JP2010224060A - Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the jam processing of a recording medium and to replace a process cartridge from the same side of an apparatus body when the recording medium remains in the apparatus body in the middle of passing through a conveyance path. <P>SOLUTION: Cartridges 9-12 having photoreceptor drums 1-4 and developing rollers 5-8 are removably installed in a printer 100. The printer includes: a passage route Q in which the cartridges 9-12 can pass; a door 28 which can move between a closing position C which closes the passage route Q and an opening position D which opens the route; a tray 26 which supports the plurality of cartridges 9-12 and can move between an inside position I and an outside position O of a printer body 100A; a cassette 13 on which paper P can be loaded; and a conveyance path R secured between a removal position at which the paper is removed from the cassette 13 and a discharge position at which the paper P is discharged to the outside of the printer body 100A after image forming where the tray 26 is movably provided across the conveyance path R. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges are detachably attached to an apparatus body to form an image on a recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus is known in which a plurality of process cartridges are supported on a cartridge support member that is movable with respect to the apparatus main body. According to this configuration, a plurality of process cartridges can be simultaneously inserted into the apparatus main body. As an invention relating to such a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an invention described in Patent Document 1 (especially, see FIGS. 1 to 6 of Patent Document 1) is disclosed.

  In the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a door is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed. The user opens the door and pulls out the cartridge tray from the apparatus main body. In this state, the individual process cartridge supported on the cartridge tray is replaced by the user.

JP 2007-213081 A

  The conventional image forming apparatus described above has improved process cartridge replacement operability. The present invention is a further development of the above-described image forming apparatus.

  That is, it is an object of the present invention to perform jam processing of a recording medium and replacement of a process cartridge on the same side of the apparatus main body when the recording medium remains inside the apparatus main body due to a jam of the recording medium in the course of passing through the conveyance path. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus that can be realized.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the present invention can attach and detach a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and color the recording medium. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image, comprising: a passage path through which the process cartridge can pass when the process cartridge is attached / detached; a closed position that closes an opening of the passage path; and an open position that opens the opening A movable opening / closing member, an inner position where the process cartridge supports the plurality of process cartridges and the process cartridge is located inside the image forming apparatus main body, and an outside of the apparatus main body where the process cartridge is detachable A cartridge support member that is movable while passing through the opening between outer positions located at A transport path secured between a stacking member capable of stacking recording media, a take-out position for taking out the recording medium from the stacking member, and a discharge position for discharging the recording medium to the outside of the apparatus main body after image formation The cartridge support member is provided movably across the transport path.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the recording medium remains inside the apparatus main body due to a jam of the recording medium in the middle of passing through the conveyance path, the recording medium jam processing and the process cartridge are performed on the same side of the apparatus main body. Can be exchanged.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) The perspective view which shows the state which removed the door from the printer. (B) Sectional drawing which shows the state which opened the door of the printer. The enlarged side view which shows an operation | movement process. The perspective view which shows the state which opened the door completely in the printer. (A) Sectional drawing which shows the state which pulled out the tray from the printer. (B) The perspective view which shows the state which pulled out the tray from the printer. The perspective view which shows the structure of a cartridge. The expanded sectional view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of each electric contact. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a paper adding process for a printer main body. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process of removing paper remaining inside the printer main body. The perspective view which shows the structure of the printer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) Sectional drawing of the printer which shows the state which the handle part retracted. (B) The partial cross section figure of Drawing 11 (a) which shows the state where the handle part has retracted. (A) Sectional drawing of the printer which shows the state which the handle part protruded. (B) The partial cross section figure of Drawing 12 (a) which shows the state where the handle part protrudes.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified.

  A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms a color image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. Examples of the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus include a color electrophotographic copying machine, a color electrophotographic printer (for example, a color laser beam printer, a color LED printer), a color facsimile apparatus, a color word processor, and the like.

  The recording medium is an image on which an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image, and includes, for example, paper, an OHP sheet, and the like.

