JP2010152414A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which achieves improvement of operability of a shutter in a developing device. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices 72 which have a case having an aperture 74A formed thereon and a developing device shutter 120 opening/closing the aperture 74A, and a plurality of developer cartridges which supply developer to each of the plurality of developing devices 72. The respective developing device shutters 120 provided to the plurality of developing devices 72 respectively are constituted to be linked and interlocked with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing units each supplied with toner from a plurality of developer cartridges.

  In general, as an image forming apparatus, a charged photosensitive drum is irradiated with light, the potential of the portion irradiated with the light is changed to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, and toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image. It is known to form a predetermined image on a recording sheet by transferring a toner image formed by supplying the recording sheet to the recording sheet.

  As such an image forming apparatus, conventionally, a plurality of photoconductors, a developer cartridge containing toners of different colors, and a plurality of developers for supplying toner in each developer cartridge to each photoconductor, The thing provided with (refer patent document 1) is known. Each developing device is provided with an opening for receiving toner from the developer cartridge and a shutter for opening and closing the opening.

JP-A-6-194886

  However, when the shutters of the plurality of developing devices as described above are configured to open and close separately, there is a problem that the operability is poor.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of improving the operability of a shutter of a developing device.

  The present invention that solves the above problems includes a plurality of developing units having a case in which an opening is formed, a developing unit shutter that opens and closes the opening, and a plurality of developing units that supply developer to each of the plurality of developing units. An image forming apparatus including an agent cartridge, wherein each developer shutter provided in each of the plurality of developers is configured to be interlocked with each other, and the plurality of developers are The apparatus main body further includes a plurality of cartridge-side shutters that are configured to be detachable integrally with each other, and are respectively disposed between each developer cartridge and each developer. An engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion provided in the shutter is provided, and the developer shutter and the cartridge side shutter are engaged with the engaged portion and the engaging portion. The plurality of developing devices are inserted into the apparatus main body along the mounting direction intersecting the vertical direction, and then guided at least upward or downward to be mounted at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body. The developing device shutter and the cartridge side shutter are configured to be engaged when the plurality of developing devices reach the predetermined position.

  According to the present invention, since the developing device shutters are configured to be linked and interlocked with each other, all the developing device shutters can be opened and closed with one operation, so that the operability is improved. be able to.

According to the present invention, since the developing device shutters are connected to each other, all the developing device shutters can be opened and closed by a single operation, so that the operability can be improved.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an overall configuration of a color printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an opening of a developing device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the attachment / detachment structure of the cleaning unit. In the following description, the overall configuration of the color printer will be described first, and then the details of the features of the present invention will be described.

<Overall configuration of color printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, the color printer 1 includes an image forming unit 2 in which a paper feeding unit 3 that supplies paper P, an image forming unit 4 that forms an image on the fed paper P, and an image are formed. And a paper discharge unit 5 for discharging the paper P to the outside.

  In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the vertical direction shown in FIG. 1 is up and down, the right side in FIG. 1 is front side, the left side is back, the back side of the paper is right, and the front side of the paper is left. Indicates. The direction here is defined with reference to the direction seen from the person standing on the front side of the color printer 1.

<Paper Feeder>
In the lower part of the apparatus main body 2, the paper supply unit 3 includes a paper supply tray 31 that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2, a paper supply mechanism 32 that conveys the paper P from the paper supply tray 31 to the image forming unit 4, and And a registration roller 33. The paper supply mechanism 32 includes a known paper feed roller, a separation roller, a separation pad, a paper dust removing roller (reference numeral omitted), and the like, and separates the paper P in the paper feed tray 31 one by one, and an upper registration roller 33. To supply. The paper P supplied to the registration rollers 33 is transported to the upper image forming unit 4 after the leading edges thereof are aligned by the registration rollers 33.

<Image forming unit>
The image forming unit 4 includes a scanner unit 6, a process unit 7, a transfer unit 8, and a fixing unit 9.

[Scanner section]
The scanner unit 6 is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body 2, specifically, between the paper feed tray 31 and the process unit 7, and includes a known laser light emitting unit, a polygon mirror, a plurality of lenses, and a reflecting mirror (reference number omitted). I have. In the scanner unit 6, a laser beam emitted from the laser light emitting unit corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is irradiated to each photosensitive drum 75 of the process unit 7 through a path indicated by a two-dot chain line in the drawing. Has been.

