not restricted.
According to the invention described in claim 6, the image forming apparatus in which the image defect of the stripe pattern generated by the vibration propagating through the positioning mechanism is reduced as compared with the case where the rotational movement of the outer ring of the bearing is not restricted. Can be provided.

Next, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as examples) will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.
In the following description using the drawings, illustrations other than members necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate for easy understanding.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus U includes an automatic document feeder U1 and an image forming apparatus body U2 that supports the automatic document feeder U1 and has a transparent document reading surface PG at the upper end.
The automatic document feeder U1 includes a document feeding unit TG1 that stores a plurality of documents Gi to be copied, and a document feeding unit TG1 that is fed from the document feeding unit TG1 and passes a document reading position on the document reading surface PG. And a document discharge portion TG2 from which the document Gi conveyed is discharged.
The image forming apparatus main body U2 includes an operation unit UI through which a user inputs an operation command signal for starting an image forming operation, an exposure optical system A, and the like.

Reflected light from a document conveyed on the document reading surface PG by the automatic document feeder U2 or a document manually placed on the document reading surface PG is passed through the exposure optical system A by the solid-state image sensor CCD. It is converted into red R, green G, and blue B electrical signals.
The image information conversion unit IPS converts the RGB electrical signals input from the solid-state imaging device CCD into black K, yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C image information and temporarily stores them, and stores the image information in a predetermined manner. Is output to the latent image forming apparatus driving circuit DL as image information for forming a latent image.
When the original image is a single color image, so-called monochrome, image information of only black K is input to the latent image forming device driving circuit DL.
The latent image forming device driving circuit DL has driving circuits for respective colors Y, M, C, and K (not shown), and signals corresponding to input image information are arranged for each color at a predetermined time. Output to the image forming apparatuses LHy, LHm, LHc, and LHk.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
1 and 2, the visible image forming devices Uy, Um, Uc, and Uk arranged in the center of the gravity direction of the image forming device U are visible images of colors Y, M, C, and K, respectively. Is a device for forming
The Y, M, C, and K latent image writing lights emitted from the latent image writing light sources of the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk respectively enter the rotating image carriers PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk. In the first embodiment, the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk are constituted by so-called LED arrays.
The Y visible image forming device Uy includes a rotating image carrier PRy, a charger CRy, a latent image forming device LHy, a developing device Gy, a transfer device T1y, and an image carrier cleaner CLy. In the first exemplary embodiment, the image carrier PRy, the charger CRy, and the image carrier cleaner CLy are configured as an image carrier unit that can be integrally attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body U2.
The visible image forming apparatuses Um, Uc, Uk are all configured in the same manner as the Y visible image forming apparatus Uy.

1 and 2, the image carriers PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk are charged by their respective chargers CRy, CRm, CRc, and CRk, and then at image writing positions Q1y, Q1m, Q1c, and Q1k. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by the latent image forming devices LHy, LHm, LHc, and LHk. The electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the image carriers PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk are developed on the developer holders of the developing devices Gy, Gm, Gc, and Gk in the development areas Q2y, Q2m, Q2c, and Q2k. Thus, a toner image as an example of a visible image is developed.
The developed toner image is conveyed to primary transfer regions Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k that are in contact with an intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer member. The primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt B in the primary transfer regions Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k are supplied with a predetermined value from a power supply circuit E controlled by the control unit C. At this time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied.

  The toner images on the image carriers PRy to PRk are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt B by the primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k. Residues and deposits on the surface of the image carrier PRy, PRm, PRc, PRk after the primary transfer are cleaned by the image carrier cleaner CLy, CLm, CLc, CLk. The cleaned surfaces of the image carriers PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk are recharged by the chargers CRy, CRm, CRc, and CRk.

  Above the image carriers PRy to PRk, a belt module BM as an example of an intermediate transfer device that can move up and down and can be pulled out forward is disposed. The belt module BM includes the intermediate transfer belt B, a belt drive roll Rd as an example of an intermediate transfer body drive member, a tension roll Rt as an example of an intermediate transfer body stretching member, and a walking roll as an example of a meandering prevention member. Rw, an idler roll Rf as an example of a driven member, a backup roll T2a as an example of a secondary transfer region facing member, and the primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, T1k. The intermediate transfer belt B can be rotated by belt support rolls Rd, Rt, Rw, Rf, T2a as an example of an intermediate transfer member support member constituted by the rolls Rd, Rt, Rw, Rf, T2a. It is supported by.

A secondary transfer roll T2b as an example of a secondary transfer member is disposed so as to face the surface of the intermediate transfer belt B in contact with the backup roll T2a. A secondary transfer device T2 is constituted by the rolls T2a and T2b. A secondary transfer region Q4 is formed by the region where the secondary transfer roll T2b and the intermediate transfer belt B face each other.
The single-color or multi-color toner images transferred in sequence on the intermediate transfer belt B by the primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k in the primary transfer areas Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k are the secondary transfer areas. Transported to Q4.

  Below the visible image forming devices Uy to Uk, a pair of left and right guide rails GR as an example of a guide member is provided, and the guide rails GR are fed as an example of a paper feed container. The trays TR1 to TR3 are supported so as to be able to enter and exit in the front-rear direction. The recording sheets S as an example of media stored in the paper feed trays TR1 to TR3 are taken out by a pick-up roll Rp as an example of a medium take-out member, and are separated one by one by a separating roll Rs as an example of a medium spreading member. The The recording sheet S is transported along a sheet transport path SH, which is an example of a medium transport path, by a plurality of transport rolls Ra, which is an example of a medium transport member, and is disposed upstream of the secondary transfer region Q4 in the sheet transport direction. Is sent to a registration roll Rr as an example of the medium transport timing adjusting member. The sheet conveyance path SH, the sheet conveyance roll Ra, the registration roll Rr, and the like constitute a sheet conveyance apparatus SH + Ra + Rr as an example of a medium conveyance apparatus.