  The cartridge to be described later is, for example, a process cartridge or a developing cartridge, which is detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and contributes to an image forming process for forming an image on a recording medium.

  The process cartridge is an article in which at least one of charging means, developing means, and cleaning means as process means and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed as a cartridge and detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. is there. Accordingly, the process cartridge includes one in which the developing means as the process means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed as a cartridge and detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, the process cartridge includes a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum as process units are integrated into a cartridge and detachably mounted on the apparatus main body.

  A process cartridge integrally including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and developing means is referred to as a so-called integrated type. A process cartridge that integrally includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means other than the developing means is referred to as a so-called separation type. The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user himself. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed. The process means acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

  The developing cartridge has a developing roller, and stores the developer (toner) used to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum by the developing roller, and is removable from the main body. It is to be attached to. In the case of the developing cartridge, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is attached to the apparatus main body or a cartridge support member described later. Alternatively, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is provided in a so-called separation type process cartridge (in this case, the process cartridge does not have a developing unit). Note that the developing cartridge can also be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be easily performed.

  Therefore, the cartridge includes a so-called integral type or a so-called separation type process cartridge. The cartridge includes a case where a so-called separation type process cartridge and a developing cartridge are used as a pair. In addition, the cartridge includes a case where the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is fixedly attached to the apparatus main body or a cartridge support member which will be described later, and the developing cartridge is detachably used so as to act on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. .

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a printer 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a color laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 100, which is a color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, has a front surface of a printer main body 100A arranged on the left side in FIG. The main body 100A is arranged on the right side in FIG.

[Outline of image forming apparatus]
The printer 100 includes a printer main body 100A. The apparatus main body is obtained by removing the configuration of individual process cartridges from the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the printer main body 100A is obtained by removing the cartridges 9 to 12 from the printer 100. Cartridges 9, 10, 11, and 12 are arranged inside the printer main body 100A. Each of the cartridges 9 to 12 includes electrophotographic photosensitive drums (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive drums) 1 to 4 and developing rollers 5 to 8 as developing means which are process means. The photosensitive drums 1 to 4 are detachably mounted on the printer main body 100A as cartridges 9 to 12 integrated with developing rollers 5 to 8 and the like.

  In the printer main body 100A, a laser scanner 25 is disposed on the upper side, and a transfer belt 18 is disposed below the cartridges 9-12. Further, inside the printer main body 100A, a paper feed cassette (stacking member) 13 capable of stacking paper (recording media) P is disposed on the lower side thereof. Inside the printer main body 100A, roller pairs 15 and 83 are disposed downstream of the cassette 13 in the paper conveyance direction, and roller pairs 81 and 82 are disposed downstream of the roller pairs 15 and 83 in the paper conveyance direction. . A transfer roller 17, a driving roller 16, a fixing device 72, a roller 22, and a roller 23 are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the roller pair 81, 82 in the paper conveyance direction. The fixing device 72 includes the fixing film 20 and the pressure roller 21. A pair of rollers 15 and 83, a pair of rollers 81 and 82, a transfer roller 17 and a driving roller 16, a fixing device 72, a roller 22, and a roller 23 are provided along the conveyance path R of the paper P.

  In addition, the printer main body 100A is provided with a cassette 13 on which the paper P can be loaded. The paper P stacked and stored in the cassette 13 is fed by roller pairs 15 and 83 that rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure, conveyed to the roller pairs 81 and 82, and the nip between the drive roller 16 and the transfer roller 17. Sent to the department.

  The photosensitive drums 1 to 4 are rotated counterclockwise in the figure, and electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the outer peripheral surface by the laser light from the laser scanner 25, and then the electrostatic latent images are developed. Development is performed with rollers 5 to 8 to form a toner image.

  The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 1 to 4 are transferred to the transfer belt 18. When forming a color image, yellow is developed on the photosensitive drum 1, magenta on the photosensitive drum 2, cyan on the photosensitive drum 3, and black on the photosensitive drum 4, and a toner image formed on each is developed. Primary transfer is performed on the transfer belt 18.