[Process Department]
The process unit 7 is disposed above the scanner unit 6, specifically between the scanner unit 6 and the transfer unit 8, and includes a box-shaped drawer 71, a plurality of developing units 72 disposed in the drawer 71, and And a plurality of developer cartridges 73 (see FIG. 2) disposed outside the drawer 71 (left side). Below, the structure of the process part 7 is demonstrated easily, and a detailed structure is explained in full detail later.

  The drawer 71 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2 in the front-rear direction, and four (plural) developing devices 72 are arranged in the front-rear direction and fixed integrally therewith. That is, the four developing devices 72 can be integrally attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 2 by the drawer 71.

  The developing device 72 mainly includes a developing case 74, a photosensitive drum 75 disposed in the developing case 74, a developing roller 76, a supply roller 77, a pair of transport augers 78, and a charger 79. As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 74 </ b> A that penetrates into and out of the developing case 74 is formed in the lower portion of the left side wall of the developing case 74. The opening 74 </ b> A includes a square hole and a round hole, and is disposed so as to face the developer cartridge 73.

  In the process unit 7 configured as described above, the surface of the photosensitive drum 75 is positively charged by the above-described charger 79, and the charged portion is exposed by the laser beam emitted from the scanner unit 6 to generate a potential. By lowering, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 75. On the other hand, the toner in the developer cartridge 73 shown in FIG. 2 is supplied into the developing device 72 through the opening 74 A, and the toner supplied into the developing device 72 is developed by the conveying auger 78 and the supply roller 77. Is conveyed to 76. Then, positively charged toner is supplied from the developing roller 76 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 75, so that the toner image is carried on the photosensitive drum 75. The developer that has not been used for development is returned to the developer cartridge 73 by the transport auger 78 through the opening 74A.

[Transfer section]
The transfer unit 8 includes a drive roller 82, a driven roller 81, an intermediate transfer belt 83, a primary transfer roller 84, a secondary transfer roller 85, and a cleaning unit 86.

  The driving roller 82 and the driven roller 81 are spaced apart in parallel in the front-rear direction, and an endless intermediate transfer belt 83 is stretched between them. The intermediate transfer belt 83 is rotationally driven together with the driven roller 81 by the rotational driving of the driving roller 82.

  Further, a primary transfer roller 84 that sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 83 with each photosensitive drum 75 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 83. A transfer bias (negative transfer bias in the present embodiment) is applied to the primary transfer roller 84 from a high-voltage substrate (not shown). As a result, the toner image on each photosensitive drum 75 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 83.

  Further, a secondary transfer roller 85 is disposed on the back side of the driven roller 81. A transfer bias (in this embodiment, a negative transfer bias) is also applied to the secondary transfer roller 85 from a high-voltage substrate (not shown). As a result, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 83 is transferred onto the paper P conveyed upward from the registration roller 33.

  The cleaning unit 86 is disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 83, collects the toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 83, and stores the toner therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning unit 86 can be replaced by opening the first front cover 21 that is rotatably provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 2.

[Fixing part]
The fixing unit 9 is disposed downstream of the transfer unit 8, specifically above the secondary transfer roller 85, and includes a known heating roller 91 and pressure roller 92. In the fixing unit 9, the toner image on the paper P is thermally fixed by sending out the paper P while being sandwiched between the heating roller 91 and the pressure roller 92.

<Output section>
The paper discharge unit 5 has a plurality of conveyance rollers (reference numerals omitted), and conveys the paper P discharged from the fixing unit 9 to a paper discharge tray 51 formed in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2.

  Next, the structure of the characteristic part of the present invention, that is, the shutter structure for opening and closing the opening 74A of the developing device 72 will be described in detail. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 4 is a side view (a) showing a state where each drawer of the developing device shutter is closed as viewed from the left side, and a side view (b) showing a state where each developing device shutter is opened, It is a front view (c) which shows the state which looked at the drawer from the near side. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view (a) showing an exploded view of the shutter mechanism and a perspective view (b) showing the assembled state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the guide portion and the cartridge side shutter mechanism.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, a shutter mechanism 100 that opens and closes the openings 74 </ b> A of the four developing devices 72 at the same time is provided below the left side wall 71 </ b> B of the drawer 71. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the shutter mechanism 100 includes a shutter support wall 110, four (a plurality of) developer shutters 120, and a shutter connector that connects the developer shutters 120 to each other. 130.