The registration roll Rr conveys the recording sheet S to the secondary transfer area Q4 in time for the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B to be conveyed to the secondary transfer area Q4. When the recording sheet S passes through the secondary transfer region Q4, the backup roll T2a is grounded, and the secondary transfer unit T2b has a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity from the power supply circuit E controlled by the control unit C. A secondary transfer voltage is applied. At this time, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B is transferred to the recording sheet S by the secondary transfer device T2.
The intermediate transfer belt B after the secondary transfer is cleaned by a belt cleaner CLb as an example of an intermediate transfer body cleaner.
Further, the primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, T1k, the secondary transfer unit T2, and the intermediate transfer belt B constitute transfer devices T1y to T1k + T2 + B according to the first embodiment.

The recording sheet S on which the toner image is secondarily transferred has a fixing region Q5 which is a pressure contact region of a heating roll Fh as an example of a heating fixing member of the fixing device F and a pressure roll Fp as an example of a pressing fixing member. And heated and fixed when passing through the fixing region. The heat-fixed recording sheet S is discharged from a discharge roller Rh as an example of a medium discharge member to a discharge tray TRh as an example of a medium discharge portion.
Note that a release agent for improving the releasability of the recording sheet S from the heating roll is applied to the surface of the heating roll Fh by a release agent application device Fa.

  Above the belt module BM, developer cartridges Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk are disposed as an example of a developer supply container that stores yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K developers. The developer contained in each developer cartridge Ky, Km, Kc, Kk is transferred to each developer Gy, Gm, Gc, Gk according to the consumption of developer in the developer Gy, Gm, Gc, Gk. To be replenished. In Example 1, the developer is composed of a two-component developer including a magnetic carrier and a toner provided with an external additive.

In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus U includes an upper frame UF and a lower frame LF, and the upper frame UF includes the visible image forming apparatuses Uy to Uk and the visible image forming apparatus Uy. A member arranged above -Uk, that is, a belt module BM and the like are supported.
The lower frame LF includes a guide rail GR that supports the paper feed trays TR1 to TR3 and the paper feed members that feed paper from the trays TR1 to TR3, that is, a pickup roll Rp, a separation roll Rs, A sheet conveying roll Ra and the like are supported.

(Description of each member of the visible image forming apparatus)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship among the image carrier, the latent image forming apparatus, and the developing device in the image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows that the developing device has moved to the developing device approach position and FIG. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the latent image forming apparatus has moved to the latent image forming apparatus approaching position, and FIG. 3B illustrates a state in which the developing unit has moved to the developing unit separation position and FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining the relationship among the bearing of the image carrier, the latent image forming positioning member of the latent image forming apparatus, and the positioning member of the developing device in the image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part viewed from above for explaining the relationship between the bearing of the image carrier and the positioning member of the developing device in the image forming apparatus of Example 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the bearing and the bearing holder according to the first embodiment, FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the bearing, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of the bearing.

  Next, image carriers PRy, PRm, PRc, PRk, developing devices Gy, Gm, Gc, Gk, and latent image forming, which constitute the visible image forming apparatuses Uy, Um, Uc, Uk of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The devices LHy, LHm, LHc, and LHk will be described. Since the members of the respective colors are configured in the same manner, only the Y color will be described, and detailed descriptions of the other colors will be omitted.

(Description of bearing and bearing support)
3 to 5, both front and rear ends of the image carrier PRy are rotatably supported by a grooved bearing 1 as an example of the bearing shown in FIGS.
6A and 6B, the grooved bearing 1 has an inner race 2 as an example of an inner ring that supports the image carrier PRy.
The grooved bearing 1 has an outer race 3 that is arranged concentrically with the inner race 2 and is an example of an outer ring having a larger diameter than the inner race 2. On the outer peripheral surface of the outer race 3, a groove 3a as an example of a recess is formed along the axial direction. The groove 3a according to the first embodiment is formed to have a depth of a distance d1 along the radial direction with the outer peripheral surface of the outer race 3 as a reference.
Furthermore, the grooved bearing 1 is disposed between the inner race 2 and the outer race 3, and includes a plurality of balls 4 as an example of rolling elements that rotatably support the inner race 2 and the outer race 3. Have.
That is, the grooved bearing 1 of the first embodiment is configured by a so-called ball bearing.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bearing holder of the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing holder according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8A is an explanatory view showing a state where the bearing is not supported by the bearing holder, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory view showing a state where the bearing is supported by the bearing holder.
7 and 8, the grooved bearing 1 is supported by a bearing holder 6 as an example of a bearing support portion provided before and after an image carrier unit (not shown). Hereinafter, since the front bearing holder 6 is configured similarly to the rear bearing holder, the rear bearing holder 6 will be described, and a detailed description of the front bearing holder 6 will be omitted.

The bearing holder 6 includes a lower bearing holder main body 7 and an upper bearing holder cover 8 attached to the bearing holder main body 7.
7 and 8, the bearing holder body 7 has a bottom wall 9. A semi-cylindrical inner wall surface 9 a corresponding to the outer diameter of the outer race 3 of the grooved bearing 1 is formed inside the bottom wall 9. Further, a positioning hole 9b for a latent image forming device penetrating from the inner wall surface 9a to the outside on the latent image forming device LHy side is formed in the left and right central portion of the bottom wall 9.