  Next, the toner image formed on the transfer belt 18 is secondarily transferred to the paper P sent to the nip portion between the drive roller 16 and the transfer roller 17.

  The toner remaining on the transfer belt 18 after the secondary transfer is given a reverse charge by the cleaning roller 35 and is collected in the cartridges 9 to 12. The cleaning roller 35 is provided in a later-described cartridge tray (cartridge support member) 26 and is driven to rotate by the transfer belt 18. A bias for applying a charge to the remaining toner is supplied from the printer main body 100 </ b> A via the tray 26.

  Further, the paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the nip portion between the fixing film 20 and the pressure roller 21 where it is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the paper P. The paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to a paper discharge tray 73 (see FIG. 2A) by the roller 22 and the roller 23. A color image is formed on the paper P by such a printer 100.

[Process cartridge replacement mechanism]
Next, an exchange mechanism for the cartridges 9 to 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer main body 100A is provided with a passage path Q through which the cartridges 9 to 12 can pass when the cartridges 9 to 12 are attached and detached. The printer main body 100A includes a cartridge tray (cartridge support member) 26 that moves in the passage path Q while supporting the cartridges 9 to 12. A tray holding member (guide member) 27 for guiding the cartridges 9 to 12 in the horizontal direction is attached to the printer main body 100A. With this configuration, the tray 26 is slidable along the tray holding member 27 while being supported by the tray holding member 27. The tray 26 supports the plurality of cartridges 9 to 12 and is located between an inner position I located inside the printer main body 100A and an outer position O located outside the printer main body 100A (see FIG. 5A). It can be moved. In this case, the tray 26 is movable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 1. The outer position O is a position where the user attaches / detaches the individual cartridges 9 to 12 to the tray 26. The tray 26 holds the cartridges 9, 10, 11, and 12 roughly. The fixing device 72 is disposed above the passage route Q.

  The tray 26 is provided with a handle portion 26a, and the user can insert the tray 26 into the printer main body 100A or take it out of the printer main body 100A by grasping the handle portion 26a. The tray 26 has an opening between an inner position I where the cartridges 9 to 12 are located inside the printer main body 100A capable of forming an image and an outer position O where the cartridges 9 to 12 are located outside the printer main body 100A where the cartridges 9 to 12 are detachable. Can pass through.

  The printer main body 100A is provided with a transport path R through which the paper P is transported. The conveyance path R is provided between a take-out position A for taking out the paper P from the cassette 13 and a discharge position B for discharging the paper P to the outside of the printer main body 100A after image formation. The passage route Q and the transport route R intersect each other. Therefore, the tray 26 can move between the inner position I and the outer position O across the transport path R.

  In addition, the printer 100 includes a protection member 40. When the cartridges 9 to 12 are disposed at an inner position I located inside the printer main body 100A capable of forming an image, the protection member 40 is disposed between the transport path R and the cartridges 9 to 12. That is, the protection member 40 is disposed between the transport path R and the cartridges 9 to 12 when the tray 26 is disposed at the inner position I of the printer main body 100A. Further, the printer main body 100A includes a door (opening / closing member) 28 movable between a closed position C for closing the opening of the passage route Q and an open position D for opening the opening.

  When the door 28 is in the closed position C, the protection member 40 is disposed between the transport path R and the cartridges 9 to 12 for interlocking with the closing operation of the door 28. Further, when the door 28 is in the open position, the protection member 40 is disposed at a position that intersects the transport path R for interlocking with the opening operation of the door 28.

  FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the door 28 is removed from the printer 100. The door 28 is not shown for the sake of convenience. As shown in FIG. 2A, the protective member 40 shields the tray 26. In FIG. 2A, the protective member 40 shields only a part of the tray 26, but is not limited thereto. The protection member 40 may be configured to shield the entire tray 26. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the unfixed toner from adhering to the tray 26 due to unfixed toner scattered from the conveyance path R during image formation or the paper P remaining inside the printer main body 100A. In addition, when the door 28 is closed, the conveyance path | route R is provided in the near side of the protection member 40 in Fig.2 (a). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the protection member 40 is disposed between the transport path R and the tray 26 in a state where the door 28 is closed. In particular, the shielding of the protective member 40 effectively suppresses toner contamination in the vicinity of the handle portion 26a of the tray 26.

  FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the door 28 of the printer 100 is opened. As shown in FIG. 2B, the printer 100 is provided with a door 28 so as to be rotatable. And the protection member 40 is arrange | positioned in the position which cross | intersects the conveyance path | route R by the drive mechanism mentioned later, when the door 28 is open | released. Therefore, the user can access the handle portion 26a of the tray 26 when the door 28 is opened. The door 28 is provided with a conveyance guide portion 80 that guides attachment / detachment of the tray 26. A link 29 is provided on the door 28 and the tray holding member 27 so that the tray holding member 27 can be pulled out with the door 28 opened.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing the operation process of the tray holding member 27, the tray 26, the door 28, and the protection member 40. The arrangement of the tray 26 shown in FIG. 2B has moved to the upper left obliquely from the arrangement of the tray 26 shown in FIG. Such an operation process of the tray 26 is based on the mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is an enlarged side view showing the positional relationship of each member when the door 28 is completely closed. FIG. 3B is an enlarged side view showing the arrangement relationship of the members when the door 28 is opened at about 45 degrees. FIG.3 (c) is an enlarged side view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of each member when the door 28 is opened completely.

  First, the operation process of the tray holding member 27 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, the tray holding member 27 is provided with a boss 120. On the other hand, the groove portion 121 is provided in the printer main body 100A. As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, when the door 28 is opened, the tray holding member 27 is pulled out to the left by the link 29. Further, the boss 120 moves along the groove 121 and the tray holding member 27 is lifted. Based on such a change in the arrangement of the tray holding member 27, the tray 26 moves to the upper left. As a result, the photosensitive drums 1 to 4 are lifted from the contact position with the transfer belt 18 (see FIG. 3). This contact position is also referred to as an image forming position PS.

  Next, the operation process of the tray 26 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, the tray 26 is provided with a positioning groove 49. Positioning pins 50 are attached to the printer main body 100A. When the door 28 is closed, the tray 26 is positioned by the positioning groove 49 of the tray 26 and the positioning pin 50 of the printer main body 100A. In this state, the tray 26 cannot move in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the door 28 is opened, the tray holding member 27 rises after moving leftward along the shape of the groove 121, and the tray 26 is similarly lifted. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the tray 26 is raised, the state in which the groove 49 is engaged with the pin 50 shifts to the state in which the groove 49 is disengaged from the pin 50. Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, the tray 26 can move in the horizontal direction. When the door 28 is further opened, the tray 26 moves together with the tray holding member 27 in a direction outside the printer main body 100A to a position intersecting the transport path R. The user can easily access the tray 26.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the printer 100 with the door 28 fully opened. As shown in FIG. 4, when the door 28 is opened, the protection member 40 rotates around a fulcrum 43 (see FIG. 3) and moves to a position that intersects the transport path R. At this time, a part of the opening that allows the tray 26 to pass is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the protection member 40 is rotatably supported around the fulcrum 43. Further, the protection member 40 is configured to open and close in conjunction with the tray holding member 27. The tray holding member 27 is provided with a boss 42, and the protection member 40 is provided with a groove 41. The groove 41 and the boss 42 are engaged with each other. The protection member 40 opens and closes in conjunction with the movement of the tray holding member 27. In a state where the door 28 is opened, the protection member 40 is retracted from the passage route Q which is a movement region of the tray 26 and moves to a position where the entrance of the fixing device 72 (see FIG. 2B) is blocked.

  The protection member 40 also serves to prevent the user from accessing the fixing device 72. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, by providing the protection member 40, the entrance of the fixing device 72 can be provided widely, and a stable image and transportability can be provided. Therefore, it is not necessary to narrow the guide at the entrance of the fixing device 72 in order to prevent inadvertent access to the fixing device 72 by the user. Further, by narrowing the guide, there is no possibility that paper with a large curl, envelope (recording medium) or the like will rub against the guide portion.