  The shutter support wall 110 is a rectangular plate-like component extending in the front-rear direction, and has four openings 111 formed corresponding to the openings 74A of the developing cases 74. A sponge S having a shape that follows the outer edge portion of the opening 111 is joined. The shutter support wall 110 is fixed to the left side wall 71 </ b> B of the drawer 71 via a predetermined support column 112, so that the shutter support wall 110 is disposed at a predetermined gap from the left side wall 71 </ b> B of the drawer 71. Here, the support pillar 112 is formed in a cylindrical shape by forming an opening formed corresponding to the opening 74 </ b> A of each developing case 74.

  The developing device shutter 120 is formed in a substantially C shape in a sectional view, and is attached to the shutter support wall 110 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the developing device shutter 120 includes a rectangular vertical wall 121, an upper wall 122 and a lower wall 123 extending rightward from the upper and lower ends of the vertical wall 121, and a lower edge from the right edge of the upper wall 122. And a claw portion 125 extending upward from the right edge of the lower wall 123.

  On the vertical wall 121 of the developing device shutter 120, two columnar protrusions 126 protruding leftward are formed on the upper part thereof so as to be arranged in the front-rear direction, and two concave parts 127 are arranged on the lower part thereof in the front-rear direction. It is formed as follows. And these protrusion 126 and the recessed part 127 are arrange | positioned so that it may become the same position in the front-back direction (it overlaps seeing from an up-down direction). Here, each protrusion 126 and each recessed part 127 are equivalent to an example of an engaging part.

  The shutter coupling body 130 is disposed between the shutter support wall 110 and the left side wall 71B of the drawer 71, and has a rectangular frame-shaped portion 131 formed in substantially the same size as the shutter support wall 110, and the frame-shaped portion 131. And a shutter operation portion 132 formed on the front side (the removal side in the attaching / detaching direction of the drawer 71). The claw portions 124 and 125 of the four developing device shutters 120 are joined to the frame portion 131, and thereby the user moves the shutter operation unit 132 in the front-rear direction, so that the four developing device shutters 120 are moved. In conjunction with this, it moves in the front-rear direction (the direction in which the developing devices 72 are arranged in parallel).

  The shutter operation unit 132 includes a base part 133 that is integrally formed with the frame-like part 131, a first extension part 134 that extends forward from the upper part of the base part 133, and a downward direction from the tip of the first extension part 134. A second extending portion 135 that extends and a third extending portion 136 that extends from the lower end of the second extending portion 135 to the back side are configured. The shutter operation unit 132 has a movement range in the front-rear direction defined by a movement restriction unit (not shown).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the user moves the shutter operation unit 132 to the most closed position, the opening 74 </ b> A of the developing device 72 is closed by each developing device shutter 120. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the user moves the shutter operation unit 132 to the most open position, each developing device shutter 120 moves to the far side and the opening 74A of the developing device 72 opens. Opened.

  As described above, the sponge S is bonded to the periphery of the opening 111 of the shutter support wall 110 shown in FIG. 5A, so that the developer S is in the closed state when the developer shutter 120 is closed. By closely contacting the shutter 120 so as to be pressed, the inside of the developing device 72 is sealed. Further, when the developing device shutter 120 is opened, the sponge S that has pressed the developing device shutter 120 extends toward the developer cartridge 73 side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the first extending portion 134 of the shutter operation portion 132 is provided on the second front cover 22 that is rotatably provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 2 in the state of being in the open position. 22 A of penetration holes are penetrated and the 2nd extension part 135 is arrange | positioned at the near side of the apparatus main body 2. As shown in FIG. Accordingly, the second front cover 22 cannot be opened unless the shutter operation unit 132 is moved to the closed position.

  The insertion hole 22A is sized so that the second front cover 22 and the shutter operation unit 132 do not interfere when the second front cover 22 is rotated in a state where the shutter operation unit 132 is in the closed position. (See FIG. 10).

  Here, the second front cover 22 is restricted from swinging toward the front side by the grip portion T1 of the top cover T disposed on the upper portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 10, the top cover T is vertically moved around the rotation shaft 82 </ b> A of the driven roller 81 of the transfer unit 8 and the shaft portion 51 </ b> A disposed on the back side of the paper discharge tray 51. It can be turned.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the third extension 136 of the shutter operation unit 132 is fitted into the engagement hole 22 </ b> B of the second front cover 22 from the front side in a state where the third extension 136 is in the open position. Yes.