A left side wall 11 is formed on the left side of the bottom wall 9. A planar inner wall surface 11a that extends continuously upward from the left end of the inner wall surface 9a is formed inside the left wall 11. Further, a hooked portion 11 b is formed on the upper outer side of the left side wall 11.
A right side wall 12 is formed on the right side of the bottom wall 9. Inside the right side wall 12, a planar inner wall surface 12a that extends continuously upward from the right end of the inner wall surface 9a is formed. A hooked portion 12b is formed on the upper outer side of the right side wall 12. Further, a developing device positioning hole 12c is formed in the right side wall 12 so as to penetrate from the inner wall surface 12a to the outside on the developing device Gy side.

In FIG. 7, a rear side wall 13 is formed on the rear side of the bottom wall 9, and a front side wall 14 is formed on the front side of the bottom wall 9. Circular shaft holes 13 a and 14 a that are larger than the inner diameter of the inner race 2 of the grooved bearing 1 and smaller than the outer diameter of the outer race 3 are formed at the center of the front and rear side walls 13 and 14. Further, shaft insertion holes 13b and 14b extending from the upper end of the front side wall 14 to the shaft holes 13a and 14a are formed in the upper portions of the front and rear side walls 13 and 14, respectively. The shaft insertion holes 13b and 14b are formed corresponding to the axis of the image carrier PRy.
A U-shaped bearing housing space 7 a is formed by a space surrounded by the bottom wall 9, the left side wall 11, the right side wall 12, the front side wall 13 and the rear side wall 14.
Further, the bottom wall 9, the left side wall 11, the right side wall 12, the front side wall 13 and the rear side wall 14 constitute the bearing holder body 7 of the first embodiment.

7 and 8, the bearing holder cover 8 has a flat cover body portion 16 corresponding to the bearing holder body 7. An accommodation space insertion portion 17 that is inserted into the bearing accommodation space 7 a along the inner wall surfaces 11 a and 12 a of the bearing holder body 7 is formed below the cover body portion 16. An upper semi-cylindrical inner wall surface 17 a corresponding to the inner wall surface 9 a of the bearing holder body 7 is formed below the housing space insertion portion 17.
A raised portion 17b as an example of a convex portion formed corresponding to the groove 3a of the grooved bearing 1 is formed along the axial direction at a central portion in the left-right direction of the inner wall surface 17a in the housing space insertion portion 17. ing. The raised portion 17b of the first embodiment is formed such that the height along the radial direction with respect to the semi-cylindrical inner wall surface 17a is a distance d2 smaller than the distance d1.
Note that a cut-out portion 17a1 in which a position corresponding to the developer positioning hole 12c is cut off is formed below the right side of the storage space insertion portion 17 of the first embodiment.

At both left and right ends of the cover main body portion 16, hooking portion support portions 18 extending downward are formed. At the lower end of the hook support 18, a hook-like hook 19 is formed. Thereby, when the bearing holder cover 8 is attached to the bearing holder main body 7, the hooking portion 19 is hooked on the hooked portions 11 b and 12 b, and the bearing holder cover 8 is fixedly supported to the bearing holder main body 7. That is, the bearing holder cover 8 is attached to the bearing holder body 7 by so-called snap-fit coupling.
At this time, the inner wall surface 9a of the bearing holder body 7, the inner wall surface 17a of the bearing holder cover 8, and the raised portion 17b form the outer ring support portion 9a + 17a + 17b of the first embodiment.
A bearing holder cover 8 according to the first embodiment is configured by the cover main body portion 16, the accommodation space insertion portion 17, the hook portion support portion 18, and the hook portion 19.

  8B, when the grooved bearing 1 is mounted on the bearing holder 6, the grooved bearing 1 is inserted into the bearing housing space 7a of the bearing holder body 7 with the groove 3a facing upward. When the bearing holder cover 8 is attached to the bearing holder body 7, the grooved bearing 1 is attached to the bearing holder 6. At this time, the outer race 3 of the grooved bearing 1 is supported by the outer ring support portion 9a + 17a + 17b in a state where the raised portion 17b of the bearing holder cover 8 is fitted in the groove 3a of the outer race 3.

(Explanation of developer)
In FIG. 3, the developing device Gy of Example 1 has a developing container 21 in which a developer is accommodated. In the developing container 21, a first stirring / conveying member 22 and a second stirring / conveying member 23 are rotatably supported as an example of a pair of stirring / conveying members that convey the developer in the inside while stirring. The developer container 21 includes a developer holder that holds the developer agitated by the agitating / conveying members 22 and 23 on the surface and conveys the developer to the developing region Q2y that is a region facing the image carrier PRy. An example developing roll 24 is rotatably supported. The developing container 21 is supported by a frame (not shown), that is, a so-called developing unit frame so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 26. Therefore, the developing device Gy is shown in FIG. 3A in which the developing roller 24 is arranged to face the image carrier PRy, and in FIG. 3B in which the developing roller 24 is separated from the image carrier PRy. It is supported so as to be movable between the developing device isolation position.

In FIG. 4, the developing container 21 has a rear end wall 21a. A driven gear 27 as an example of a driven gear for transmitting a driving force is rotatably supported below the rear end wall 21a. The driven gear 27 is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a motor as an example of a driving source (not shown).
A first agitating / conveying member gear 28 as an example of a first agitating / conveying member gear that meshes with the driven gear 27 in the first meshing region 28 a is disposed on the upper right of the driven gear 27. The first agitating and conveying member gear 28 is supported by the rear end of the rotary shaft 22a of the first agitating and conveying member 22 that extends rearward through the rear end wall 21a. Drive is transmitted from the driven gear 27 via the first stirring and conveying member gear 28.