  The fixing device 72 is disposed above the moving range of the tray 26. Therefore, these do not hinder the drawer 26 from being pulled out. This is also advantageous in that the cartridges 9 to 12 are not affected by the heat of the fixing device 72. The transfer roller 17 is disposed below the cartridges 9 to 12.

  As described above, when the door 28 is opened, the direction in which the cartridges 9 to 12 are pulled out opens, and the tray 26 can be pulled out from the printer 100. By pulling the handle portion 26a of the tray 26, the tray 26 can be easily pulled out.

  FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tray 26 is pulled out from the printer 100. FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a state in which the tray 26 is pulled out from the printer. As shown in FIG. 5A, the upper surfaces of the cartridges 9 to 12 are opened with the tray 26 pulled out to the maximum extent. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5B, the individual cartridges 9 to 12 can be removed upward. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the tray 26 is completely pulled out, the protective member 40 is positioned outside the printer main body 100A to which the cartridges 9 to 12 can be attached and detached. It corresponds to the case where it is arranged. In this case, the protection member 40 is disposed at a position that intersects the transport path R.

  When the cartridges 9 to 12 are mounted on the printer main body 100A, the user pulls the tray 26 out of the printer main body 100A in the reverse procedure and places the cartridges 9 to 12 on the tray 26 with the front tilted (support). ) Then, the user stores the tray 26 in the printer main body 100A. Then, by closing the door 28, the tray holding member 27 is pushed down in the lower left direction in FIG. As a result, the tray 26 is lowered and the photosensitive drums 1 to 4 come into contact with the transfer belt 18. That is, the cartridges 9 to 12 are located at the image forming position PS.

  With such a configuration, the tray 26 can operate as follows. The cartridges 9 to 12 supported (attached) to the tray 26 at the outer position O move to the inner position I when the user pushes the tray 26 into the printer main body 100A. The cartridges 9 to 12 are located at the image forming position PS that contributes to image formation. According to the present embodiment, the image forming position PS is a state in which a part of the photosensitive drum 1 is in contact with the transfer belt 18. According to this embodiment, when the door 28 is closed with the tray 26 positioned at the inner position I, the tray 26 is lowered and the cartridges 9 to 12 are positioned at the image forming position PS.

  When the door 28 is opened, the cartridges 9 to 12 rise as the tray 26 rises. As a result, the photosensitive drum 1 is separated from the transfer belt 18. In this state, the user pulls out the tray 26 toward the outer position O of the printer main body 100A (in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 5A). According to the present embodiment, when the cartridge 9 located on the most downstream side in the pulling-out direction is attached to or detached from the tray 26, the tray 26 may not be located at the outer position O. Even in such a case, the tray 26 is pulled out more outward than when the cartridges 9 to 12 are positioned at the image forming position PS. Therefore, since the cartridges 9 to 12 are pulled out to the front side of the printer main body 100A as compared with the case where the cartridges 9 to 12 are positioned at the image forming position PS, the user can easily replace all or part of the cartridges 9 to 12.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tray 26 moves obliquely upward with respect to the installation surface (not shown) of the printer main body 100A. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the tray 26 may move linearly, for example, horizontally or diagonally downward with respect to the installation surface (not shown) of the printer main body 100A. The tray 26 linearly moves in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridges 9 to 12 to be supported (accommodated and mounted). The longitudinal direction of the cartridges 9 to 12 is the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drums 1 to 4 or the longitudinal direction of the developing rollers 5 to 8.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cartridge attachment / detachment position is a position where the cartridges 9 to 12 are attached to and detached from the tray 26. The cartridge attaching / detaching position is located on the downstream side in the pulling direction of the tray 26 (the direction of arrow E in FIG. 5) than when the cartridges 9 to 12 are located at the image forming position PS. In the present embodiment, the cartridge attaching / detaching position is a position where the user can take out the cartridges 9 to 12 supported by the tray 26 from the outside of the printer main body 100A. The cartridge attachment / detachment position is a position where the user can support the cartridges 9 to 12 on the tray 26 from the outside of the printer main body 100A. Therefore, the cartridge attachment / detachment position is not limited to the outside of the printer main body 100A. The cartridge attaching / detaching position may be a position where the cartridges 9 to 12 can be attached to and detached from the tray 26 even inside the printer main body 100A.