  Further, an optical sensor 23 that detects the position of the shutter operation unit 132 is provided in the apparatus main body 2. Specifically, the optical sensor 23 detects that the shutter operation unit 132 is in the open position due to light being blocked by the shutter operation unit 132 in the open position, and the shutter operation unit 132 moves to the closed position. It is detected that the shutter operation unit 132 is located at the closed position by releasing the light blocking.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the drawer 71 is on the near side (detaching side in the attaching / detaching direction) so that the drawer 71 can be attached / detached in the same direction as the moving direction of each developing device shutter 120. A drawer operation unit 71C as an example of a developing device operation unit is provided, and a wheel 71D and a slide flange 71E are provided above the drawer operation unit 71C.

  The drawer operation portion 71C includes a rotation shaft portion 71F that is fixed to the front surface of the drawer 71, and a grip portion 71G that is rotatably provided on the rotation shaft portion 71F. The rotation shaft portion 71F is disposed along the left-right direction, and the grip portion 71G swings up and down around the rotation shaft portion 71F.

Two wheels 71D are arranged in the front-rear direction with respect to a pair of projecting pieces 71J projecting from the upper part of the left and right side walls 71B and 71H (see FIG. 4C) of the drawer 71 toward the back side. It is provided so as to be rotatable.
As shown in FIG. 4C, the slide flange 71 </ b> E is formed so as to extend outward from the left and right side walls 71 </ b> B and 71 </ b> H of the drawer 71 in the left and right direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus main body 2 is provided with a guide portion 24 for guiding the drawer 71 to a predetermined position so as to sandwich the drawer 71 left and right (only the left guide portion 24). (Illustrated). Specifically, the guide unit 24 includes a first guide roller 24A, a first inclined wall 24B, a first guide rail 24C, a second guide roller 24D, a second inclined wall 24E, and a second guide, which are sequentially arranged from the front side. A rail 24F is provided.

  The first guide roller 24 </ b> A is rotatably provided on the wall 25 constituting the apparatus main body 2. 24 C of 1st guide rails are formed in the plate shape extended in the front-back direction, and are arrange | positioned so that it may become substantially the same position in the up-down direction with the lower part of 24 A of 1st guide rollers. The first inclined wall 24B has an inclined surface that is inclined from the upper part of the first guide roller 24A toward the upper surface of the first guide rail 24C.

  The second guide roller 24D is rotatably provided on the wall 25 constituting the apparatus main body 2, and the upper part thereof is disposed so as to be substantially at the same position as the first guide rail 24C in the vertical direction. The second guide rail 24F is formed in a plate shape that extends in the front-rear direction and has a rear end curved upward, and is disposed so as to be substantially at the same position in the vertical direction as the lower part of the second guide roller 24D. ing. The second inclined wall 24E has an inclined surface that is inclined from the upper part of the second guide roller 24D toward the upper surface of the second guide rail 24F.

  By configuring the guide unit 24 and the drawer 71 as described above, when the drawer 71 is inserted into the apparatus main body 2, the wheels 71 </ b> D of the drawer 71 are connected to the first guide roller 24 </ b> A and the first guide roller 24 </ b> A of the guide unit 24. It rolls on the inclined wall 24B and the first guide rail 24C and proceeds to the back side. When the wheel 71D of the drawer 71 reaches the first guide rail 24C, the slide flange 71E of the drawer 71 is placed on the first guide roller 24A.

  As a result, the wheel 71D of the drawer 71 rolls on the first guide rail 24C and advances to the back side, and the slide flange 71E of the drawer 71 slides to the back side by the rolling of the first guide roller 24A. The drawer 71 moves to the back side in a stable posture. Thereafter, the wheel 71D of the drawer 71 rolls on the second guide roller 24D, the second inclined wall 24E, and the second guide rail 24F, and is stopped at the curved rear end of the second guide rail 24F. Thus, the drawer 71 which has been moved in the front-rear direction is moved to the lower oblique rear side and positioned at a predetermined position.