Above the driven gear 27, a second agitating / conveying member gear 29 as an example of a second agitating / conveying member gear that meshes with the driven gear 27 in the second meshing region 29a is disposed. The second agitating / conveying member gear 29 is supported by the rear end of the rotating shaft 23a of the second agitating / conveying member 23 that extends rearward through the rear end wall 21a. Drive is transmitted from the driven gear 27 via the second stirring and conveying member gear 29.
On the left side of the second stirring and conveying member gear 29, an intermediate gear 31 as an example of an intermediate gear is supported so as to be rotatable about a gear shaft 31a. The intermediate gear 31 meshes with the second stirring / conveying member gear 29 in the third meshing region 31b, and the drive is transmitted.
Above the intermediate gear 31, a developing roll gear 32 as an example of a developer holding member gear that meshes with the intermediate gear 31 in the fourth meshing region 32a is disposed. The developing roll gear 32 is supported on the rear end side of the supporting shaft 24a of the developing roll 24 that extends rearward through the rear end wall 21a. The developing roll 24 is interposed via the developing roll gear 32. Thus, drive is transmitted from the intermediate gear 31.

Therefore, when the drive is transmitted to the driven gear 27, the agitating and conveying members 22, 23 and the developing roll 24 are driven via the gears 27 to 32.
At this time, the driven gear 27 rotates clockwise as seen from the rear as indicated by an arrow 33 in FIG. Further, the respective agitating / conveying member gears 28 and 29 engaged with the driven gear 27 rotate counterclockwise as viewed from the rear as indicated by an arrow 34 in FIG. Further, in FIG. 4, the intermediate gear 31 that meshes with the second stirring and conveying member gear 29 rotates clockwise as viewed from the rear, and the developing roller gear 32 that meshes with the intermediate gear 31 counterclockwise when viewed from the rear. Rotate.
The developer gear, which is an example of the developer gear mechanism of the first embodiment, includes the driven gear 27, the first agitating / conveying member gear 28, the second agitating / conveying member gear 29, the intermediate gear 31, and the developing roll gear 32. A train 36 is configured.

  4 and 5, a pair of front and rear developer holding member positioning members 37 are supported at both front and rear ends of the support shaft 24a and the gear shaft 31a. Hereinafter, since the front developer holding member positioning member 37 is configured in the same manner as the rear developer holding member positioning member 37, the rear developer holding member positioning member 37 will be described. A detailed description of the developer holding member positioning member 37 is omitted.

The positioning member 37 for the developer holder is supported by two portions of the support shaft 24a and the gear shaft 31 and is supported in the up and down direction, and from the upper end of the supported portion 37a to the image carrier PRy side. A contact portion 37b extending. The contact portion 37b is configured to be able to contact the outer periphery of the outer race 3 of the grooved bearing 1 through the developing device positioning hole 12c of the bearing holder 6 shown in FIG.
That is, the developer holding member positioning member 37 is configured to be movable integrally with the developing roll 24 via the support shaft 24a, the gear shaft 31, and the like, and the developer holding member positioning member 37 is in contact with the developer holding member positioning member 37. The portion 37b contacts the grooved bearing 1, and the position of the developing roll 24 with respect to the image carrier PRy is determined.

4 and 5, one end of a coil spring 38 as an example of an urging member is supported on the supported portion 37 a of the developer holding member positioning member 37. The other end of the coil spring 38 is supported by a frame of a developing unit (not shown) and biases the developer holding member positioning member 37 toward the image holding member PRy.
3A, the developer holding member positioning member 37 is held in contact with the outer periphery of the outer race 3 of the grooved bearing 1. As shown in FIG.
That is, the developing roll 24 is held in a state of being positioned at a preset position with respect to the image carrier PRy.

Further, when performing maintenance, inspection, replacement, etc. of each unit, an external force that rotates the developing device Gy in a direction away from the image holding member PRy by operating an operation unit (not shown) is applied to the developing device. When applied to Gy, the developing device Gy rotates about the rotation shaft 26 against the force of the coil spring 38 and moves from the developing device approaching position shown in FIG. 3A to the developing device isolation position shown in FIG. 3B. . At this time, the developer holding member positioning member 37 is separated from the grooved bearing 1, and the developing roll 24 is separated from the image holding member PRy.
The rotating shaft 26 and the coil spring 38 constitute the developer contact / separation mechanism 26 + 38 of the first embodiment.

(Description of latent image forming apparatus)
3 and 4, the latent image forming apparatus LHy according to the first embodiment includes an contacting / separating member 41 extending in the front-rear direction. The contact / separation member 41 is supported by a moving mechanism (not shown) so as to be movable in a direction approaching and separating from the image carrier PRy.
Above the contact / separation member 41, an image writing light irradiation unit 42 is supported. The image writing light irradiation unit 42 includes a base member 42a as an example of a base portion extending in the axial direction of the image carrier PRy, and is supported on the image carrier PRy side of the base member 42a, and a latent image is formed on the image carrier PRy. And a light irradiator 42b as an example of a latent image forming member for forming the image. In the first embodiment, the light irradiation unit 42b is configured by a so-called LED array, and the light source that forms a latent image on the surface of the image carrier PRy is the axial direction of the image carrier PRy, that is, the main scanning direction. Are arranged side by side.