  Further, according to the embodiment described above, the tray 26 is movable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cartridges 9 to 12 with respect to the printer main body 100A. However, the tray 26 may be movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cartridges 9 to 12 with respect to the printer main body 100A. Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the tray 26 may be removed from the printer main body 100A by releasing a stopper (not shown).

  When the door 28 moves from the open position D to the closed position C, the tray 26 moves across the transport path R to the inner position I of the printer main body 100A. When the door 28 moves from the closed position C to the open position D, the tray 26 moves across the transport path R to the outer position O of the printer main body 100A. The protection member 40 is disposed between the cartridges 9 to 12 that are image forming units that form an image on the paper P and the fixing device 72 that fixes the toner on the paper P.

  When the tray 26 is disposed at the inner position I, the protection member 40 shields the tray 26. The protective member 40 prevents unfixed toner from scattering toward the tray 26 from the transport path R. When the tray 26 is disposed at the outer position O, the protection member 40 secures the path of the tray 26 while shielding the fixing device 72. The protective member 40 prevents the toner that has not been fixed on the paper P from the fixing device 72 from dropping on the tray 26.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cartridge 9. 6A is a perspective view seen from the driving side, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view seen from the non-driving portion side. The individual cartridges 9 to 12 have the same configuration, and are filled with toners of different colors. The cartridge 9 is a horizontally long box type assembly in which the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 1 is the left-right direction and the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 6, the developing rollers 5 to 8 are omitted. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably supported between a driving side bearing portion 51 and a bearing portion 52 that are disposed on the right side surface portion and the left side surface portion of the frame body 70. The drive side bearing portion 51 is provided with a coupling fitting portion 53 as a drum drive input portion. A cartridge electrical contact 55 is disposed on the left side surface portion. On the left side surface portion and the right side surface portion, the ceiling plate portions of the frame body 70 are extended and extended in the left-right direction, and a flange portion 56 is provided. The flange 56 plays a role of preventing the drop when the cartridges 9 to 12 are inserted into the tray 26. In other words, the cartridges 9 to 12 are supported on the tray 26 by the collar portion 56 being supported on the tray 26. In the cartridge 9, the right side surface provided with the coupling fitting portion 53 is a driving side, and the left side surface portion on the opposite side is a non-driving side. A driving force (rotational force) is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 1 by engaging a coupling fitting portion 53 of the cartridge 9 with a driving coupling (not shown) of the printer main body 100A.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the intermediate electrical contact 61 of the tray 26, the cartridge electrical contact 55 of the cartridge 9, and the body-side electrical contact 62 of the printer body 100A. Reference numeral 63 denotes a member of the printer main body 100A. 7A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where the intermediate electrical contact 61 and the main body side electrical contact 62 are separated from each other, and FIG. 7B is a state where the intermediate electrical contact 61 and the main body side electrical contact 62 are in contact with each other. FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, the tray 26 is provided with an intermediate electrical contact 61. The cartridge 9 is provided with a cartridge electrical contact 55. When the cartridge 9 is inserted into the tray 26 (supported), the cartridge electrical contact 55 is electrically connected to the intermediate electrical contact 61. Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the printer main body 100A is provided with a main body side electrical contact 62. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the tray 26 is pushed down, the intermediate electrical contact 61 is electrically connected to the main body side electrical contact 62. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the tray 26 is lifted by the tray holding member 27, the intermediate electrical contact 61 is separated from the main body side electrical contact 62 so that the movement of the tray 26 is not hindered. Yes.