  Also, below the guide portion 24, the supply of toner from each developer cartridge 73 to each developer 72 (or the collection of toner from each developer 72 into each developer cartridge 73) is permitted / blocked. A cartridge side shutter mechanism 200 is provided. Specifically, the cartridge side shutter mechanism 200 has substantially the same structure as the shutter mechanism 100 on the drawer 71 side described above, and mainly includes a shutter support wall 210 and four (plural) cartridge side shutters 220. And is configured.

  Like the shutter support wall 110 on the drawer 71 side, the shutter support wall 210 has four openings 211 and is fixed to the wall 26 constituting the apparatus main body 2 with a predetermined gap therebetween. . A sponge S having the same shape as the sponge S on the developing device 72 side is fixed around each opening 211. The sponge S is in close contact with the cartridge-side shutter 220 when the cartridge-side shutter 220 is closed. When the cartridge-side shutter 220 is opened, the sponge S extends to the outside and is connected to the sponge S on the developing device 72 side. It comes to adhere closely.

The cartridge-side shutter 220 is disposed between each developer cartridge 73 and each developing device 72, and has a structure in which each developing device shutter 120 on the drawer 71 side is turned upside down. In other words, the vertical wall 221 of the cartridge-side shutter 220 has a pair of recesses 227 formed at the top thereof and a pair of protrusions 226 formed at the bottom thereof.

  Therefore, the pair of protrusions 126 of each developer shutter 120 engage with the pair of recesses 227 of each cartridge side shutter 220, and the pair of recesses 127 of each developer unit shutter 120 correspond to the pair of protrusions 226 of each cartridge side shutter 220. It is designed to engage. Here, each concave portion 227 and each projection 226 of the cartridge side shutter 220 correspond to an example of an engaged portion.

  An opening 73A having the same shape as the opening 74A formed in the lower portion of each developing device 72 is formed below each developer cartridge 73, and this opening 73A is an opening in the shutter support wall 210. An opening 211 is provided on the developing device 72 side.

  The shutter opening / closing structure of each developer cartridge 73 can be arbitrarily set. For example, when the developer cartridge 73 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, a part of the shutter and the apparatus main body 2 may be engaged so that the shutter opens with the attaching operation of the developer cartridge 73. . Further, for example, after the developer cartridge 73 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, the shutter of each developer cartridge 73 is opened or closed separately or simultaneously when the user operates an operation piece (not shown). May be. Further, each developer cartridge 73 may be appropriately provided with a sponge that extends outward from each developer cartridge 73 and adheres closely to the wall 26 of the apparatus main body 2 when the shutter of each developer cartridge 73 is opened.

  As described above, each developer cartridge 73 and the cartridge-side shutter mechanism 200 are configured so that the drawer 71 moves in the front-rear direction along the guide portion 24 and then moves obliquely downward to the predetermined position. When reaching, the pair of protrusions 126 and the recesses 127 of each developing device shutter 120 engage with the pair of recesses 227 and the protrusions 226 of each cartridge-side shutter 220. Subsequently, when the user operates the shutter operation unit 132 on the drawer 71 side, each developing device shutter 120 and each cartridge side shutter 220 can be opened and closed in conjunction with each other.

  When each developing device shutter 120 and each cartridge side shutter 220 are opened, each sponge S that has been in close contact with each developing device shutter 120 and each cartridge side shutter 220 is extended to come into contact with each other. It becomes. Thus, a toner passage connecting each developer cartridge 73 and each developer 72 is formed, and toner can be supplied from each developer cartridge 73 to each developer 72.

  Next, an operation method of the color printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an apparatus main body to which a drawer is not attached, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a top cover and a second front cover are opened. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the drawer is inserted to a predetermined position, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the second front cover is closed. Further, FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a state in which the top cover is closed, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a state in which each developing device shutter is opened.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the drawer 71 is not mounted in the apparatus main body 2, the top cover T is swung upward, and then the second front cover 22 is tilted to the front side to show in FIG. As described above, the opening 2 </ b> A for inserting the drawer 71 is formed on the front side of the apparatus body 2. Then, the drawer 71 is inserted into the back side along the guide portion 24 from the opening 2A.