At both the front and rear ends of the base member 42a, abutting portions 43 as an example of a positioning member for a latent image forming member projecting toward the image carrier PRy are supported. Hereinafter, the rear abutting portion 43 will be described, and a detailed description of the front abutting portion 43 configured in the same manner as the rear abutting portion 43 will be omitted.
3 and 4, the abutting portion 43 penetrates the latent image forming device positioning hole 9b of the bearing holder 6 at the position approaching the latent image forming device shown in FIG. Contact the outer periphery of the outer race 3.

That is, the abutting portion 43 configured to be movable integrally with the light irradiation portion 42b via the base member 42a comes into contact with the grooved bearing 1 at the position approaching the latent image forming apparatus, and the image holding body. The position of the light irradiation part 42b with respect to PRy is determined. As a result, the interval between the light irradiation unit 42b and the surface of the image carrier PRy is held at a preset interval so that the focus of the latent image writing light emitted from the light irradiation unit 42b becomes the surface of the image carrier PRy. Retained.
When performing maintenance and inspection of each unit, replacement, and the like, an operator operates an operation unit (not shown) to move the contact / separation mechanism 41 in a direction away from the image carrier PRy, thereby causing a latent image. The forming apparatus LHy moves from the latent image forming apparatus approach position shown in FIG. 3A to the latent image forming apparatus separation position shown in FIG. 3B. At this time, the abutting portion 43 is separated from the grooved bearing 1, and the light irradiation portion 42b is separated from the image carrier PRy.

(Operation of Example 1)
In the image forming apparatus U of Example 1 having the above-described configuration, the surfaces of the image carriers PRy to PRk are uniformly charged by the charging devices CRy to CRk in the visible image forming apparatuses Uy to Uk. Then, latent images are formed on the surfaces of the image carriers PRy to PRk by the latent image forming devices LHy to LHk. The latent images formed on the surfaces of the image carriers PRy to PRk are developed into visible images with a developer by the developing devices Gy to Gk. The developed visible image is transferred to the recording sheet S by the transfer devices T1y to T1k + T2 + B, and then fixed by the fixing device F to record an image.

At this time, in the developing devices Gy to Gk of the first embodiment, the developer holding member positioning member 37 contacts the grooved bearing 1 that rotatably supports the image holding members PRy to PRk, and the image holding members PRy to PRk. The developer is supplied from the developing roll 24 to the image carriers PRy to PRk in a state where the developing roll 24 is positioned with respect to the image holding body.
In the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk of Example 1, the abutting portion 43 contacts the grooved bearing 1 and the light irradiation unit 42b is positioned with respect to the image carriers PRy to PRk. A latent image is formed on the image carriers PRy to PRk by the irradiation unit 42b.

Here, in the developing devices Gy to Gk and the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk according to the first exemplary embodiment, the developer holding member positioning member 37 and the abutting portion 43 rotatably support the image holding members PRy to PRk. Positioning is performed by directly contacting the bearing 1.
The grooved bearing 1 attached to the bearing holder 6 is supported by the outer ring support portion 9b + 17a + 17b in a state in which the raised portion 17b of the bearing holder 6 is fitted in the groove 3a formed in the outer race 3, and the outer race is supported. Even if the force in the direction of rotating the 3 is generated, the rotational movement of the outer race 3 is restricted by the contact between the groove 3a as the restricted portion and the raised portion 17b as the restricting portion.

  4, when the driven gear 27 receives a driving force in the gear train 36 provided on the rear end side of the developing units Gy to Gk of the first embodiment, the driven gear 27 is indicated by an arrow 33 in FIG. 4. The first stirring / conveying member gear 28 and the second stirring / conveying member gear 29 that rotate in the clockwise direction and mesh with the driven gear 27 rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Further, the intermediate gear 31 that meshes with the second stirring and conveying member gear 29 rotates in the direction of arrow 33, and the developing roll gear 32 that meshes with the intermediate gear 31 rotates in the direction of arrow 34.

Accordingly, in the gear train 36 of the developing units Gy to Gk, a force in the upper direction of the image carrier PRy to PRk indicated by the arrow F1 is generated in the first meshing region 28a, and the image carrier indicated by the arrow F2 in the second meshing region 29a. A force in the PRy to PRk side direction is generated, an upward force indicated by the arrow F3 is generated in the third meshing region 31b, and a force in the image carrier PRy to PRk side direction indicated by the arrow F4 is generated in the fourth meshing region 32a. Arise. That is, as a whole, the developing devices Gy to Gk generate a resultant force directed upward from the image carriers PRy to PRk, which is indicated by an arrow Fa in which the forces of the arrows F1 to F4 are combined.
Therefore, the outer race 3 of the grooved bearing 1 that is in contact with the developer holding member positioning member 37 of the developing units Gy to Gk is caused to have a radial component force from the developer holding member positioning member 37 by the resultant force Fa. Receives the force of the tangential component.

  Therefore, in the conventional configuration in which the rotation of the outer race 3 is not restricted, the force of the tangential component of the resultant force Fa received from the developer holding member positioning member 37 when vibration due to the meshing failure of the gears 27 to 32 occurs. As a result, the outer race 3 may rotate or vibrate in the circumferential direction. As a result, the abutting portions 43 of the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk that are in contact with the outer race 3 may also move, causing vibrations in the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk. However, in the first embodiment, the grooved bearing 1 is supported in a state where the rotational movement of the outer race 3 is restricted, and the rotation of the outer race 3 is compared with the case where the rotational movement of the outer race 3 is not restricted. The latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk rarely vibrate, and the occurrence of striped image defects due to the vibration is reduced.

  In the first embodiment, the rotation of the outer race 3 is restricted, and the contact position between the outer race 3 and the positioning members 37 and 42 varies as compared to the case where the rotational movement of the outer race 3 is not restricted. Difficult and stable positioning has been made. That is, an image is formed in a state where there is little deviation from a preset state, and adverse effects on the image are reduced.