[Paper replenishment method]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a replenishment process for replenishing paper P to the printer main body 100A. The printer 100 includes a cassette 13 that can be pulled out to the front side of the printer main body 100A. When the cassette 13 is pulled out of the printer main body 100 </ b> A, the paper P can be stacked on the cassette 13. The cassette 13 includes restriction members 91, 92, and 93. Each of the regulating members 91 to 93 is configured to be movable in the left-right and front-back directions. By fixing the regulating members 91 to 93 in accordance with the size of the paper P, the paper P can be set at a predetermined position inside the cassette 13.

  By inserting the cassette 13 into the printer main body 100A, the paper P can be set at a predetermined position inside the printer main body 100A. The paper P inside the cassette 13 is fed by roller pairs 15 and 83 and conveyed to the nip portion of the transfer roller 17 and the drive roller 16.

[Residual paper removal method]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a process of removing the paper P remaining in the printer main body 100A. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view showing the removal process of the paper P when the paper P is jammed with the paper P nipped between the transfer roller 17 and the driving roller 16. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view showing the removal process of the paper P when the paper P is jammed with the paper P being nipped by the fixing device 72. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, in the printer 100, the transport path R of the paper P is provided on the front side of the printer main body 100A from the tray 26 (the left side of FIGS. 9A and 9B). . The door 28 includes a conveyance guide unit 80 that extends from the transfer unit 71 to the fixing device 72. By opening the door 28, the paper P remaining inside the printer main body 100A can be accessed.

(Second Embodiment)
The printer 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has substantially the same configuration as that of the printer 100 according to the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted as appropriate. The printer 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the printer 100 according to the first embodiment in that the configuration of the handle portion 126a is different from the configuration of the handle portion 26a.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the door 28 is opened from the printer main body 100A. As shown in FIG. 10, the cartridge tray (cartridge support member) 126 of the second embodiment includes a handle portion 126a. As shown in FIG. 10, when the door 28 is opened, the handle 126a protrudes.

  When the handle portion 126 a provided on the tray 26 is provided and the door 28 is in the closed position, the handle portion 126 a is covered with the protective member 40. Further, the handle portion 126a is configured to protrude from the tray 26 when the door 28 is in the open position.

  FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of the printer 200 showing a state where the handle 126a is retracted. FIG. 11B is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 11A showing a state in which the handle 126a is retracted. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the tray 126 is attached with a handle portion 126 a that can rotate about a rotation shaft 127. The handle portion 126a is urged by a slight force counterclockwise in FIG. 11B by the elastic force of the torsion coil spring (elastic member) 48. As shown in FIG. 11B, when the door 28 is closed, the link 29 is pushed in and the tray holding member 27 is pushed in. As a result, the handle portion 126a rotates counterclockwise, and the handle portion 126a retracts. At the same time, the protection member 40 rotates counterclockwise, and the protection member 40 retracts.

  FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of the printer 200 showing a state where the handle 126a protrudes. FIG. 12B is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 12A showing a state in which the handle 126a protrudes. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the tray 126 is attached with a handle 126 a that can rotate around a rotation shaft 127. The handle portion 126a is urged by a slight force counterclockwise in FIG. 12B by the elastic force of the spring 48. As shown in FIG. 12B, when the door 28 is opened, the link 29 is pulled and the tray holding member 27 is pulled out. As a result, the handle portion 126a rotates clockwise, and the handle portion 126a protrudes. At the same time, the protection member 40 rotates clockwise, and the protection member 40 protrudes.

  As described above, the user can easily pull out the tray 126 only by opening the door 28. After the tray 126 is pulled out, the cartridges 9 to 12 to be replaced can be replaced. When the cartridges 9 to 12 are inserted into the printer main body 100A, the tray 126 is inserted to the position shown in FIG. 12B, and the door 28 is closed. According to the present embodiment, the cartridges 9 to 12 can be positioned at the image forming position PS by the user's operation. As a result, the image forming apparatus is ready for image formation. In the process of closing the door 28, the protection member 40 rotates around the fulcrum 43 in conjunction with the tray holding member 27 and is retracted from the transport path R. In this process, the handle 126 a is pushed down by the protection member 40. The transport path R is secured, and the paper P can be passed (FIG. 11B).