As shown in FIG. 9, the wheel 71 </ b> D disposed at the top of the drawer 71 in the mounting direction is a guide unit 24.
When the second guide rail 24 </ b> F is moved to the curved rear end, the entire drawer 71 is lowered and positioned at a predetermined position. At this time, the protrusions 126 and the recesses 127 of the developing device shutters 120 shown in FIG. 5 are engaged with the recesses 227 and the protrusions 226 of the cartridge-side shutters 220 shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the second front cover 22 is swung upward and closed, and as shown in FIG. 11, the top cover T is swung downward and closed. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 83 of the transfer unit 8 and the photosensitive drums 75 provided in the developing units 72 in the drawer 71 come into contact with each other.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, by pushing the shutter operation section 132 to the open position on the back side, each developer shutter 120 and each cartridge-side shutter 220 are opened in conjunction with each other, and each developer cartridge 73 (FIG. 2). The toner can be supplied to each developing device 72. At this time, the third extending portion 136 of the shutter operation unit 132 blocks the light of the optical sensor 23, whereby the optical sensor 23 detects that the shutter operation unit 132 is located at the open position.

  Then, with this detection signal as a condition, the color printer 1 is ready for printing. That is, when the control device (not shown) for controlling the color printer 1 detects that the shutter operation unit 132 is located at the open position by the optical sensor 23, it permits the subsequent printing control and is not detected. In the meantime, the printing control is prohibited. As described above, printing control is prevented from being executed when each developer shutter 120 and each cartridge-side shutter 220 are closed.

  When the drawer 71 is taken out from the color printer 1, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 11, the developing device shutter 120 and the cartridge side shutter 220 are pulled by pulling the shutter operation unit 132 to the closed position on the near side. Close. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 9, the top cover T and the second front cover 22 are sequentially opened to form an opening 2A on the front side of the apparatus body 2, and the drawer 71 is pulled out from the opening 2A. And take it out.

According to the above, the following effects can be obtained in the present embodiment.
Since the developing device shutters 120 are connected and interlocked with each other, all the developing device shutters 120 can be opened and closed with a single operation, and thus the operability can be improved.

  Since each developing device shutter 120 is configured to be movable in the parallel direction of the plurality of developing devices 72, the shutter connecting body 130 that connects each developing device shutter 120 can be moved in the longitudinal direction. Can be suppressed, and each developing device shutter 120 can be moved smoothly. Incidentally, each developing device shutter 120 can also be opened and closed by moving the shutter connecting body 130 up and down, but in this case, the shutter connecting body 130 slides with the sponge S of the developing device 72, for example. Since it may rotate around the contact portion, the shutter coupling body 130 may be distorted and each developing device shutter 120 may not move smoothly.

  Since the plurality of developing units 72 are fixed to the drawer 71 so as to be detachable integrally with the apparatus main body 2, the plurality of developing units 72 are connected with the developing unit shutters 120 being connected. They can be exchanged together, and the structure can be simplified. Incidentally, when each developing device has a structure that can be separately attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, a structure for releasing the connection of each developing device shutter is required at the time of replacement, which complicates the structure.

  Since the drawer operation unit 71C and the shutter operation unit 132 are both provided on the removal side in the attachment / detachment direction, the operability of the drawer 71 and each developer shutter 120 by the user operating on the removal side is improved. In addition, since the attachment / detachment direction of the drawer 71 and the movement direction of each developing device shutter 120 are the same, the space for attaching / detaching the drawer 71 and the space for opening / closing each developing device shutter 120 can be shared. The space can be used effectively.

  Since the optical sensor 23 for detecting the position of the shutter operation unit 132 is provided in the apparatus main body 2, the open / closed state of each developer shutter 120 can be determined based on the output value from the optical sensor 23, thereby preventing a malfunction of printing control. be able to. Further, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of optical sensors 23 corresponding to the number of shutters.

  The engagement between the protrusions 126 and the recesses 127 and the recesses 227 and the protrusions 226 causes the developing device shutters 120 and the cartridge-side shutters 220 to be opened and closed in conjunction with each other, and thus a mechanism for moving the cartridge-side shutters 220. There is no need to provide a separate structure, and the structure can be simplified.

  Each developing device shutter 120 and each cartridge-side shutter 220 are engaged by moving the drawer 71 obliquely to the rear side, so that the structure is compared with a structure in which each shutter is engaged by moving the drawer 71 in the left-right direction. The structure can be simplified. In particular, since the lower movement of the drawer 71 can be easily performed using gravity, the drawer 71 is mounted as compared with the structure in which each shutter is engaged by moving the drawer 71 leftward or rightward or upward. Can be easily performed.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can utilize with various forms so that it may illustrate below.
In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the color printer 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a multifunction machine.