  In the first embodiment, the height distance d2 of the raised portion 17b is shorter than the distance d1 of the depth of the groove 3a. Therefore, a gap is formed along the radial direction between the groove 3a and the raised portion 17b in a state where the raised portion 17b is fitted in the groove 3a. That is, the outer race 3 is not pushed by the raised portion 17b and the center of the grooved bearing 1 is not shifted, and only the rotation of the outer race 3 is restricted. Therefore, in the first embodiment, an image is formed in a state in which the image carriers PRy to PRk supported by the grooved bearing 1 are less displaced from the preset state.

  Furthermore, in Example 1, the developer holding member positioning member 37 and the abutting portion 43 are in contact with and separated from the grooved bearing 1 that supports the image holding members PRy to PRk, so that the developing devices Gy to Gk and the latent image are obtained. The forming apparatuses LHy to LHk are positioned, and the developing unit having the developing units Gk to Gy and the image holding unit having the image holding bodies PRy to PRk are configured as separate units. Therefore, for example, when the unit deteriorates as a result of continuous use, and only the developing roll 24 needs to be replaced or only the image carriers PRy to PRk need to be replaced, only the unit including the deteriorated member is used. You can replace it. That is, compared to the case where the developing units Gk to Gy and the image carriers PRy to PRk are integrally configured, in the first embodiment, the size and weight of the unit to be replaced are reduced, and the operability is improved. It has improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points, but is configured in the same manner as the first embodiment in other points.

9 is an explanatory view of the bearing of the second embodiment, FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the bearing and corresponds to FIG. 6A of the first embodiment, FIG. 9B is a plan view of the bearing, and FIG. It is a corresponding figure.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bearing holder of the second embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, instead of the grooved bearing 1 and the bearing holder 6, a projection bearing 1 ′ as an example of a bearing and a bearing holder 6 ′ as an example of a bearing support portion are used. In the second embodiment, a pair of front and rear bearings 1 ′ and bearing holders 6 ′ are used. However, the rear side bearing 1 ′ and the bearing holder 6 ′ will be described below and configured similarly to the rear side. A description of the front-side protruding bearing 1 ′ and the bearing holder 6 ′ will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, a protrusion 3a 'as an example of a convex portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer race 3 of the bearing 1' with a protrusion instead of the groove 3a of the first embodiment. The protrusion 3a ′ according to the second embodiment is formed to have a height of a distance d1 ′ along the radial direction with reference to the outer peripheral surface of the outer race 3 ′.
In FIG. 10, in the center portion in the left-right direction of the inner wall surface 17a of the bearing holder cover 8 'in the bearing holder 6', the protruding portion 3a 'of the bearing 1' with the protrusion is replaced with the protruding portion 17b of the first embodiment. A protrusion restricting hole 17b 'as an example of a correspondingly formed recess is formed. The protrusion restricting hole 17b ′ according to the first embodiment is formed such that the depth along the radial direction with respect to the semi-cylindrical inner wall surface 17a becomes a distance d2 ′ larger than the distance d1 ′.

11 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing holder of the second embodiment, FIG. 11A is an explanatory view showing a state in which the bearing is not supported by the bearing holder, a view corresponding to FIG. 8A of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the bearing was supported, and is a figure corresponding to FIG. 8B of Example 1. FIG.
In FIG. 11, in the state where the bearing 1 'with the protrusion is mounted on the bearing holder 6', the outer race 3 of the bearing 1 'with the protrusion is inserted into the protrusion restricting hole 17b' of the bearing holder cover 8 '. With the projection 3a 'fitted, the outer ring support 9a + 17a + 17b' is supported.

(Operation of Example 2)
In the image forming apparatus U according to the second embodiment having the above-described configuration, the development is performed on the bearing 1 ′ with the protrusion mounted on the bearing holder 6 ′ instead of the bearing 1 with the groove mounted on the bearing holder 6 according to the first embodiment. The developer holding members positioning member 37 and the abutting portion 43 are brought into contact with each other to position the developing devices Gy to Gk and the latent image forming devices LHy to LHk.
At this time, even if the outer race 3 of the bearing with a protrusion 1 ′ is about to rotate by vibration, the protrusion 3a ′ as the restricted portion and the protrusion restricting hole 17b ′ as the restricting portion come into contact with each other, and the rotation of the outer race 3 Be regulated. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the occurrence of striped pattern image defects due to vibration is reduced compared to the case where the rotational movement of the outer race 3 is not restricted.

  In Example 2, the distance d2 ′ of the depth of the protrusion restricting hole 17b ′ is larger than the distance d1 ′ of the height of the protrusion 3a ′, and the protrusion 3a ′ is fitted into the protrusion restricting hole 17b ′. In this state, a gap is formed along the radial direction between the protrusion regulating hole 17b ′ and the protrusion 3a ′. That is, the protrusion 3a 'is not pushed in the radial direction by the bearing holder 6', and only the rotation of the outer race 3 is restricted. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, an image is formed in a state in which the image carriers PRy to PRk are less shifted from the preset state, and adverse effects on the image are reduced.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. To do.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points, but is configured in the same manner as the first embodiment in other points.