  In the present embodiment, the handle 126a of the tray 126 protrudes forward of the printer main body 100A only by operating the door 28. Therefore, access to the tray 126 is facilitated, and the operability of cartridge replacement can be improved.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the printer of the first to third embodiments, the tray 26 (126) can move across the transport path R between the inner position I and the outer position O of the printer main body 100A. . As a result, even if the recording medium remains inside the apparatus main body due to a jam of the recording medium or an abnormal stop of the apparatus in the middle of passing through the conveyance path, the recording medium is kept on the same side of the apparatus main body. Jam processing and process cartridge replacement were realized. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the trouble of the user turning to the back of the apparatus main body or lifting and rotating the image forming apparatus and rearranging the back to the front when jamming the recording medium.

  As a result, in addition to jamming of the paper P and replacement of the individual cartridges 9 to 12, operations such as taking out the discharged paper P and replenishing the paper P into the cassette 13 are all easily performed by front access. Realized. That is, it can be done at the front of the device.

  According to the configuration of the printer of the first and second embodiments, when the door 28 is in the closed position C, the protection member 40 is disposed between the transport path R and the cartridges 9 to 12. As a result, even if the toner is not fixed while the paper P moves from between the transfer roller 17 and the driving roller 16 to the fixing device 72, the trays 26 and 126 are hidden by the protective member 40, so the trays 26 and 126 are not fixed. It is possible to prevent the toner from being soiled. Further, when the door 28 is in the open position D, the protection member 40 is disposed at a position that intersects the transport path R. As a result, the protective member 40 is prevented from jamming the paper P and preventing the cartridges 9 to 12 from being replaced.

  According to the configuration of the printer of the third embodiment, the handle 126a is covered with the protective member 40 when the door 28 is in the closed position C. As a result, even if the toner is unfixed while the paper P moves from the image forming unit to the fixing device 72, the handle 126a is hidden by the protective member 40, so that the tray 126 is covered with the unfixed toner. It is suppressed that it is polluted. When the door 28 is in the open position D, the handle portion 126 a protrudes from the tray 126. As a result, the user can efficiently attach and detach the cartridges 9 to 12 to the apparatus main body by grasping the handle portion 126a and pulling out the tray 126.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1-4 ... Electrophotographic photosensitive drum (photosensitive drum), 5-8 ... Developing roller (developing means) (process means), 9-12 ... Process cartridge, 26, 126 ... Cartridge Tray (cartridge support member), 26a, 126a ... grip portion, 28 ... door (opening / closing member), 100 ... laser beam printer (color electrophotographic image forming apparatus), 100A ... printer main body (device) Body), I ... inside position, O ... outside position

Claims (3)

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and forming a color image on a recording medium,
A passage path through which the process cartridge can pass when the process cartridge is attached or detached;
An opening / closing member movable between a closed position for closing the opening of the passage path and an open position for opening the opening;
Supporting a plurality of the process cartridges, between an inner position where the process cartridge is positioned inside the image forming apparatus main body and an outer position positioned outside the apparatus main body where the process cartridge is detachable A cartridge support member movable while passing through the opening;
A loading member capable of loading a recording medium;
A take-out position for taking out the recording medium from the stacking member, and a conveyance path secured between a discharge position for discharging the recording medium to the outside of the apparatus main body after image formation,
The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the cartridge support member is provided so as to be movable across the transport path.   When the opening and closing member is in the closed position, the opening and closing member is disposed between the transport path and the process cartridge based on the closing operation of the opening and closing member, and when the opening and closing member is in the open position, the opening and closing member is opened. The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a protective member disposed at a position intersecting with the conveyance path based on the color.   A grip portion provided on the cartridge support member; when the opening and closing member is in the closed position, the handle portion is covered with the protective member; and when the opening and closing member is in the open position, the handle portion is The color electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus protrudes from a cartridge support member.

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