  In the embodiment, each developing device shutter 120 is moved in the parallel direction of each developing device 72, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be moved in a direction orthogonal to the parallel direction of each developing device 72. . Further, in the above-described embodiment, each developing device shutter 120 is moved in the parallel direction of each developing device 72 to simultaneously open and close each opening 74A of each developing device 72. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is not something. For example, the shutter opening / closing timing of each shutter may be shifted by connecting each shutter to a rotary arm.

  In the embodiment, the member (shutter coupling body 130) for coupling the developing device shutters 120 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each developing device shutter may be formed in such a size that it can come into contact with an adjacent developing device shutter, and each developing device shutter may be directly connected by an adhesive or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the optical sensor 23 is employed as a sensor for detecting the position of the shutter operation unit 132, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a switch-type (mechanical) sensor that is turned on when pressed by the third extension 136 may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the developing device shutter 120 and the cartridge-side shutter 220 are engaged with each other by moving the drawer 71 integrally provided with the plurality of developing devices 72 to the lower oblique rear side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each shutter may be engaged by moving the drawer 71 at least upward or downward. That is, for example, the drawer 71 may be once brought into contact with the back wall of the apparatus main body 2 and then moved directly below. Further, for example, the drawer 71 may be configured to move to the upper oblique rear side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the protrusions 126 and 227 protruding in the left-right direction and the recesses 227 and 127 recessed in the left-right direction are employed as the engaging portion and the engaged portion, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, a protrusion protruding in the vertical direction and a recess recessed in the vertical direction may be employed as the engaging portion and the engaged portion.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of a color printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is sectional drawing which shows the opening part of a developing device. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment or detachment structure of a cleaning part. A side view (a) showing the drawer viewed from the left side with each developing device shutter closed, a side view (b) showing the state where each developing device shutter is opened, and a state viewing the drawer from the front side It is a front view (c) which shows. It is the disassembled perspective view (a) which decomposes | disassembles and shows a shutter mechanism, and the perspective view (b) which shows the assembled state. It is a perspective view which shows a guide part and a cartridge side shutter mechanism. It is sectional drawing which shows the apparatus main body with which the drawer | drawer is not mounted | worn. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which opened the top cover and the 2nd front cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which inserted the drawer to the predetermined position. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which closed the 2nd front cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which closed the top cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which opened each developing device shutter.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color printer 23 Optical sensor 24 Guide part 71 Drawer 71A Opening part 72 Developing device 73 Developer cartridge 73A Opening part 74 Developing case 74A Opening part 100 Shutter mechanism 110 Shutter support wall 111 Opening part 112 Support pillar 120 Developer shutter 126 Protrusion 127 Concave part 130 Shutter coupling body 132 Shutter operation part 200 Cartridge side shutter mechanism 220 Cartridge side shutter 226 Protrusion 227 Concave part

Claims (4)

A plurality of developing units having a case in which an opening is formed and a developing unit shutter that opens and closes the opening;
An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of developer cartridges for supplying a developer to each of the plurality of developing devices;
Each developing device shutter provided in each of the plurality of developing devices is configured to be interlocked by being connected to each other,
The plurality of developing devices are configured to be detachable integrally with the apparatus main body,
Each of the developer cartridges further includes a plurality of cartridge-side shutters disposed between the developer cartridges and the respective developer units, and the developer shutters are engaged with engaged portions provided on the cartridge-side shutters. The developer shutter and the cartridge side shutter are interlocked with each other when the engaged portion and the engaging portion are engaged,
The plurality of developing devices are inserted into the apparatus main body along a mounting direction that intersects the vertical direction, and are then guided at least upward or downward to be mounted at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus, wherein the cartridge side shutter is configured to engage when the plurality of developing units reach the predetermined position. The plurality of developing devices are arranged in parallel,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each developing device shutter is configured to be movable in a parallel direction of the plurality of developing devices. The mounting direction of the plurality of developing devices and the moving direction of the developing device shutters are the same,
A shutter operation unit for moving each developing device shutter to the detaching side in the attaching / detaching direction of each developing device shutter integrally connected, and a developing device operation for moving the plurality of developing devices integrally The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image forming apparatus is provided.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus main body is provided with a sensor for detecting a position of the shutter operation unit.

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