12A and 12B are explanatory views of the bearing of the third embodiment, FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the bearing, a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6A of the first embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a plan view of the bearing and a diagram corresponding to FIG. is there.
In the third embodiment, instead of the grooved bearing 1 and the bearing holder 6 of the first embodiment, a D-type bearing 1 ″ as an example of a bearing and a bearing holder 6 ″ as an example of a bearing support portion are used. In the third embodiment, a pair of front and rear D-type bearings 1 ″ and a bearing holder 6 ″ are used. Hereinafter, the D-type bearing 1 ″ and the bearing holder 6 ″ on the rear side will be described and configured similarly to the rear side. A description of the front D-type bearing 1 "and the bearing holder 6" will be omitted.

  In FIG. 12, the groove 3a of Example 1 is omitted in the outer race 3 of the D-type bearing 1 ″. The outer race 3 extends along the outer diameter of the outer race 3 at the front end portion of the outer race 3. A flange portion 3b is formed as an example of an edge portion having a larger diameter than the outer shape of 3. The flange portion 3b is formed in a planar shape by cutting a part of the arc-shaped outer periphery of the flange portion 3b. A cut portion 3c as an example of a flat surface portion is formed.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bearing holder of the third embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment.
In FIG. 13, a semi-cylindrical flange groove portion 9c corresponding to the outer diameter of the flange portion 3b of the D-type bearing 1 ″ is formed at the front end portion of the inner wall surface 9a of the bearing holder body 7 ′ in the bearing holder 6 ″. Has been.
Further, linear flange moving groove portions 11d and 12d extending continuously upward from the flange groove portion 9b are formed at the front end portions of the inner wall surface 11a of the left side wall 11 and the inner wall surface 12a of the right side wall 12.

  In FIG. 13, in the bearing holder cover 8 ″ of the bearing holder 6 ″, the raised portion 17b on the inner wall surface 17a of the first embodiment is omitted. On the front side of the inner wall surface 17a of the third embodiment, a flange groove portion 17c corresponding to the outer shape of the flange portion 3b of the D-type bearing 1 ″, and a support side plane portion corresponding to the cut-out portion 3c of the D-type bearing 1 ″. 17d.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing holder of the third embodiment, FIG. 14A is an explanatory view showing a state where the bearing is not supported by the bearing holder, a view corresponding to FIG. 8A of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the bearing was supported, and is a figure corresponding to FIG. 8B of Example 1. FIG.
In FIG. 14, when the D-type bearing 1 ″ is mounted on the bearing holder 6 ″, the D-type bearing 1 ″ has the cut-out portion 3c upward, and the flange portion 3b extends along the flange grooves 11d and 12d. The bearing holder body 7 'is inserted into the bearing housing space 7a. When the bearing holder cover 8 "is attached to the bearing holder body 7', the outer race 3 of the D-type bearing 1" has the cutout portion 3c. It is supported by the outer ring support portion 9a + 9c + 17a + 17c + 17d of the third embodiment in a state along the support side plane portion 17d.

(Operation of Example 3)
In the image forming apparatus U according to the third embodiment having the above-described configuration, development is performed on the D-type bearing 1 ″ mounted on the bearing holder 6 ″ instead of the grooved bearing 1 mounted on the bearing holder 6 in the first embodiment. The developer holding members positioning member 37 and the abutting portion 43 are brought into contact with each other to position the developing devices Gy to Gk and the latent image forming devices LHy to LHk.
At this time, even if the outer race 3 of the D-type bearing 1 ″ tries to rotate due to vibration or the like, the outer race 3 rotates due to the contact between the cut-out portion 3c as the restricted portion and the support side flat portion 17d as the restricted portion. Therefore, in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, as compared with the case where the rotational movement of the outer race 3 is not restricted, the occurrence of striped image defects due to vibration is reduced.
Moreover, in Example 3, since the flange part 3b is provided as a positioning means of an axial direction in a bearing and a part of this flange part 3b is used as a regulated part, compared with the case where a part of flange part is not used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in device size and cost.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is made in the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. Is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H07) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) In each of the above-described embodiments, a configuration using a copying machine is illustrated as an example of the image forming apparatus U. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is there. Further, the image forming apparatus is not limited to a multi-color developing image forming apparatus, and may be configured by a monochromatic, so-called monochrome image forming apparatus.
(H02) In each of the above embodiments, the groove as the restricted portion of the outer race 3 is formed by the raised portion 17b as the restricting portion, the protrusion restricting hole 17b ′, and the support side flat portion 17d provided in the bearing holders 6 to 6 ″. The configuration in which the rotational movement of the outer race 3 is restricted by restricting the 3a, the protruding part 3a ′, and the cutout part 3c is illustrated, but is not limited thereto.
For example, in a bearing and a bearing holder that omits the regulating part and the regulated part, the outer race is fixed to the bearing holder by using a fixing agent such as adhesive or double-sided tape between the bearing outer race and the bearing holder. And the structure which controls the rotational movement of an outer race is also possible.

(H03) In each of the above embodiments, the raised portion 17b, the protrusion regulating hole 17b ', and the support side plane portion 17d as the regulating portions are formed in the bearing holder covers 8 to 8 ″, but the bearing holder main bodies 7 to 7 are used. It is also possible to form in a '.
(H04) In each of the above embodiments, the image carriers PRy to PRk are supported by the bearings 1 to 1 ″ via the front and rear shafts, but the members that form the surfaces of the image carriers PRy to PRk are the bearings. A so-called blank tube type structure that supports directly is also possible.
(H05) In each of the embodiments described above, the developer holding member positioning member 37 and the abutting portion 43 are brought into contact with the bearings 1 to 1 ″ supporting the image holding members PRy to PRk to develop the developing devices Gy to Gk. The positioning of the agent holder 24 and the positioning of the light irradiation part 42b of the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk have been performed, but other positioning members are added to the developing units Gy to Gk and the latent image forming apparatuses LHy to LHk. A configuration in which other members are positioned by bearings 1 to 1 ″ is also possible.

(H06) In each of the above-described embodiments, each of the bearings 1 to 1 ″ is provided with only one groove 3a, protrusion 3a ′, and cutout 3c as regulated parts. It is also possible to have a configuration including a plurality of cut portions 3c.
(H07) In the third embodiment, a configuration in which the flange portion 3b is omitted and the flat portion is formed directly on the outer race 3 is also possible.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship among the image carrier, the latent image forming apparatus, and the developing device in the image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows that the developing device has moved to the developing device approach position and FIG. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the latent image forming apparatus has moved to the latent image forming apparatus approach position, and FIG. 3B illustrates a state in which the developing device has moved to the developing device separation position and the latent image forming apparatus has moved to the latent image forming apparatus separation position. FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining the relationship among the bearing of the image carrier, the latent image forming positioning member of the latent image forming apparatus, and the positioning member of the developing device in the image forming apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part viewed from above for explaining the relationship between the bearing of the image carrier and the positioning member of the developing device in the image forming apparatus of Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the bearing and the bearing holder according to the first embodiment, FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the bearing, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of the bearing. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bearing holder of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing holder according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8A is an explanatory view showing a state where the bearing is not supported by the bearing holder, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory view showing a state where the bearing is supported by the bearing holder. 9 is an explanatory view of the bearing of the second embodiment, FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the bearing and corresponds to FIG. 6A of the first embodiment, FIG. 9B is a plan view of the bearing, and FIG. It is a corresponding figure. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bearing holder of the second embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing holder of the second embodiment, FIG. 11A is an explanatory view showing a state in which the bearing is not supported by the bearing holder, a view corresponding to FIG. 8A of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the bearing was supported, and is a figure corresponding to FIG. 8B of Example 1. FIG. 12A and 12B are explanatory views of the bearing of the third embodiment, FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the bearing, a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6A of the first embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a plan view of the bearing and a diagram corresponding to FIG. is there. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bearing holder of the third embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the bearing holder of the third embodiment, FIG. 14A is an explanatory view showing a state where the bearing is not supported by the bearing holder, a view corresponding to FIG. 8A of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the bearing was supported, and is a figure corresponding to FIG. 8B of Example 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 ', 1 "... bearings,
2 ... Inner ring,
3 ... Outer ring,
3a: regulated part, recess,
3a ′: regulated part, convex part,
3c: restricted part, flat part,
4 ... rolling elements,
6, 6 ', 6 "... bearing support,
17b ... Regulating part, convex part,
17b '... restricting part, recess,
17d ... restriction part, support side plane part,
24 ... developer holder,
37 ... Positioning member for developer holder,
42b ... latent image forming member,
43 ... Positioning member for latent image forming member,
F: Fixing device,
S ... medium,
T1y to T1k + T2 + B ... transfer device,
U: Image forming apparatus,
Uy, Um, Uc, Uk: Visible image forming apparatus.

Claims (6)

An image carrier,
An inner ring that supports the image carrier, an outer ring that is concentrically arranged with the inner ring and has a larger diameter than the inner ring, and that is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the inner ring and the outer ring can rotate with each other. A rolling element that supports the rolling element;
A bearing support for supporting the bearing;
A latent image forming member that forms a latent image on the surface of the image carrier;
A latent image forming member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the latent image forming member, contacting the outer ring, and determining a position of the latent image forming member with respect to the image carrier;
A developer holding body that is disposed opposite to the image holding body and holds a developer on the surface thereof, wherein the latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body is developed into a visible image with the developer. An agent holder,
A developer holding member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the developer holding member and determining a position of the developer holding member with respect to the image holding member in contact with the outer ring;
With
The visible image forming apparatus, wherein the rotation of the outer ring is restricted by the bearing support portion. An image carrier,
An inner ring that supports the image carrier, an outer ring that is concentrically arranged with the inner ring and has a larger diameter than the inner ring, and that is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the inner ring and the outer ring can rotate with each other. A rolling element that is supported by the bearing, and having a regulated portion that is formed on the outer ring and restricts rotational movement of the outer ring,
A bearing support portion for supporting the bearing, the bearing support portion having a restriction portion corresponding to the restricted portion;
A latent image forming member that forms a latent image on the surface of the image carrier;
A latent image forming member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the latent image forming member, contacting the outer ring, and determining a position of the latent image forming member with respect to the image carrier;
A developer holder that is disposed opposite to the image carrier and holds a developer on a surface thereof, wherein the latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier is developed into a visible image with a developer. A developer holder,
A developer holding member positioning member configured to be movable integrally with the developer holding member and determining a position of the developer holding member with respect to the image holding member in contact with the outer ring;
A visible image forming apparatus comprising: The outer ring has the regulated portion configured by at least one of a concave portion or a convex portion,
In the case where the regulated portion is a concave portion, the regulated portion is configured by a convex portion formed corresponding to the concave portion,
3. The visible image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the restricted portion is a convex portion, the visible image forming apparatus includes the restricting portion configured by a concave portion formed corresponding thereto. The visible image according to claim 3, wherein a gap is formed along a radial direction of the bearing between the concave portion and the convex portion in a state where the convex portion is mounted on the concave portion. Forming equipment. The regulated portion configured by a flat portion formed on the outer ring;
The restricting portion configured by a support-side flat portion formed corresponding to the flat portion;
The visible image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: A visible image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A transfer device for transferring the visible image to a medium;
A fixing device for fixing the visible image transferred to the medium to the medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images